The dragon shadow arrived in an instant, reaching the top of the carriage in mere moments. Measuring about sixty zhang long, upon closer inspection, it wasn't a true dragon, but a colossal jiao—a flood dragon. It bore a single white horn on its head and four claws beneath its belly. However, its flesh and bone were not fully formed, hanging limply beneath its body. It lacked scales and whiskers; its surface was smooth. Nevertheless, its form exuded immense power and ferocity.

Standing atop the broad jiao head was a figure clad in purple. A peach-wood sword was strapped to their back, robes billowing in the wind. Their face was fair, yet their expression held a sharp, cold austerity. After glancing down below, the figure patted the single horn.

Then, the massive jiao head plummeted. This intensified the distress of the eighteen Cloud-Treading Steeds and the hundreds of marsh wolves, causing their bodies to tremble, their eyes filled with awe and fear.

At this moment, both Yin Yang and Chu Xue wore expressions of profound gravity.

From Zong Shou's lips, a barely audible, cold snort escaped.

“Hmph. This fellow, even back then, was already so fond of posturing and playing the cool role—”

His voice was low, inaudible to others. However, Su Chuxue, standing close by, heard every word. She turned her head, her face alight with curiosity, “Young Master, you know this person? And what does ‘posturing and playing the cool role’ mean?”

Zong Shou managed an awkward smile, recalling that these terms didn't exist in this era.

Still, he genuinely recognized the man before him. He was one of the historical figures rendered in the Divine Emperor Game. It seemed the game's developers truly had a mischievous streak; they had certainly lived up to their promise of complete realism, even replicating this person's quirks and preferences without deviation.

The figure gracefully floated down from the jiao's head and visibly paused upon seeing Zhao Yanran. After offering a friendly smile, a clear wariness surfaced in his eyes. “So, it is Miss Yanran of the Seven Spirits Sect. What a coincidence. I am Long Ruo, the Chief Disciple of the Heroes' Hall in the Lingyun Sect. Greetings! And might this be the Young Lord of the Qiantian Mountain Sect, Zong Shou? I wonder if you might spare a moment to speak with me?”

This last sentence was directed towards the three inside the Cloud-Turning Carriage. Faint, nearly invisible strands of blue light pulsed at the center of Long Ruo's brow, subtly illuminating Zong Shou.

Though Zong Shou’s spoken words conveyed utter disdain for this person, as he addressed him, his back straightened, becoming solemn and dignified, all traces of his usual languor gone.

This was not intentional fawning, but respect—a deep reverence for a formidable adversary.

“Spare time I certainly have, and I would welcome it!”

Smiling, Zong Shou glanced sideways at Zhao Yanran before rising and stepping down from the carriage. “Mr. Long Ruo’s visit—is it concerning the incident at Pill Spirit Mountain ten days ago?”

“Precisely why I have come!”

Long Ruo nodded, then abruptly extended a hand. “Might the Young Lord allow me to examine his pulse?”

Though he asked, Long Ruo’s hand showed no politeness as he firmly gripped Zong Shou’s wrist. Closing his eyes to examine the pulse, he first displayed surprise, quickly followed by a profound sense of disappointment.

When he released the wrist, Long Ruo sighed softly and spoke with sincere earnestness: “To be frank with the Young Lord, I came under orders regarding the Pill Spirit Mountain affair. Liang Miaozi, the Chief of the Gathering Heroes Hall, was misled and accepted bribes for personal gain; he has already been disciplined and imprisoned in the Myriad Winds Pagoda for twenty-four years. Ling Weizi, the Head of Pill Spirit Mountain, failed to investigate properly and has since retired to solitary cultivation. I am ashamed. Your esteemed father once showed favor to our Lingyun Mountain. For such a thing to occur now truly disgraces all thirty thousand disciples of our entire sect. It is the misfortune of our sect to produce such unworthy individuals; I beg the Young Lord’s forgiveness!”

As Long Ruo spoke, he bowed deeply to the three of them. Zong Shou quickly shifted aside, indicating he could not accept such a grand gesture. No matter his internal dissatisfaction with the Lingyun Sect, at this moment, he could only respond with a magnanimous smile.

He thought to himself that this man truly maintained the temperament and conduct displayed in the later-era games: courteous, reserved, the very image of an upright gentleman. Moreover, his bearing possessed a rare grandeur.

Then, Long Ruo’s tone shifted. “Originally, I had another matter to inquire about, Young Lord, and that was whether you still wished to join the ranks of the Lingyun Sect. This was a request from our Sect Master. If you agree, you could immediately become a direct descendant disciple of our sect, studying directly under the Sect Master—”

Zhao Yanran’s eyebrows immediately knitted together. She had already been puzzled why Long Ruo, the chief of the Heroes' Hall of the Lingyun Sect, would treat Zong Shou with such deference and humility, as if genuinely burdened by guilt.

Hearing Long Ruo’s proposition now only deepened her curiosity. A direct descendant disciple of the Lingyun Sect meant access to the sect’s sacred grounds, the right to peruse all secret scriptures, a generous monthly allowance of resources, and the future qualification to contend for the position of Sect Master.

To invest such tremendous capital just to recruit Zong Shou made it impossible not to wonder what hidden intricacies lay behind the "Pill Spirit Mountain incident" they spoke of from ten days prior.

Meanwhile, Yin Yang and Chu Xue both showed expressions of delighted anticipation, hoping their Young Master would nod immediately.

Zong Shou, however, gently shook his head. “Since you say ‘originally,’ does that mean Mr. Long Ruo has already changed his mind?”

Long Ruo sighed again, his face filled with regret. “Indeed! My original intention was that even if the Young Lord refused, I would have to escort you back to our sect. To break through our sect’s Minor Heavenly Sphere Sword Array in three hundred and forty-three breaths, and to perfectly transcribe our Twelve Heavenly Talismans in just two hours—such dual talent in talismans and martial arts means you could not only be a direct disciple but perhaps even the next Sect Master. However, when I examined your pulse just now, I discovered that the condition within your body is far more complex than just a dual meridian physique. Even if our sect exerted its utmost effort to procure cultivation methods for a dual meridian body, I fear it would be fruitless. Your spiritual techniques might progress further, but your Qi Refining Arts would likely cap out at the level of a Secret Martial Master. While you cannot be a direct disciple, you can still be an inner sect disciple. Our sect can still dedicate its full efforts to finding suitable methods for you—”

Zhao Yanran’s pupils contracted instantly; she was momentarily speechless.

Breaking the Minor Heavenly Sphere Sword Array in 343 breaths. Transcribing twelve Heavenly Talismans in two hours. Could he be referring to the Bright Sword Platform and the Heavenly Talisman Platform?

Was Long Ruo serious?

Zong Shou’s heart sank slightly. He hadn’t realized that beyond the simultaneous operation of his dual meridians, there was another underlying complication.

However, this gloom lasted only a moment before his composure returned to normal.

He already held little regard for the Lingyun Sect and had never intended to join them. Hearing the latter part of Long Ruo’s offer, he inwardly sneered, too lazy to bother responding. How could his inherent nature accept such charity?

Even if he truly couldn't cultivate, so what? Zong Shou needed no one's pity!

Long Ruo's words, while seemingly gentle, could not entirely conceal a subtle air of dismissal.

Ignoring Chu Xue's anxious gaze behind him, Zong Shou made his decision without much deliberation. “I thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Long Ruo. Since I have confirmed that cultivation is impossible for me, that fixation is now lifted. My lifelong aspiration is now to travel the four directions, to witness the magnificent rivers and mountains of the Five Continents and Twelve Islands of the Cloud Realm. I shall trouble your esteemed sect no further.”

Long Ruo seemed unsurprised and nodded. “That is acceptable, then. However, we must still compensate you for that day’s events. Our ancestor established a rule long ago: anyone who could simultaneously break the sword array and draw that Heavenly Talisman could select three items from our sect’s Profound Treasure Vault! That vault is vast, and I did not bring it. But I have specifically brought a few items this time; perhaps the Young Lord can find some use for them!”

As he spoke, Long Ruo waved his hand casually. Several hundred items of various designs—be they elixirs, weapons, or martial arts secret manuals—suddenly materialized beside him, suspended in the air before him.

Zong Shou was secretly surprised. He genuinely had no knowledge of this rule within the Lingyun Sect. In his previous life, he had completed the sword array and heavenly talisman challenges on the Bright Sword Platform and Heavenly Talisman Platform countless times. Yet, apart from gaining the status of a direct disciple of the Lingyun Sect, none of the characters he created had ever received any tangible reward.