Feng Kui and Tan Zui transformed into streaks of flowing light, vanishing from the seventh tier.
The two moved cautiously through the Ancestral Land, communicating through voice transmissions from time to time.
"To think they're having us hunt down a bunch of Step One and Step Two Sky Treading trash!" Feng Kui's eyes were filled with disdain.
"Who told Aoshi to recruit a bunch of useless Ancient Gods? They can't even handle a simple task." Tan Zui spoke of Great Venerable Aoshi with distinct mockery.
Even though Aoshi was a Great Venerable with astonishing talent, in the eyes of these New Gods, a dog was still a dog, and a servant was still a servant.
They might be working under Great Venerable Aoshi at the moment, but they possessed very little respect for him.
"Enough. Let's capture those Ancient Gods and turn them in quickly. This Ancestral Land is eerily grim. I don't want to stay here for another second," Feng Kui said.
"Yeah. The sooner we report back, the sooner it's over," Tan Zui agreed.
Meanwhile, in the seventh tier, Great Venerable Aoshi gazed at the soaring tower before him, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. "Just what secret lies hidden within this tower?"
Back then, he had ventured into the Ancestral Land alone and somehow entered this tower, mysteriously breaking through to the True God realm.
Now, he was only a single step away from uncovering the truth.
The New Gods did not care much about this truth. After all, New Gods did not need to make their breakthroughs within the Mortal Heart Realm.
Yet Great Venerable Aoshi cared deeply, for it concerned his further advancement.
It was precisely because of this that his actions in the Ancestral Land had already drawn dissatisfaction from many New Gods.
Compared to what was invested, the yield was far too meager.
Right then, an aged voice abruptly echoed in Great Venerable Aoshi's mind.
"Just moments ago, three Ancient God Great Venerables descended upon Nanxiang City."
"What?" Hearing this, Great Venerable Aoshi's expression shifted slightly.
"They may have come for you," the aged voice continued.
"Thank you for the warning, Great Venerable Fengbo." Great Venerable Aoshi's face flickered through a stormy range of expressions.
"There is nothing in this Ancestral Land worth studying. Once we take the Mortal Heart Realm, it will not be too late to investigate. This time, we cannot help you. You should withdraw, or you will risk falling in battle." Great Venerable Fengbo's voice was calm as a tranquil well.
His words made it clear that he did not support Aoshi wasting further time in the Ancestral Land.
"Understood." Great Venerable Aoshi's expression turned somewhat grim.
He stared at the tower ahead, his eyes brimming with reluctance.
If he had just one more year—no, three months—he would be able to enter the tower's core. Perhaps the secret of the past could then be brought to light.
Unfortunately, the Ancient Gods gave him no time, and the New Gods gave him no opportunity.
Taking one last, deep look at the tower, he finally commanded, "We leave!"
If those three Great Venerables were truly coming for him, remaining here would be exceedingly dangerous.
Therefore, he chose to withdraw, waiting for a future opportunity to reenter the Ancestral Land.
"Understood." Receiving the order, the remaining New Gods gathered toward Great Venerable Aoshi.
At that moment, one New God spoke up: "Great Venerable Aoshi, Sister Feng Kui and Tan Zui have not returned yet."
Great Venerable Aoshi narrowed his eyes. "I have already notified them. However, they reported encountering enemies and said they would leave after slaying them. We move out first."
Great Venerable Aoshi's tone brooked no argument. Hearing this, even if the New Gods present harbored objections, none dared voice them.
When Great Venerable Aoshi was absent, they dared badmouth him behind his back, but doing so to his face would require the courage of a madman.
...
"Come on, follow me."
Inside the tower, Qi Yuan unlocked yet another warehouse.
During this period, he had been sweeping through the Ancestral Land like a whirlwind.
Although he had not encountered another massive stockpile like the one in Heyao Factory No. 6, the harvest was still extraordinarily bountiful.
The Ancient Gods following him were all beaming from ear to ear.
The elder twin sister had even stepped directly into Step Three Sky Treading, becoming the strongest among the group.
The younger twin sister was not to be outdone; she had reached the late phase of Step Two Sky Treading, only a step away from Step Three.
Both Happy Arhat and Long Eyebrow Arhat had reached Step Two Sky Treading as well.
The Ancient Gods' strength had surged dramatically.
However, the improvements for the Origin Core, Divine Infant, and Purple Mansion cultivators were far smaller.
After all, by Qi Yuan's understanding, these cultivators were simply too weak, worse off than newborn babies. There was nothing in this Ancestral Land truly suited for them.
"Hopefully, there's something good this time," Qi Yuan said.
He held high hopes for this warehouse.
The doors swung open.
A look of disappointment surfaced in Qi Yuan's eyes.
The warehouse seemed to have suffered massive destruction. Strange alloys lay strewn about in chaotic heaps, a complete mess.
"There's an intact box over there!" The younger twin sister had sharp eyes, instantly spotting a pristine glass case.
Qi Yuan walked up to the glass case and opened it. Hundreds of vials immediately entered his view.
The moment the Ancient Gods caught sight of those vials, their eyes blazed with light, and their bodies trembled!
"This is..."
"Divine Domain Celestial Liquid!"
"It's actually Divine Domain Celestial Liquid!"
Gone was their former composure. Staring at the Divine Domain Celestial Liquid, their breathing grew rapid and ragged.
Divine Domain Celestial Liquid was something that, once consumed, could condense a Divine Domain seed!
The reason a Great Venerable could effortlessly slaughter Venerables was entirely due to the presence of a Divine Domain.
Within a Divine Domain, a Great Venerable could execute a Venerable with ease.
For a Step Three Sky Treading cultivator to become a Great Venerable, they had to attain complete perfection in their divine apertures, condense a Divine Domain seed, and then evolve it into a Divine Domain.
If a Step One Sky Treading cultivator possessed a Divine Domain seed, they could leap tiers to challenge Step Two or even Step Three cultivators.
Yet, out of a hundred thousand Step One Sky Treading Yin Gods, not a single one was guaranteed to awaken a Divine Domain seed.
Before achieving perfection in one's divine apertures, forming a Divine Domain seed at the Venerable realm was purely a pipe dream.
Even the foremost figure of the Mortal Heart Realm, the Holy Mother of Inedia, had never accomplished it.
Among all the Yin Gods Qi Yuan had ever encountered, only Ning Tao had managed it.
The last time Qi Yuan had summoned Ning Tao, she had displayed the strength of Step Two Sky Treading and unfurled a Divine Domain seed, effortlessly slaughtering the Yin Gods who had besieged Qi Yuan.
Her ability to condense a Divine Domain seed was largely due to the peculiar state she existed in, constantly suspended between oblivion and remembrance. In her memories, time seemed frozen, and only when Qi Yuan appeared did her memories truly exist.
Now, the legendary Divine Domain Celestial Liquid was right before their eyes.
How could the Ancient Gods present not be ecstatic?
In all these years across the Mortal Heart Realm, only one person had ever condensed a Divine Domain seed before their divine apertures were perfected. That person had done so precisely because they had obtained Divine Domain Celestial Liquid.
Seeing it now, how could they contain their excitement?
If they consumed it and condensed a Divine Domain seed, they would have no rivals beneath the Great Venerable realm!
Qi Yuan, meanwhile, was examining the hundreds of vials.
[Divine Domain Celestial Liquid, also known as Vigorous Growth Mild Oral Liquid.]
[What should you do if your child is underdeveloped?]
[Administer Vigorous Growth Mild Oral Liquid to support healthy childhood development.]
[This medicinal liquid contains several flaws.]
Qi Yuan's eyes could perceive hidden information, and what he read this time struck him as utterly absurd.
This Divine Domain Celestial Liquid, revered as a supreme treasure by the Ancient Gods, was actually... intended for underdeveloped children.
Qi Yuan could not help but make a guess.
The people of that unknown race in the Ancestral Land likely became Great Venerables upon reaching adulthood. But there were always some who suffered from developmental delays or malnutrition, unable to break through to Great Venerable and stalling out at Step Three Sky Treading.
Hence, the Divine Domain Celestial Liquid was developed to help those children grow into proper adults.
Qi Yuan scanned the villagers and Ancient Gods present. "Looks like everyone here is underdeveloped."
Indeed, aside from himself, which of the people before him wasn't advanced in years? Take the twin sisters, for instance—they appeared young and lovely, but in reality, they were thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of years old.
The gods exchanged bewildered glances, having no idea what Qi Yuan meant.
The younger twin sister puffed out her well-endowed chest indignantly. "Lord God, where am I underdeveloped?"
The elder twin sister was far more reserved. Her figure was considerably more explosive than her sister's, yet she remained silent.
"You're already full-grown and haven't even become a Great Venerable—how is that not underdeveloped?" Qi Yuan remarked casually.
"What does that have to do with anything?" The younger twin was talkative by nature, a total chatterbox. "I might not be a Great Venerable, but I'm a True God at such a young age!"
"This Divine Domain Celestial Liquid is meant for underdeveloped people," Qi Yuan said, glancing at the Ancient Gods. "Which of you is... underdeveloped?"
The moment Qi Yuan spoke, everyone was stunned once again.
They could not quite grasp the true meaning behind his words.
Ancient God Wangsong's eyes gleamed with eager anticipation. "Lord God, I am underdeveloped."
"You do seem a bit deficient. This vial of Divine Domain Celestial Liquid is yours."
With a casual flick of his wrist, Qi Yuan tossed a vial of Divine Domain Celestial Liquid into Ancient God Wangsong's hands.
Ancient God Wangsong's face flushed with excitement, his breathing turning ragged as he stared at the vial as if gazing upon an incomparable beauty.
"My Lord is truly giving it to me?" Ancient God Wangsong gripped the vial tightly, unable to believe his fortune.
This was Divine Domain Celestial Liquid, a shortcut toward the realm of Great Venerables!
"Aren't you underdeveloped? That's why I'm giving it to you. Stop dawdling and drink it up," Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.
Seeing this, Ancient God Wangsong hesitated not a moment longer, swallowing the glass vial containing the liquid whole.
In his frantic haste, he even gulped down the bottle.
The other Ancient Gods were left utterly dumbfounded, but they quickly recovered and shouted in unison, "Lord God, I am also underdeveloped!"
"I'm underdeveloped too!"
"Me as well!"
The remaining Ancient Gods scrambled over one another, terrified of falling behind, fervently proclaiming their own developmental deficiencies.
The elder twin sister cast aside her modesty as well. Pressing a hand over her voluptuous chest, she murmured softly, "My Lord, I didn't develop properly either."
"It seems you are all very honest, capable of acknowledging your shortcomings. This Vigorous Growth Oral Liquid goes to you."
Qi Yuan tossed them out casually. Everyone who had just claimed to be underdeveloped received a vial of Divine Domain Celestial Liquid.
The Ancient Gods were ecstatic.
Obtaining Divine Domain Celestial Liquid had been far too easy!
To think all it took was admitting they were underdeveloped—could such an incredible bargain truly exist in this world?
Forget calling themselves underdeveloped; even if he asked them to call themselves brain-dead, they would gladly comply.
Just what kind of peculiar taste did this Lord God possess?
They simply could not fathom it.
Watching this unfold, the younger twin sister's eyes turned red with jealousy.
Her elder sister, who was even better endowed than herself, had actually received a vial!
Gritting her teeth with a blushing face, she looked at Qi Yuan and said meekly, "Lord God, actually... I'm a bit underdeveloped too."
Qi Yuan looked at her. "Didn't you say you were developed exceptionally well?"
He pointedly glanced at the chest she had puffed out earlier.
This person had no shame, no backbone whatsoever, bending her knees for mere breadcrumbs!
"I was just pretending," the younger twin whispered softly. "Out of pride, I couldn't accept the fact that I was underdeveloped."
"Now, I'm dropping the act," she declared with the resolute air of someone marching to their doom.
Her figure abruptly shifted, morphing into the appearance of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl, her chest as flat as a board.
Witnessing this, Qi Yuan's eyes widened. "You... you're utterly shameless!"
That worked too?!
This wasn't just bending over for breadcrumbs, this was...
"My Lord, am I underdeveloped now?" the younger twin asked in a soft, sweet voice.
"Sigh." Qi Yuan looked at these Ancient Gods and couldn't help but sigh. "Why is it that I am so normal and brilliant, yet all the subjects I recruit have something wrong with their heads?"
With an expression of utter disdain, he handed a vial of Divine Domain Celestial Liquid to the younger twin sister.
He felt completely helpless.
The developers of this game were truly incompetent; the NPCs they designed had rock-bottom IQs and completely abnormal brain circuitry.
The Ancient Gods drank their Divine Domain Celestial Liquid with beaming smiles.
As for Qi Yuan's grumbling, they couldn't care less.
If the treasure hadn't been so irresistible, given their usual temperament, they certainly would have retorted:
*Lord God, why don't you reflect on who really has something wrong with their head?*
The True Gods drank the Divine Domain Celestial Liquid, and even Happy Arhat and Long Eyebrow Arhat each received a vial.
As for those below True God, they did not have the fortune to partake.
After all, in Qi Yuan's eyes, those individuals weren't merely underdeveloped—they were still basically fertilized eggs.
Meanwhile, outside the tower, Feng Kui and Tan Zui watched with flashing eyes, their expressions filled with astonishment.
"These Ancient Gods actually managed to enter the tower!"
"Sheer luck?"
Thanks to their specially made garments, Feng Kui and Tan Zui enjoyed vastly enhanced safety within the Ancestral Land.
Even so, they still did not dare barge into the towers recklessly.
Even Great Venerables could perish within them, to say nothing of their tier.
"Still, their good luck is about to run out." Greed danced in Feng Kui's eyes.
Tan Zui nodded. "Inside that tower, they must have harvested countless supreme treasures. They might even be laughing their heads off right now. Laughter never disappears; it will simply transfer to our faces in a moment."
The two lay quietly in ambush, brimming with anticipation.
There truly were treasures inside these towers—treasures that might be of immense use even to Great Venerables.
Just then, Feng Kui thought of something. "This appears to be the fifth tier. How did they get down here?"
"I don't sense the aura of a Great Venerable. Could it be that they also obtained some specially made garments?"
"Most likely." Feng Kui snuffed out her lingering misgivings.
At that moment, a group filed out of the tower.
A full ten Ancient Gods and eleven ordinary mortals.
All twenty-one of them wore brilliant, beaming smiles, thoroughly delighted. Evidently, their harvest within the tower had been immense.
Surprise flickered across Feng Kui's eyes. "One of them has broken through to Step Three Sky Treading!"
Hearing that, the greed in Tan Zui's gaze intensified. "Step Three Sky Treading! Just what did they obtain inside?"
He was thrilled.
Step Three Sky Treading cultivators varied greatly in strength.
Both he and Feng Kui were in the late phase of Step Three Sky Treading; either of them acting alone would be more than enough to slaughter all the True Gods before them.
Thus, the two possessed absolute confidence.
"For such treasures to be consumed by them is a complete waste!" Feng Kui could wait no longer. "Let's go."
The two manifested in a flash, barring the path before Qi Yuan and the others.
Greed flooded Feng Kui's eyes as she licked her lips. "It seems your harvest inside was bountiful. Soon... it will all be mine."
"Evil gods?"
"Step Three Sky Treading!"
The Ancient Gods took a sharp breath, sensing impending danger.
After all, in the True God realm, the gap of a single divine aperture was immense.
Before entering the Ancestral Land, an ordinary Step Three Sky Treading cultivator could have easily subdued all eight of them.
Now, the sudden appearance of two Step Three evil gods gave them quite a shock.
Feng Kui was immensely satisfied with their reaction. "Hand over everything you obtained from the tower, and I might make your deaths a little less painful!"
At those words, the previously anxious Ancient Gods wore strange expressions, followed by a sudden realization.
What were they afraid of?
They had just consumed the Divine Domain Celestial Liquid and awakened Divine Domain seeds!
In essence, they were pseudo-Great Venerables.
Their courage surged instantly.
Qi Yuan, meanwhile, regarded the two New Gods with curiosity. "The clothes you're wearing are quite interesting. Who sent you two here?"
"A mere mortal dares to butt in?!" Seeing Qi Yuan speak, Tan Zui snapped furiously.
In a conversation between True Gods, a common mortal had dared to cut in. Arrogant as he was, he despised mortals above all else.
"Insolent!"
"How dare you!"
"To speak so disrespectfully to the Lord God, you are courting death!"
The Ancient Gods stepped in front of Qi Yuan in unison, their divine apertures churning as terrifying auras erupted from their bodies.
Feng Kui looked on, surprised. "You take a mortal as your leader? So, the reason you could enter the tower was because of him?"
Tan Zui narrowed his eyes at Qi Yuan. "Don't worry, not even your corpse will remain intact."
Hearing this, Qi Yuan yawned. "An underdeveloped minion dares to launch a verbal attack? Kill them. I'm running low on evil god spiritual power anyway," Qi Yuan remarked languidly.
These two evil gods were so advanced in age, yet still hadn't reached the Great Venerable realm. How was that anything other than incomplete development?
At Qi Yuan's command, the ten Ancient Gods struck simultaneously.
A sneer of disdain curved Feng Kui's lips. "Trash will always be trash!"
Tan Zui glared at Qi Yuan. "You are about to die a horrific death."
A few Step Two and Step Three cultivators dared fight back instead of fleeing when facing the two of them? Utterly contemptible.
Yet in the very next instant, Feng Kui's sneer froze.
She felt the surrounding air solidify into an iron grip, and the circulation within her divine apertures ground to a sluggish halt.
"This is... a Divine Domain seed!"
Her eyes bulged, her teeth clattering.
What was she seeing? A Divine Domain seed?!
How could such an extraordinary talent exist here?!
Among all the New Gods, only a single one had ever awakened a Divine Domain seed.
To find one here, and to run into them personally—how could she not feel overwhelming shock and terror?
"Impossible! How can they all have it?!" Tan Zui was more clearheaded than Feng Kui.
What he saw was not just a single Divine Domain seed, but ten of them!
This was like a nightmare.
They had run into ten gods, and all ten had awakened Divine Domain seeds.
The odds of this... were practically nonexistent.
Yet they had walked right into it.
Trapped within ten embryonic Divine Domains, the two mighty evil gods were suppressed so thoroughly that they could not move a single muscle. Where was their earlier arrogance now?
A smile tugged at Qi Yuan's lips. "Vigorous Growth Oral Liquid works wonders. You two underdeveloped fools run into the fully developed, and you can't even put up a fight, can you?"
Chapter 204