Everyone craned their necks toward the vault of heaven, gazing with awe and reverence at the Purple Mansions with their solemn countenances.
At that moment, a stooped old man stepped forward, speaking with deep anguish and remorse: "Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, this scoundrel is merely a member of a distant branch of our Liu Clan. His actions have absolutely nothing to do with the main Liu Clan!"
The Blood-Robed Sword God had not even appeared, yet this Purple Mansion had already begun babbling nonstop.
Watching this unfold, the cultivators in the city felt a storm of mixed emotions.
"That is a Purple Mansion! An existence that could shake the entire Leixing Continent just by lifting a finger!
"And yet, simply because a distant descendant of the Liu Clan offended the Blood-Robed Sword God, he traveled ten thousand li to tie up his own kin and bring him here!"
"Liu Wen bullied men and seized women, and now he has provoked the Blood-Robed Sword God. It truly is divine retribution!"
"Where is the Blood-Robed Sword God? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
The onlookers wondered, eager to see what the legendary Blood-Robed Sword God actually looked like.
"He's here!"
Right at that moment, a blood-robed figure materialized in front of the troupe of over ten Purple Mansions.
The man was remarkably handsome and tall, holding the hand of an innocent-looking young girl.
Yet anyone who laid eyes upon the girl felt only terror and awe in their hearts, refusing to be deceived by her appearance.
She was an exalted Yin God.
"So this is the Blood-Robed Sword God. The presence of an exalted Yin God is extraordinary indeed.
"Even if he concealed his cultivation and stood in the middle of a street, I would still recognize him as a supreme expert," a man sighed in awe. Then he glanced at the companion beside him, his gaze turning puzzled. "Brother Feng Tian, what is wrong? Why are you trembling?"
Feng Tian stared at the blood-robed man in the sky, his eyes wide with utter disbelief.
How... how could he be the Blood-Robed Sword God?
Beside him, Sister Hua shuddered violently, her face drained of all color.
Not far away, Ye Chan covered her mouth, staring at Rogue Celestial Venerable in speechless shock, her eyes blinking furiously.
Seeing this, Rogue Celestial Venerable was thoroughly pleased with himself. He could finally speak freely: "You didn't see wrong. He is the Blood-Robed Sword God. And the one you gave candy to earlier was his daughter, an exalted Yin God.
"You certainly have guts. I'm truly impressed by you."
High above, Qi Jianjun read out Liu Wen's crimes one by one.
A brilliant smile appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes. "The most boast-worthy thing in your entire life is that you get to die by my hand."
With a gentle flick of his hand, Liu Wen—who had spouted so much nonsense in the Divine Flower Society forum—perished on the spot.
Qi Yuan cast a glance at the Purple Mansion who had rushed over from thousands of li away, saying softly, "I have always been a reasonable man. I will not bring disaster upon the innocent, much less exterminate an entire clan. You may go."
Hearing this, the Purple Mansion breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, for purging the foul atmosphere of the cultivation world! After returning, this junior will strictly discipline the younger generation to do more and talk less!"
"Mm."
Qi Yuan nodded, and his figure dispersed into thin air.
The blaring of the suonas came to an abrupt halt, and the Purple Mansions in the sky vanished as well.
The cultivators in the city stared up at the empty sky, wanting more.
"I haven't had my fill yet! Why did he leave already?"
"Wouldn't it be great if he killed one more?"
"How about one of you goes and provokes the Blood-Robed Sword God so we can enjoy the show?"
"If you want to go, go yourself!"
Meanwhile, Qi Yuan, holding Qi Jianjun's hand, reappeared inside the restaurant.
Due to his origin divine ability, ordinary onlookers who saw him would neither remember his face nor associate him with the Blood-Robed Sword God.
"The killing is done. Rogue Celestial Venerable, let's head over and catch up," Qi Yuan called out to him.
Beside Rogue Celestial Venerable, Ye Chan's heart pounded wildly, and she did not dare utter a single peep.
In the distance, Feng Tian and Sister Hua turned deathly pale. Seeing Rogue Celestial Venerable interacting with Qi Yuan, their emotions churned like a tempest.
"Let's go," Qi Yuan called again.
Ye Chan looked at Rogue Celestial Venerable, her voice tinged with tears. "My legs have gone weak. I won't go."
Even now, she could hardly process it. She did not dare face the Blood-Robed Sword God or his daughter, terrified of making a fool of herself.
Rogue Celestial Venerable sighed helplessly. "All right, be careful then. I'll go chat with my friend, and then I'll deliver the pills to your grandfather."
Hearing this, Ye Chan thought:
*Deliver pills my foot!*
*Can't you just hand them to me right now?*
Of course, she did not say it out loud.
Rogue Celestial Venerable and Qi Yuan sat down at their original table in the restaurant.
The two ordered an assortment of dishes.
Qi Jianjun cupped a small wine cup, preparing to take a sip.
Before she could, Qi Yuan's chopsticks lightly tapped her little hand. "Children can't drink wine."
Seeing this, the waiter smiled. "Young Master, that is fruit wine. It doesn't intoxicate anyone, and children can drink it just fine."
Qi Jianjun gave Qi Yuan a smug look.
Qi Yuan glared at the waiter. "If my daughter turns out crooked, you'll be the one to blame."
"Your daughter is well-behaved and adorable, with boundless prospects ahead of her! In the future, she will surely become an Origin Core True Person!" the waiter recited the usual auspicious pleasantries.
"Shut your mouth!" Qi Yuan shot back instantly.
The waiter blinked in confusion. "A Divine Infant True Monarch!"
"Use your imagination! Three hundred years from now, I expect my daughter to reign supreme across all eternity!" Qi Yuan remarked casually.
The waiter chuckled, finding this customer remarkably amusing.
As Qi Yuan ate, he looked at Rogue Celestial Venerable and said slowly, "Regarding what you mentioned to me earlier about wanting to shatter your core and cultivate anew, I pondered it for a long time and discussed it with True Monarch Dazhi for several days. In the end, we concluded that there is no need for you to shatter your core."
Qi Yuan had always been generous toward his friends.
He had kept Rogue Celestial Venerable's casual remarks in the group chat close to heart.
Rogue Celestial Venerable was deeply moved.
Back then, he had merely complained in the chat that his Golden Core was unsatisfactory and that he wanted to shatter it and start over.
He had never expected Origin Celestial Venerable to actually take it so seriously.
"After receiving some pointers from True Monarch Dazhi, I think you can emulate his Dual Core Method.
"Since you aren't satisfied with the Golden Core you formed previously, just form a few more.
"Over the past few days, I roughly devised a cultivation technique based on your situation called the *Nine Cores Method*. This art allows you to condense up to nine Golden Cores.
"My time was limited, so I haven't completely finalized it.
"Once you get used to condensing multiple Golden Cores, you can refine it yourself into a Ten Cores Method or a Twenty Cores Method later on. It will all work."
Qi Yuan handed a jade slip to Rogue Celestial Venerable.
Truth be told, creating this technique for Rogue Celestial Venerable had given Qi Yuan plenty of inspiration as well.
His Stellar Golden Core currently relied on devouring True Solar Fire.
However, as everyone knew, devouring too much might cause strange side effects or an upset stomach.
Thus, Qi Yuan thought his Golden Cores could pursue two paths simultaneously.
One path was to condense more Stellar Golden Cores and Planetary Golden Cores; the other path was for his Stellar Golden Core to simply devour, devour, and devour.
"Thank you, Origin Celestial Venerable!" Rogue Celestial Venerable took the jade slip, his heart swelling with gratitude.
"No need to thank me. Back when I lacked techniques, didn't you all support me with plenty as well?" Qi Yuan replied casually.
Back then, whenever he lacked cultivation arts, the Four Emperors of Divine Flower had all lent him considerable support.
Just then, a streak of light abruptly descended outside the restaurant.
Several figures appeared in an instant.
The leader was an elderly man whose aura clearly belonged to a Purple Mansion.
The cultivators in the restaurant looked over in astonishment.
"That is... Mighty Feng Xiao! Why has he come here?"
"The one beside him is True Monarch Lüqiong. His expression looks terrible!"
"What happened? Have they come to the tavern because some major figure is here?"
Right now, Feng Xiao's face was plastered with fear as he looked ahead. "Feng Xiao brings his unfilial grandson, Feng Tian, to seek an audience with Senior Blood-Robed Sword God!"
In front of Feng Xiao, the previously arrogant Feng Tian was on his knees, his body covered in bruises and lacerations as if he had just suffered a severe beating.
Yet compared to the physical pain, Feng Tian was obviously far more terrified of the legendary Blood-Robed Sword God.
Sister Hua was in the same state, kneeling on the ground with a face full of pleading.
As soon as Feng Xiao uttered those words, everyone in the restaurant was stunned.
"The Blood-Robed Sword God?"
"The Blood-Robed Sword God is inside this restaurant?"
Everyone hurriedly turned their heads, scanning the establishment, but they could see no sign of the Blood-Robed Sword God.
The tavernkeeper and the waiter were panicked as well.
At that moment, a lazy voice drifted out from within the restaurant.
"I am eating. Do not ruin my mood.
"It was just a trivial matter; the punishment has been served, so let it end there.
"Am I, the Blood-Robed Sword God, the kind of person who harbors petty grudges?"
Qi Yuan sighed inwardly.
Concealing his identity truly was the better choice.
Otherwise, he couldn't even enjoy a peaceful meal.
Sometimes, being too famous was indeed a hassle.
Outside the restaurant, hearing the Blood-Robed Sword God's voice transmission, Mighty Feng Xiao breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, for your magnanimity!"
True Monarch Lüqiong wiped the sweat from his forehead as well.
The Blood-Robed Sword God was a true god of slaughter.
Who would dare believe he wouldn't implicate others?
The Palace of Light had been wiped out entirely!
As for the experts of Venerable Yeqiong's Heaven and Earth Palace, they had been lined up in a row and decapitated.
Furthermore, with that sky-covering blood aura of his, who could blame people for mistaking him for a devilish cultivator?
Without slaughtering millions of living souls, how could anyone possess such terrifying blood aura?
Mighty Feng Xiao departed as hastily as he had arrived.
Inside the restaurant, the patrons looked at one another in bewilderment.
Yet no matter how hard they searched, none of them could discern where the Blood-Robed Sword God was.
***
Inside the Yaochang Sect.
True Monarch Danheng was in the middle of concocting pills. He glanced at the time. "That brat hasn't returned after delivering the pills. Who knows where he's loafing around?"
True Monarch Danheng sighed helplessly.
This disciple was very much like him in his youth—fond of slacking off and loving to boast.
Just then, hearty laughter rang out: "Brother Danheng, I had no idea you were hiding your depths so thoroughly!"
True Monarch Danheng started. Looking up, he saw Mighty Yechen arriving alongside Ye Chan.
"Greetings, Senior." True Monarch Danheng felt puzzled, but he bowed respectfully nonetheless, wondering why Mighty Yechen had come in person.
"You have taken in a fine disciple!" Mighty Yechen could not help but exclaim.
True Monarch Danheng's heart jolted.
*Oh no, did Gao Xiaoyu stir up trouble again?*
"What does Senior Yechen mean by that? Did my unfilial disciple fail to deliver the pills?" True Monarch Danheng asked, growing somewhat irritated.
Did Gao Xiaoyu not know what mattered?
"The pills are of no consequence." Yechen looked at True Monarch Danheng, genuine curiosity in his eyes. "Brother Danheng, do you truly not know who your disciple is with right now?"
"He seems to be with a friend.
"Alas, my disciple has always valued loyalty. A friend of his came here to face a formidable foe, and fearing his friend might lose, my disciple rushed over to back him up, which delayed delivering the pills to Senior. I hope Senior can be magnanimous and forgive him." True Monarch Danheng's mind raced, immediately embellishing the story.
Hearing this, Mighty Yechen narrowed his eyes with a smile. "It seems, Brother Danheng, that you truly do not know who that friend of your disciple is."
"Who is he? Did he offend Senior?"
"I wouldn't dare offend that person."
"What?"
"He is... the Blood-Robed Sword God."
"What?!" True Monarch Danheng froze in shock.
Mighty Yechen's smile was radiant. "With this layer of connection, the Yaochang Sect is assured ten thousand years of prosperity!"
***
Half a month slipped by, during which the Blood-Robed Sword God traveled across almost the entirety of the Eastern Lands.
The blare of suonas echoed throughout the region.
Every single person who had badmouthed him on the Divine Flower Society forum received their deserved retribution.
Now, whenever Qi Yuan made a post on the forum, every reply was brimming with praise.
The previous rancor, heated arguments, and sickening replies had vanished without a trace.
Looking through the comments, Qi Yuan felt thoroughly pleased. "It seems our mission to cleanse the cultivation world's atmosphere has achieved tremendous success."
In the distance, Jiang Ya was speechless.
*You call this success?*
*People are simply terrified of speaking up, afraid of provoking you!*
True Monarch Dazhi sighed. "Indeed, the atmosphere of the cultivation world has been purged considerably.
"Unfortunately, beneath the roaring flames and the peaceful facade of this golden age, there still lurks an abundance of evil and injustice."
A rare look of profound contemplation flickered across Qi Yuan's eyes. "The purge is not yet entirely complete. Everyone must continue to work hard."
At that moment, Jiang Ya said, "Senior, we will arrive at the Ascending Heaven Pavilion shortly.
"Master said that all the cultivation arts in the Ascending Heaven Pavilion will be made available to Senior."
Back on the Wangyue Continent, Jiang Ya had made an exchange with Qi Yuan, trading cultivation manuals.
Qi Yuan had come to the Ascending Heaven Pavilion specifically for these arts.
He had collected quite a few manuals from other Yin Gods, but for him, it was still far from enough.
After all, the Golden Core chapter of his cultivation was a bottomless pit.
And the Ascending Heaven Pavilion gathered cultivation arts from across the world—not only from the Eastern Lands, but also from the other domains of the Canglan Realm.
The Eastern Lands bordered the Northern Lands, but were separated by vast distances from the remaining regions.
In particular, the Central Heavenly Domain was a place that even Yin Gods could not reach with ease.
One could say that if any place in the Eastern Lands possessed the most comprehensive and abundant collection of cultivation arts, it was the Ascending Heaven Pavilion.
About the time it took for an incense stick to burn elapsed.
The spirit boat descended.
A pavilion that pierced straight into the clouds entered Qi Yuan's sight.
Seeing the pavilion, Jiang Ya beamed with a bright smile. "I'm back."
She had never imagined that simply participating in a modest Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll competition would lead to so many unforeseen events.
It all felt like a dream.
"Greetings, Exalted Blood-Robed Sword God."
Just then, a white-robed man appeared. He was dashing and elegant, carrying a dense scholarly air.
"Eldest Senior Brother," Jiang Ya called out.
This white-robed man was none other than Jiang Ya's eldest senior brother.
True Monarch Dazhi looked at the man. "Did that old fellow Wutian not come down?"
The white-robed man did not seem surprised by True Monarch Dazhi's informal form of address.
"Master is confined to the Ascending Heaven Pavilion. Until his riddle is solved, he will not step down from the pavilion. Please forgive him, Senior," the Eldest Senior Brother of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion said courteously.
"No matter. Take me into the pavilion," Qi Yuan said.
He had no interest in meeting Old Man Wutian.
What interested him was the pavilion's collection—to see if it truly gathered the arts of the world as the rumors claimed, encompassing not only the Eastern Lands but also the other domains.
"Senior, please follow me," the white-robed man said.
Qi Yuan followed him inside, while the others remained outside.
Soon, Qi Yuan stood within the soaring Ascending Heaven Pavilion.
His left eyebrow twitched, and a smile touched his lips. "It seems something fortunate is about to happen."
Once Qi Yuan stepped inside, the white-robed man bid his farewell and slowly vanished.
Only Qi Yuan remained in the immense pavilion.
Looking at the dazzling array of manual jade slips filling the first floor, he revealed a satisfied look.
"The reputation of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion collecting all the arts under heaven is indeed no falsehood."
With just a sweep of his divine sense across this single floor, he discovered tens of thousands of techniques.
Low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, Jade-grade, Mysterious-grade—everything was present.
On the first floor alone, he spotted five Heaven-grade arts.
One had to know that from both Venerable Yeqiong and Venerable Youqing combined, he had only obtained six Heaven-grade arts.
Yet here were five on the very first floor.
According to Jiang Ya, the Ascending Heaven Pavilion had five floors in total.
This first floor alone was practically wealthier than an exalted Yin God.
Yet Old Man Wutian was merely a Purple Mansion mighty figure.
"Greetings, Great Venerable Wangyue."
Right then, a raspy voice drifted over.
Qi Yuan looked over and saw an old man sitting in a wheelchair.
The old man's body resembled withered wood, but his eyes were bright and piercing.
A look of surprise crossed Qi Yuan's face. "You're already a Purple Mansion, and you still sit in a wheelchair?"
*【A rather extraordinary cultivator, the master of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion, Old Man Wutian.】*
"I grew accustomed to sitting, and now I cannot leave it," the old man rasped.
"If you get married in the future and prepare to consummate the marriage, are you still going to sit in a wheelchair?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.
"Senior truly is an intriguing person."
Facing Qi Yuan, he showed none of the dread displayed by other Purple Mansions.
The two seemed to converse as equals.
Qi Yuan did not mind in the slightest.
"If one cannot break free from the shackles of this mortal coil, what room is there to speak of... marriage?" Old Man Wutian remarked, looking at Qi Yuan. "Rather, I envy you, Fellow Daoist. You leaped up to become Great Venerable Wangyue, breaking free of your shackles in an unconventional manner. At the very least, you have attained one hundred thousand years of freedom."
"Don't speak in riddles," Qi Yuan said, looking at him.
Old Man Wutian fixed his gaze on Qi Yuan. "Does Great Venerable Wangyue know what the Great Tribulation truly is?"
Qi Yuan pondered, a surprised expression emerging on his face. "You know?"
In truth, he had asked many Yin Gods about it. All of them constantly spoke of the Great Tribulation, yet none of them actually knew what it concretely entailed.
This Old Man Wutian actually knew.
"Great Venerable, please look up at the heavens, at the brightest star."
Qi Yuan looked up.
High in the sky, the radiant red sun hung like a glowing tomato.
"The sun? The Great Tribulation is the sun?" Qi Yuan's eyes narrowed.
According to the information he had gathered, the sun in the sky represented a Yang God.
That Yang God was also the mightiest Yang God among all the neighboring realms.
That was why its light shone the brightest.
Of course, among the Yang Gods illuminating the heavens, there were certainly beings even stronger than him.
It was just that those beings were far, far too distant from the Canglan Realm.
"It is, and yet it is not," Old Man Wutian said slowly. "The Great Tribulation shares an inexplicable relationship with that great sun.
"Therefore, even though the Canglan Realm possesses several Great Venerables, when facing the Great Tribulation, they can only swallow their pride to survive, permitting their flesh to be carved away."
Hearing this, Qi Yuan roughly understood.
If what Old Man Wutian said was true, then this Great Tribulation was indeed difficult to resolve.
"Three hundred thousand years ago, a supreme expert suddenly emerged in the Canglan Realm.
"He created his own cultivation art and ascended to the rank of Great Venerable.
"Facing the Great Tribulation, he struck with fierce resolve, almost suppressing it entirely.
"Yet... at that very moment, stars across the heavens blazed with light, and countless immortals and gods descended into the mortal world.
"That supreme expert perished as a result."
Chapter 169