Yan Yuqing, Do You Like Wen Zhuyun?

The Kongshan Sect. Perched atop Mount Kong, the sect overlooked sheer cliffs cloaked in lush, shaded greenery. Figures flickered among the trees from time to time, immersed in martial practice. "Santong, your brow is furrowed. Is the sect... running low on funds and grain again?" A woman walked over, the chignon atop her head perfectly undisturbed by her movement—clear proof of her remarkable lightness skill. Liu Xian'er looked at her husband with gentle concern, worry lingering in her own eyes. Ever since Wu Santong had taken up the heavy mantle of sect master fifteen years ago, he had worked tirelessly to revitalize their foundation, toiling day and night, barely daring to sleep. Under his efforts, the Kongshan Sect had indeed grown far stronger than when he first inherited it, steadily rising from the very bottom of the second-tier sects to gain the qualifications to challenge first-tier factions. However, Wu Santong was something of an old traditionalist who strictly adhered to ancient precepts. Disciples of the Kongshan Sect were never permitted to use martial strength to bully the weak. Because of this, as the number of disciples swelled, the sect's finances began to buckle under the strain. At times, Wu Santong and Liu Xian'er would descend the mountain together to hunt down notorious bandits for court bounties, or help escort convoys for armed escort agencies. "There is still plenty left from the bounty we received for slaying the flower-plucking bandit, Wu Tong," Wu Santong said. "Could it be... you are worrying over the Heaven-Severing Society?" When Liu Xian'er mentioned the name, apprehension flickered across her face. The so-called Heaven-Severing Society was a power that had recently risen in the martial world. Its leader, Hua Wubing, possessed staggering martial talent. At the age of seventeen, he had defeated the great hero of Jiangnan, Yun Tiankong, making a name for himself in a single battle. Later, he joined the first-tier Heaven-Severing Society. Now barely in his early thirties, Hua Wubing was already spoken of as the undisputed number one in the martial world. He was intensely ambitious, seeking to unify the entire martial realm and become the supreme martial alliance leader. The Kongshan Sect was not far from the Heaven-Severing Society's territory. Just last month, three sects had been utterly annihilated simply for refusing to be swallowed up by them. "The conduct of the Heaven-Severing Society reeks of the demonic path. How could someone like that ever become martial alliance leader?" Wu Santong said grimly. Speaking of the alliance leader, he too, like many a young swordsman, had harbored dreams of rising to that position in his youth. Yet with age and a sobering dose of reality, his only remaining wish was to revitalize his sect and preserve the legacy left by the ancestral immortal master. It was only upon joining that mysterious chat group recently that he had realized a monumental opportunity was within reach, rekindling the embers of his ambition to become alliance leader. However, after communicating with Zuo Jingyun, he had obtained a peculiar manual. According to Zuo Jingyun's description, its power was extraordinary, yet no matter how hard Wu Santong tried to cultivate it, he could not even cross the threshold. What he did not know was that in Zuo Jingyun's world, martial arts had reached a pinnacle where experts flew through the heavens, burrowed through the earth, and commanded nearly omnipotent power. Cultivating such arts depended foremost on the Mandate of Heaven. Without that mandate, no amount of comprehension or grueling diligence would avail you in the least. On top of that, the Heaven-Severing Society's annexations had grown increasingly frequent. Forget becoming the alliance leader—his most pressing priority was simply to safeguard the Kongshan Sect's foundation and preserve the lives of his disciples. "Behind the Heaven-Severing Society, I fear... the imperial court has a hand in it," Liu Xian'er murmured, her expression turning solemn. At the mention of that colossal behemoth, Wu Santong felt their predicament grow even more suffocating. As the sect master of the Kongshan Sect, he possessed profound and refined internal strength, making him a true grandmaster of his generation. Yet if he were besieged by twenty-odd armored royal guards from the court, he would certainly be overwhelmed. Individual martial prowess was ultimately nothing before such a terrifying war machine. "Let me think about how to weather this..." Wu Santong wondered if he should swallow his pride and seek help from the revered elders of the martial world. Right then, an urgent voice came shouting from outside. "Master, this is bad! An envoy from the Heaven-Severing Society has arrived with a message! They demand that all disciples of our Kongshan Sect attend their Heroes' Gathering in half a month. If we refuse to go..." Hearing this, Wu Santong's heart clenched tight. "Half a month?" The Heaven-Severing Society had left him with hardly any time at all. His face fell into deep dismay, a heavy weight pressing upon his chest. Was the foundation his master entrusted to him truly fated to perish in his hands? For a man who cherished his honor and reputation above all else, how could he bear such an outcome? Suddenly, he remembered the chat group—especially that newly joined Origin Celestial Venerable. If that person truly was a god, could he resolve this crisis? *** "These people are truly relentless, inviting me to banquets day in and day out." "Why would someone with social anxiety like me want to attend a banquet?" Not long after moving into Myriad Gods Mountain, Qi Yuan received invitations from numerous godchildren and goddaughters, all of which he declined one by one. "Cultivating my divine kingdom... it seems the key still lies in the All-Heavens Divine Mirror. "Still, those few small worlds... the boost they offer to my divine kingdom is less than a drop in the ocean." Qi Yuan was speaking the plain truth. For other godchildren, conquering a few worlds and harvesting their faith would bring an enormous boost to their divine kingdoms. However, the foundation of Qi Yuan's divine kingdom was the Sole Palace. That alone was utterly terrifying; annexing a handful of ordinary world planes barely moved the needle. "So I need to find a way to increase the occupancy rate of the All-Heavens Divine Mirror," Qi Yuan mused. He voiced his query to Feng Ye. Upon hearing this, Feng Ye gave a helpless sigh. "All of this... depends on destiny and fortune; it cannot be forced. If there were a way to increase the probability of external beings entering the mirror, many True Gods would have experienced terrifying leaps in strength by now." Feng Ye's meaning was clear: there were no shortcuts. After all, the path to power on Myriad Gods Mountain was conquest and the harvest of faith. The more worlds one uncovered, the better—especially those that had not yet been claimed by other True Gods. "Is there truly no other way?" Qi Yuan asked, somewhat disappointed. Feng Ye hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice. "Rumor has it that Spirit Gods—those of the fourth realm of True Godhood—might possess the ability to alter those odds. "However, Spirit Gods of the fourth realm almost never manifest in the divine world. Even with Your Highness's status, meeting a Spirit God would be extraordinarily difficult." "I see," Qi Yuan replied casually. He was somewhat curious about the True God progression system. According to local records, a Spirit God corresponded to the fourth tier of the Yang God realm. Their state of existence was peculiar, yet unlike the Immortal Realm and other universes, their true spirits did not fall into total extinction, lingering solely in past and future to ultimately condense into a singular artifact. Still, his current strength was modest, and he had no access to deeper information regarding Spirit Gods. "Since there's a chance to increase the odds, it looks like I need to draw up a plan to locate more worlds." Qi Yuan contemplated restarting a grand plan. If the All-Heavens Divine Mirror failed to connect to more worlds and yield more faith, his strength would hit a wall. If worse came to worst, he could always resort to a bit of humblebragging: he could simply inherit his own Stellar Golden Core universe, the Immortal Realm, and Dao Lord Nan Ke's hundreds of universes, having all those living beings revere him. Of course, for now, Qi Yuan had only permitted his Divine Infants to offer him faith. Different universes operated on different principles. If those populations suddenly offered him faith and triggered an unforeseen disaster, what would he do? Naturally, he had to experiment first. Right then, a faint gleam danced across the All-Heavens Divine Mirror. *Huh? Someone's sending me a private message. Is it that lovesick girl?* Qi Yuan sank his consciousness into the mirror and looked at the sender, slightly surprised. It was a man named Wu Santong. This person had been lurking silently the entire time. "Respected Deity, this humble one is willing to offer You my faith. I only beg that You, Lord, might save my Kongshan Sect." Wu Santong's words were earnest and direct, free of beating around the bush. Before a god, playing petty mind games would only look ridiculous. "Oh? Is that so?" Qi Yuan activated his special ability—his supernatural hearing. He could listen in on innermost thoughts and glean far more information than words alone conveyed. Sure enough, across the All-Heavens Divine Mirror, he caught fragments of Wu Santong's inner voice. "Tell me all about your world, along with its major factions, and I will see how to help you," Qi Yuan replied. He put on no lofty airs, nor did he style himself with grand divine titles. Hearing this, Wu Santong felt a touch of hesitation. Were gods not usually aloof and high above? Why was this one so easy to speak with? "I shall obey the divine decree..." Adopting a profoundly humble posture, Wu Santong laid out the situation of the Kongshan Sect and the wider martial world to Qi Yuan, even mentioning the presence of the imperial court. "Understood. In half a month, you need not go to any Heaven-Severing Society. Take your disciples and head to Youshan City. You will find what you seek there." In an instant, Qi Yuan had formulated a plan to help him. Naturally, the price was Wu Santong's faith. Wu Santong was somewhat bewildered. Youshan City? Youshan City was hardly peaceful right now; rumors were swirling that the Prince of Youshan was plotting rebellion. Yet since this came directly from Origin Celestial Venerable, he dared not disobey. *** "Origin Celestial Venerable, today is our rest day—please don't forget!" Wen Zhuyun sounded rather nervous in the group. Qi Yuan chuckled. "Don't worry. The helpers I found are utterly dependable. They will definitely question that son of the Vice Minister of Rites on your behalf." Zuo Jingyun also chimed in: "Now we'll see whether Origin Celestial Venerable is truly a god." "Can someone give me the coordinates to your world? It's been so long since I saw a person who looks good and seals airtight," Gou Budao posted. Wu Santong spoke up as well: "The divine lord will surely fulfill your wish, Lady Wen." He, too, harbored great curiosity over how Origin Celestial Venerable would grant her desire. If this succeeded, it would prove that even if Origin Celestial Venerable were not a god, he possessed extraordinary supernatural power. Perhaps he truly could deliver Wu Santong from his own crisis. Noticing Wu Santong's message, Zuo Jingyun paused. It seemed Wu Santong had already been in contact with Origin Celestial Venerable in private. "Wait just a moment. They will meet Yan Yuqing soon and deliver your confession," Qi Yuan said with utter confidence. "Alright." Wen Zhuyun's heart was still fluttering with anxious anticipation. *** Meanwhile, in the Great Ruins World. Outside Chang'an City, a gathering of noble scions and official sons rode vibrant horses in fine attire, brimming with youthful arrogance. With gray falcons perched on their left arms and yellow hounds leashed at their right, bows and quivers slung across their backs, they were clearly out on a hunt. As the son of the Vice Minister of Rites, Yan Yuqing held a ranking near the very top of this circle of second-generation elites. "Yuqing, I heard that you took first place in the grand exam for horsemanship and archery the day before yesterday. It seems today's haul will be bountiful as well," the son of an earl remarked in a flattering tone. This earl's son was concubine-born. In the Great Ruins State, children born of concubines were viewed far beneath those born of primary wives, a bias distorted to such an extent that an old folk ballad claimed an emperor born of a concubine would have to kneel before a prince born of a principal wife. Yan Yuqing was di-born, the sole male heir across three generations. His social standing far outstripped that of this concubine-born earl's son. "Yet because of that, I ended up offending the Prime Minister's son," Yan Yuqing sighed with mild regret. The one who had taken second place in archery had been the son of the Prime Minister. "Hmph, that Yang Xiong is merely concubine-born. How could he possibly compare to Brother Yuqing?" the earl's son chimed in eagerly. Another handsome youth spoke up: "Brother Yuqing's archery is peerless. I hear that over by Zuiting Lake ahead, a water monkey has been wreaking havoc, dragging women washing silks beneath the water to drown. Why don't we hunt this beast? Whoever shoots the water monkey dead shall be today's champion of the hunt!" "A splendid idea!" "Let's go!" The party of several dozen urged their steeds forward, galloping toward Zuiting Lake. About two hours later. Yan Yuqing drew his bow and loosed an arrow that struck straight through the water monkey's belly. A plume of dark, murky blood instantly stained the lake surface. The other noble youths burst into enthusiastic applause and cheers. "Brother Yuqing is truly accomplished in both civil and martial arts! An unmatched marksman who put an end to that vile water monkey with a single arrow!" "With archery like this, you could probably shoot down the very sun in the sky!" "Haha, even if a heavenly god descended, how could he evade such a shot?" They traded breathless praise and boastful banter. Young and impressionable, Yan Yuqing felt his ego soar. He looked upon the world with unbridled pride, feeling as though the realm were his to command. Right then, their mounts suddenly whinnied in alarm, shifting nervously beneath them. "What is it?" "What's going on? Has a tiger appeared?" "Hmph! If a beast comes, could it possibly survive three of Brother Yuqing's arrows?" "If Brother Yuqing drops a tiger with three shots, his name will resound throughout the entire Great Ruins!" Hearing their praise, Yan Yuqing gripped his bow, swelling with boundless pride. "Wait, why did the sky go dark?" "Is it a heavenly dog swallowing the sun?" Soon, they realized something was deeply wrong. It was not a beast. Their surroundings had plunged into pitch-black gloom, devoid of light, as though night had fallen in the blink of an eye. Such a bizarre phenomenon was practically unheard of. And right at that moment, a voice like rolling thunder tore through heaven and earth. "Are you Yan Yuqing?" Yan Yuqing's mount shuddered violently, throwing him from the saddle. The voice rang in his ears like striking bronze bells, throwing his mind into chaos. "Who?" "Who's there?" "Where are you?" The other noble sons turned pale with terror, completely baffled by what was transpiring. "Your grandfather is right above your heads." As the voice fell, an enormous figure seemed to take a single step. That single step made the earth tremble and mountains quake. The blocked sunlight leaked back onto the ground in faint slivers, and only then did Yan Yuqing and his companions look up to behold a towering, terrifying giant standing above them—or rather, standing amidst the heavens! The giant stood taller than the city gates of Chang'an—taller even than Mount Yemo! His face was covered in a thick beard, with bristling brows and a blood-red maw that made him look monstrously fierce, exuding awe without anger. He was clad in golden armor and gripped a massive Flower-Pattern Axe. At the sight, everyone present was paralyzed, their perception of reality crumbling on the spot. "A heavenly god..." "There truly are heavenly gods in this world!" "Ah, we have offended a god! We deserve ten thousand deaths!" The sharper ones instantly recalled how they had boasted of shooting a heavenly god just moments before. The god had heard them and descended to settle the score! Bitter regret and terror seized their hearts. Yan Yuqing in particular was shaking so violently he nearly wet himself. Before such a colossal monstrosity, instinctual dread overwhelmed all reason. Just as a dog would foul itself before a tiger, or a pampered housecat would scatter in panic before a feral beast, they had lost all control. "Yan... Yan Yuqing is here..." He knelt trembling on the earth, already imagining every agonizing way he might die. Yet in the next second, the words uttered by the terrifying god left him utterly dumbfounded. "In Chang'an City lives a maiden named Wen Zhuyun, fair as a blossoming flower. She harbors deep affection for you, yet her maidenly heart dares not speak. Thus, she sought us out to ask. "Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun?" Hearing this, Yan Yuqing's scalp went numb, his mind grinding to a complete halt. It felt as though back on Blue Star, an armored division led by a certain former president of the superpower had stormed in, seized you, and gravely demanded to know whether you enjoyed eating preserved eggs. Before Yan Yuqing could process the shock, several more thunderous voices boomed through the sky. "I, the Barefoot Immortal, ask you: Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun or not?" The earth shook once more as Yan Yuqing looked up to see a gargantuan jade-like bare foot. That foot alone seemed as vast as the entirety of Chang'an City. Yan Yuqing's mind was in utter turmoil. Panic choked his throat, leaving him unable to formulate a coherent thought. As for that Wen Zhuyun, he had to search his memory for several moments before recalling her. He seemed to have caught sight of her once—she was the daughter of a merchant family. The Wen family's gate did not even bear the ceremonial markers of nobility. In the Great Ruins, merchants belonged to the debased class. How could a merchant's daughter marry into an aristocratic house? At best, she could only be a concubine. Yet before he could speak, more majestic voices crashed down. "I, Heavenly King of the East Mo Lihai, ask you: Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun or not?" "I, Heavenly King of the South Mo Liqing, ask you..." "I, Heavenly King of the West Mo Lishou, ask you..." "I, Heavenly King of the North Mo Lihong, ask you..." "Yan Yuqing, do you like Wen Zhuyun or not?!" Four awe-inspiring voices rang out in succession, as if four celestial deities had manifested across heaven and earth. One held a pipa, one gripped a vajra pestle, one was coiled with a crimson dragon, and one bore a jeweled parasol. Majestic without wrath, yet radiating terrifying ferocity. Under the roaring pressure of these gods, Yan Yuqing's head spun, all reason shattered. "I... I do! I like her!"