"As for what your father ultimately obtained in that Yin Dragon Valley, and what gains he reaped, I do not know. I only know that after he emerged that day, he immediately headed south. Then, he was intercepted and surrounded by over twenty Heavenly Rank Martial Grandmasters. Your father was formidable, slaying three of them before five Martial Venerables intervened, finally forcing him into the Sinking Cloud Sea!"

Zong Shou's heart trembled upon hearing this, realizing just how terrifyingly powerful his "father" had been. Over twenty Heavenly Rank Martial Grandmasters joining forces, yet he still managed to kill three. Even Martial Venerables couldn't capture him. This dreadful combat record was nearly comparable to what he achieved years later when ascending Dan Ling Mountain.

Xuanyuan Tong mentioned that Zong Weiran had already reached the Heavenly Rank Martial Grandmaster realm six years ago. Considering his age then, wasn't his father barely over twenty-seven years old? At this moment, he almost suspected that Zong Weiran himself might have transmigrated from a later time, perhaps possessing profound martial achievements in a past life.

"Legend says that Brother Weiran obtained that Zhou Ji Ming Shi Shu within the Yin Dragon Valley, which is why he fled south. However, this news is likely false," Xuanyuan Tong sneered, his tone laced with mockery. "The past and present constitute Zhou (Universe); the four directions and the heights above and below constitute Yu (Space)! That Zhou Ji Ming Shi Shu is the supreme manual of spiritual arts, rumored to possess treasures capable of manipulating time, even reversing the flow of time itself. How could such an item possibly lie within the ruins of a mere Martial Immortal? If it were truly that object, not only the Five Caves of the Three Vaults Realm, the Ten Sacred Lands, and the Nineteen Spirit Mansions would fight to the death over it, but even entities from beyond our realm would desperately contend for it in the Cloud Realm. Those people truly wish your father dead. Fortunately, rumors cease with the wise; aside from a few Spirit Mansion sects, the rest of the Ten Sacred Lands did not believe this tale."

Zong Shou also scoffed, thinking that the Zhou Ji Ming Shi Shu, in his estimation, was at most a supreme manual for Spirit Masters, dealing with the most esoteric, complex, and difficult-to-master runes involving "Universe" and "Space"—the second pair of runes. Manipulating time, reversing time—wasn't that an overstatement? It was likely just a distorted rumor.

But immediately, a heaviness settled in his heart as he recalled the strange occurrences that had happened to him, and inexplicably, the words spoken by the original "Zong Shou" as his soul consciousness dissipated. Something like, "Sooner or later, you will know. You will know that I am you, and you are me. The two of us have always been one." These words sounded bizarre then, and now, they carried an even greater sense of unfathomable mystery. This was compounded by the nameless ball of light hidden deepest within his primordial spirit. That "Zong Shou" had claimed he wasn't entirely sure either, only knowing it was something he had brought with him, so why bother asking him?

For the past few months, Zong Shou had kept this buried in his mind. Now, he felt a faint glimmer of realization. Could this sapphire-blue ball of light be that so-called Zhou Ji Ming Shi Shu? He immediately laughed wryly. How could a virtual treasure from the Divine Emperor game be real? Even if it were the genuine article, how could it explain its presence with him, spanning ten thousand years, or why his primordial soul just happened to awaken in the body of this "Zong Shou"?

A thousand questions swirled in his mind, but the entire premise was too absurd. Zong Shou dismissed those possibilities, stopped pondering, and quietly listened as Xuanyuan Tong continued.

"This is why I previously suggested your father might still be alive. He wasn't forced into the Sinking Cloud Sea; rather, he had planned it all along, using that place to seek refuge. Weiran must have gained something in the Yin Dragon Gorge, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. Naturally, there's another possibility: that what he obtained was so valuable it invited even greater catastrophe. But I consider this possibility extremely remote."

After saying this, Xuanyuan Tong paused in thought before addressing the main topic. "Although Brother Weiran has departed, the struggle for the Yin Dragon Gorge is intensifying. It's not just the sects from the East Lin Cloud Continent; people from the Central Cloud Continent are also getting involved. Thus, the fight for the Demon King position on Mount Qiantian is far more complex than it appears on the surface. That Zong Shi doesn't simply rely on the power of his master, True Man Lan Ye. A Xuanwu Sect at the Ninth Pulse of the Earth Wheel—even one about to step into the Heavenly Rank—how much actual strength and capability could it possess? Let alone me, even Hu Qianqiu, commanding the ten thousand strong army of the Hu Clan, could slay True Man Lan Ye even if she truly reached the Heavenly Rank. It is only because Zong Shi, Zong Yang, and your uncle Zong Shiyuan all have backing from their respective sects that they can suppress Weiran's trusted subordinates and contend for the Demon King position."

Zong Shou narrowed his eyes and let out a soft chuckle. He had long anticipated this, but the reasoning had eluded him. However, with the imminent emergence of the Martial Immortal Ruins, all the mysteries unraveled.

"If someone is working from within, naturally, others will counterbalance from the outside. West of the East Lin Cloud Continent, besides Mount Qiantian, Mount Yunxia, and Mount Lieyan, there is also West Sea Wave Cloud City—all forces capable of mobilizing millions of troops. About four months ago, spiritual energy suddenly erupted in the Yin Valley. All the sects assumed the ruins within the valley were about to surface. Not only did Mount Yunxia dispatch the elite Fire Wolf Cavalry, massing troops at Mount Dongxu, but Mount Lieyan also mobilized its generals. Furthermore, Wave Cloud City sent all three hundred Cloud Ships, positioning themselves 2,200 li west of Mount Qiantian. In the end, it turned out to be a false alarm. However, it did compel the three major powers within Mount Qiantian to temporarily join forces..."

Xuanyuan Tong narrated the situation on Mount Qiantian over the past few months with a calm, steady tone. Zong Shou listened with a pounding heart. Yin Yang and Hu Zhongyuan had indeed briefed him in detail about the situation there, but neither of them could analyze the overall situation as precisely as Xuanyuan Tong. All his accumulated doubts were now resolved.

"Therefore, after weighing the pros and cons, I ultimately decided not to interfere in the affairs of Mount Qiantian. The situation there is extremely volatile, ready to explode at any moment. If I didn't compete, it would be fine, but if I were to move to help you, while we might remain safe, others would only strike at your greatest vulnerability. You do not practice martial arts; even if Hu Qianqiu and I joined forces, we couldn't protect you. We would only end up harming you!"

At this point, Xuanyuan Tong revealed a slight smile. "But now it's different! Before, this idea was unthinkable. But now, as the Crown Prince for the Demon King position, even if you choose not to contend, Hu Qianqiu and I would never agree. How could the foundation Weiran worked so hard to build fall into the hands of others! Moreover, now, we have some chance of victory..."

He looked at Zong Shou again, with a hint of appraisal in his eyes. "Does the Crown Prince know why? When Brother Weiran was here, we had no chance of winning. But if it were you instead, there might be a possibility?"

Zong Shou shook his head without hesitation. "How could the situation be the same? When my father was Demon King, he was the target of all opposition. But now, I can form alliances. Since Zong Shi and the others rely on hidden sects, I can just as easily find a Spirit Mansion sect to cooperate with."

Xuanyuan Tong burst into hearty laughter, filled with endless delight. "Precisely! You are truly sharp! Worthy of being Brother Weiran's son. You grasp the essence of it perfectly. That is the very principle. All we seek is to reclaim the Demon King position on Mount Qiantian. As for the Yin Dragon Valley, if we can gain some benefits there, all the better; if not, it doesn't matter. Among the Nineteen Spirit Mansions, we will certainly find someone to ally with. Therefore, the person you must be most wary of upon returning to Mount Qiantian is the combined force of those three!"

The final few sentences were exceptionally grave, and Zong Shou’s heart tightened. He recalled that the original "himself" should have been taken to Mount Qiantian by Zong Shiyuan and Zong Yang to be propped up as a puppet. Then, years later, Zong Shi would rise up and sever his head, and those two would submit to Zong Shi without a word of protest. He supposed countless subtle power struggles must have occurred in the interim. If one family couldn't seize everything, then compromising with another faction might not be a bad strategy.

In his memory, Xuan Mountain City also vanished and declined around this era. He vaguely recalled that two years later, a massive battle involving a million soldiers took place near the Ruohai Strait, the most crucial passage between Xuan Mountain City and Mount Qiantian City. Four years later, Lin Lan City, located in the northern part of Tian Lan Province, rose to power, taking full control of Xuan Mountain City's territories. But he did not know the fate of Xuanyuan Tong, Xuanyuan Yiren, and the entire populace of that city at that time. Yet, at that time, his head hung from the summit of Mount Qiantian for three months, and not a single person stood guard over the corpse. Given Xuanyuan Yiren's character, how could she be so ruthless? And the Tie Hu Clan—by the time the Divine Emperor Game began, this clan no longer existed.

Zong Shou suddenly felt a heavy pressure bear down on his heart again. The journey to Mount Qiantian was still fraught with treacherous schemes and unpredictable danger.

After delivering these words, Xuanyuan Tong’s expression completely softened. He stopped discussing unpleasant matters. He forcibly kept Zong Shou, chatting about everything, sometimes reminiscing about the past, recounting his friendship with Zong Shou's father in the Central Cloud Continent, and sometimes recalling amusing anecdotes from Xuanyuan Yiren's childhood, causing the young woman to pout playfully. He chattered on endlessly for a long time, only releasing Zong Shou near the hour of dawn.

When Zong Shou left the lakeside pavilion and looked back, Xuanyuan Tong was still pouring his own drink, laughing wildly without any semblance of composure, his eyes showing a slight intoxication, which gave the attending Xuanyuan Yiren a terrible headache. And what was in the bronze kettle was not wine, but merely fruit preserves. Yet, Xuanyuan Tong was truly drunk.

Zong Shou smiled and left the City Lord's Manor. However, just as he stepped outside the door, he felt a sudden, biting chill sweep over his entire body. A thread of killing intent, originating from an unknown source, swept across the vast distance towards him.

Zong Shou raised an eyebrow and looked eastward. Judging by the time, the one near Cloud Saint City must have known by now...

Ten thousand li away, within a cluster of continuous buildings nestled in a mountain valley, in the most sinister and secluded chamber. With a sharp crack, a piece of pure, flawless spiritual stone was instantly crushed into dust by a clawed hand resembling that of an eagle! "He dares to kill my disciple!" The voice was chillingly cold, yet carried a hint of majestic power. The owner of the hand, with hooked nose and hawk-like eyes, bore a distinct resemblance to Qiu Ling. He was breathing heavily, clearly enraged to the extreme. "Are you certain it was the Crown Prince of Mount Qiantian, Mu Wei? You haven't made a mistake?" Before this man stood an elder cloaked in black robes. Cold sweat streamed down his face as he bowed low. "I would never dare deceive my Master! The last person Yun Xu and Qiu Ling suspected and tracked was precisely that Crown Prince of Mount Qiantian. In my estimation, it was most likely an operative under this Crown Prince who executed Yun Xu and Qiu Ling!" "But I recall that Zong Shou was unable to cultivate martial arts, wasn't he? His father is dead; how could he still command such a powerful expert?" The hawk-eyed man frowned, then carelessly waved his hand. "Regardless of who it was! You first take a few Xuanwu Masters over there. If you can kill this child and those around him, that would be best. If success is impossible, I will take action myself to end his life!"