"Back then, my clan was wiped out. I barely clung to life and fled to Great Shang. In the end, through a stroke of fortune, I joined the Divine Light Sect."
True Monarch Kumu spoke in a flat tone, as though observing events from a third-person perspective.
Listening to him, Qi Yuan figured this "stroke of fortune" had likely been True Monarch Kumu getting captured by the Demonic Desire Sect and planted inside the Divine Light Sect as a spy.
"My clan was destroyed, my people perished, and one of our clan's treasures ended up drifting outside, eventually becoming one of the rewards for the top hundred on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll. In four years, the rankings for the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll will be finalized. I need you to reach the top hundred and recover my clan's treasure."
True Monarch Kumu disclosed more details to Qi Yuan.
The rewards for the top hundred on the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll were lavish, even offering opportunities to step into the Purple Mansion realm.
Among them, higher rankers could pick their treasures first.
True Monarch Kumu's ancestral treasure was exceptionally peculiar. Having been lost to the outside world, outsiders were unaware of its true value and merely treated it as an ordinary rare artifact, including it among the prizes for the Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Roll.
"Top hundred is no problem. Sect Master, what is that great opportunity you mentioned?" Qi Yuan had never stopped thinking about that great opportunity.
Hearing this, a flicker of heartache surfaced in True Monarch Kumu's usually tranquil eyes. "This item is called Void Bright Soul Wood. Below the Purple Mansion realm, consuming it increases the strength of one's divine soul by a minor sub-stage."
This was unquestionably an authentic supreme treasure.
Its greatest utility was to be consumed when a late Divine Infant cultivator attempted to break through into the Purple Mansion realm.
Doing so would increase the chances of surviving the Purple Mansion Tribulation.
True Monarch Kumu had refrained from using it precisely to save it for his breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm.
Now, he was giving this Void Bright Soul Wood to Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan opened the small gourd and immediately saw a rod-shaped, jelly-like substance inside.
He inspected it and, once confirmed, a look of delight showed in his eyes. "Sect Master, you really are a wonderful person. Even if you're a Demonic Desire Sect spy, I still accept you as my sect master."
Right now, what he lacked most were treasures that strengthened the divine soul, like this Void Bright Soul Wood.
"This item is unimaginably precious. You can save it for now and use it when you break through to the Purple Mansion realm," True Monarch Kumu said, his mouth twitching at Qi Yuan's words, though he still offered the advice.
Since it could boost divine soul strength by a minor sub-stage anywhere below the Purple Mansion realm, the later one used it, the greater the payoff naturally was.
"Is it also better to use it later for Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?" Qi Yuan asked.
True Monarch Kumu froze for a moment. "Presumably so."
He had never seen a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment either, so how could he know?
Hearing that, Qi Yuan had his answer.
No matter how precious this treasure was, he'd swallow it first to boost his own strength.
"For now, focus on improving your cultivation. When the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle begins, I will notify you." Having said that, Kumu prepared to leave.
Right then, Qi Yuan called out to him, "Sect Master, may I make a small request?"
True Monarch Kumu glared at Qi Yuan. "Nothing too excessive!"
"Not excessive at all! It's just, Lord Sect Master, my wife has a little hobby—she likes eating snacks." Qi Yuan brought up Xiao Jia.
"Get to the point." True Monarch Kumu's expression soured.
"The blood crystal mine in Bloodless City—I want the sect to buy it out. All the blood crystals must be delivered to me."
True Monarch Kumu glanced at Qi Yuan and let out a cold snort. "And you call this a small request?"
The blood crystal mine of Bloodless City was quite famous among rogue cultivators.
Many rogue cultivators relied on it to improve their strength.
If True Monarch Kumu monopolized the mine and mishandled things, it would incite hostility from rogue cultivators.
Such hostility meant next to nothing to the Divine Light Sect.
Still, as a sect master, he had to consider the big picture to maximize their interests.
"Give me five days," True Monarch Kumu said, then turned and left.
Inside the crude wooden cabin, only Qi Yuan and Xiao Jia remained.
Looking at the Void Bright Soul Wood in the small gourd, Qi Yuan wore an expression of greed.
"Hopefully, this will help my divine soul step into late Foundation Establishment!"
Only then could he officially begin the second game and truly descend into it, rather than remaining trapped inside Liufeng Realm.
Holding the Void Bright Soul Wood, Qi Yuan began to consume and digest it.
...
The imperial palace of the Great Shang Kingdom.
Over a thousand civil and military officials knelt on the ground in a magnificent spectacle.
"First sacrifice to Heaven!"
"Second sacrifice to the celestial gods!"
"Third sacrifice to the imperial ancestors!"
The chants resounded majestically, and everyone within earshot bowed in worship.
Pennants fluttered in the wind, drums boomed heavily, and majestic, ringing ceremonial music struck up.
Dong Xian slowly mounted the steps. Officials held jade tablets to demonstrate loyalty and service; eunuchs hoisted ceremonial yak-tail banners symbolizing the royal family's supreme authority.
Under the eyes of the gathered thousands, Dong Xian ascended the throne.
"The new emperor ascends..."
All the civil and military officials knelt once more.
Clad in dragon robes, Dong Xian bore a gaze brimming with majesty.
At this moment, his heart was filled with excitement, alongside a surreal disbelief.
Without arduous toil, without terrifying struggles—just like that, plain and simple, he had become the emperor of Great Shang.
The imperial throne he had once dreamt of day and night.
"Elder Qi, is all of this a dream?" Dong Xian could not help asking Elder Qi.
Elder Qi's voice echoed in his mind: "Hmph, you brat simply haven't seen enough of the world. What does a mere emperor of Great Shang amount to? Across the entire Land of a Hundred Nations, there are over a hundred emperors. Yet there isn't a single Purple Mansion realm cultivator among them. You had better cultivate diligently, boy, and strive to step into the Purple Mansion realm in a few thousand years to reshape a physical body for me."
Elder Qi's words shattered Dong Xian's earlier jubilation.
Right, what was an emperor?
Hadn't his imperial father been the emperor of Great Shang too?
And look how that ended.
Dong Xian reined in his emotions, and the lightheaded pride in his chest vanished.
Becoming emperor was merely a way to secure more resources and reach the Purple Mansion realm sooner!
Of course, ascending as the new emperor was still an occasion to celebrate.
Yet right at that moment, a sonorous voice descended from the heavens.
"Is the Emperor of Great Shang present?!"
Above the sky, an early Divine Infant cultivator flew in, exuding a majestic aura.
"Who comes?" Barefoot, the imperial family's Divine Infant consecrator, Monk Wudian, soared into the air to block the early Divine Infant cultivator.
"I am a deacon of the Palace of Light from Cuiyun Continent of the Eastern Lands. By order of the Palace Master of the Palace of Light, Great Shang is hereby incorporated into the Light Camp." Aloof and condescending, the Palace of Light's Divine Infant cultivator tossed down an imperial edict, which landed in Monk Wudian's hands.
Monk Wudian scanned it with his divine soul. Seeing no traps, he presented it to Dong Xian.
Dong Xian unfurled the edict and skimmed it, fury flashing across his face.
Then, the Divine Infant cultivator from the Palace of Light declared, "Within six months at the earliest, or three years at the latest, the Hundred Nations Blood War will commence. The Light Camp shall clash against the Evil Demon Camp. Seeing that demonic cultivators do not run rampant in Great Shang, our Palace Master has acted out of benevolence to incorporate Great Shang into the Light Camp. Once the Hundred Nations Blood War begins, Great Shang and the other nations of the Light Camp must mobilize their armies against the Evil Demon Camp to slay the fiends!"
The cultivator from the Palace of Light spoke with supreme arrogance, as if bestowing a generous favor upon Great Shang.
Listening to him, Dong Xian felt the blood rush to his head.
The Palace of Light was utterly unreasonable!
Great Shang was not a servant of the Palace of Light—on what grounds were they being forced into this Light Camp?
What was more, the hundred nations had to wage a Hundred Nations Blood War at the behest of the Palace of Light.
What kind of sense did that make? Was the Palace of Light the master of the hundred nations?
Dong Xian was incensed.
Yet he knew full well that the Palace of Light was a true colossus, boasting numerous Purple Mansion realm cultivators.
Even if all the factions across the Land of a Hundred Nations united, they would be no match for the Palace of Light.
The cultivator from the Palace of Light looked down from above and continued, "Before that, you must hand over the Divine Light Sect disciples Kang Fulu and Qi Yuan, and escort them to the Palace of Light."
He added another brazen demand.
Hearing this, Dong Xian refused outright: "Impossible!"
The Palace of Light cultivator was momentarily startled, then narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "If Great Shang is unwilling, then when the Hundred Nations Blood War begins, Great Shang will be designated as part of the Demonic Path Camp. And anyone from the Demonic Path Camp may be executed by all. Great Shang... may face total destruction!"
The Palace of Light would support nations belonging to the Light Camp. As for nations relegated to the Demonic Path Camp, the more gruesome their demise, the better—preferably country ruined, family perished, not a dog or chicken spared.
Hearing this, Dong Xian felt deep indignation and suffocating frustration!
The Palace of Light was simply too tyrannical!
"Seven days from now, if Kang Fulu and Qi Yuan of the Divine Light Sect are not handed over, Great Shang will become part of the Demonic Path Camp." Having delivered his ultimatum, the cultivator from the Palace of Light transformed into a streak of light and swaggered away.
He left Dong Xian behind, fuming with rage.
Handing them over was out of the question!
...
Qi Yuan naturally knew nothing of what had transpired in the imperial court of Great Shang.
At this moment, he had entered the game.
Delight showed on his face.
With a late Foundation Establishment divine soul, he could easily enter the game without needing that previous pulling force from Ning Tao's end.
Even so, he first arrived in the underground palace of Heavenly Heart Palace.
"You're awake?" Not far away, the barefoot Ning Tao opened her eyes. The half of her face uncovered by black veil was as gorgeously alluring as plum blossoms in the snow.
At that moment, she was looking at the demonic monstrosity egg bound by eighteen chains, deep wariness showing in her eyes.
The original demonic monstrosity egg seemed to have long been digested, now transformed into a blood-red ball of flesh within which a peerless catastrophe seemed to be brewing.
"Little friend Ning Tao, may I ask you a question?" Qi Yuan inquired.
"Husband, please speak." Ning Tao's phoenix eyes shifted as she shot Qi Yuan a flirtatious pout, seemingly dissatisfied with the form of address.
Her tight black gown clung to her form, accentuating a waist slender enough to clasp in one hand and revealing a breathtaking figure. Through the sheer black gauze, her lotus-root-pale, slender legs were utterly captivating.
"In this world, who is the greatest villain?" Qi Yuan wanted to know who the final boss was.
"Husband must be joking. If we speak of villains, we Thirteen Northern Demon Fiends definitely count among the greatest." At this, a self-mocking glimmer appeared in the phoenix eyes beneath her willow-leaf brows.
Qi Yuan paused, then involuntarily asked, "May I see the other half of your face?"
Hearing this, a fleeting panic flashed deep in Ning Tao's eyes, yet a charming smile remained on her lips, brimming with allure. "Better not let Husband see it. I fear it would disgust you."
With the character for "Demon" carved into that half of her face, it was regarded as the height of ugliness in the world, reviled by anyone who saw it.
From the moment that character appeared on her face, even the mother who loved her most began to view her as a demon, attempting to stab her to death with scissors while young Ning Tao slept.
Young Ning Tao had fled her home, but an additional scar was carved into her face, right beside that character.
Later, after escaping, she was pursued by endless cultivators, all branding her an evil temptress.
It was during that flight from pursuers that she had met Qi Yuan.
She had veiled her face in black.
No one ever saw the other half of her face again.
Even she herself was unwilling to open her eyes when untying the black veil, loath to look upon the character that even she found repugnant.
She did not want Qi Yuan to see it.
"Aside from the Thirteen Demon Fiends, are there any other big villains?" Qi Yuan asked.
In his view, little friend Ning Tao did not qualify as a final boss at all.
After all, while Heavenly Heart Palace was considered a local hegemon in Liufeng Realm, it was still some distance from being the strongest.
"Where are there villains?" Ning Tao said with a faint smile. "To cultivators of the South, everyone in the North is a villain; to cultivators of the North, everyone in the South is a villain."
There was a sentence Ning Tao left unsaid.
To both Southerners and Northerners, the demons were the true arch-villains, despised even more than demonic monstrosities.
"Is that so?" Qi Yuan brushed it off and said no more.
"Husband, you're rarely awake. When will you break out of your shell and accompany me to watch the vast night sky?" Ning Tao gazed at Qi Yuan earnestly.
"No thanks." Qi Yuan couldn't be bothered.
He wanted to play his game.
What fun was looking at the night sky compared to slaughtering his way through enemies?
Ning Tao wasn't disappointed either. "Be good, Husband. Your charming little wife is off to make a living and support the family."
She draped another layer of gauze over herself and slipped shoes onto her bare feet.
Then, she departed the underground palace.
As the Palace Master of Heavenly Heart Palace, she had many affairs to handle.
Emerging into the main palace hall, she looked up at the night sky.
The sky was pitch-black, as though the entire world had been drenched in ink.
Sitting upon her jade throne, she looked at the edict before her, a pensive look crossing her face. "Blood Fiend... a peerless... great disaster?"
Yet an instant later, she smiled faintly.
She was a demoness; wasn't she also a peerless great disaster?
Nearby, a maidservant in attendance noticed Ning Tao's smile and began to tremble violently.
Ning Tao glanced at her, complex emotions flickering through her eyes.
These people, who constantly claimed they were willing to die for her, were this terrified of her.
Terrified of her every frown and smile.
A demoness...
...
Back in the underground palace.
"This lump of flesh and blood is really strange."
Qi Yuan's gaze fell upon the vessel currently housing him.
Every time he looked at this flesh and blood, he received a different answer.
Even the name was different each time.
This time, what appeared was...
[Blood of Heaven's Desire, the apex of desire.]
Last time he checked, it had been Chaotic Divine Blood.
"This is definitely a great treasure."
He suspected that because of his soul's irregular residence, this object had undergone a mutation.
Its form was continuously shifting.
"What if I parasitically attach the Divine Soul Blood onto it?"
A thought struck Qi Yuan.
However, he quickly discarded it.
Right now, he still didn't know what this mass of flesh and blood truly was; he couldn't afford to waste the Divine Soul Blood.
He needed to at least have a rough idea of its value before considering whether to use the Divine Soul Blood on it.
At present, what he needed was to rapidly grow stronger.
"Too bad I can't take it with me, or I could study it every day."
"All right, time to leave this place and enter the game."
With that in mind, Qi Yuan switched into game mode.
In an instant, countless visions flooded Qi Yuan's mind.
He saw a towering, colossal city, its walls thirty zhang high.
Countless human cultivators and soldiers stood guard atop the great fortress.
Below the walls, terrifying demonic monstrosities in their tens of thousands surged toward the city like a dense, roiling sea.
Arrows rained down like a tempest into the swarming monstrosities, yet proved little more than a drop in the ocean.
Hideous, snarling monstrosities swarmed atop the battlements, and the slaughter dissolved into brutal melee.
Armored soldiers wielding spears and swords charged headlong into the demonic monstrosities without looking back.
The great battle raged for three days.
Blood dyed the city walls crimson.
The ramparts of the great city turned pitch-black from the gore.
Chapter 97