The Four Emperors of Divine Flower Agree to Meet in Person

"Once an elder sister, always an elder sister!" Qi Yuan held firmly to his moral principles. For instance, the moment he first laid eyes on Ruan Yixi, he had realized she was his wife. Therefore, he had never called her anything other than "wife." Iceberg Overlord Woman was considerably older than him, so calling her sister was only natural. "This lady is youthful and gorgeous, yet you people insist on making me sound ancient!" Iceberg Overlord Woman sent through gritted teeth. Back when she was at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, she had never put on airs in the chat, nor did she act subserviently toward Qi Yuan now. "Sister Iceberg Overlord Woman possesses beauty that topples nations, forever in the prime of her youth!" Rogue Immortal Venerable chimed in with timely flattery. Rogue Immortal Venerable had already resigned himself to his fate. His talent was lacking. Origin Celestial Venerable, who had once huddled with him in the group for mutual warmth, had suddenly skyrocketed into a supreme powerhouse, leaving him as the only true novice in the chat. Thus, his only duties now were heaping praise and clinging tightly to those prominent thighs. "Breaking through to Divine Infant True Monarch feels great and all, but I have my own troubles. I broke through too fast," Qi Yuan said, genuine distress etched on his face. He truly had broken through too quickly. After journeying thousands of li back to Seven Colors Peak, before his seat was even warm, he had leapt from the early Origin Core realm straight into the Divine Infant realm in the blink of an eye. Such speed was truly unprecedented and would likely never be matched. Upon reading that, Rogue Immortal Venerable was utterly at a loss. Was there actually someone in the world complaining about advancing too fast? By Origin Celestial Venerable's own definitions, wasn't this pure humblebragging? "If this lady ever breaks through to Yin God, I'll definitely imitate Origin Celestial Venerable in front of my sisters and show off! I'll say... *Sigh, reaching Yin God is just too easy—no challenge at all, totally devoid of any sense of achievement.*" "In this entire group, Origin Celestial Venerable alone has mastered the art of bragging." "I'm not bragging, I'm genuinely troubled!" "I went through so much trouble to visit Elder Wutian and clean out every single cultivation technique in Ascending Heaven Pavilion. And what happened? I used them all up, and they only pushed me as far as the breakthrough to Divine Infant." Qi Yuan was truly exasperated. His Origin Core techniques branched into two paths: one was continuing along the Stellar Golden Core path, and the other was advancing toward the Divine Infant realm. Now that his techniques were exhausted, the Stellar Golden Core path remained incomplete, and he had no leads whatsoever on advancing further along the Divine Infant path. Technically, he was currently a Divine Infant True Monarch, but he could just as easily pass as an Origin Core cultivator. Qi Yuan's words left the Four Emperors of Divine Flower dumbfounded once more. "You cleaned out all the techniques in Ascending Heaven Pavilion...?" "Even though the master of Ascending Heaven Pavilion is only at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm, even Yin God Venerables hold him in immense respect. Origin Celestial Venerable... you're truly fierce!" "Sigh, don't even get me started. I'm dirt-poor right now and starved for cultivation arts. Where else has as many... techniques as Ascending Heaven Pavilion?" Qi Yuan could not help asking for help. His Golden Core path was a bottomless pit. His Divine Infant path also required all manner of techniques. Jiang Ya, that wealthy young lady at Ascending Heaven Pavilion, had already been squeezed completely dry. Qi Yuan had to find another way. Besides, he also wanted to check on the Great Tribulation. "Among the Thirteen Continents of the Eastern Lands, Ascending Heaven Pavilion holds the most techniques. Origin Celestial Venerable, if you wish to seek more arts, you'll likely have to leave the Eastern Lands," Great Sun Flame Emperor chimed in. "Oh? Travel to other domains?" Qi Yuan pondered. Not long ago, after returning from Moon Gazing Continent, he had received the tip from Little Li of Fox Cave and gone on a slaughtering spree across the internet cables to hack everyone who slandered him to death. However, his movements had been strictly confined to the Eastern Lands. He had never stepped beyond their borders. "Origin Celestial Venerable, why not come to Fengtian Domain? It borders the Eastern Lands. Furthermore, the tri-domain branch of Dao Seeking Palace is located here. You might be able to obtain quite a few techniques from Dao Seeking Palace," Great Sun Flame Emperor introduced. The Canglan Realm consisted of thirty-six domains in total. Among them, the Eastern Lands, Central Heavenly Domain, and Arctic Ice Plains each constituted a domain. Fengtian Domain bordered the Eastern Lands and was where Great Sun Flame Emperor resided. In terms of strength, Fengtian Domain was a tier above the Eastern Lands. Most importantly, Great Venerables resided there. Dao Seeking Palace was an organization established by Purple Mansion cultivators, gathering Purple Mansion experts from various domains to pursue the Yin God path together. The major stronghold of Dao Seeking Palace overseeing the Eastern Lands, Fengtian Domain, and Demonic Monster Domain happened to be located in Fengtian Domain. "Does... Dao Seeking Palace have many cultivation techniques?" "The Fengtian Domain branch of Dao Seeking Palace has only slightly fewer techniques than Ascending Heaven Pavilion. However, its individual members possess plenty of arts that haven't been handed over to the collective archive," Iceberg Overlord Woman explained. "What Dao Seeking Palace? That's clearly my White Moonlight Palace!" Qi Yuan's eyes shone brightly. According to the criteria he had set for White Moonlights, the members of Dao Seeking Palace were all vigorous elders, perfectly fitting the bill. Of course, whether they truly qualified as his White Moonlights still depended on taking a look in person to see if there was affinity. "I'll go! As soon as I finish hosting the Divine Infant Assembly, I'll head straight to Fengtian Domain to meet you," Qi Yuan told Great Sun Flame Emperor. At that moment, Iceberg Overlord Woman suggested, "The Four Emperors of Divine Flower have never gathered together. Since Origin Celestial Venerable is visiting Fengtian Domain, why don't we all meet up in person?" "No problem! If everyone comes, I'll arrange everything!" Great Sun Flame Emperor agreed with evident excitement. Rogue Immortal Venerable hesitated briefly before adding, "I happen to be free around then as well." "Looks like the Four Emperors of Divine Flower can finally meet in the flesh." Qi Yuan felt a surge of excitement. He had always been enthusiastic about meeting online friends in person. Perhaps it was a retaliatory impulse stemming from that rather unconventional failure of a meetup with Jin Li back then. "In that case, let's set the location in Qinghong City, Boluo Continent, Fengtian Domain!" Great Sun Flame Emperor declared. The branch stronghold of Dao Seeking Palace was located in Qinghong City, which was also a renowned hub within Fengtian Domain. "What about the timing?" Great Sun Flame Emperor asked. "I should arrive in... about half a month," Qi Yuan replied. He was still in the Land of a Hundred Nations; traveling all that way would take considerable time. "Half a month works fine for this lady." "Works for me too." The group members chatted excitedly, their spirits high. "Origin Celestial Venerable, what do you look like? Are you as dashing and imposing as the legends say? My little sisters are all dying to see the legendary Blood-Robed Sword God! It's a shame no likeness of you has ever leaked from the Eastern Lands." "I am, roughly speaking, exceptionally handsome." Remembering that his junior sister Jiang Lingsu had chosen to offer herself in marriage, Qi Yuan grew even more confident. If he weren't handsome, she would probably have offered to repay him by working like a beast of burden in the next life. "I've seen Origin Celestial Venerable before! He is easily the most charismatic and handsome cultivator I have ever laid eyes upon!" Rogue Immortal Venerable chimed in. "In terms of cultivation, I might not rank among the very top of Canglan Realm, but... when it comes to looks and charm, if Canglan Realm had a handsome men's leaderboard, I'd claim the top spot without contest!" Qi Yuan boasted smugly. Compared to his face, even the two Stellar Golden Cores hanging in the sky seemed utterly dull and lackluster. "That confident?" Great Sun Flame Emperor marveled. "You aren't bluffing, are you?" "No need to bluff—my face alone suppresses all enemies across the world!" Qi Yuan proclaimed grandly. Withdrawing from the Divine Flower Society jade slip, he saw the cultivators who had come to build the new concrete bungalow arriving. Naturally, Qi Yuan could not remain inside his room, so he took his pet kitchen knife for a stroll down the mountain. He came to a halt beneath a massive tree, the very spot where True Monarch Kumu and the former Empress of Great Shang—now the Empress Dowager—had once held their trysts. His gaze fell upon a small blade of grass on the ground. [This is a slightly uncommon blade of grass. Having caught the scent of Qi Yuan, it has undergone subtle mutations.] Seeing this, Qi Yuan's eyes widened with curiosity. "It really caught the scent of Qi Yuan?" The last time he checked the grass, the notification had stated that it had caught the scent of the moon again. Back then, Qi Yuan had wondered whether it might catch the scent of Qi Yuan the following day. And sure enough, here it was. "Xiao Jia, quick, look! This grass is acting a bit weird!" Qi Yuan held Xiao Jia's red sleeve as they both stared down at the seemingly ordinary blade of grass. Qi Yuan clearly remembered that when an intruder had trespassed onto Seven Colors Peak, this very grass had obliterated them. "Hey... can you talk?" Qi Yuan could not help asking the grass. Unfortunately, the blade of grass remained utterly silent, appearing no different from any ordinary clump of turf. "Even though you look plain and ordinary, I still recognized you at first glance." Qi Yuan babbled on, but the grass remained still and quiet. Passing by, Jiang Ran could not help but chuckle softly at the sight. This Eldest Senior Brother of Seven Colors Peak... truly was unique. "Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother." Jiang Ran bowed gracefully, her eyes filled with reverence and bewilderment. Just moments ago, Jiang Lingsu had approached her, saying she needed a companion to serve as a greeter. Jiang Ran was here to be that companion. Serving as a companion was one thing, but serving as a greeter for Origin Celestial Venerable was another entirely. She had specifically questioned the disciples and elders of the Divine Light Sect; tomorrow indeed marked the Divine Infant Assembly, and it was being held for Qi Yuan of Seven Colors Peak. How could Jiang Ran not be shocked? By now, any disciple in the entire Divine Light Sect who received the news was likely struck dumb with disbelief. Who in the Divine Light Sect didn't know the name Qi Yuan? And yet... he was a Divine Infant? If the sect master hadn't issued strict orders forbidding unauthorized personnel from wandering onto Seven Colors Peak, the peak would be swarming with commotion by now. Countless disciples, deacons, and even elders would have flooded the peak to investigate. "Here to see my junior sister? Go on up, then." Qi Yuan didn't engage in lengthy chatter with Jiang Ran. Jiang Ran looked at Qi Yuan with complex emotions swirling in her heart. Back then, Senior Brother Qi Yuan had stood up for her and clashed with Chu Tianxiong of the Black Mountain Sect. That very night, Chu Tianxiong and several other Black Mountain Sect disciples wound up dead, and shortly after, the wicked Black Mountain Sect was completely exterminated. The incident had become an unsolved mystery in Great Shang. No one knew the killer's identity, only that the culprit wielded an unusual blade. Now, Jiang Ran glanced at the kitchen knife hovering obediently behind Qi Yuan, and a flood of thoughts crossed her mind. If Senior Brother Qi Yuan had been concealing his strength all along... Could he be the one who wiped out the Black Mountain Sect? A wave of profound gratitude surged within her, and she could not help asking, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan... were you the one who destroyed the Black Mountain Sect back then?" If so, Senior Brother Qi Yuan was her great benefactor. Qi Yuan glanced around conspiratorially, looking like a thief covering his tracks. "Let me tell you, I did wipe them out, but you must never tell a soul! Otherwise, if some hidden master from the Black Mountain Sect goes to Blue Star and slaughters my fellow countrymen, it'll be a disaster!" Jiang Ran's eyes lit up. It really was Senior Brother Qi Yuan! Back when trouble brewed with the Black Mountain Sect, Senior Brother Qi Yuan had stepped forward bravely. At the time, Jiang Ran had worried about his safety, never imagining he had wiped out the entire sect that very night. Yet the second half of Qi Yuan's words shocked her just as deeply. The Black Mountain Sect had hidden masters? Even stronger than Senior Brother Qi Yuan? Guilt welled up inside her once more. After all, Senior Brother Qi Yuan had provoked the Black Mountain Sect entirely on her behalf. "Thank you, Senior Brother Qi Yuan, for ridding the people of this evil and helping me escape danger!" Jiang Ran bowed deeply with solemn gratitude. She was only in Qi Refinement, without a single spirit stone to her name, let alone anything worthy of presenting as a reward. "No worries." Qi Yuan waved his hand dismissively. "They went too far, plotting against me in the shadows. I lost my patience and rooted them out. After all, when an ordinary man is pushed to anger, blood spatters five paces!" Jiang Ran was stunned to learn there had been such hidden history. It turned out the Black Mountain Sect had long been secretly bullying Senior Brother Qi Yuan, and he had simply struck back. After offering repeated thanks, Jiang Ran headed higher up Seven Colors Peak to find Jiang Lingsu. Once again, only Qi Yuan's murmurs and the silent grass remained. "Looks like you're lacking sunshine!" Qi Yuan remarked casually. He glanced up at the Stellar Golden Cores in the sky. Having stepped into the Divine Infant realm, the spiritual energy in his dantian vastly exceeded what he possessed during the Origin Core stage. Previously, summoning a Stellar Golden Core required a lengthy period of energy gathering, but now he could manifest them repeatedly in one go. As for Ning Tao's phantom, he could even summon her down to keep him company continuously. However, right now, the Stellar Golden Core was in the critical process of devouring the third core, so Ning Tao could not easily step away. Qi Yuan planned to summon Ning Tao down to hang out once the third Stellar Golden Core was successfully completed. "Maybe next time I play a game, I can bring Ning Tao along too." "It'd be nice if the next game is set in modern society. Then I could register a marriage certificate with Xiao Jia and Ning Tao." Having grown up on Blue Star, Qi Yuan felt far more comfortable with marriage certificates than ancient marriage contracts and betrothal documents. "Not like I have any money anyway—I'm dirt poor, so I wouldn't even have to worry about splitting assets in a divorce." Qi Yuan frowned at the thought. "Cruel heavens, why am I so poor!" Qi Yuan truly was impoverished. Though the Blood-Robed League continually gathered cultivation arts, their speed yielded only a drop in the ocean. He wanted to acquire more techniques from Dao Seeking Palace, but he lacked the funds to purchase them. "If only I could host a Divine Infant Assembly for every single one of my Divine Infants! That would bleed every old Divine Infant monster in Great Shang dry of their spirit stones!" Qi Yuan mused. Generally, attending True Monarchs presented celebratory gifts at a Divine Infant Assembly. If he held one for every Divine Infant, he would make an absolute fortune. Yet realizing that squeezing Great Shang completely dry wouldn't amount to that much in the grand scheme of things, Qi Yuan quickly abandoned the idea. "If I could hold an open Divine Infant Assembly across the entire Canglan Realm over four thousand times, I'd definitely be the richest man in the realm." Qi Yuan let his imagination run wild. It was just like his childhood daydream of having every person on Earth give him ten cents. Only this fantasy was far wilder: not only did everyone give ten cents, but they gave it over four thousand times, equivalent to four hundred yuan from every soul on Blue Star. Even so, that barely matched the debt of a certain mega-corporation. Qi Yuan shook his head, cutting off his idle daydreaming. Around him on Seven Colors Peak, numerous cultivators were still busily erecting his concrete bungalow. He glanced into the distance. "When that brat Qi Jianjun returns and sees the house completely transformed, she's going to be utterly shocked, isn't she?" Meanwhile, hundreds of li away, a little girl leaned on a fishing rod, angling by a vast lake. Before long, a shimmering spiritual fish was pulled from the water, and a brilliant smile broke across the little girl's face. Chapter 244: Shen Wushen "It's actually a Scarlet Flame Fish!" "That fish is worth ten spirit stones!" "Whose disciple is this little girl?" The nearby anglers around the lake breathed heavily. A single fish worth ten spirit stones was enough to make any Qi Refinement cultivator's heart race. Most of these cultivators were loose practitioners who struggled to earn even ten spirit stones in an entire year. What was more, the little girl's bucket held far more than just the Scarlet Flame Fish—it was packed with various other spiritual fish. Altogether, they were worth several hundred spirit stones. Such a sum was enough to tempt even a Foundation Establishment expert. Qi Jianjun seemed oblivious to the chatter around her, casting her line back into the water to continue fishing. At that moment, an old Qi Refinement practitioner sitting nearby could no longer hold back. In a solemn, earnest tone, he advised, "Little one, as the saying goes, one shouldn't flaunt wealth. You're in great danger sitting here; plenty of eyes are on you. Who is your family elder? Call them over quickly to take you back." Qi Jianjun kept her eyes on the calm surface of the lake and replied with apparent grievance, "My mother went up to the heavens, and my father spends his days hooked on video games, with his days and nights completely flipped. Who knows where he's off dying right now." Upon hearing this, the old man understood. The little girl's mother had likely passed away, while her father drowned his sorrows in games. "Sigh, what a pitiful child," the old man said, casually probing further. "To produce such an exquisite and adorable child, your parents must come from prominent backgrounds. Which cultivation sect are they from?" "We're from out of town, just arrived in Great Shang recently," Qi Jianjun answered offhandedly. Just then, the fishing rod twitched. Another fish had taken the bait, and a look of delight spread across Qi Jianjun's face. "Caught another one!" This drew excited cheers from the surrounding anglers. Not far away, a young man watched the scene with a helpless expression. *That child is done for. She's been targeted.* He recognized the old man sitting beside Qi Jianjun. Though seemingly harmless and kind-hearted on the surface, the old man was actually a scout for bandit cultivators, subtly extracting information from Qi Jianjun. Once they gauged her background and deemed it safe, they would strike and rob her. The cultivation world was never a place of peace and serenity. Perhaps disciples of great sects were well protected, but among bottom-tier loose cultivators—and even within the murky underbelly of prominent sects—ugly deeds occurred at every moment. The young man wearing a bamboo hat glanced at the girl with pity in his eyes. Yet thinking of the bandit cultivators backing that old man, he could only sigh. Stepping in to help was out of the question. At that moment, a Foundation Establishment cultivator and two Qi Refinement cultivators walked toward the lake, conversing in low tones as they approached. "From out of town? Sounds like a fat sheep fleeing disaster!" The Foundation Establishment bandit's face was painted with greed. Spiritual fish worth hundreds of spirit stones with virtually no risk—this was business worth doing. "I already checked. There is no record of this girl in any nearby sects. Her background is ordinary," a Qi Refinement seventh-layer bandit reported. As long as she wasn't an affiliated sect disciple, they had nothing to fear. In truth, they didn't even fear ordinary minor sects. Aside from the three towering sect giants of Great Shang, whom these bandits dared not touch, any other sect was fair game. "Catching so many fish means she has some fortune on her side. Why not burn her face, silence her vocal cords, and leave her here permanently to fish for us?" one of the Qi Refinement bandits suggested. Such atrocities were routine for these bandits. The beggar sects in mortal realms operated in much the same way, frequently crippling people and forcing them to beg for coin. "Move," the Foundation Establishment old man ordered, his face dripping with avarice. The three bandits emerged, faces concealed behind masks. The surrounding anglers shivered, and some grabbed their buckets to flee in secret. The young man who had felt pity earlier sighed softly, averting his gaze. Many stole sorrowful glances at the young girl. Such an adorable little girl was about to suffer a cruel fate. Her father truly was utterly irresponsible! Meanwhile, not far off beneath a tree, two figures stood watching the unfolding commotion by the shore. A flicker of killing intent surfaced in the woman's eyes. "These bandits are truly despicable, stooping so low as to attack a little girl. And those men are utter trash—not a single one dares step forward to help. Young Master, should I go and..." The woman looked toward the man beside her clad in coarse hemp garments, her gaze saturated with deep reverence. The woman was named Shen Zhifeng, the sole Divine Infant cultivator of the Shen surname in the Demonic Desire Sect, and the guide for the Shen clan. Yet even as a Divine Infant True Monarch, she stood before this coarse-robed man like a humble servant. For the man before her was named Shen Wushen! This time, the Shen clan's successful coup to reclaim control of the Demonic Desire Sect was entirely Shen Wushen's doing. Single-handedly, Shen Wushen had slaughtered every other Divine Infant cultivator in the Demonic Desire Sect—as easily as slaughtering chickens. Though Shen Zhifeng was also a Divine Infant, she wouldn't last a single round against Shen Wushen. Shen Wushen gazed at the young girl by the lake, profound depth shining in his eyes. "She... is no ordinary person." "Hm?" Shen Zhifeng asked in surprise. Concealed cultivation? Yet no matter how hard she looked, she could not discern the girl's strength. If that was the case, it meant the girl's cultivation either far surpassed her own, or the girl practiced an aura-concealing method, or she possessed a treasure that masked her presence. "Don't bother looking; you cannot see through her cultivation. To think that in a remote corner like Great Shang, I would encounter a senior of this caliber." Shen Wushen's eyes held a trace of genuine respect. Shen Zhifeng was even more shocked. For Shen Wushen to address her as a senior, just how strong was she? Could she be... Purple Mansion? Shen Zhifeng's breath hitched, and the look she cast toward the bandits shifted to one of pity. "The Canglan Realm is far more fascinating than I imagined. I hope I can meet an opponent worthy of my blade!" A sharp, unyielding edge flared in Shen Wushen's eyes. He hailed from the Upper Realm, born of a major sect. His master was a myth-level powerhouse whose brilliance illuminated the myriad heavens. Presently, he traveled the myriad realms using a sect treasure to temper his cultivation. The Demonic Desire Sect in Canglan Realm was merely a lower-realm coordinate previously discovered by his Shen family, left behind for younger generations to explore. However, the Shen family had declined and could no longer project downward. Shen Wushen had joined a premier sect, relying on its supreme heirloom to descend for tempering. Now, he had arrived at the Demonic Desire Sect. He was a martial fanatic—a battle maniac. Traveling across diverse worlds, he constantly polished his Dao arts and fortified his Divine Infant foundation, having lingered at the Divine Infant realm for a full thousand years. To elite disciples of the Upper Realm, the duration of cultivation below the Yin God realm meant very little. The foundation was all that mattered. After all, they could descend to lower realms where time flowed differently from the Upper Realm. A single day in the Upper Realm might equal a thousand years in a lower realm. For major sect disciples, foundation was paramount. Once reaching the Yin God realm, however, the situation changed. Yin God required patient grinding, but traveling lower realms was inferior to remaining in the Upper Realm. Despite the time discrepancy, the Upper Realm possessed far more complete worldly laws, making it significantly easier to condense divine apertures. "Young Master is peerless under heaven, an elite of a premier sect even in the Upper Realm. How could any Divine Infant in Canglan Realm possibly match you?" Shen Zhifeng said earnestly. She believed that even if all the Divine Infants of Great Shang—or even all the Divine Infants across the Land of a Hundred Nations—attacked together, they would not necessarily be able to slay him. "Even wild lands can birth a qilin," Shen Wushen remarked, his battle intent surging. "The invitation from the Divine Light Sect concerning Great Shang's foremost Divine Infant, Qi Yuan... doesn't that sound rather interesting?" Shen Zhifeng fell silent for a moment. Previously, hearing of a twenty-year-old Divine Infant would have agitated her to the point of disbelief; it was simply too shocking. Yet after following the Young Master and learning of the Upper Realm, she realized how narrow her vision had been. A twenty-year-old Divine Infant was nothing extraordinary in the eyes of Upper Realm sects. In fact, if the true disciples of Shen Wushen's sect wished, they could easily break into the Divine Infant realm by age twenty simply by consuming high-grade resources. Prior to Yin God, premier disciples prioritized their foundation above all else. Cultivating too rapidly, even if one paid a colossal price to reach Yin God, resulted in a hollow, substandard Yin God fit only for handling mundane managerial chores within the sect. "Hmph, before Young Master, he's nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well," Shen Zhifeng flattered. "Do not underestimate the world," Shen Wushen cautioned. "I know of a true disciple from a premier sect who reached Purple Mansion and descended to the Myriad Demons Realm, only to be seduced and toyed with by a demoness until his divine soul was extinguished." Shen Zhifeng drew a sharp breath. A Purple Mansion true disciple from an Upper Realm giant, slain by a lower-realm demoness? It was almost unimaginable. "I will attend tomorrow's Divine Infant Assembly to take a look. It will be a good chance to see if Great Shang possesses any opponent worthy of my sword. If not, I'll move on elsewhere," Shen Wushen murmured softly. As for Canglan Realm as a whole, he dared not delve too deeply. The waters here ran exceedingly deep, involving a formidable Yang God—one far stronger than even the sect backing him. If he died in Canglan Realm, his sect would never offend that Yang God on his behalf. Thinking of this, he glanced toward the cultivators ahead with a look of lamentation. "What a pity... born in this land, their fate is already sealed." In this realm, even Yin Gods had their destinies predetermined; a good end was simply out of the question. Right at that moment, a chorus of gasps rang out. By the lakeshore, Qi Jianjun lightly waved her small hand, and the three bandits collapsed dead on the spot. Every cultivator present was struck dumb with horror. This girl... had cultivation? "Killing Foundation Establishment cultivators with a flick of her hand... is she a concealed Foundation Establishment expert?!" "Those bandits kicked an iron board!" "A Foundation Establishment old monster masquerading as a little girl... that's outrageous!" The anglers buzzed with astonishment, while the young man who had pitied her earlier felt stunned, quickly followed by bitter regret. Had he known she was Foundation Establishment, he would have stepped forward to warn her, perhaps forming an acquaintance with a senior expert. Qi Jianjun then turned her gaze toward the old man beside her, a strange glint in her eyes. "Old man, bullying a poor orphan girl with a deadbeat dad... you truly are despicable." At the sound of her voice, the old scout who had tipped off the bandits dropped dead instantly. The surrounding anglers looked at each other in sheer terror, and several quietly slipped away. Bandits in these parts were often backed by larger syndicates. Killing the small fry would only bring out the old monsters. If this girl kept fishing here, her fate wouldn't be pretty. Just then, a deep, resonant voice echoed across the air: "Shen Wushen of the Demonic Desire Sect greets Senior." Shen Wushen and Shen Zhifeng walked forward, both wearing humble expressions. Seeing them, the loose cultivators froze in place. The Demonic Desire Sect was one of Great Shang's three great sects—a true colossus. Yet here were members of the Demonic Desire Sect addressing this little girl as senior! Could it be... she was an Origin Core expert? And an Origin Core from a premier sect at that? Qi Jianjun glanced at Shen Wushen, surprise flashing in her eyes. "You came from the Upper Realm?" Shen Wushen's heart jolted violently. Even an ordinary Yin God could not discern his origin so effortlessly. This senior before him... Shen Zhifeng was equally stunned, while the nearby loose cultivators exchanged bewildered glances. "Reporting to Senior, this junior is a disciple of Mount Futu." "Never heard of it," Qi Jianjun said, shaking her head. "My mother is in the Upper Realm too. I haven't seen her in ages. When you return to the Upper Realm, could you pass a message to her for me?" Her words made Shen Wushen's scalp prickle with numbness. This senior's mother was in the Upper Realm? Wasn't this world merely livestock feed, where Yin Gods could never ascend to the Upper Realm? What was going on? "Please instruct me in detail, Senior." Shen Wushen bowed respectfully. A look of delight surfaced on Qi Jianjun's face. "You're quite a nice guy." "My mother comes from the Moon Goddess Palace. She is a Yue Nü named Jin Li. Just send word saying: *Your daughter Jianjun has long missed your noble countenance, harboring deep affection and longing... and also, your daughter Jianjun has found Father!*" Qi Jianjun rattled off a long string of messages. "You're doing me such a huge favor. If you run into any trouble in Canglan Realm, this young lady will protect you!" Though she looked only seven or eight years old, Qi Jianjun spoke in an ancient, seasoned tone. Shen Wushen hurriedly replied, "Many thanks, Senior." The shock inside him had yet to subside. The Moon Goddess Palace was considerably stronger than Mount Futu. A Yue Nü of the Moon Goddess Palace was a figure poised to potentially take the helm of the entire palace. Even though his master was a myth-level expert who might possess higher cultivation than some Yue Nü, his status fell far short. The senior standing before him was actually the daughter of a Yue Nü! The realization shook his soul. To think a Yue Nü had married and even borne a child this old! "Alright, I'm off, I'm off." Qi Jianjun scooped up her fish bucket and vanished in an instant. Shen Zhifeng's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. "Yin God... she's actually a Yin God!" The faint wisp of aura Qi Jianjun had inadvertently leaked just now was unequivocally that of a Yin God. In Great Shang, she hadn't even encountered a Purple Mansion, let alone a Yin God! Hearing Shen Zhifeng's gasp, the remaining anglers stared with wide eyes. "Yin God?!" "A true immortal?!" "The ancestors' graves must be smoking green smoke—we actually laid eyes on a legendary immortal!" The anglers dropped to their knees, kowtowing repeatedly in reverence. That was a Yin God! Someone had already recognized Shen Zhifeng as a Divine Infant True Monarch, the new sect master of the Demonic Desire Sect. If she claimed the girl was a Yin God, how could it possibly be wrong? The anglers were beyond thrilled, never imagining they would witness such a legendary encounter. The young man from earlier was overwhelmed with regret and grief. Had he known that young girl was a legendary immortal, he would have warned her to leave no matter what, just to earn a shred of goodwill. That was a true immortal! In the Land of a Hundred Nations, Divine Infants ruled supreme. If he managed to cling to the thigh of a Yin God, he could strut proudly over the heads of Divine Infant True Monarchs! Alas, regret offered no medicine. Just then, Shen Zhifeng's expression turned chillingly cold, suffocating every loose cultivator present. "Act as though nothing happened today. If half a word leaks, you shall all be cast into eternal damnation!" The cultivators turned ashen, none daring to voice a single objection. Shen Wushen murmured softly, "These bandit cultivators ought to be cleaned up as well." Shen Zhifeng replied at once, "I will give the order immediately to sweep every last one of these bandits from the realm!"