Lu Bu’s sudden remark made the already strange atmosphere even more bizarre. Ye Wen glanced at the Marquis of Wen and could only shake his head in exasperation. "The birth of the Amaterasu deity coincided roughly with the time you, Lu Bu, were alive and kicking. But if that's the case, it’s even more impossible for you to have anything to do with it. Try finding a more reliable story, won't you?"

However, these words could not be spoken aloud. He managed to placate the Marquis of Wen, who was clearly going mad thinking about Diaochan, and continued discussing the Yamata no Orochi with Amaterasu.

"Please inform me where that monstrous creature is hiding. I need to see it for myself before deciding anything!"

Amaterasu knew that Ye Wen’s words were just a delaying tactic. If he truly intended to spare the Yamata no Orochi, why would he travel all the way from the farthest west of the Eastern Immortal Continent to its extreme east? While this journey might be trivial for an immortal of his stature, surely Ye Wen wouldn't have made the trip unless he was determined to slay the beast?

After Ye Wen had thoroughly thrashed the Yamata no Orochi, even that thick-headed brute must have understood that it should never again seek trouble with the Shu Mountain Sect, lest it not escape with its life next time.

It turned out that as soon as the Yamata no Orochi returned, it clashed with Amaterasu. This last remaining powerful deity here thought it could take advantage of the serpent’s severe injuries to avenge his younger brother and sister. However, the Yamata no Orochi had followed Lao Jun for a long time and had learned many powerful techniques. Even though it was now battered and bruised from Ye Wen’s beating, it still did not hold Amaterasu in high regard. They fought fiercely in the high heavens for a while before the serpent calmly retreated into its lair.

Amaterasu could not defeat the Yamata no Orochi and, frustrated that his revenge was thwarted, sought out Zhang Guifang for assistance. Although Zhang Guifang’s strength was mediocre—even inferior to Amaterasu’s—he was a Heavenly General with extensive connections and might be able to solicit help from some higher immortal.

Upon going there, he learned who had wounded the Yamata no Orochi and also discovered that the Shu Mountain Sect Leader had no intention of letting the beast go and was preparing to slay it personally.

Receiving this news, Amaterasu naturally thought of borrowing external strength for his vengeance. This led to Zhang Guifang being dispatched to greet Niu Wen and then escorting him to Amaterasu’s residence for discussions.

As for any hidden agendas, Ye Wen was indeed overthinking things. Most deities residing here were unfamiliar to Zhang Guifang. Except for Amaterasu, the rest, though claiming divinity, were no different from ghosts and specters in his eyes. As a Heavenly General, he naturally looked down on such entities. The only one he could converse with regularly was Amaterasu, so their relationship was quite amicable. His enthusiasm now stemmed from a friend seeking help.

Unexpectedly, this earnest help made Ye Wen wary, causing him to hold back and not commit fully—a strange, accidental misunderstanding!

Fortunately, Ye Wen would not let a slight doubt change his resolve to kill the Yamata no Orochi.

Overall, the goals of both parties remained aligned, so the conversation concluded with both host and guest enjoying themselves immensely.

By the time the banquet concluded, it was already past midnight. Fortunately, none present were mere mortals; even Zhang Guifang, with the lowest cultivation, did not need scheduled sleep to maintain his energy.

However, once the food, drinks, and fruit were cleared, a profound silence fell over the group. Amaterasu glanced around and realized the cause was his presence. He bowed deeply to everyone and said, "If you require anything, do not hesitate to summon me!"

He then respectfully withdrew, acting like a servant.

Once she left, Ye Wen turned to Zhang Shuāngfāng and asked, "General Zhang, you seem quite familiar with Amaterasu?"

Zhang Guifang chuckled, "There’s precious few people worth talking to around here, only the deity Amaterasu, so we’ve become rather well-acquainted!"

Ye Wen nodded, pondered for a moment, and then glanced at the others beside him. Seeing Xue Rengui reminded him of the Biedu Dongtian (The Separate Heaven and Earth). Driven by curiosity, and since his own business was straightforward—find the Yamata no Orochi's lair and fight—he didn't need to dwell on other matters and inquired about Xue Rengui’s objective.

"Where is the entrance to that Biedu Dongtian?"

Zhang Guifang suddenly smiled, "This matter must wait until Sect Leader Ye has slain the Yamata no Orochi!"

"Oh?"

Ye Wen couldn't understand the connection between these two matters. Upon asking, he learned that the entrance to the Biedu Dongtian happened to be deep within the lair occupied by the Yamata no Orochi. In other words, to reach that place, defeating the Yamata no Orochi was an unavoidable hurdle. No wonder the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden had asked Xue Rengui to accompany Ye Wen—this was what she had planned.

As for how the fellow who insulted the Pomegranate Immortal could enter and exit that place, the reasoning wasn't hard to deduce: since the Yamata no Orochi had been cultivating in the Doushuai Palace with Lao Jun for over a thousand years, that passage had naturally remained clear.

After some discussion, Zhang Guifang suddenly mentioned, "Oh, yes, a powerful cultivator passed through the vicinity a few days ago, though I don't know where he’s gone now. If we could find him, he might offer some assistance!"

He mentioned this casually, and Ye Wen didn't take it seriously. After conversing a bit more, Zhang Guifang took his leave, leaving only those who had arrived together in the room.

Seeing the others gone, Lu Bu turned to face Ye Wen squarely. "Immortal Master, when will you help me find Chan'er?"

Ye Wen remained silent, thinking to himself, You could search until the end of time and never find her! I think it would be more realistic for you to find another woman you like! Yet, his words remained soothing: "This matter cannot be rushed. Since Marquis Wen now possesses endless longevity, there is no need to be hasty!"

Meanwhile, Xue Rengui frowned, pondering how to accomplish his assigned mission. However, he knew too little at the moment. Out of options, he continued to ask Ye Wen for clarification on matters of the Immortal Realm.

Although Ye Wen had been there for some time, he didn't know much either. He could only provide a rough sketch of the power distribution in the Immortal Realm, along with a description of the Eastern Immortal Continent.

He knew no more than that, but even this was enough for Xue Rengui to digest for a while.

Especially the piece of intelligence: "Today, the Heavenly Court has appointed Yang Jian as Supreme Commander, leading the great army to fight the Buddhist Realm in the southwest!" This greatly piqued Xue Rengui's interest. Had he not accepted the assignment from the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden, he probably would have rushed straight to the southwest army camp.

After a few more words, everyone dispersed to rest. Someone had already arranged rooms for them. Ye Wen and Artemis were given the larger room, and even more uniquely, the backyard of this chamber contained a hot spring, about three meters square.

Coupled with the faint scent of a woman lingering in the room, Ye Wen surmised this might have been Amaterasu’s own private chambers, offered up for his use tonight.

As for the bedding... a mattress was laid out with two pillows. It seemed Amaterasu had sharp eyes; she hadn't missed the incident where Ye Wen was scrutinizing her and Artemis subsequently stomped hard on his foot. She had correctly discerned their relationship and made such an arrangement.

Ye Wen glanced at the hot spring, then turned to Artemis. "Shall we soak together?"

Artemis narrowed her eyes, a strange smile playing on her lips. She studied Ye Wen for a while before finally saying, "A bath sounds nice too!" Then, picking up a towel and other necessities she had prepared, she entered the courtyard with the hot spring and pulled the sliding wooden door shut, blocking Ye Wen outside.

"Uh..."

Ye Wen blinked, then hesitantly reached out to open the door blocking his view, but as soon as he managed to slide it open a crack, a blue magic arrow with a long tail zipped through, startling him.

"Alright... you bathe first!"

Returning to the bedding, Ye Wen pondered curiously. Artemis was usually not one to conceal her body from him; why the sudden reservation today?

As he puzzled over it, he heard the sound of the door sliding open behind him.

He turned to see Artemis, her long hair wet and dripping, flowing down her back. It was unclear if the hot spring Amaterasu specially provided had some unique effect, but after a short soak, the already fair skin of Artemis, a primary deity, was tinged with a vibrant blush.

However...

"Hey? Why are you dressed so conservatively?"

Artemis was wearing a yukata specifically arranged by Amaterasu. The garment was modest in some ways and alluring in others, depending on how it was worn. But Artemis had unusually wrapped herself up tightly, revealing only her hands and feet, covering even her chest—not a hint of exposed skin. Ye Wen couldn't see anything at a glance.

Seeing his reaction, Artemis thought to herself, Huayi was indeed right!

Then, with a look of triumph, she dove into the bedding. "Going to sleep!" She left Ye Wen sitting there, wide-eyed and bewildered, unable to figure out why this woman’s temperament seemed to have changed.

The next morning, as soon as the sun peeked over the horizon, Ye Wen’s eyes snapped open.

With his level of cultivation, sleep and wakefulness were matters of will. Even while deep in slumber, he was acutely aware of changes in his surroundings. As soon as the light broke, Ye Wen sat up, only to find Artemis beside him now wearing a slightly faded pair of denim jeans paired with a pure white long-sleeved shirt. Her long hair still cascaded naturally down her back, but this change in attire completely altered her demeanor. The usual dazzling aura was gone, replaced by an even more pronounced air of a capable career woman.

"This..."

Ye Wen looked her up and down, then down again. All he managed to utter was, "Huayi picked this out for me. She said it suits me perfectly!" Truthfully, it suited her; the jeans, clinging tightly to her slender legs, perfectly accentuated Artemis’s beautiful limbs. However, wearing pants was definitely less revealing than wearing a skirt—too much was covered up.

Combined with the tightly fitting shirt, which was pure white and just slightly sheer, yet revealed nothing, it was enough to drive some men mad.

After watching her for a moment, Ye Wen finally understood Huayi’s reasoning for suggesting this outfit: "She’s playing hard to get!" Knowing it was one thing, but dealing with it was another. As a result, Ye Wen’s gaze remained fixed on Artemis throughout the entire morning. The Moon Goddess, seeing that everything Huayi predicted had come true, naturally followed her instructions, hoping that this time Ye Wen’s attention would remain solely on her and he wouldn't let his eyes wander.

Indeed, he didn't glance around elsewhere. Even when Amaterasu appeared in a kimono even more vibrant than the day before, Ye Wen only offered a polite greeting and nothing more, keeping his focus firmly on Artemis.

It wasn't until Zhang Guifang and Amaterasu led the group to the Yamata no Orochi's lair that Ye Wen finally withdrew his attention and looked down at the swamp beneath his feet.

"This is the Yamata no Orochi’s lair?"

This swamp was nothing but water and mud. Although patches of green were visible, they represented death, not vitality. Furthermore, a layer of vapor clung to the swamp’s surface. Ye Wen and the others felt nothing, but they instantly perceived that if any ordinary person inhaled even a bit of this mist, they would instantly perish—no other possibility existed.

"A swamp, noxious fumes—it certainly suits that long-worm's profile!"

Ye Wen sneered, then asked Zhang Guifang, "Is that worm hiding in this swamp?"

Zhang Guifang wasn't entirely sure about this and had to turn to Amaterasu. Amaterasu replied, "We still need to go further in. The serpent's hiding place is in the center of this swamp. There is a cavern there that leads straight underground; the great snake usually hides inside that cave."

Ye Wen recalled the entrance to the Biedu Dongtian and presumed it was also in that cave. He glanced at Xue Rengui, who was diligently adjusting his armor, and even Lu Bu, despite maintaining his usual nonchalant air with his halberd merely resting on his shoulder, had a drastic change in his eyes, looking as if he were about to charge into battle.

These two, after all, were not ordinary men. Ye Wen knew, however, that he likely wouldn't need their help for this engagement. He instructed them, "This matter is a private grievance between my Shu Mountain Sect and that worm; there's no need for you two to lend assistance!"

Xue Rengui said nothing, but Lu Bu insisted, "Immortal Master Ye, there's no need for formalities. You've helped me search for Chan'er; I have nothing to repay you with except this valor." His tone implied he was determined to be involved today, though it was unclear if he wished to challenge the formidable serpent or truly intended to repay Ye Wen’s kindness with his martial prowess. However, if Lu Bu knew the truth, he might be fighting against Ye Wen instead of helping him.

Shrugging, Ye Wen paid it no mind. Surprisingly, Artemis even drew out her Wrath of the Stars. "What are you planning to do?"

"I couldn't help when you fought that monster last time; I won't just stand by this time!" She intended to join the fight as well.

Ye Wen waved his hand, then saw Amaterasu swiftly reach to her waist, producing a long saber that faintly emanated divine power—clearly no ordinary weapon. Furthermore, Amaterasu no longer appeared as fragile as she first seemed; her eyes burned with fierce battle intent, and her spine was perfectly straight. Ignoring her attire and appearance, she looked every bit a general ready for war.

Seeing everyone's resolve, Ye Wen knew persuasion was useless. He simply waved his hand. "Act according to the situation. Let's go!"

With those words, the party advanced mightily toward the center of the swamp. In a short time, they spotted the cavern Amaterasu had described.

Landing, everyone walked into the cavern. As soon as Ye Wen stepped inside, his internal energy jolted. The atmosphere emanating from the cave made him feel distinctly uncomfortable.

He observed the others and noticed that everyone except Amaterasu showed no strange reaction.

Seeing Ye Wen looking around, Zhang Guifang explained, "This place connects to the Biedu Dongtian. The turbid energy here is even denser than outside. Sect Leader Ye, being an immortal cultivated from pure qing (clarity/purity), might find this environment extremely unsuitable!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Wen finally understood. This was the geographical peril that the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden so deeply feared. Most immortals from the Heavenly Court had some aversion to these energies.

However, Zhang Guifang, Lu Bu, and Xue Rengui, the generals appointed via the Fengshen Bang (Investiture of the Gods list), were unaffected by this constraint. Artemis, being an Olympian deity, possessed innate divine power and was also unaffected—unless a rule suppressing all energy, like in that other dimension, was in effect.

To Ye Wen's surprise, Amaterasu was somewhat affected. This suggested that although the Amaterasu deity was born in a place where clarity and turbidity mingled, she still leaned toward the 'pure' side.

As for Ye Wen himself, although he sensed the energy, he was not truly affected. A cultivator like him, who emphasized strengthening his own inner power from the start and using his inherent abilities in combat, was not afraid of environmental interference. While the turbid energy made him uncomfortable, it did not impair his fighting capacity. In that case, even if he entered the Biedu Dongtian, he wouldn't be as restricted as the higher immortals of the Heavenly Court.

"That's good news!"

He speculated that Yang Jian in the Heavenly Court should also be unafraid of this environment; Yang Jian also focused on his core strength and should be immune to this noxious energy. However, the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden couldn't mobilize Yang Jian, and since Yang Jian had important duties, she had to send Xue Rengui instead.

After walking some distance, a foul stench began to drift from ahead. This stench was not merely unpleasant to the sense of smell; it felt like an affliction rising from the depths of their beings. Ye Wen frowned as Amaterasu spoke, "The great serpent is near! Fight! This is the poison gas exhaled with the beast’s breath!"

Lu Bu grimaced, but Xue Rengui seemed unfazed, curiously observing the others. Ye Wen saw that a stream of light was flickering across Xue Rengui’s white robe—the Water-Fire Robe was clearly working wonders, shielding him from the poisonous miasma.

Artemis also had her methods; a crescent moon on her brow flashed brightly, emitting the lunar divine power from her body to similarly ward off the toxic fog.

Looking at Amaterasu, she pulled out a mirror from her bosom. As she held it up, circles of divine light enveloped and protected her entire body.

By comparison, only Zhang Guifang and Lu Bu lacked protective measures.

As expected, Zhang Guifang declared, "I am incapable of proceeding further. Good luck to you all!"

However, Lu Bu gritted his teeth and grumbled stubbornly, "A mere poison mist cannot stop me. I’ll keep moving!"

Seeing his determination, Ye Wen didn't try to dissuade him and simply pressed onward. After walking for about ten more minutes, the tunnel abruptly opened into a vast, open space.

And seated right in the center of that open area was none other than the Heavenly Fire Dragon Lord, the true form of the Yamata no Orochi!