Inside the Divine Flower Society forum, the atmosphere was solemn.
"Thirty Breaths of Silent Mourning for the Blood-Robed Sword God"
"Though the Blood-Robed Sword God Is Gone, His Spirit Lives On!"
"Reminiscing on the Past: When I Was Young, the Blood-Robed Sword God Once Held Me in His Arms..."
"True Feelings Abound in the Mortal Realm: I Shall Abstain from Lust for Three Days in Honor of the Sword God!"
When Qi Yuan logged into the Divine Flower Society forum and saw these posts, his face turned green.
"Hey, I'm not dead yet, and you're already wailing at my funeral!"
Qi Yuan was thoroughly speechless.
Presumably, these people all believed that in his battle against the Palace of Light, defeat was certain.
That was why they made such posts.
If that was the reason, it was somewhat understandable.
After pondering a moment, he used the Blood-Robed Sword God account to publish a thread.
"I, the Blood-Robed Sword God, Bring Everyone Good News: The Palace of Light Has Fallen, and Justice Has Triumphed Over Evil!"
Nowadays, the four words "Blood-Robed Sword God" were trending. Even when Qi Yuan posted, he had to include his own name in the title just to ride the hype.
Right after posting, replies quickly piled up underneath.
"Senior Blood-Robed Sword God is still alive?!"
"The Palace of Light was wiped out?"
"Did the sun falling today scramble my brain?"
"This can't be an imposter, right!"
The Blood-Robed Sword God posting from beyond the grave set the Divine Flower Society forum abuzz.
Members of the Divine Flower Society were scattered across the Canglan Realm, so the news of the Blood-Robed Sword God obliterating the Palace of Light had not yet reached many of them. Most remained unaware.
In their eyes, when the Blood-Robed Sword God clashed with the Palace of Light—backed by the heritage of a Yin God—he was bound to lose.
Yet the Blood-Robed Sword God had won. How could they not be astonished?
"Senior, I knew all along you'd win!" After replying, Little Li of Fox Cave quietly deleted her own thread mourning the Blood-Robed Sword God.
The forum erupted into shock, contributing to the warming of the Canglan Realm, followed by wild celebrations.
In the outside world, news of the Blood-Robed Sword God destroying the Palace of Light also began to spread gradually across Cuiyun Continent.
"Senior... how did you win?"
At this moment, someone asked.
Many others were equally puzzled and curious.
Just how had the Blood-Robed Sword God overcome the Palace of Light?
Presently, many Purple Mansion experts were also paying close attention to this question.
"At the time, the Palace of Light deployed the Sovereign Shocking Dragon Crown, and the Grand Palace Master unleashed a divine finger strike.
"I thought I was doomed.
"However, I remembered the millions upon millions of people backing me.
"So, I turned to the big shots in the Divine Flower Society and borrowed Immortal Elixir Golden Cores, Nine-Revolution Golden Cores, a million Golden Cores, and a Stellar Golden Core...
"Countless Golden Cores rained down, summoning the sun itself and wiping out the Palace of Light."
Qi Yuan embellished his tale, mixing truth with falsehood.
After all, he was currently merely a Stellar Golden Core cultivator who could not even compare to a perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment. He needed to feign weakness and conceal his trump cards.
Everyone watching the thread froze.
No one had anticipated such an answer.
"The sun in the sky was summoned by a senior expert?"
"...Is this for real?"
Some fell silent, some were bewildered, while others spoke the truth in a joking tone.
"Naturally it's true. The Divine Flower Society is full of mighty seniors. I'm just a small fry. If that senior hadn't lent me their Stellar Golden Core to use, I might have died," Qi Yuan replied earnestly.
If one used one's own things, could that not still be called borrowing?
Meanwhile, in a cave abode within the Eastern Lands.
A golden-robed man stared at the jade slip's contents in absolute silence.
Having observed halfway through the clash between the Blood-Robed Sword God and the Palace of Light, he had concluded that the Blood-Robed Sword God was bound to lose, and so he had departed directly.
He had not watched the latter half, never imagining that the tide would turn so drastically.
The white-haired elder beside him asked, "Is what he said true or false?"
Recalling the blood-red silhouette he had witnessed that day, the golden-robed man said slowly, "He was engulfed in towering blood qi; he must be a demonic powerhouse who slaughtered millions.
"Watching from afar, I sensed no trace of divinity on him, so he cannot possibly be a Yin God.
"Summoning the sun... is simply too terrifying.
"In our Canglan Realm, aside from that legendary figure, who could hold a divine throne high in the heavens and reflect across the myriad realms?"
When mentioning that person, the golden-robed man's eyes filled with profound dread.
He did not even dare utter that figure's name.
Hearing this, the elder's heart sank as well.
Because that person... was unspeakable.
"Rather than believing he summoned the sun, I find it far more plausible that he had assistance.
"When slaying the envoy of Venerable Yeqiong, he mentioned Lord Feng's name.
"If it was Lord Feng, then... it would be normal.
"Only... with the great tribulation approaching, every Yin God refrains from acting if they can help it, preserving their strength.
"Why would Lord Feng intervene?"
"Rather than that stingy old fellow Lord Feng stepping in, I'd sooner believe the Blood-Robed Sword God summoned the sun himself." The elder was a senior member of Dao Seeking Palace, of the same generation as Lord Feng, and the two had known each other in their youth.
Regrettably, one had become a Yin God, while the other was still struggling in the late Purple Mansion stage.
He knew Lord Feng's temperament better than anyone.
"Alas, you returned too quickly. An expert like the Blood-Robed Sword God should have been recruited into our Dao Seeking Palace.
"His strength is even superior to Old Man Wutian's," the white-haired elder lamented.
Within Dao Seeking Palace, Old Man Wutian was among the very pinnacle of late Purple Mansion cultivators.
"He survived this time, but he has completely offended Venerable Yeqiong. He probably isn't far from death!" the golden-robed man could not help remarking.
"If he could wipe out the Palace of Light, could he not kill Venerable Yeqiong?" The white-haired elder chuckled.
The golden-robed man rolled his eyes at him. "The Palace of Light merely possessed a damaged Yin God Dharma treasure. How could they compare to the true Venerable Yeqiong?"
"How would you know? Can someone who easily destroyed the Palace of Light not slay Venerable Yeqiong?" The white-haired elder remained smiling. "A pity I can't leave lately. Otherwise, this old man would certainly go meet this Blood-Robed Sword God."
...
At that moment, Qi Yuan was basking in everyone's flattery, feeling light and airy inside.
Just then, a comment caught his eye.
"Blood-Robed Sword God, I heard that on your way to the Palace of Light, you killed Venerable Yeqiong's envoy?"
"Yeah, killed her," Qi Yuan replied casually.
Seeing Qi Yuan's response, some people were confused, not knowing who Venerable Yeqiong was.
However, the Divine Flower Society was gathered full of experts.
"You dared kill an envoy of a Yin God? Senior... you're truly formidable!
"Senior, you'd better leave the Eastern Lands immediately!" that person replied.
The cultivators watching this thread were flabbergasted.
Little Li of Fox Cave stared blankly at the screen.
Just a moment ago, she had posted in the thread claiming she stood with the Blood-Robed Sword God, ready to defeat any encroaching enemies.
Yet no one had told her the encroaching enemy was a Yin God!
She grew frantic, tugging at her own hair. "Wuwu, I'm never replying to you again!"
Yet thinking about how cozying up to the Blood-Robed Sword God led others to address her respectfully as Big Sis Li, she could not resist.
Looking at the replies below, Qi Yuan posted:
"His envoy threatened me and claimed she would kill me. I had no choice but to strike first.
"If Venerable Yeqiong is just as blind, I'll let him see why the sun is so red!"
The Divine Flower Society cultivators reading the Blood-Robed Sword God's reply were utterly stunned.
If slaying Venerable Yeqiong's envoy had merely offended the venerable,
then these words were an outright provocation!
"Senior is too fierce!"
"Senior, stay safe!"
Qi Yuan skimmed the comments, then switched accounts and entered the Four Emperors of Divine Flower group chat.
"Good news, everyone: the 'Hundred-Day Plan to Destroy the Palace of Light' has been completed ahead of schedule!"
"Big shot 666!"
"I knew it. Origin Celestial Venerable is no ordinary mortal."
Rogue Immortal Venerable and Iceberg Overlord Woman showered him with praise.
"Where's Great Sun Flame Emperor?" Qi Yuan asked. Missing one flatterer made things feel incomplete.
"He was around a few hours ago, but then he said his old man was looking for him and hasn't shown up since. Probably something urgent.
"Based on my years of experience, he must have offended his old man and got placed under house arrest."
"I see." Qi Yuan felt slightly disappointed.
"Origin Celestial Venerable, my sisters made nearly ten million spirit stones thanks to you. They all want to meet you and thank you in person," Iceberg Overlord Woman said.
"It was nothing, no need to thank me in person."
"Not meeting them is wise. If those vixens saw you, they'd probably strip you bare," Iceberg Overlord Woman remarked with her usual domineering flair.
Rogue Immortal Venerable swallowed hard as he read this.
He wanted to be stripped bare by fairy sisters too.
"One of my sisters runs Seven Sounds Workshop. She said whenever you visit her establishment in the future, everything is on the house."
"Seven Sounds Workshop?" Rogue Immortal Venerable drooled with envy.
That was a place even higher-end than Yunzhong Court.
Didn't that mean Origin Celestial Venerable could freeload to his heart's content from now on?
"I'm not lacking in any of that. What I need most right now are cultivation techniques—the more the better, and the higher the grade the better," Qi Yuan said.
Freeloading pleasure did not interest him.
Cultivation techniques were his only real deficiency.
Originally, he had looked forward to an intimate rendezvous with the old folks of the Palace of Light, only for them to prove too feeble. After basking in the sun, they had vaporized entirely.
They had left behind not a single technique or heirloom.
The Palace of Light's headquarters had also been dragged into the Void Realm, leaving nothing behind.
With his long-anticipated techniques gone, Qi Yuan had to seek them elsewhere.
Hearing this, Iceberg Overlord Woman said, "Leave it to me. Today I'm going to squeeze some oil out of them!"
"Thanks, Big Sis Iceberg Overlord Woman.
"Going offline now. The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle is about to begin. I need to work hard, or it'll be embarrassing if I can't make the top twenty.
"By the way, once Great Sun Flame Emperor comes online, remember to let him know I lived up to expectations and wiped out the Palace of Light."
Reading this, Rogue Immortal Venerable was utterly bewildered.
"Origin Celestial Venerable... you're still participating in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle?"
The man who had just destroyed the Palace of Light was claiming he would participate in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle?
Was he playing house?
One had to understand that the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle barred participants over two hundred years old.
Origin Celestial Venerable had to be at least a thousand years old, right?
Qi Yuan naturally had no idea what Rogue Immortal Venerable was thinking.
At that moment, he returned to his cave abode and continued refining the *Qi Yuan Scripture*.
"The path of the Origin Core is about growing bigger and stronger.
"My Golden Core is a star, so by continuously devouring other celestial bodies in the universe, it can become stronger."
After obtaining the True Solar Fire, Qi Yuan's path for the Origin Core had become clear.
Only the technique itself had yet to be perfected.
"If the Golden Core is a star, what should the Divine Infant be?"
Qi Yuan paused in thought.
Though he had read many manuals, his understanding of the Divine Infant remained superficial.
...
The next day, Qi Yuan looked up at the little sun in the sky and thought of Ning Tao once more.
Unfortunately, the spiritual qi in his dantian was still sparse.
Killing a Purple Mansion cultivator was no problem, but summoning the Golden Core and Ning Tao remained far out of reach.
"It's just that the *Qi Yuan Scripture* is too incomplete, so spiritual qi recovers too slowly," Qi Yuan sighed.
As he pondered, he glanced at Jiang Ya not far away, and his eyes lit up.
She was a wealthy woman, and wealthy in precisely the area he lacked.
"Senior Sister Jiang Ya, you are well-read. May I ask you a question?" Qi Yuan called out.
Jiang Ya looked at Qi Yuan and replied tersely, "You may."
"Now that I have reached the Origin Core, I remain confused about the path of the Divine Infant." Qi Yuan wore a dejected look.
"The path of the Divine Infant..." Jiang Ya was about to speak.
Just then, Qi Yuan continued:
"I forged my Qi Refinement foundation with the qi of the five elements, achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, and formed a Stellar Golden Core.
"What kind of Divine Infant could possibly match my caliber?"
Jiang Ya fell silent.
The words she had prepared in her mind refused to come out.
*Smile. Remain elegant.*
Jiang Ya told herself internally.
She looked at Qi Yuan and said, "Perhaps there is someone who can give you an answer."
"Who?" Qi Yuan asked anxiously.
"Ranked fourth on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll: True Monarch Dazhi," Jiang Ya said calmly.
"What a great name! He must be brilliant!" Qi Yuan's eyes shone.
Judging the man by his name, he could already picture a true genius.
"Like you, he is a cultivator of the path of obsession. Furthermore... he has already stepped into the Divine Infant realm. Perhaps he can offer you substantial advice," Jiang Ya explained. "If Junior Brother Qi Yuan wishes to meet him, I can contact him for you right now."
"I'll meet him!" Qi Yuan said excitedly.
Of course he would!
"Very well." Jiang Ya turned and brought out a transmission jade slip.
...
Night fell, and a pleasure boat was moored by the riverbank.
A man had slicked-back hair, wore floral shorts, and donned an ill-fitting long robe.
On the pleasure boat, he looked entirely out of place.
Yet everyone aboard looked at him with deep reverence.
For this man was fourth on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll—True Monarch Dazhi.
Presently, True Monarch Dazhi's gaze was crystal clear as he stared intently at the hand of a female cultivator beside him, making her feel thoroughly embarrassed.
The woman's hands were slender and distinct like jade, her skin pale and smooth as snow, with faint rouge brushed onto her long nails, appearing pristine and glamorous.
"Fairy Fengyue's jade hands are breathtakingly exquisite, priceless beyond gold.
"Is True Monarch Dazhi also a connoisseur of such beauty?" a hemp-robed prodigy beside him chimed in, hoping to bridge the distance with True Monarch Dazhi.
True Monarch Dazhi stared at those jade hands with an innocent, thoughtful expression.
"Does she keep her nails that long just to pick her nose?"
Silence.
The pleasure boat fell completely silent. The prodigy who had just spoken was struck dumb.
Fairy Fengyue's face flushed crimson, her expression shifting wildly as she wished she could burrow into a crack in the floor.
Just then, a hearty voice rang out: "My suggestion is, if you're picking your nose, don't wear nail polish. It'll hurt your nostrils."
A man clad in black robes stepped onto the pleasure boat.
He looked at True Monarch Dazhi with a respectful expression: "My name is Qi Yuan. Senior Sister Jiang Ya sent me to consult True Monarch Dazhi regarding matters of the Divine Infant!"
The others looked between Qi Yuan and True Monarch Dazhi with complicated expressions.
Fairy Fengyue, on the other hand, glared viciously at Qi Yuan.
She did not dare offend True Monarch Dazhi, but she certainly dared offend this unknown Qi Yuan.
True Monarch Dazhi looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes lighting up. "How do you think Fairy Fengyue should pick her nose better?"
"Well..." Qi Yuan sat down beside True Monarch Dazhi, pondering. "Using nails is undignified after all.
"Fairies don't defecate, nor do they pick their noses.
"Therefore, it would be better to create a Daoist art specifically for picking one's nose."
"Fellow Daoist is truly gifted!" True Monarch Dazhi looked at Qi Yuan with intense excitement.
Looking at True Monarch Dazhi, Qi Yuan felt a strong sense of having met an old friend.
Just then, someone cried out in alarm.
"Oh no, Fairy Fengyue fell into the river!"
Everyone looked at Fairy Fengyue in the water with eyes full of pity.
Seeing this, True Monarch Dazhi said slowly, "Fairy Fengyue must have been inspired by Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan to enter the river, comprehending the flow of water to create a Daoist art specifically for picking noses."
Hearing this, everyone present silently mourned for Fairy Fengyue.
By tomorrow, Fairy Fengyue would likely gain a new moniker: the Nose-Picking Fairy.
Qi Yuan nodded and cut straight to the chase: "Fellow Daoist, regarding the path of the Divine Infant, I have always felt the road ahead is misty.
"I have heard that to condense a Divine Infant, one must shatter the core to form the infant.
"However, I painstakingly condensed my Golden Core; I can't bear to shatter it.
"What should I do?"
Qi Yuan had painstakingly condensed a Stellar Golden Core; how could he bear to shatter it?
That was his baby!
Beside them, the others were utterly stunned by Qi Yuan's words.
Someone who didn't want to shatter their core to form the infant?
Had this guy cultivated himself into an idiot?
No wonder... he could converse with True Monarch Dazhi without the slightest barrier.
True Monarch Dazhi looked at Qi Yuan, deep in thought. "Sigh, great minds truly think alike.
"Back when I had just reached Foundation Establishment, I pondered this very question."
Qi Yuan could not help holding True Monarch Dazhi in even higher esteem.
Now this was a truly forward-looking prodigy!
When he was at Foundation Establishment, how could he have thought about the Divine Infant?
Yet this man had already considered it back then.
"In the end, after bitter contemplation, I created a Dual Core Method," True Monarch Dazhi said proudly.
"First, I condensed a pseudo-core, and then I condensed a Golden Core.
"Finally, when breaking through to the Divine Infant, I shattered the pseudo-core and kept the Golden Core.
"So now, inside my body, there is both a Golden Core and a Divine Infant!"
A pseudo-core was something a Foundation Establishment cultivator condensed using external objects when they had no hope of breaking through to the Golden Core.
Qi Yuan was stunned by True Monarch Dazhi's train of thought.
What was a prodigy? What was great wisdom? This was it.
"However, this method has a flaw: the Golden Core and Divine Infant inside my body fight each other at the drop of a hat," True Monarch Dazhi said with distress.
The prodigies nearby looked at True Monarch Dazhi, utterly speechless.
Not only do your Golden Core and Divine Infant fight each other, you fight yourself at the drop of a hat too.
They all knew True Monarch Dazhi suffered from split personality disorder; two personalities had already emerged within his body.
"Such a minor flaw doesn't count as an issue," Qi Yuan said nonchalantly. "Outstanding techniques are bound to have some drawbacks. My self-created technique has flaws as well—after cultivating it, one becomes mentally deranged and forgetful.
"Yet look at me now, isn't my mental state great? I can eat eight steamed buns in one meal!"
Everyone present looked at Qi Yuan and instantly understood.
*You call that a great mental state?*
At the same time, they pitied Fairy Fengyue even more.
To be targeted by two lunatics—how utterly miserable.
"Unfortunately, I have already stepped into the Origin Core realm and can no longer cultivate the Dual Core Method," Qi Yuan sighed.
True Monarch Dazhi's path was not suitable for him.
Chapter 153