"Sue for peace?"
Qi Yuan was rather surprised.
To think the evil gods had sent an army master to negotiate peace.
"Speak, then. How do you propose we make peace?"
At present, the gods under his command were still consolidating their foundations and digesting the God Visualization Arts.
There was no rush for the moment.
Army Master Wu Kui spoke up hurriedly with an exceedingly respectful demeanor.
"The Mortal Heart Realm is an innate world. The Celestial Venerable must surely be aware of how extraordinary an innate world is!"
Wu Kui then continued, "An innate world is a world congealed at the dawn of creation.
"The beings born of this world may resemble humans in form, but they are alien fiends through and through.
"Those not of our kind are sure to harbor divergent hearts.
"Since the Celestial Venerable has already awakened your past-life wisdom, you are no innate being. Why remain entangled with these fiends?
"The human race and innate beings have been mortal enemies from the very beginning."
A glint of killing intent flashed in Qi Qi's eyes. "We are not human? And you are?"
An inexplicable shiver ran through Army Master Wu Kui's heart.
A foreboding sensation told him that if this woman made a move, he would not have the slightest chance of survival.
Shock filled his mind. *Another Mythological?*
Countless speculations arose within him regarding Origin Celestial Venerable's past-life identity.
He had to have been a supreme figure of the highest caliber.
"Distinguishing innate beings from our human race, or even the demon race, is quite simple.
"Innate beings are born from chaos, possessing a wisp of chaotic aura within their bodies.
"This single wisp of chaotic aura represents boundless possibilities.
"It is precisely because of this chaotic aura that innate beings can transform into demons, fiends, humans, and even evil abominations.
"Such innate fiends bring ruin to all living creatures, and every soul has the duty to strike them down.
"In the Upper Realm, we and the innate fiends are even bitter foes!
"If one wishes to determine whether a disguised cultivator is an innate being, it is straightforward.
"This realm possesses the God Visualization Art. Only an innate being endowed with that wisp of chaotic aura can cultivate the God Visualization Art."
Wu Kui explained earnestly. From a purely literal standpoint, he had not lied to Qi Yuan.
The innate beings of an innate world indeed signified boundless possibilities.
They took the shapes of humans, demons, and beasts, and they considered themselves human.
Yet in truth, they were not.
Because they carried a wisp of chaotic aura, innate beings could cultivate the God Visualization Art, allowing their strength to advance at a terrifying speed—while also making them the most susceptible to being beguiled by outer evil gods.
Ordinary cultivators regarded innate beings as heretics, practically crying out for their extermination wherever they appeared.
After all, a prodigy might take tens of thousands of years to break through to the Yin God realm,
whereas an innate being could step into the Yin God realm overnight.
Nearly all cultivators harbored intense jealousy and dread toward innate beings.
Yet toward innate worlds, the thoughts of all cultivators were entirely different.
It was not dread, but covetous greed.
This was because an innate world was exceptionally unique, capable of forging countless innate beings.
For a Mythological at the Seven Steps of Sky Treading who wished to advance to Yang God, they needed to cultivate forces under their command.
The more Yin Gods loyal to them within their Divine Domain, the greater the potential, the stronger the might, and the higher the ceiling when stepping into the Yang God realm.
In other words, by controlling an innate world, a Mythological could rapidly build up their foundation and advance to Yang God—and far from an ordinary Yang God at that.
Just as an innate world was crucial to a Mythological, the same held true for a Yang God.
Wu Kui did not know the exact details,
but he knew that an intact innate world could elevate a Yang God's cultivation to an even higher plateau.
What a terrifying prospect that was!
That was a Yang God!
An ordinary world could be obliterated with the flick of a Yang God's wrist.
Just how arduous it was for such an existence to make any breakthrough was beyond Wu Kui's imagination.
Hence, the temptation of an innate world that could help a Yang God scale greater heights was immeasurable.
Furthermore, the Mortal Heart Realm stood isolated, never linked to any great realm. As such, its innate beings could never become Yang Gods.
The strongest in this realm was merely a Mythological, making it an irresistible prize in the eyes of a Yang God.
Conversely, every Yang God harbored immense dread toward innate worlds that had long been connected to the great realms.
Who knew what kind of... monstrosities might have grown within them?
Qi Yuan listened to Wu Kui's words and caught glimpses of the man's heart-voice. A faint smile surfaced in his eyes.
"Interesting."
If only innate beings could cultivate the God Visualization Art, then what was he?
He had even managed to... visualize the Three Pure Ones, hadn't he?
"The Celestial Venerable's origins are mysterious, and you are presently trapped at Mythological because of this innate world.
"My lord has stated that she is willing to befriend the Celestial Venerable and share the innate world with you.
"All of the Celestial Venerable's subjects may enter the Celestial Venerable's Divine Domain and be taken away. With the allegiance of these innate beings, once the Celestial Venerable departs the Mortal Heart Realm, you can step into the Yang God realm—and not as an ordinary Yang God."
"So that means I can take my subjects and leave the Mortal Heart Realm right now?" Qi Yuan asked with a beaming grin.
Wu Kui lowered his head, answering apprehensively, "If the Celestial Venerable agrees to peace, the subjects shall belong to the Celestial Venerable, while the innate world shall belong to my lord.
"Once Her Highness the Princess completely devours the Heavenly Dao within the Heavenly Pillar, the Celestial Venerable and the rest may freely depart the Mortal Heart Realm."
The proposal for peace was simple: Great Sage Blood Sun wanted the innate world, while the innate beings could be given to Qi Yuan.
However, she would not let Qi Yuan leave just yet, because... once Qi Yuan departed this realm, he could immediately ascend to Yang God.
Thus, he would only be released after she finished devouring the innate world. As for whether she would truly release him then, none could say.
"Lacking in sincerity." Qi Yuan shook his head. "The people and the land... I want both."
Wu Kui's frame trembled slightly. "Isn't the Celestial Venerable being far too overbearing?"
Outside the Mortal Heart Realm, two Yang Gods stood guard.
No matter how mysterious Origin Celestial Venerable's past-life identity might be, he was currently stuck at the Seven Steps of Sky Treading and could not possibly break through to Yang God.
"My demand isn't high at all," Qi Yuan said.
His quest was to protect Qingshui Village.
How could he surrender the land?
Most importantly, he had already gone to war with the evil gods.
He had slaughtered so many of their numbers.
He did not believe for a second that the evil gods were benevolent enough to let him off.
Qi Yuan considered himself a gentleman. Yet even as a gentleman, when faced with the coercion and schemes of the Black Mountain Sect, he had been unable to forgive them, bravely drawing his kitchen knife to wipe out the Black Mountain Sect instead.
The evil gods were no gentlemen; their hearts were surely petty and venomous. Having killed so many of their kind, they were merely putting up a compliant front while preparing to settle the score later.
"When two armies clash, envoys are spared. Go back and tell your master:
"Making peace is simple. Ceding the territory of the Mortal Heart Realm to them isn't completely out of the question, but I have one condition," Qi Yuan said calmly.
Hearing this, Wu Kui assumed Origin Celestial Venerable was relenting.
Claiming he wanted both the people and the land earlier had merely been an intimidation tactic.
It was just like demanding to tear off the roof before negotiating to open a window.
Origin Celestial Venerable was merely trying to secure greater benefits.
"Pray tell what the condition is, Celestial Venerable! I shall convey it faithfully to my lord!"
"Your master and all of the evil gods must apologize to me, soothe my wounded heart, and then all commit suicide to atone for their crimes.
"Once you are all dead, I can grant you the Mortal Heart Realm to serve as your burial ground.
"See? The land goes to you, and the people stay with me... Fair, isn't it?"
Qi Yuan felt he was truly a genius.
In no time at all, he had devised a proposal readily acceptable to both sides—one that left him without any lingering worries.
Cold sweat broke out on Wu Kui's forehead.
*All commit suicide to atone for their crimes?!*
This Origin Celestial Venerable... how dared he even think of that!
This was no negotiation for peace; this was an outright provocation!
Yet even so, he dared not retort or lash out, managing only a strained response: "I shall convey these words faithfully to my lord."
Qi Yuan beamed with a radiant smile. "No wonder a grandmaster once said that great plans are forged through discussion.
"A plan like this is truly airtight. Hurry back and inform your master faithfully.
"I imagine they must be thrilled right now.
"Upon hearing my flawless proposal, they won't be able to resist clapping and cheering."
Seeing this, Army Master Wu Kui dared not utter another word. He forced a smile, offered his farewells, and departed in silence.
He dared not linger here a moment longer.
Nearby, Qi Qi stepped forward, confusion in her eyes. "Godfather, why didn't you feign agreement to their peace terms first to buy us some time?"
To Qi Qi, what everyone in the Mortal Heart Realm lacked most right now was time.
Given sufficient time, the four thousand Yin Gods under her godfather's command could all grow to a terrifying extent.
When the time came to fall out with the evil gods, their chances of success would be far greater.
"Why feign agreement? Didn't I propose conditions?" Qi Yuan asked earnestly.
He had already offered fresh terms for peace, and comprehensive ones at that.
Qi Qi was left at a loss for words.
*Were those conditions?*
*Who on earth negotiates like that?!*
"Godfather, there is no way they will ever agree to the terms you offered."
"The Great Dao numbers fifty; the Heavenly workings derive forty-nine, leaving one to escape.
"Nothing in this world is absolute. What if their master was kicked in the head by a donkey and actually accepted my terms?
"An ancient once said: 'Do not fail to do good because it is small; do not commit evil because it is small.' So no matter how minuscule the probability, we cannot give up. What if?" Qi Yuan said with utter seriousness.
He felt that after visualizing the Three Pure Ones, his mind had become sharper and his speech far more logical.
Every time he opened his mouth, profound truths of the Great Dao tumbled out.
Qi Qi fell silent, unable to muster a reply.
The news that the evil gods had sent an envoy to sue for peace quickly spread throughout Feiwu City.
The conversation between the Celestial Venerable and the evil gods' army master circulated as well, reaching the ears of many subjects and ordinary cultivators.
Mixed thoughts churned within their hearts.
"The Mythological Plan we pursued so bitterly isn't worth even a fraction of the peace terms the evil gods offered!"
"If the Celestial Venerable agreed, a hundred million souls of the Mortal Heart Realm could live!"
"How many could the Mythological Plan... even save?"
Shi Chongshan, who had just visualized Erlang Shen for the second time, was not surprised in the slightest upon hearing Qi Yuan's answer.
"Only a Celestial Venerable who refuses is truly the Celestial Venerable!"
At that moment, the headless Great Venerable Lingzhong opened the eyes upon his chest, radiating immense solemnity.
Countless complex emotions flickered across his gaze.
After roughly a hundred breaths had passed, Great Venerable Lingzhong stood before Qi Yuan.
Looking upon Origin Celestial Venerable, he spoke slowly, "Celestial Venerable... before the Heavenly Pillar broke, the Holy Mother of Inedia once said that if anyone in the future could save the Mortal Heart Realm, I should bestow this object upon him."
Qi Yuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, a look of surprise crossing his face.
He recalled Wu Shi curling up to sleep by the pond while clutching a large fish, and he recalled the Holy Mother of Inedia beneath the Heavenly Pillar—the one who had looked at him with such complex, peculiar eyes.
A specially crafted storage bag appeared before Qi Yuan.
Great Venerable Lingzhong's figure vanished from sight, leaving Qi Yuan alone in the courtyard.
Tinged with reminiscence and curiosity, Qi Yuan opened the storage bag.
Instantly... a faint, savory aroma wafted out.
Stored inside the bag were... various fish dishes: spicy fish, roasted fish, and fish boiled with pickled greens.
Judging by their appearance, these were the very fish Qi Yuan had prepared the second time he met her.
She... hadn't eaten them?
He could not help but recall Wu Shi by the pond, clutching a half-eaten fish and asking him:
"Do you... want to eat?"
Chapter 234