This answer nearly made Ye Wen lose his composure, but there was little choice in the matter; no matter how he pondered it, he could never have expected such an answer.

Once he calmed down, Ye Wen’s next thought was: "Is this Ying Zheng the actual person, or some fellow who accidentally arrived in this world like Mino, usurping the name?"

Although a massive banner bearing the character 'Qin' hung nearby, who knew if it was just some die-hard fan of the First Emperor playing a role? After all, there was no rule stating only people from the Shu Mountain Sect could indulge in such things; others couldn't? Thus, this possibility remained quite high.

"Your father... is the ruler of this land?"

Although Chong Lou's expression remained unchanged, his eyes betrayed a multitude of negative emotions—a deep dissatisfaction, even resentment, toward his father. It seemed he held little affection for the being who had given him life!

"That's right!"

Chong Lou's reply was equally terse. His tone suggested his return here brought immensely complex feelings, especially since he had not yet achieved his goal: to become a powerhouse impossible to ignore! Strong enough to crush those others underfoot, leaving them no chance to resist.

A towering baleful aura emanated from Chong Lou. Upon sensing it, Ye Wen merely clicked his tongue, electing not to press the issue further. Instead, he inquired if Chong Lou had seen the person Xue Rengui was seeking.

"The attire was quite similar to what that fellow wore, but I never saw that specific person... at least, not during the fifteen years I lived here, I never saw that individual!"

This was also one of the reasons he had never revealed his identity; he felt it unnecessary—just someone wearing similar clothes, with significant differences in appearance and physique.

But this answer left Ye Wen deeply frustrated. He had hoped to find a more detailed clue, only to find himself circling back to the starting point.

Still, he had at least learned the reason behind Chong Lou's desire for strength. It was, as he suspected, rather melodramatic. Shrugging, Ye Wen beckoned Chong Lou over and led him back to where the others were resting. After regrouping, they set off towards the territory of Chong Lou’s father.

The matter seemed straightforward. Ye Wen and the others continued to search this world like they were looking for a needle in a haystack, yet sometimes, the workings of fate are wonderfully strange. Just as Ye Wen and his group were pondering where to even begin searching, the clue delivered itself to them.

However, this clue was not exactly friendly. Clad in gleaming armor, draped with a blood-red cloak, and a broad, long sword hanging at his waist, the man exuded an aura of bloodlust merely by standing there. Ye Wen couldn't help but shiver when he looked at him.

It wasn't that the man’s strength terrified Ye Wen; rather, having lived and cultivated for a century, Ye Wen felt that when it came to sheer killing intent, no one he had ever met could compare to the figure before him—not even come close.

"What terrifying killing intent; that soaring blood energy has almost become tangible!"

Although Lu Bu hadn't fully acclimated to this world, he sensed it too. Beside him, Amaterasu's legs, normally hidden beneath the hem of her kimono, trembled slightly—the most fearsome being she had ever encountered was Yamata no Orochi, yet compared to the presence emanating from the man before them, Orochi seemed like a docile little snake.

In truth, the man standing before them possessed a top-tier appearance and physique, possessing the bearing of a cultured general without excessive refinement. Ordinary people might easily be deceived by his looks, but Ye Wen and his companions would never judge based on mere outward appearance, especially since this man made no attempt whatsoever to conceal himself.

"May I ask, General, for what purpose do you block our path?"

As the saying goes, courtesy before force. Ye Wen had developed this habit over many years, not because he was pedantic or a paragon of virtue, but often out of necessity to maintain the reputation of his sect. Over time, the habit stuck.

Now, having arrived in this world, he couldn't shake it off immediately—in fact, when he encountered Huang Quan and the others earlier, if the situation hadn't been awkward and Kurama hadn't turned to flee the moment things looked wrong, Ye Wen wouldn't have attacked silently.

The armored general on the other side rested his left hand on his sword hilt, his right hanging naturally at his side. He did not return the gesture but tilted his head up, a faint smile playing on his lips—yet everyone could see it was a smile that reached nowhere near his eyes.

"This one stays!"

"Oh?" Everyone was startled, as he was pointing directly at Chong Lou. Ye Wen felt a sudden enlightenment; perhaps this man knew Chong Lou's identity and specifically intended to detain him.

The others, unaware of the context, watched with slight amusement. Huang Quan and his group glanced at Chong Lou playfully. They certainly held no camaraderie with Chong Lou, who rarely spoke to others, always maintaining a stern face, making him generally unlikable. Naturally, they wouldn't intervene to help when Chong Lou seemed to be in trouble. Ye Wen also held back, wanting to observe how Chong Lou would resolve this situation—partly to gauge his character, and partly to ascertain the true depth of his estrangement from his 'family.'

But accidents always happen. Lu Bu, seemingly unconnected to the immediate issue, stepped forward, positioning himself directly in front of the group. With a sweep of his hand across his weapon sheath, he drew his Sky Piercer Halberd—Lu Bu’s halberd possessed no extraordinary powers; in fact, it was inferior to Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade, which was a divine weapon condensed from sheer faith.

Lu Bu’s weapon was merely the standard armament of a divine general, yet Lu Bu never complained about it. Ye Wen had learned from casual conversations with Xue Rengui that even when the two generals sparred privately, Xue Rengui, despite possessing the Water and Fire Robe and the White Tiger Whip, could not overcome Lu Bu wielding such a mundane halberd, illustrating that this Lü Fengxian had mastered the long weapon to an ethereal degree.

Standing firm before them with his halberd, Lu Bu abandoned his usual languid posture and roving, slightly sleazy gaze (despite his eagerness to find his beloved, his wandering eyes certainly marred his imposing image). His eyes were filled with fighting spirit, his lips curved slightly upward, and he roared, "Interesting fellow, state your name! I, Lu Bu, do not slay the nameless under my halberd!"

His posture clearly indicated he was ready for a fight! Ye Wen felt a vague sense of bewilderment; why was Lu Bu suddenly so keen?

It was Xue Rengui who explained from the side: "General Wen Hou is simply itching for a fight upon seeing a fellow fierce warrior of the battlefield!"

As he spoke, Ye Wen noticed Xue Rengui resting one hand on the grip of his White Tiger Whip—which he favored hanging at his waist—while the other hand frequently brushed near his weapon sheath, suggesting he was also feeling the urge to spar!

"This level of killing intent and bloodthirst is definitely forged in seas of corpses on the battlefield, just like Xue and Wen Hou. It's inevitable to feel eager upon meeting such a person! Sect Master Ye, though you have glimpsed the path to immortality, you are not one of us, so you likely won't understand!"

Ye Wen smiled: "I understand, it's similar to a martial fanaticism... Actually, our Shu Mountain Sect cultivates the Dao through martial arts, so we have seen similar situations quite often!"

Xue Rengui nodded: "Indeed, quite similar!"

While the two exchanged these few words, Lu Bu and the silver-armored general were already facing off. The opposing man sized up Lu Bu from head to toe: observing his beast-faced, helmeted armor, the Shu brocade Hundred Flower Robe, the three-pronged purple-gold crown, and the Sky Piercer Halberd pointing directly at him, radiating intense fighting spirit, he immediately recognized a kindred spirit.

Yet, he was also curious; he generally knew all the famous generals in the vicinity. Where had this one sprung from? A general from some remote faction? But if so, why come here?

Since the other party had stepped forward to challenge him, he was certainly no coward. Moreover, the challenger’s words were rather arrogant.

"I am the Grand Commandant of Qin, surnamed Bai, given name Qi!"

He spoke these words without much volume or emphasis, merely stating a plain fact in an ordinary tone.

But the moment those words were uttered, Ye Wen, Xue Rengui, and even Lu Bu froze in place.

"Who?"

"Bai Qi?"

"The renowned general of the Warring States?"

All three were stunned. Lu Bu even turned to look at Ye Wen—he couldn't quite grasp why he would encounter this figure here. He had learned much about the Immortal Realms from Ye Wen, but certainly not about this.

It was entirely possible for Bai Qi, as a famous general of the Warring States, to be selected by the Investiture of the Gods, but he hadn't been! Although Ye Wen was not intimately familiar with the history of the Warring States, he knew Bai Qi’s name and some of his glorious achievements, indicating the man’s immense fame.

Since the Investiture of the Gods had never chosen Bai Qi, Ye Wen had assumed he was currently undergoing reincarnation and hadn't given it much thought. He never expected to run into him in this 'Lower Realm'!

"Could this person also be an arrival... or perhaps someone brought forth by that suspected 'Transmigrator' King Ying Zheng?" Chong Lou had mentioned that a leader could bestow names upon his subordinates, couldn't they?

The group exchanged glances, none of them able to decipher the situation. Lu Bu looked over and saw Ye Wen was equally perplexed, so he turned and asked, "You are Bai Qi? That Bai Qi from the Qin State? The one who massacred over 400,000 Zhao state captives?"

The general claiming to be Bai Qi suddenly laughed upon hearing Lu Bu's question: "I never expected someone here to know of my past deeds. Does that mean you are also from that place? Are you perhaps a Heavenly General from the Upper Realm?"

His casual reply made those deeds sound trivial, yet this response clearly confirmed to everyone: I am the Bai Qi you know. This inevitably left Ye Wen and the others scratching their heads!

"Bai Qi... Ying Zheng... these two weren't from the same era! How did they end up together?" Bai Qi and the First Emperor of Qin were active in overlapping, yet distinct, periods. This meant the two likely never met—the First Emperor knew of Bai Qi, but certainly not someone already dead.

However, if Bai Qi was genuine, then he could no longer believe that Ying Zheng was an imposter. Otherwise, why would someone like Bai Qi willingly submit?

As for why this man was here, it wasn't so strange—there were many ways to reach this world from Earth. Who knew what methods the Qin Emperor and this God of Slaughter used? Moreover, historical records suggested both figures engaged in many peculiar activities during their lives.

For instance, Bai Qi practiced total annihilation in every battle; his capacity for slaughter was unprecedented and likely unmatched—the massacre of 400,000 surrendered troops had truly never been repeated by anyone else, and that wasn't even the entirety of Bai Qi's victims.

After unifying the realm, the First Emperor engaged in massive construction projects, acting as a master engineer, hammering away on numerous grand projects. Previously, Ye Wen thought it was just to display his power, and the practicality... was generally questionable. But now, who knew if that fellow had obtained some 'secret manual' and was constructing colossal teleportation arrays here?

Of course, that thought was rather outlandish, but perhaps there was a more plausible explanation—like some method to aid his cultivation. The First Emperor always yearned for eternal life, even wishing to command countless armies and rule the Underworld after death, which led to the creation of the Terracotta Army. If such a person truly obtained a 'secret manual,' no one could predict what he might do. Before, Ye Wen could dismiss it as an emperor gone mad, but now that he himself had become an immortal, whether those actions were truly madness was worth reconsidering.

"Your Lord, the Qin Emperor, is he the one who swept away the six states? How did the two of you arrive here?"

Bai Qi turned to look at Ye Wen. It was only then that he noticed Ye Wen was the leader of this group; when Ye Wen spoke, everyone looked to him. Even Xue Rengui, the armored general, and the others stood behind Ye Wen, indicating his status.

"Is this Daoist perhaps someone from the Heavenly Court?"

Ye Wen shook his head: "No!" Then he introduced himself: "I am Ye Wen, Sect Master of the Shu Mountain Sect!"

"So the Immortal Elder is the supreme leader of a sect!" Bai Qi nodded. Considering himself the Grand Commandant of a nation (his title wasn't the empty honorific of the Zhou Dynasty, but a true high-ranking official holding real power, commanding the nation's forces), he felt no need to be overly polite to a mere sect master, so he simply nodded and finished. Even if he knew that the sect masters in the Upper Realm held supreme status, this was not the Immortal Realm—it was a world corresponding to it.

At that moment, Lu Bu grew impatient: "What's with all the chatter? Let's fight a round first before discussing anything else!"

He then said to Bai Qi: "Since you are indeed that God of Slaughter from the Qin State, then let me experience what methods this God of Slaughter possesses to earn such a grand title!"

Lu Bu was fearless, a formidable figure in his time. His surprise earlier stemmed only from encountering a famous figure from a bygone era, not from fear. Now, having collected himself, he stepped forward, his halberd thrusting out like a giant viper flicking its tongue straight toward Bai Qi's chest.

If the strike had landed cleanly, Bai Qi would have been impaled. Naturally, Bai Qi would not allow Lu Bu's attack to proceed unopposed. With a twist of his wrist, the broad, long sword that had been sheathed at his waist was drawn.

As the sword left its scabbard, it instantly brought forth a burst of bloody light. The blade was over a palm wide, entirely blood-red, and wreathed in blood energy. If one got too close, they could even smell the stench of blood. Lu Bu detected this the moment the sword was drawn and suddenly became alert: "This scent has the effect of confusing the enemy!"

Holding his breath and focusing his spirit, Lu Bu swept his halberd, creating a white streak, slicing horizontally toward Bai Qi's side waist.

After slightly shifting to evade Lu Bu's first strike, Bai Qi smoothly raised his sword vertically at his side, perfectly blocking the second attack. His intention was to absorb these two blows, expecting the opponent's strength to wane, allowing him to press forward and engage in close-quarters combat, where long weapons were at a disadvantage.

However, despite his excellent plan, a terrifying, immense force erupted through his sword—which would have been fine, but what was truly bizarre was that a significant portion of the force and the bloody killing intent clinging to his sword seemed to be drained away. Bai Qi was momentarily stunned, and the whole man was swept away horizontally as if flicked by Lu Bu swatting a fly.

Fortunately, his reaction was swift. He put an extra burst of strength into resisting the blow, adjusted his center of gravity mid-air, and thus only flew horizontally about ten meters, not appearing too disgraced.

Once stable, Bai Qi looked at Lu Bu again: "You must be from a later generation than me? What is your name?"

"Lu Bu, Lü Fengxian!" Lu Bu did not press his advantage but planted his feet, holding his halberd reversed, chest puffed out as he introduced himself.

Ye Wen, behind him, covered his face and cursed inwardly: "Idiot! Why waste time talking now? He should rush forward and hack him until he can't lift his head!"

Alas, Lu Bu was not Ye Wen. Lu Bu had his own pride. He even felt he had gained an advantage by surprising the other party with his unfamiliarity, so he continued, "Those first two moves were a reminder: do not underestimate those who came after! Now that you have some understanding of my strength, let us continue!"

Bai Qi smiled: "I indeed underestimated you earlier!" Hearing this, Lu Bu assumed Bai Qi was about to exert his full power and raised his halberd again, settling into a defensive stance.

Unexpectedly, the man opposite him said, "If you have been deified as a General, you could never be my match!" He then shook his head with regret: "A pity I didn't know your name sooner; otherwise, I wouldn't have let you become that wretched God General!"

"If not a God General, then what?" Lu Bu surprisingly still had the presence of mind to converse, though the other party maintained a defensive posture, making conversation seem unlikely.

"I would have introduced you to His Majesty. With your martial prowess, you would be sufficient to lead an army alone and sweep across a region!" Bai Qi genuinely seemed regretful, sighing several times after speaking.

However, he hadn't finished sighing before Lu Bu choked him off with one sentence: "Can your Emperor help me find Diao Chan?"

"..."