"I'm so sleepy."
Departing from that edge of the universe, Qi Yuan pondered how he would journey to the Upper Realm. With a flicker of movement, his figure materialized atop a pavilion.
Perhaps having devoured three thousand worlds was simply too much; it was only natural to feel drowsy on a stuffed stomach.
Not far away, Jiang Lingsu heard his words, and a faint blush touched her delicate face. Her bountiful bosom quivered in a manner that stirred the soul, as if hinting at something. "If Eldest Senior Brother is tired, come... sleep for a bit."
Qi Yuan swept a glance over her, recalling the soft, fragrant warmth that had filled his arms last time.
This was a genuine breast pillow!
Testing a Grand Purple Mansion Master with this?
"I cannot lose myself sleeping in the land of gentle indulgence; I must head to the Upper Realm," Qi Yuan said softly.
His visit to his junior sister was precisely to inform her of this.
Within the Divine Light Sect, upon Seven Colors Peak, only the two of them remained.
If he simply vanished without telling her, leaving her to worry, it would hardly be right.
As for the Origin God Sharing Society and the Four Emperors of Divine Flower, he had already notified them via jade slips.
Mhm, he still knew who was close and who was distant, and he was just a tiny bit biased toward beauty over bros.
The joy deep within Jiang Lingsu's eyes abruptly vanished, replaced by profound reluctance to part. But a moment later, she looked up at Qi Yuan with an expectant gaze. "Eldest Senior Brother, is Master in the Upper Realm? Can I go with you to search for Master?"
Qi Yuan mused. He had once mentioned his suspicions about Master being in the Upper Realm to Jiang Lingsu, so it was no surprise that she knew.
Seeing that Qi Yuan remained silent, Jiang Lingsu stepped forward, hugged his arm, and pleaded pitifully, "Eldest Senior Brother, I won't cause any trouble! If I do, you can just toss me back into your Purple Mansion!"
"Stop... acting!" Qi Yuan found it somewhat hard to resist.
This junior sister of his was far too good at putting on a show!
"Senior Brother agrees?" Jiang Lingsu blinked, delight dancing in her lovely eyes as her voice returned to normal.
"Sure, let's go. Senior Brother and Junior Sister will brave the Immortal Realm together!"
Toward Jiang Lingsu, his angel investor, he was always generous.
Having obtained Qi Yuan's permission, Jiang Lingsu beamed from ear to ear, then spaced out for a moment before asking, "Eldest Senior Brother, do you think I should put on some ugly makeup? Otherwise, with your junior sister being so naturally gorgeous, if some dandy takes a fancy to me in the Immortal Realm, wouldn't that just cause you needless trouble?"
"Junior Sister, you're a bit too full of yourself!" Qi Yuan replied bluntly. Warmth was warmth, but bickering was non-negotiable. "People in the Immortal Realm clearly have high standards of conduct. Those fairy maidens don't even fart; how could anyone do something so lacking in decorum?"
Hearing that, Jiang Lingsu nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. Sigh, I'll have to bring more projection stones this time to record everything!"
Jiang Lingsu was thrilled, just like a young girl preparing to go on a trip.
"Hurry up and pack; we have to leave soon." Recalling something, Qi Yuan asked, "Where's your father? Where did he go? Did he come looking for trouble with me?"
If the old man kept giving him grief, hiding directly in the Upper Realm ought to be safe enough, right?
"Him..." Jiang Lingsu spat softly in disdain. "He recently gained a whole bunch of god-grandsons."
"Haha, Junior Sister, wouldn't that make you a mother?"
Descending from his junior sister's pavilion, Qi Yuan visited other corners of the Canglan Realm and met quite a few people.
First, he met True Monarch Kumu, and then Kang Fulu.
Now in the prime of his youth, True Monarch Kumu was openly together with the Empress Dowager of Great Shang.
Kang Fulu remained as flamboyant as ever, his head covered in white hair.
Later, Qi Yuan went to the Blood Clothes Alliance, and then to the Origin God Sharing Society, where he met True Monarch Dazhi.
Finally, he met with the top powerhouses of the Canglan Realm, including Great Venerable White Fish, discussing matters concerning rectifying the conduct of the Canglan Realm.
As for Qi Jianjun, she had gone fishing across the three thousand worlds.
She wasn't particularly keen on going to the Upper Realm; she merely remarked that once he found her mother, he should give her a shout.
Qi Yuan was utterly speechless when it came to this daughter of his.
Was fishing really that fun?
Back atop the pavilion, Qi Yuan handed a dress to Jiang Lingsu.
"Junior Sister, this dress was crafted from materials within the Netherworld, combining defense and disguise in one. Not only that, it can also block imprints. But one thing is vital... you cannot stray too far from me."
The imprint of that entity from Taihuang Palace still remained within the living beings of the three thousand worlds.
If they left Qi Yuan's Netherworld without the isolation of the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, that figure from Taihuang Palace could slaughter and harvest all living beings with a single thought.
Therefore, Qi Yuan had ordered Qi Qi to forge this dress to block the imprint.
Even with this dress on, however, Jiang Lingsu could not wander too far from Qi Yuan; otherwise, the effect of the Gate of Myriad Manifestations would vanish.
Jiang Lingsu clutched the dress. Realizing something, she sighed, "This must be very expensive. My storage bag is empty; I can't afford to pay for it."
In the past, she could still play the rich lady before her senior brother, generously splashing fortunes to support him and boldly declaring she would cover him.
Now, though...
"It's fine. Didn't you invest in my Netherworld? There's plenty of interest," Qi Yuan said casually.
Only then did the imbalance in Jiang Lingsu's heart slowly dissipate.
"Senior Brother, turn around. I'm going to change!" Jiang Lingsu said.
"Alright." Qi Yuan complied and turned around.
Although the current Canglan Realm was entirely contained within his Purple Mansion, allowing him to perceive everything without even looking, basic respect was still necessary.
Soon, the rustling sounds ended. Jiang Lingsu had changed into the green gown specially made by Qi Qi, looking rather adorable, like an elf.
Yet Qi Yuan knew this was merely her exterior; if peeled away, one would find an allure beyond words.
"Are you ready, Junior Sister? If you're ready, we'll head to the Upper Realm."
Qi Yuan's mood was rather calm.
First, going to the Upper Realm was just switching games to him.
Second, the Canglan Realm was right inside his Purple Mansion, so it was hardly like being far from home.
"Okay!" Jiang Lingsu nodded earnestly, though a touch of melancholy still lingered in her heart.
Just as Qi Yuan was about to depart, an urgent voice suddenly sounded from the distance.
"Senior, wait for me!"
A streak of flowing light flashed, and a man clad entirely in golden robes appeared, an anxious look on his face.
Upon seeing Qi Yuan, he said with utmost deference, "Senior... now that you've swallowed the Canglan Realm, the Demonic Desire Sect's teleportation array has stopped working. This junior... can't return to the Upper Realm!"
The newcomer was none other than Shen Wushen.
He had originally been slacking off at the Demonic Desire Sect, only to discover... he couldn't get back.
He was panicked.
He had come to the lower realm for tempering, not to settle down permanently!
"Ahem..." Qi Yuan coughed. This matter truly was related to him. "I'm heading to the Upper Realm's Fifth Heaven this time. Come along with me."
Shen Wushen was from the Upper Realm, essentially a native; having an extra guide would be useful.
"Thank you, Senior!" Shen Wushen breathed a sigh of relief.
Although the Fifth Heaven was far from Mount Futu, at least there was hope of getting back, wasn't there?
If he remained in the Canglan Realm, he probably wouldn't be able to return for the rest of his life.
"In that case... let's go."
Holding Jiang Lingsu and hoisting Shen Wushen, Qi Yuan's figure twisted abruptly.
Heaven and earth instantly blurred into chaos; all perception seemed snuffed out.
When their vision cleared again, the three of them had arrived in a small world.
This small world was linked to the Moon Gazing Continent, and its teleportation array led directly to the Moluo Clan in the Upper Realm's Fifth Heaven.
Around the teleportation array lurked two Yin Gods, presumably guarding the formation.
However, when Qi Yuan's group arrived, even standing right before them, the two guards noticed nothing.
At this moment, Shen Wushen muttered, "The Moluo Clan originated from the Black Demon Abyss and is at war with Moon Goddess Palace. Senior, going to the Moluo Clan's home turf in the Upper Realm this time, we must exercise utmost caution!"
"I know." Qi Yuan nodded and glanced at the teleportation array ahead. "Isn't it rather impolite of us to secretly take someone else's teleportation array? If someone catches us, wouldn't that confirm we have no morals?"
Ascending to the Upper Realm this time, aside from seeing Jin Li and finding his master and his wife, Qi Yuan also carried a grand aspiration:
To rectify the conduct of the Immortal Realm.
Granted, according to the peasant's tale of the emperor's golden hoe, the atmosphere in the Immortal Realm was bound to be wonderful. But in a forest so vast, all kinds of birds roosted. A cleanup was still necessary.
And yet, as someone here to purge corrupt practices, if he secretly used a teleportation array without paying and got caught, wouldn't that be sheer social death?
Shen Wushen was taken aback. "How about leaving some spirit stones?"
"I don't have that many spirit stones." Qi Yuan was reluctant to part with them.
Right then, Jiang Lingsu piped up, "Eldest Senior Brother, isn't this Moluo Clan our enemy?"
Hearing this, Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. "Using an enemy's teleportation array is showing trust in them! Yet they dare try to charge us money—isn't that showing distrust toward us? How utterly abominable of them!"
Without the slightest hesitation, his mighty divine soul swept across.
The two lurking Yin Gods were now destined to lurk dormant for eternity.
Their divine souls were extinguished.
Qi Yuan reached out and scooped them up. "We must repay injury with kindness! Even though they didn't trust me, I'll still generously collect their corpses!"
Qi Yuan shoved the two Yin God Venerable corpses directly into the Netherworld.
Mosquito meat was still meat; absolutely nothing should go to waste.
Witnessing this, Shen Wushen was struck dumb, secretly rejoicing that his luck had been truly extraordinary to remain alive after interacting with Senior Qi Yuan for so long.
"All right, let's step onto the teleportation array openly and aboveboard to express our trust in the Moluo Clan."
With his arm around Jiang Lingsu, Qi Yuan stepped onto the array.
Shen Wushen hurried over as well.
At that moment, the teleportation array slowly activated.
"Once we arrive in the Upper Realm, we still have to run fast. Even though I trust them, they don't trust me," Qi Yuan instructed in a low voice.
Strong as he was, he still had to be careful in the Moluo Clan's headquarters.
After all, according to the Buddhist order, the Moluo Clan had four experts in the Ultimate Principle Realm.
Most importantly, the Moluo Clan also possessed a Creation Treasure.
If Qi Yuan went on an indiscriminate killing spree in the Moluo Clan and ended up cornered by four Ultimate Principle experts wielding a Creation Treasure, he would die a miserable death.
The teleportation array surged to life, an immense aura capable of shredding anything sweeping through.
Jiang Lingsu clung tightly to Qi Yuan, soft warmth filling his embrace. After all, she was only at Foundation Establishment and could never endure such a teleportation array with her own body.
As a true disciple of Mount Futu, Shen Wushen possessed magic treasures bestowed by Mount Futu and could safely weather the teleportation array.
After roughly a dozen breaths of time, the sky abruptly cleared.
"Run!" Holding Jiang Lingsu and grabbing Shen Wushen, Qi Yuan bolted frantically.
In the Upper Realm, the Great Venerable guarding the teleportation array wore a dazed expression.
"Did... someone just come?"
"Let's go check the teleportation... wait, check what?"
"Forget it, back to cultivating."
...
The Moluo Sacred Tower, though called a tower, actually covered an area not much smaller than the Canglan Realm.
Rising from the earth to the vault of heaven, its height was unfathomable, and no one knew how many tiers it comprised.
Countless floating cities hung in the sky, encircling one Moluo Sacred Tower after another.
On the ground below were mostly mundane things, visited by few cultivators.
The floating cities and Moluo Sacred Towers were the true domain of cultivators.
At this moment, on one of the floating cities, Qi Yuan stretched lazily. "The air in the Upper Realm is indeed rather sweet, but... weren't people saying that in the Upper Realm, Yang Gods walk everywhere and Mythological figures are treated like dogs? Why does this city not only lack Mythological figures, but not even have a single Yin God?"
In terms of size, this floating city was noticeably larger than Great Shang.
Among all the floating cities, it counted as one of the smaller ones.
Shen Wushen laughed awkwardly. "Senior, no matter where you go, a Yin God is an absolute powerhouse!"
If he were to step into the Yin God Realm, as a true disciple, he could immediately apply to become an elder.
An elder of a sacred ground, no less!
In the Immortal Realm, aside from sacred grounds, there were other sects, outnumbering sacred grounds by tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of times.
Among sects with some strength, the strongest might be a Mythological figure, a Great Venerable, or a Venerable.
Some were led by Purple Mansions, or even Origin Cores, inferior even to the Divine Light Sect.
"Then what does that make me, a Grand Purple Mansion Master?" Qi Yuan asked under his breath.
Shen Wushen froze.
You, a Grand Purple Mansion Master?
"In regions outside sacred grounds, a Purple Mansion can be considered a founding patriarch!"
"As expected, I can currently pass as a mountain king." Qi Yuan looked toward the distant Moluo Sacred Tower, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Up there... so many white moonlights who don't like to bathe."
Shen Wushen said at this point, "The Moluo Clan has a total of ninety-nine Moluo Sacred Towers. These ninety-nine Moluo Sacred Towers are interconnected. If Senior wishes to head to the Demonic Abyss at the junction between the Sixth Heaven and the Fifth Heaven, you must pass through a Moluo Sacred Tower."
Each heaven could not simply be crossed at will; one had to pass through a sacred ground.
As for ordinary cultivators, without tremendous fortunate encounters, they might never leave their heaven for the rest of their lives.
Qi Yuan took a deep breath. "How does one obtain the qualifications to pass through? Can I just force my way through?"
Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on Shen Wushen's forehead. "This junior only knows how to descend, not how to ascend. If you force your way... you will likely trigger restrictions left behind by the Council of Ultimate Principle. Even a Yang God powerhouse would be banished into the crevices of the Immortal Realm."
"Aiya, you're not much good as a native guide. I'd better just ask Wutian." Qi Yuan was very disappointed with Shen Wushen.
Ascending to the Upper Realm this time, he had originally thought of using him as a guide and asked him many questions.
Yet the man knew next to nothing.
He didn't seem like a local at all.
Shen Wushen felt rather aggrieved upon hearing that.
Meanwhile, Qi Yuan communicated with his Divine Infant, Lord Buddha Wutian.
At present, Lord Buddha Wutian ruled the Buddha Realm, situated at the other end of the Fifth Heaven.
Soon, Qi Yuan received the answer from Lord Buddha Wutian.
To ascend to the Sixth Heaven, one required Heaven-Traversing Jade.
Generally speaking, those Yang Gods of the Moluo Clan possessed quite a bit of Heaven-Traversing Jade on them.
Within the Moluo Sacred Towers, there might also be pieces of Heaven-Traversing Jade scattered about.
Looking at the Moluo Sacred Tower ahead, Qi Yuan's gaze was brimming with anticipation. "Let's go, to the Moluo Sacred Tower!"
A calculation had already formed in his mind, formulating a flawless plan.
If he couldn't find Heaven-Traversing Jade, he would look for a white moonlight.
Using his Purple Mansion to reel in a silly white moonlight shouldn't be asking too much, right?
Chapter 407