Having delivered her harsh words, the girl spun around and left, giving Qi Yuan no time to react.
Squinting, Qi Yuan watched her retreating figure.
This was the first time he had seen an NPC in this realm display such intense emotion.
Tang Yan's expression, on the other hand, was devoid of joy or sorrow.
He had long known that the Five Ancestors—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—were merely lingering remnants of obsession.
All five had perished at the hands of the extraterrestrial demons long ago.
Ever rational, he was not sentimental like Xiao Lü.
Just then, Qi Yuan felt a wave of searing heat approaching.
A fiery crimson flame flew over, blazing continuously barely tens of centimeters from him.
"Aaaagh!" With a loud shout, Ancestor Huo materialized in human form beside Qi Yuan, glaring at him with undisguised malice. "Aside from being a bit good-looking, you don't seem like anything special. How on earth did you achieve five-element perfection?"
Tang Yan hurriedly made introductions: "This is Ancestor Huo. His temper is somewhat explosive."
"Greetings, Ancestor Huo." Qi Yuan's manner was very respectful.
Upon hearing Tang Yan's words, Ancestor Huo opened his mouth and spat out a burst of flame, setting Tang Yan's robes ablaze.
Tang Yan smiled elegantly. "Ancestor Huo, you're being mischievous again."
"Aaaagh!" Ancestor Huo shrieked in fury once more.
At that moment, Qi Yuan sensed other presences approaching.
The soil on the ground began to shift, as if a marmot were scurrying beneath the surface.
Then, it coalesced into a little girl shaped like a roly-poly tumbler doll.
The tumbler girl had a round belly and was quite short, even shorter than Xiao Lü. She stared at Qi Yuan without saying a word.
"This is Ancestor Tu."
"Greetings, Ancestor Tu." Qi Yuan bowed.
"Young man, I merely took a catnap, and you attained five-element perfection. I thought I had slept for thousands of years, but when I asked, it had only been three days. Truly... unexpected."
A voice came from afar as Ancestor Jin approached with measured steps.
He was dressed just as meticulously as when Qi Yuan first met him—stiff, solemn, and proper.
Beside Ancestor Jin stood two figures. One was Ancestor Shui, who looked like a young matron clad in an aqua-blue gown; the other was Ancestor Mu, barefoot, clad in garish, colorful patchwork clothes, wearing a grinning, frivolous expression.
"Greetings to the three of you." Qi Yuan respectfully bowed to them as well.
Seeing this, Tang Yan and the other prodigies quietly withdrew from the area.
Holding Xiao Jia's hand, Qi Yuan faced the Five Ancestors.
Ancestor Jin stepped forward, his expression benevolent and gentle. "Back then, this old man made a pact with the Master of the Robe Division. Now, we are here to fulfill that promise."
He did not beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.
Beside him, Ancestor Huo muttered curses and tried to say something, only for Ancestor Tu, the tumbler girl, to kick him right in the buttocks.
Ancestor Huo shut his mouth at once, though he continued to glare resentfully at Qi Yuan.
At this point, the dignified, graceful Ancestor Shui spoke up: "Master of the Robe Division, can you promise us that you will take part in the Demon Slaying Assembly three hundred years from now and slay the extraterrestrial demons?"
Once Qi Yuan took control of the Five Elements Forbidden Ground, they would dissipate from this world, and their sole remaining obsessions would cease to exist.
"I will definitely slay the extraterrestrial demons!" Qi Yuan did not mention the Demon Slaying Assembly, addressing only the extraterrestrial demons directly.
The extraterrestrial demon was a must-kill.
It was this game's final boss. Only by killing it could Qi Yuan obtain the complete Heavenly Dao fragments and proceed with his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.
"Good!" Hearing his answer, Ancestor Shui nodded in satisfaction.
Ancestor Jin, Ancestor Mu, and Ancestor Tu nodded as well.
Only Ancestor Huo looked reluctant, begrudgingly nodding after receiving a sharp glare from Ancestor Tu, the tumbler girl.
Just then, Qi Yuan looked at Ancestor Jin and asked slowly, "You all have crossed paths with the extraterrestrial demon. Roughly how strong is it?"
He was quite curious about the extraterrestrial demon's combat prowess.
Ancestor Jin fell silent for a moment before speaking: "The extraterrestrial demon possesses a supreme treasure known as the Flesh-Fishing Hook. It resembles a fishing line suspended from the firmament, plunging into a cultivator's body. Back then, when this old man's previous incarnation was pierced by the Flesh-Fishing Hook, I exerted all my might, yet I could not sever it in the slightest—nor could I leave even a trace of a mark upon it."
Hearing this, Qi Yuan felt a twinge of apprehension.
In life, Ancestor Jin had likely been a Divine Domain-level powerhouse.
If such a formidable figure could not even sever a fishing line, let alone leave a scratch on it, Qi Yuan would probably find it exceedingly troublesome should he encounter that line.
"At the Demon Slaying Assembly, if you do battle with the extraterrestrial demon, stay far away from the Flesh-Fishing Hook," Ancestor Mu warned from the side. "Once pierced by the Flesh-Fishing Hook, not even the Heavenly God... could be spared."
The hot-tempered Ancestor Huo surprisingly spoke up as well: "The extraterrestrial demon might not be a single individual, but... two, or even more!"
Taking in so much information, a look of bewilderment flashed in Qi Yuan's eyes.
"Just how strong is the extraterrestrial demon? In the Five Elements Forbidden Ground, there are roughly dozens of powerhouses, and the Yin-Yang Forbidden Ground has dozens more. If we all charge forward together, wouldn't a barrage of random slashes hack it to death?"
Qi Yuan felt that the strength of the Four Great Forbidden Grounds was immense.
If those level-90-plus powerhouses joined forces, even Qi Yuan would probably be completely outmatched.
"The extraterrestrial demon possesses an immortal body; it cannot be killed at all! Or rather, even if slain, it will resurrect!" the colorfully clad Ancestor Mu said.
"An immortal body?" Hearing this, Qi Yuan was somewhat surprised, but that was all.
How could there be an unkillable boss in a video game?
At most, it would just take killing it a few more times.
Even so, Qi Yuan elevated his assessment of the extraterrestrial demon.
Challenging the extraterrestrial demon without reaching level 100 was simply seeking death.
Seeing that Qi Yuan had learned what he wanted to know, Ancestor Jin wore a genial smile. "Old companions, it is time for us to fulfill our promise and elevate the Master of the Robe Division."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Damn it, fine!"
With those words, the hands of all five rested upon Qi Yuan's shoulders.
The powers of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—surged frenziedly into Qi Yuan's body.
The five distinct hues were even richer than the five-essence power.
As they spread through Qi Yuan's body, he felt as if his very blood were changing color.
Five colors were also imprinted upon his skin like tattoos.
Qi Yuan saw that along with the infusion of the five elements' power, the bodies of the Five Ancestors gradually faded. Aside from the reluctant Ancestor Huo, the others appeared very calm, carrying a sense of relief.
The four ancestors spoke not a word, but Qi Yuan understood their expressions as he watched them slowly dissipate.
At the very last moment, Ancestor Huo suddenly roared, "Kid, I hate you! You're the one who made me remember the fact that I'm already dead!"
Ancestor Huo's roar seemed to expend every last drop of his strength, and his form dissipated from this world.
The other four ancestors vanished before Qi Yuan as well, as if they had never existed.
Qi Yuan was dazed for a moment.
Gone.
He looked down at the five-element tattoos on his body. It would probably take about a day of settling before they fully integrated into his physical form.
He took Xiao Jia's hand, gripping it a bit tighter this time. "Time to log off. We'll come back tomorrow."
He felt that today's exertion had been rather substantial.
Leading Xiao Jia to a deserted spot, he dug a pit and climbed in with her just as usual.
Arm wrapped around Xiao Jia's waist, he opened his contacts list.
There was only Jin Li, standing alone.
"I'm doomed. Never thought I'd become an old-timer killer too."
"Sigh, five old fogies died right in front of me to grant me this."
"Even though they're NPCs, it still feels weird."
After sending the messages, Qi Yuan waited a while, but received no reply.
He knew Jin Li had recently been leading the Robe Division Imperial Guard to steamroll through enemies and complete quests.
She was very busy.
Xiao Jia gripped Qi Yuan's hand tightly, and from her sleeve slid a wooden plaque depicting a cuddling pattern.
Seeing this, Qi Yuan chuckled. "Having a wife really is pretty great."
Holding Xiao Jia close, his gaze grew profound.
"The five elements, huh?"
"If one day I can re-establish earth, water, wind, and fire, I will surely turn falsehood into truth and illusion into reality, letting the five elements return to the world!"
After making his grand proclamation, Qi Yuan gave an awkward laugh.
"Haha, that was way too chuunibyou. I'm no Child of Destiny."
"Why should I be able to do whatever I say?"
"Why should an NPC place so much trust in a player anyway?"
...
"So sleepy."
Leaving the game, Qi Yuan felt his body grow increasingly drowsy.
The game jade slip burrowed into his body, and without a second thought, he flopped straight onto the bed.
Meanwhile, within his body, the qi of the five elements circulated unceasingly, seemingly poised to replace his prior Qi Refinement.
The qi of the five elements emanated from Qi Yuan's body.
A peculiar change took place throughout the entire room.
In the courtyard, the knife tied with a cord seemed to sense something, trembling shiveringly.
Yet as it lay prostrate, a surge of greed seemed to sprout within it as it greedily drew in the vapor permeating the air.
A dense power of the metal attribute seemed to drift through the air.
The entire Seven Colors Peak... no, the entire Divine Light Sect, underwent a peculiar change.
...
"Greetings, Sect Master."
Dong Xian stood before the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect, True Monarch Kumu, his entire body tense.
Inside him, Elder Qi completely retracted his aura, terrified of being detected.
After all, the old man before them was a Divine Infant eccentric.
To the Elder Qi of the past, this would have amounted to nothing.
Yet now, he was merely a remnant soul.
If a Divine Infant eccentric discovered his existence, no such cultivator would ever let slip an opportunity like this, and they would surely search his soul.
After all, his memories were a grand treasury.
If that happened, Elder Qi would dissipate completely.
"Dong Xian, not bad. Even with your cultivation crippled, you remain neither arrogant nor rash," True Monarch Kumu praised. "How are things going for you at Myriad Methods Peak?"
Confusion filled Dong Xian's heart; he had no idea why True Monarch Kumu would pay attention to him.
Steeling himself, he replied nonetheless, "My senior martial brothers and sisters treat me very well."
"Mm." True Monarch Kumu continued, "Half a year from now will be the Dragon Contention. Do you have any thoughts on it?"
In the current Great Shang State, the emperor was decrepit and aged, with little time remaining before his impending end, leaving the Empress of Great Shang in charge of state affairs.
The empress had no heirs, and the position of Crown Prince had yet to be determined.
Several princes were ambitious, coveting the supreme throne.
Following deliberations, the imperial court of Great Shang initiated the Dragon Contention.
The princes would lead their subordinates to compete within the Heavenly Dragon Immortal Realm; the victor would become the Crown Prince of Great Shang.
When this news first broke, the princes had all been dissatisfied.
This was because the Heavenly Dragon Immortal Realm possessed restrictions:
Cultivators over thirty years old could not enter.
This meant that the strongest who could enter were Foundation Establishment cultivators at best.
Meanwhile, the retainers under the princes in their prime were mostly Origin Core cultivators.
This undoubtedly severed their arms and legs.
However, the empress's stance was firm, and the three great immortal cultivation sects of Great Shang also supported the measure.
The princes had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree.
It was precisely because the Dragon Contention had arisen that Dong Xian had been forced away from the court politics and into the Divine Light Sect.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have survived until then.
Dong Xian was resistant to the Dragon Contention.
Hearing the sect master's question, he hurriedly shook his head. "This disciple would not dare!"
A sharp glint flashed through the Divine Light Sect Master's eyes. "Now that you are a disciple of my Divine Light Sect, you must dare even if you dare not."
Hearing this, surprise flickered in Dong Xian's heart, followed by a surge of excitement.
Was the Divine Light Sect supporting him to become the Crown Prince of Great Shang?
Dong Xian was a youth after all, helplessly driven out of the imperial capital.
His engagement with his fiancée had even been broken off.
For a youth like him, this was a profound humiliation.
He had thought about relying on Elder Qi's help to cultivate to the Divine Infant realm before returning home in glory.
Yet that might be hundreds or even thousands of years later.
By then, would the woman he loved still be the same woman as before?
Now, hearing that the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect wanted to back him in the contest for Great Shang, no matter how calm he usually was, ripples stirred within his heart.
"In half a year, the Dragon Contention begins. My Divine Light Sect will dispatch two Foundation Establishment disciples and one Origin Core elder to aid you," the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect said indifferently.
Hearing this, Dong Xian's breathing grew somewhat ragged.
Although the strength of the people dispatched by the Divine Light Sect might be ordinary, they represented the Divine Light Sect itself—and its stance.
That was enough.
"Thank you, Sect Master!" Dong Xian had a youthful disposition after all; he decided to take the gamble!
"The battle in the Heavenly Dragon Immortal Realm requires Foundation Establishment combat power. As for those two Foundation Establishment disciples, either I assign two, or you select them yourself. But if you choose them yourself, you must produce something to persuade them; I will not intervene," the Divine Light Sect Master said once more.
"This disciple will choose them himself!" Dong Xian said.
He was ambitious.
Although the Foundation Establishment disciples assigned by the sect master certainly wouldn't be bad, they might not necessarily be of the very top tier.
With Elder Qi's assistance, however, he was confident he could pick more suitable candidates.
Elder Qi had once secretly told him that this Divine Light Sect was not as simple as it appeared.
A few ordinary disciples hid their depths very well.
With Elder Qi to help him, he felt he could identify the right Foundation Establishment disciples and offer items that would sway them.
Hearing this, a smile surfaced on the face of the Divine Light Sect Master. "Very well."
Thinking of something, he added, "I have heard that at Myriad Methods Peak, you also dabble in artifact forging and have made some minor achievements. Let this old man take a look at the dharma artifacts you have crafted. Although I am not proficient in forging, I have dabbled a bit and can offer some pointers."
With business concluded, it was time to foster goodwill.
Having grown up in the imperial family, Dong Xian understood this principle well.
After a moment's thought, he retrieved a Profound Sky Treasure Ruler from his person.
This Profound Sky Treasure Ruler had been forged with Elder Qi's assistance and was Dong Xian's proudest creation.
"This is the Profound Sky Treasure Ruler, forged from thirty-seven types of metal. Indestructible, it can even take a blow from a Foundation Establishment dharma artifact without shattering."
Dong Xian held the Profound Sky Treasure Ruler in both hands, a proud look on his face.
Yet in the very next instant, Dong Xian froze.
The Divine Light Sect Master froze as well.
Before their eyes, the straight Profound Sky Treasure Ruler suddenly snapped into three segments for no apparent reason.
Even more shockingly, these three segments of the Profound Sky Treasure Ruler actually assembled into a stick figure and ran straight out of the hall!
Dong Xian was utterly dumbfounded. "Did my dharma artifact awaken sentience?"
*Am I really that incredible?*
*Did Elder Qi hide his true abilities?*
Chapter 62