Hanging from a Tree

Having slain the golden-furred monkey with a single sword stroke, Qi Yuan wore a calm expression. The Eighteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings were completely placid, as though such an occurrence was merely routine. Only the green-robed old dragon looked anxious, murmuring, "It's over... You killed the foremost genius of the Ancient Ape Clan. The Ancient Ape Clan will definitely... come looking for trouble." Hearing this, Qi Yuan's eyes carried a faint smile. "Why would it be over? If I can kill Jin Jiao, can I not kill a mere monkey?" The green-robed old dragon froze upon hearing that. Their North Sea Dragon Clan did not dare to kill the golden-furred monkey, but Origin Celestial Venerable dared. He had even slaughtered Jin Jiao. At the thought of this, the old dragon felt an ache in his chest. "Sigh." It was hard to tell whether he was mourning Jin Jiao or lamenting the golden-furred monkey. The golden-furred monkey had been obstinate and unruly, with cultivation merely at the Purple Mansion realm, entirely unaware of just how terrifying Great Venerable Qionghua and the powerhouses around Qi Yuan truly were. It could be called ignorance breeding recklessness. And so, Qi Yuan had felled him with a single sword strike. Qi Yuan was hardly someone to preach that ignorance excused offense. The remaining two monkeys stood to the side, their bodies trembling. Among them, the monkey named Xiao Liu stepped forward, cupping his fists. "Gu Jin brought this upon himself and offended you all. My brother and I are willing to return to the Ancient Ape Clan to report today's events truthfully to the elders of our clan, so as to avert conflict!" Xiao Liu had a quick mind and spoke rapidly. He was saving his own skin. Qi Yuan looked at Xiao Liu with a hint of surprise. "And what if the Ancient Ape Clan decides to cause trouble for me?" "I will lay out the stakes clearly. The elders are sensible and reasonable; they will never rashly wage war." "What if they do anyway?" Qi Yuan asked, staring at Xiao Liu. "If the elders still insist on causing trouble for the Celestial Venerable, I shall die before them!" Xiao Liu's gaze was resolute, his voice carrying the determination to face death. Qi Yuan chuckled. "Then I'll give you a chance, and give the Ancient Ape Clan a chance." As for what happened later, Qi Yuan could not be bothered to care, or rather, did not care at all. It was only a game. Playing it comfortably and having fun was the true way. Departing from the North Sea Dragon Clan, Qi Yuan passed through Qionghua Palace and finally left the North Sea God Eye alongside the group of Ancient Gods. Great Venerable Qionghua remained behind in Qionghua Palace. On one hand, Qi Yuan had bestowed upon her the God Visualization Art of the Hundred Flowers Fairy. She had gained insights regarding the divine office of the Flower God and needed time to make a breakthrough. On the other hand, she needed to stay at Qionghua Palace to help Qi Yuan gather the supreme treasures spilling forth from the North Sea God Eye. Outside the North Sea God Eye, the group of Ancient Gods bid farewell to Qi Yuan one after another. During this Hundred Flowers Gathering, Dragon Subduing Arhat under Qi Yuan had slain members of the North Sea Dragon Clan, Qi Yuan had awakened Great Venerable Qionghua, and Great Venerable Qionghua had acknowledged Qi Yuan as her master. Every single one of these occurrences shook the heart. "Origin Celestial Venerable, I dwell at Xuankong Mountain. If your travels bring you by my blessed land, I will certainly receive you with fine wine and sumptuous delicacies," one Ancient God said with a free and easy demeanor. Ye Liuyun looked at Qi Yuan, the shock in his heart running far deeper than that of the others. The others were not of the dragon lineage, so they could not discern that the phantom upon Dragon Subduing Arhat was a dragon of Step Seven Sky Treading, knowing only that it was a Great Venerable. Ye Liuyun was different. He possessed dragon bloodline, and that dragon phantom was vastly more formidable than even the phantom of the Dragon Ancestor. It was undoubtedly Step Seven Sky Treading. He could not fathom why such a mighty dragon had been slain by Dragon Subduing Arhat. Recalling what Qi Yuan had said earlier, he could not help but overthink. Bidding Qi Yuan farewell, he lowered his voice and asked, "Origin Celestial Venerable, do Yinglong, Zhulong, the Azure Dragon, and the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon mentioned earlier truly exist?" "Mm, they exist in my memories," Qi Yuan answered. Did those deities not exist within his memories? Seeing Qi Yuan answer like this, Ye Liuyun drew a sharp breath of cold air. "Compared to the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon behind Dragon Subduing Arhat, how do they measure up?" "Only stronger, never weaker," Qi Yuan replied. Hearing that, Ye Liuyun felt indescribable shock in his heart. He had to report this matter to the clan elders as quickly as possible. Once Ye Liuyun departed, the others also bid farewell to Qi Yuan one by one. The last was Venerable Huanghun. Looking at Qi Yuan, he sighed with emotion. "With Your Excellency's talent, remaining in the Fallen Zone is truly... far too dangerous." Venerable Huanghun knew how terrifying Qi Yuan's talent was—twenty Legendaries in succession. Apart from the pinnacle Children of Destiny capable of forging Mythological arts, who could match him? "If you're worried about my safety, why not become my bodyguard?" Qi Yuan laughed. Venerable Huanghun smiled helplessly. He was not quite so selfless. If Qi Yuan could visualize a Legendary God Visualization Art suited to him, perhaps he would be willing to serve Qi Yuan just like Great Venerable Qionghua. Yet obviously, having even one such God Visualization Art was exceedingly rare; how could a second simply appear? "Alright. The harvest this time was pretty good. Time to head home," Qi Yuan said. Taking the Four Heavenly Kings and Eighteen Arhats with him, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished. Inside Qionghua Palace. Petal-shaped marks flickered within Great Venerable Qionghua's pupils. Palace Master Qionghua stood at her side, hesitating to speak. "Are you wondering why I, an exalted Great Venerable, would revere the Celestial Venerable as my master?" Great Venerable Qionghua said. Palace Master Qionghua nodded. She was indeed deeply perplexed. Origin Celestial Venerable had visualized the Hundred Flowers Fairy and awakened the Great Venerable, which was undeniably a monumental favor. Yet such a debt of gratitude could easily be repaid with supreme treasures or other means. To serve him as master was truly excessive. Perhaps in ancient times, Origin Celestial Venerable held an illustrious status as a powerhouse of Step Six or even Step Seven Sky Treading. However, the present was not the past. The current Origin Celestial Venerable was merely at the Purple Mansion realm. Great Venerable Qionghua's starting point in this life far surpassed that of Origin Celestial Venerable. In this lifetime, it was practically impossible for Origin Celestial Venerable to surpass Great Venerable Qionghua. It was precisely because of this that Palace Master Qionghua could not comprehend it. Serving the Celestial Venerable and becoming his subject was not mere empty talk. Great Venerable Qionghua's gaze grew profound. "Have you ever heard of the Hundred Flowers Fairy?" Palace Master Qionghua shook her head. "Never." Before this, she had never heard any stories concerning the Hundred Flowers Fairy. "The office of the Flower God is the pursuit of my entire life; I understand it better than anyone. "In the Mortal Heart Realm, there is simply no god... who oversees this office," Great Venerable Qionghua said. Hearing this, Palace Master Qionghua's expression changed abruptly. "Then he... could it be..." ... "When leaving, continuous drizzling rain; when returning, ten thousand miles of clear sky." Looking at the clouds above and the stars tinged with crimson light, Qi Yuan felt in a rather good mood. After a long trek, he led his followers back to Qingshui Village. At this moment, Qingshui Village was a picture of peace. Village Chief Yulei and Shrine Official Shentu had gone to Feihuang City to purchase supplies and had not returned today. The Four Heavenly Kings and Eighteen Arhats departed one after another, leaving only Qi Yuan inside the temple. Looking at the bloody hue in the sky, Qi Yuan prepared to dig a big pit to sleep in. Suddenly, however, Qi Yuan paused his movements. He glanced at Xiao Jia, who was standing quietly beside him. "I suddenly remembered that the garment demons in the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground all hang from trees to sleep. "How about today, you and I hang from a tree together?" Qi Yuan looked at Xiao Jia, eager to try. Xiao Jia stood to the side. The faint blood-red light fell upon her, making her appear somewhat ethereal and captivating. Soon enough, Qi Yuan imitated the garment demons of the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground, hanging both himself and Xiao Jia from a tree branch. "It still feels safer sleeping in a dirt pit," Qi Yuan remarked, grasping Xiao Jia's slightly cool sleeve. "Still, hanging from a tree, enjoying the evening breeze, and looking at the stars in the sky can sometimes be quite romantic." In the night sky, stars dotted the expanse. Qi Yuan pointed toward what used to be the moon and said, "I heard that a Chang'e lives on the moon, though I don't know whether that's true or false." Xiao Jia also raised her head, gazing at the moon in the sky as if pondering something. From the exquisitely patterned sleeve, a wooden plaque bearing a happy expression slipped out and fell into Qi Yuan's hand. "Looks like you really do like hanging from trees, Xiao Jia." Qi Yuan looked at her. Xiao Jia gripped Qi Yuan's hand a little tighter, speaking no words. Time flowed slowly, the evening breeze frolicking gently as they enjoyed the serene peace of the moment. Closing his eyes, various thoughts drifted through Qi Yuan's mind one by one. *This game world truly is a bit... strange.* By summoning Xiao Jia, Qi Yuan had confirmed the difference in time flow between this realm and the Canglan Realm. This time flow was bizarre. It was as if only an instant passed in the Canglan Realm while oceans turned into mulberry fields in the Mortal Heart Realm. He had spent so many days here in the Mortal Heart Realm, yet the time in the Canglan Realm remained frozen right before he entered the game. It was precisely because of this that he felt somewhat hesitant to log out and return to the Canglan Realm. If he logged off and slept for a night in the Canglan Realm, what if Qingshui Village was gone when he returned? *Strange. Logically speaking, if time in the Canglan Realm is frozen, my Stellar Golden Core should also be frozen.* *Why is the True Solar Fire on my Stellar Golden Core still continuously growing?* Qi Yuan wondered. It felt as though, at this moment, time lacked an exact standard and scale of comparison. "This world truly is bizarre," Qi Yuan sighed. Since he could not figure it out, he simply stopped thinking about it. "Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming also couldn't use supreme treasures to advance. It seems that even if I visualize more powerful figures, they won't be able to either, for the time being." On the journey back, Qi Yuan had let Dragon Subduing Arhat and Tiger Taming Arhat attempt to break through to True God. This left Qi Yuan facing a dilemma. Right now, he was troubled over whom to visualize. Visualizing weaker figures might allow them to break through the realm limit and become True Gods. Yet visualizing powerful figures might leave them stuck at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm. To break the impasse, there were two paths: first, gather more powerhouses like Great Venerable Qionghua among his subjects; second, resolve the boundary restriction preventing breakthroughs to True God. Holding Xiao Jia's cool sleeve, Qi Yuan slowly drifted off into dreamland. At the same time, in Feihuang City, a carriage pulled up outside the City Lord's Manor. Three men and two women in lavish attire stepped down from the carriage, all appearing to hail from prominent clans. These five were members of the Wang family from Feiwu City. The Wang family controlled seventy percent of the restaurant business in Feiwu City. In Feiwu City, they were the type who could shake the entire city with a stamp of their foot. Having received the message, Huang Mengying came out from the City Lord's Manor, an expression of doubt on her face. "Madam Wang, what brings you here?" The leader of the Wang family was a middle-aged woman whose black hair was streaked with gray. Deep anxiety lingered in her eyes. "Just at the hour of the Tiger today, the former emperor... passed away." "What!" Hearing this, Huang Mengying's heart shook violently. Among the countries in the Fallen Zone, Lin Country was considered one of the fiercest in resisting the evil gods. The primary reason was that the sovereign believed in the Ancient Gods and fiercely rejected the evil gods. Now, the sovereign had passed away. To Huang Mengying, this was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue. "The one ascending the throne is the Third Prince," Madam Wang stated, delivering another cruel reality. The Third Prince was the one within the imperial court who had always advocated worshiping the evil gods. What the Third Prince's accession signified was clearer to no one than Huang Mengying and her peers. The skies of Lin Country were about to change. Yet what Madam Wang said next caused Huang Mengying's face to pale even further. "At noon, a transfer order arrived from the capital. Prefect Zhuge has been... transferred away from Feiling Prefecture." Feihuang City, Feiwu City, and five surrounding cities—seven cities in total—all fell under the jurisdiction of Feiling Prefecture. Prefect Zhuge was also a staunch member of the Ancient God faction. With him transferred away, the implications were obvious. "Our Wang family has always monitored the situation and made preparations long ago. "Now that the former emperor has passed away, we plan to leave Lin Country and head for the Ancient God Alliance," Madam Wang said, a hint of uncertainty about the future coloring her tone. Evidently, the Wang family had long prepared to migrate. With this sudden upheaval in the political situation, even core figures like her were beginning to relocate. "Feihuang City must also prepare early," Madam Wang added. "If the Huang family wishes to leave, our Wang family can lend a helping hand." The Wang and Huang families shared generations of friendship. After exchanging a few words, Madam Wang took her leave, choosing not to spend the night in Feihuang City. Watching the carriage depart into the distance, Huang Mengying's gaze turned resolute. "Someone, report this matter to Origin Celestial Venerable." The carriage departed under cover of night, the expressions of those inside rather somber. Madam Wang lifted the window curtain, looking out at Feihuang City, which was still alive with the bustle of daily life, and could not help but sigh. "Once the evil gods descend, who knows when Feihuang City will turn into a ghost realm." Believing in an evil god might allow one to live well in the short term, but once assimilated, one became nothing more than a walking corpse. Such a fate was something these noble clans simply refused to accept. Naturally, there were also evil gods who offered enticing terms, winning the support of many noble families and even Ancient Gods. Wang Wenya thought of something and asked softly, "Madam Wang, do you think that Ancient God in Qingshui Village will leave?" On their way here, they had already learned about what happened in Feihuang City. She was quite curious about that Ancient God of Qingshui Village. "Judging by his arrangements, he probably won't leave," Madam Wang offered her assessment. One could discern an Ancient God's intentions from their territory. Take the Wang family: though previously based in Feiwu City, they had continuously scaled back their restaurants and liquidated fixed assets. This showed the Wang family was ready to flee at any moment. In contrast, according to the information Madam Wang received, Qingshui Village placed great emphasis on agriculture and had been opening up fertile farmland. There was no sign whatsoever of intending to leave. "In times like these, heading to the Ancient God Alliance is the best outcome," Wang Wenya remarked. The man beside her spoke up then. "Perhaps he is unwilling to abandon his people." Hearing that, the occupants of the carriage fell silent. After an unknown amount of time, as the caravan traveled slowly forward, a familiar voice suddenly rang out. "Routine inspection!" Passing through major cities and towns, routine inspections were standard practice. In evil god territories, they checked for Ancient God spies. In Ancient God territories, they checked for lackeys of the evil gods. Hearing the voice, Wang Wenya pulled back the curtain and saw a familiar figure, her eyes brimming with surprise. "Zhao Zun, it's you!" "Wenya?" Zhao Zun recognized Wang Wenya. "Why are you here?" Seeing Zhao Zun, a flash of joy crossed Wang Wenya's heart. She had once studied at the academy, where Zhao Zun was her classmate, though their relationship had been ordinary. However, a year ago, an upheaval struck the Zhao family, and Zhao Zun had vanished. "A disaster hit my family, and I fled here as a refugee," Zhao Zun briefly explained past events to Wang Wenya. After hearing it, Wang Wenya had mixed feelings, never expecting such a tragedy to have befallen the Zhao family. Her former classmate had endured such a severe blow. "Are you following Origin Celestial Venerable now?" Wang Wenya asked curiously. Recalling their past school ties, she added, "Soon... war might break out. Do you want to leave this place of turmoil with me?" "No need." Zhao Zun shook his head, his gaze resolute. "My future was given to me by the Celestial Venerable. I will not leave this place." Having become the Dragon Subduing Arhat, he was no longer the Zhao Zun of the past. Wang Wenya felt somewhat puzzled, unable to fathom why Zhao Zun's stance was so unyielding. Still, since an old acquaintance was unwilling to leave, she would not force it. She returned into the carriage, feeling a touch of melancholy. At that moment, Madam Wang wore an expression of bewilderment. "Was this classmate of yours always this strong?" "Huh?" Wang Wenya did not quite grasp Madam Wang's meaning. "If he is this powerful, how could Zhao Si have seized his family property?" Madam Wang asked, completely puzzled. "Hasn't he only just reached the Divine Infant realm?" Wang Wenya asked, baffled. "He is definitely not at the Divine Infant realm. If he wished, our entire carriage of people would probably have to stay right here," Madam Wang said faintly. As the foremost powerhouse of the Wang family, her strength stood at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm. Yet facing that Zhao Zun, she had a premonition that she wouldn't even survive a single bout against him. "How could that be? How could he be so strong!" Wang Wenya could not comprehend it. They had only parted ways for a single year; how could he have leaped across an entire major realm? "Perhaps it has something to do with him calling himself the Dragon Subduing Arhat." Madam Wang thought of the God Visualization Art and murmured, "No wonder he is willing to swear fealty to the guardian god of Qingshui Village. "To raise his strength to the peak of the Purple Mansion realm so quickly, the grade of that God Visualization Art must be exceptionally, unimaginably high." Of course, high as it was, and envious as they might be, the Wang family would still not remain in Qingshui Village to pledge allegiance to this so-called guardian god. Heading to the Ancient God Alliance was the only path to survival in this Fallen Zone.