Regarding the discussion among Yuwen Tuo, Li Xiaoyao, and the others, Ye Wen decided it was best to pretend he hadn't heard anything; after all, he certainly wouldn't name his own son 'Seth.' However, Yuwen Tuo’s remark about "the goddesses of Olympus being quite fertile" did catch the attention of Ning Ruxue beside him.

His junior sister turned to look at Artemis, then back at Ye Wen with complicated eyes, before quietly finishing her meal and sinking into thought, her mind clearly far away.

Having been with her for so long, Ye Wen could guess a little of what she was thinking. He reached out when no one was looking, grasping her delicate, slender hand, and gently stroked her thumb to offer comfort. "It matters little whether we have children or not. We are immortals pursuing the path of eternal life; once our cultivation is complete, we will naturally live forever, needing no offspring to carry on the lineage!"

Hearing this, Ning Ruxue’s expression softened slightly, but she deliberately shot him a look, muttering under her breath, "Children aren't just for continuing the bloodline!"

Ye Wen countered, "I don't want to bring a child into the world just to steal you away from me!"

That sounded a bit sickeningly sweet, but sometimes such words are unavoidable with intimate partners. The context, however, felt rather inappropriate, making Ning Ruxue glance around furtively. Seeing that no one else reacted, she realized her senior brother had used some subtle trick to keep his words private.

But with her current demeanor, she was likely to attract unwanted attention. Realizing this, Ning Ruxue glared at the smirking Ye Wen and retorted with a single sentence that instantly deflated his smugness: "And I’m supposed to share you with other women?"

"Uh..." Ye Wen opened his mouth awkwardly, realizing that no matter what he said now, it would be wrong. If he tried to pursue the topic, he suspected he wouldn't be able to smooth things over all night.

Seeing him struggling to form a reply, Ning Ruxue didn't want to keep putting him on the spot. She whispered softly, "Just don't let there be a next one!" Then she stopped paying attention to Ye Wen, sitting quietly with her eyes closed to rest her spirit.

Ye Wen blinked, finally understanding that this matter had been settled for now. But while his junior sister had swallowed her displeasure, things with Artemis might not be so easy!

The fact that Ning Ruxue was willing to let Artemis enter their circle, Ye Wen knew, was entirely thanks to those old traditions. Although Ning Ruxue had a strong will, she grew up in that environment. Even after coming to Earth, she only adopted some Earthly ideas; deep down, fundamental changes were impossible.

Thus, for Ning Ruxue, while the concept of three wives and four concubines was displeasing, it wasn't entirely unacceptable!

But for the Olympian gods, who staunchly upheld monogamy... Ye Wen felt he had a very long road ahead. He surmised this issue wouldn't be resolved anytime soon.

The meal stretched all the way into the afternoon. Apart from the disciples who needed to attend to chores, everyone else stayed behind; lunch seamlessly morphed into afternoon tea.

Holding his teacup, Ye Wen listened as his disciples reported on their work, finally sorting out everything that had happened over the last decade.

Besides matters he already knew, there was the news that Li Xiaoyao was being pressured into marriage by Claire—more importantly, Chris, who had been by Ye Wen’s side and was unaware of the recent happenings on Mount Shu, began glaring menacingly at Li Xiaoyao upon learning the situation, adopting a stance that demanded an explanation or a fight.

"Xiaoyao, you really should consider this matter!"

Watching Li Xiaoyao sitting not far away with a troubled expression, Ye Wen sighed softly, "Alas, I've finally become an old man urging the younger generation to marry quickly!"

Claire remained silent nearby, but her expression, though outwardly reluctant, betrayed a hint of joy. Having lived on Mount Shu for a long time, Claire had gradually adapted to some Eastern ideals, like the grand matter of marriage: if elders made the decision, the matter was generally settled. She was also tired of the endless, drawn-out courtship with Li Xiaoyao, but this boy was slippery and hard to pin down. Now that their master had intervened, she thought he'd have nowhere to run. Claire ultimately underestimated Li Xiaoyao; the next day, the young man had already fled the mountain!

Of course, Ye Wen didn't know this yet. He simply urged Li Xiaoyao to resolve the issue quickly. Seeing the submissive Li Xiaoyao, Ye Wen didn't say much more, believing the matter would naturally resolve itself.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiaoyao suffered from pre-wedding jitters. He wrote a letter and vanished overnight, angering Claire so much that she nearly smashed all of Li Xiaoyao's treasured vials and jars.

The next day, Ye Wen was quite helpless regarding the runaway disciple. Fortunately, Li Xiaoyao's letter stated that he was merely leaving to clear his head and would marry Claire upon his return, which somewhat appeased Chris.

As Chris put it: "Since my sister and I have achieved significant progress in our cultivation, even if we haven't reached true immortality, we certainly have several centuries of lifespan ahead of us. We can wait!"

Claire could wait, but she worried about what might befall Li Xiaoyao during his travels. If he returned with a few more women, what would she do?

"Don't worry, I will arbitrate for you when the time comes!" Just as Claire was about to bow in thanks, she heard Ye Wen continue, "And I'll make sure you are the primary one!"

"..."

Everyone present scorned Ye Wen for setting a poor example, then worried that the runaway junior might also deviate. While comforting Claire, they continued with their tasks.

This commotion only subsided after midday. Afterward, Ye Wen took Artemis on a tour of Mount Shu. Over the course of the day, Artemis gradually grasped the relationships among everyone on the mountain, finally realizing that Ye Wen here was akin to the God-King on Mount Olympus: he could oversee all matters, big and small, had final say on everything, and could even unilaterally decide his disciple's marriage.

In this regard, he was perhaps even superior to Zeus. Zeus could command marriages, but powerful figures like Artemis could still resist. Yet, if Ye Wen decreed something on Mount Shu, there would be no resistance; Li Xiaoyao might have run off, but he had agreed to the marriage in principle, merely postponing it.

"How peculiar. Aren't your Jade Emperors worried that you won't obey their commands?"

Artemis was puzzled by this: why would the rulers of the Eastern world pay no mind to, or show no concern over, such powerful entities who were almost completely independent?

She now knew that immortal sects like Mount Shu were not rare in the East; in fact, they were everywhere. If these sects refused to obey the Heavenly Court's orders, what point would there be in being the Jade Emperor?

"They probably worry too..."

Honestly, Ye Wen didn't think the Jade Emperor lacked concern. Anyone would be uneasy about such a formidable military force completely outside their control. Moreover, based on various signs, this Jade Emperor was not someone content with the status quo; he even possessed the ruthlessness to launch a full-scale attack on the Buddhist realm without hesitation when the opportunity arose. This was not the act of an ordinary person.

"Then..." Artemis frowned.

"But he has no choice... The foundation of the Eastern Immortal Realm is actually these cultivating sects!"

Artemis already knew the biggest difference between Eastern immortals and Western gods was that Eastern immortals were rarely born; most achieved their immortal status through relentless, continuous cultivation. And these sects were the entities that provided the cultivation methods!

Although most immortals in the Eastern Heavenly Court existed since antiquity and were the Jade Emperor's most trusted core group, even they relied on the supreme treasure, the Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Bang), to use them so boldly! Look at who held real power in the current Heavenly Court—besides Yang Jian, who wasn't named on that list? Perhaps the Four Directional Divine Lords were exceptions, but their situation was unique and incomparable.

In short, this situation in the Eastern Immortal Realm was fundamentally unsolvable. No matter how capable the Jade Emperor was, at best, he could only mandate that disciples from various sects take posts in the Heavenly Court, increasing communication between the Court and the sects, and minimizing the chance of these sects turning against him. Beyond that, he couldn't hope for more.

He explained this to Artemis. Although she didn't grasp every detail, she understood the general idea. However, she was curious: in all this time, had no sect ever considered seizing power for themselves? To her, this seemed utterly unbelievable! She reasoned that if she commanded a group of powerful cultivators and possessed formidable strength herself, why would she listen to the Heavenly Court? Wouldn't she have overthrown the Jade Emperor and taken his place long ago?

Ye Wen shook his head. "That is due to the philosophies practiced by the Eastern Immortal Sects!"

Most immortal sects sought longevity, not wealth or status, so many focused solely on their own cultivation, living quiet lives without great ambition. Although Ye Wen wondered what purpose longevity served if one didn't enjoy it, he didn't dwell on it.

Standing on the edge of the cliff, looking out at the distant mountains, Ye Wen and Artemis did not circulate their vital energy to ward off the mountain winds, instead letting the fierce gusts buffet their bodies. Ye Wen was unaffected, but for Artemis, the strong wind plastered her close-fitting long skirt against her body, showcasing her curvaceous figure vividly, much to Ye Wen's visual delight.

Tossing her hair, Artemis seemed rather pleased. "Do I look good?"

"Yes!" Ye Wen replied immediately and frankly, nodding his affirmation, and continued to stare openly without reservation.

Artemis wasn't angry; she simply stood there, letting Ye Wen gaze to his heart's content. In her mind, having her body admired by this man was a cause for joy, so there was no need for modesty. Besides, recalling their first meeting when he’d basically seen her completely, and now their feelings were rapidly deepening, why hide anything?

The two stood there for quite a while, one proudly displaying her figure, the other enjoying the view. After some time, they both finally channeled their energy, shielding themselves from the fierce mountain winds, and turned their gaze toward the distance.

Shortly after, Nangong Huang hurried toward them. After bowing to the pair, he said, "Martial Uncle Headmaster... uh..."

The most difficult thing these past few days had been Artemis’s title. Calling her "Headmaster's Wife" felt premature since she wasn't officially married yet. Thus, most people tried to avoid addressing her directly. Now, Nangong Huang couldn't avoid it and stood there unsure how to address her.

"What is it?"

Fortunately, Ye Wen noticed his awkwardness and took over the conversation. "Martial Uncle Headmaster, someone has come to pay respects!"

"Pay respects?"

This was rare. The Mount Shu Sect had been established for over a decade in the Immortal Realm, and no one had ever come to formally visit! Most visitors were acquaintances from the Heavenly Court who were allowed in after a brief greeting. Looking at Nangong Huang’s expression, it was clear this visitor was a stranger. "Who is paying respects?" He was surprised. Unless there was a pressing matter, people rarely visited each other. Furthermore, with a major battle looming nearby, cultivators wouldn't deliberately travel for social calls, right?

However, the next sentence from Nangong Huang made him understand why they had sought out Mount Shu specifically.

"It is said to be an immortal sect from Cuiyan Peak, not far from our sect, called the Cuiyan Gate! They learned of our sect and specifically came to visit their neighbors!"

"Oh!" Ye Wen was momentarily stunned before remembering the Cuiyan Gate. That was when he accompanied Dongfang Kui to register Mount Shu with the Heavenly Court, more than a decade ago. He had heard of the Cuiyan Gate then, but merely noted it without giving it much thought. He had intended to visit this neighbor when time allowed, but after returning, one major event followed another, causing him to forget completely. If the Cuiyan Gate hadn't come visiting today, he probably wouldn't have recalled it for several more years.

Still, he was curious: why would the Cuiyan Gate actively seek them out? While Mount Shu now had a shop in the Tianji Gate market, gaining some reputation, it shouldn't be enough to warrant the attention of an established immortal cultivating sect. In the cultivation world, seniority mattered. Generally, if two sects were near each other, the newer one would pay a formal visit upon establishment—a form of 'paying homage'—followed by mutual support depending on future interactions. If they failed to do so, it might be seen as disrespect, leading to enmity, and sometimes even triggering a skirmish.

When Mount Shu was first established, due to a series of coincidences and Ye Wen’s desire for low-key development, they hadn't gone around socializing, thus never visiting nearby neighbors. Considering that Mount Shu was situated in a relatively isolated area, with even the closest Cuiyan Gate being a considerable distance away, this aloofness was hardly blameworthy. But for an established sect to visit them proactively... there seemed to be something fishy about it.

Ye Wen pondered for a moment but couldn't grasp the core reason. After walking a short distance with Nangong Huang, he asked, "Did the visitor say anything else?"

Nangong Huang, seasoned in worldly affairs, understood the implication of Ye Wen's question and shook his head. "The woman said nothing specific, merely stating they came to visit neighbors, get acquainted with the area, and hoped for more friendly interactions between the two sects in the future!"

Hearing this, Ye Wen felt the visitor harbored no malice; the words suggested an outreach of goodwill. Feeling somewhat reassured, he told Nangong Huang to lead the way, heading straight for the main hall.

Since the visitors were representatives of an immortal sect, the venue for the meeting was significant. They were escorted directly to the main hall to wait. Upon hearing the news, Ye Wen also went straight to the main hall, entering from the rear to show he was the host.

As he entered, he saw two women seated in the hall, both appearing to be in their early twenties (appearance only; one never knew the true age of these cultivating women, and it was difficult to inquire). They were both beautiful and charming. Ye Wen knew that even if a cultivator wasn't naturally beautiful, cultivation could smooth over any imperfections, so it wasn't surprising to see beautiful faces, and he wasn't particularly amazed. He stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Welcome, honored guests. I hope you will forgive any lack of proper reception!"

The two women rose, bowed in return, and then scrutinized Ye Wen with their bright, clear eyes. Finally, the one with two braided pigtails, who looked slightly younger, spoke. "You are the Headmaster of the Mount Shu Sect? You don't look like it!"

The woman beside her quickly turned back and scolded, "Watch your words!" Then she turned to Ye Wen and apologized, "My junior sister is somewhat rash; I hope fellow Daoist doesn't take offense!" Despite her words, a flicker of doubt remained in her eyes; she clearly questioned whether Ye Wen was truly the revered leader of Mount Shu, perhaps suspecting he was merely a proxy sent to handle them. If so, Mount Shu was being rather arrogant, and the expressions of both women darkened.

Ye Wen smiled faintly, unbothered. His youthful appearance did indeed contrast with the expected gravitas of a sect leader; his junior sister had suggested he grow a beard, but he disliked it and refused. He hadn't expected his appearance to cause doubt today. "I am Ye Wen, Headmaster of the Mount Shu Sect. May I ask your esteemed names?"

Upon hearing confirmation that he was indeed the Headmaster, the two women’s complexions returned to normal, and they bowed respectfully again. "Disciple of Cuiyan Gate, Mo Mo (Fan Fan), greets Headmaster Ye!"

"Mo Mo? Fan Fan?" Ye Wen muttered unconsciously, finding the name or Daoist title a bit confusing.

Fortunately, the woman called Mo Mo explained immediately. "Most disciples in our sect are orphans, so many do not have family names. Names are usually chosen casually, something pleasant and easy to remember, with little deep meaning. I hope Headmaster Ye does not find it amusing!"

"Not at all, your names are quite pleasant," Ye Wen chuckled lightly. After greeting them to be seated, he immediately got to the point: "May I ask the purpose of your visit, esteemed ladies...?"