It had been three years since the Myriad Immortals Star Assembly, and time had flown by in a blur. The former territory of the Star Alliance had descended into utter chaos.
The Angels warred against the Demon-Dragon Clans, while the Dark Creatures fought the Demon-Dragon Clans. Occasional skirmishes erupted between the Angels and the Dark Creatures, with the three factions engaging in escalating conflict. The scale of these battles, often involving over a hundred Golden Immortals, struck fear into the hearts of the cultivators from the Cultivation Alliance, preventing their involvement.
However, in the star systems beyond the control of the three major factions, the hundreds of major and minor powers within the Cultivation Alliance had also devolved into constant infighting. One day, this faction would seize a planet; the next, another would wrest it away. Sometimes, two groups would carve up a planet and claim territory, while at other times, seven or eight factions would slaughter each other across a single world, none able to gain a decisive advantage.
According to the rules of the game set by the aloof, high-and-mighty Great Divine Powers of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the strongest allowed to participate were cultivators at the Heavenly Immortal level. But how many Heavenly Immortals did the Cultivation Alliance possess? At best, averaging across all groups, having two Heavenly Immortals presiding over a force was considered quite the accomplishment. Consequently, the bulk of the fighting was carried out by cultivators below the Void Realm; those at the Void Realm cherished their reputations and hesitated to engage directly.
The unfortunate ones were the leaders of the various nations within the Star Alliance—be they emperors, kings, presidents, or prime ministers. Their authority had been unprecedentedly eroded. When divine beings capable of flying and escaping through space began battling fiercely on their home turf, and after suffering catastrophic losses to the combined Star Alliance fleets had weakened their national strength to the extreme, these secular leaders could only watch helplessly as the immortals clashed.
Diplomacy, trade, and all other inter-state relations in the Star Alliance had dissolved into a mess. The air was filled with skirmishes between high and low-level cultivators, with battles frequently spilling over to affect ordinary mortals. Some cultivators even began to directly infiltrate secular power structures. The governmental structure of the Star Alliance nations was approaching collapse, replaced by puppets propped up by various cultvivation factions, large and small.
Only the vast expanse of star systems centered around the Spiral Nebula remained peaceful, anchored by Gu Xiechen, the ‘Senior,’ whose presence deterred any cultivator faction from daring to approach. Gu Wuchen had openly declared at the Myriad Immortals Palace that any faction daring to step foot on his territory would face the complete annihilation of their entire lineage. Faced with such a threat, which fool would dare to wander near?
Riding the formidable shadow of Gu Xiechen, Fu Ya-Ming had successfully established the Yafik Alliance within this star region. Led by the Yafik Empire, thousands of civilizations, large and small, joined the alliance, and Fu Ya-Ming became the protector of these civilizations. The Yafik Empire’s army expanded nearly a hundredfold, with vast fleets prowling the void. Furthermore, thirty percent of the composition of their military forces consisted of cultivators!
When those from the Upper Realms sought to interfere with the Mortal Realm, technological civilizations proved utterly fragile. Without arming themselves with cultivators, even the most powerful civilizations faced complete destruction.
The Yafik Empire not only integrated numerous cultivators from the Nine Nether Path, Kunlun Mountain, and Zhongnan Mountain into its military, but it also began teaching the fundamental principles of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements starting from kindergarten preschool education. Basic Qi refinement methods were introduced in elementary school, and by middle and high school, students with good aptitude could travel to Yunhua Mountain to attempt forming a Golden Core. The fusion of cultivation and technology blossomed into an unprecedented civilization within Yafik. Three years later, Gu Wuchen finally waited for Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist on the planet Vol.
Above the Yunhua Mountain range on Vol, Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist stood suspended on clouds, their mouths slowly dropping open in astonishment.
The void was filled with a deep, rumbling roar, like the sound of the Milky Way cascading down from the Ninth Heaven. Less than a hundred miles ahead, a silver pillar of light, thousands of miles thick, shot straight down from the high heavens. The power of the 108 Stars of the Heavenly Constellation and Earthly Fiends rained down with the reckless abandon of free-flowing tap water onto the Yunhua Mountain range.
This silver starlight had condensed to an almost tangible state, a shimmering column that stood erect in the void, immense and imposing, inspiring awe and dread. Yu Guanzi clutched his jade flute tightly, murmuring in resentful wonder, “If my cultivation cave had been illuminated by such starlight, why would I have needed tens of thousands of arduous years just to achieve corporeal form?”
Feixing Daoist cried out in even greater shock, “Heavens above! This level of starlight—even my Ancestor, at the Fallen Star Sea, using the innate artifact ‘Star Gathering Disk’ to attract the power of the surrounding stars, never achieved such majesty. To what level has this Senior’s cultivation truly reached?”
It was utterly astonishing. The benefits of starlight for cultivators were self-evident, yet gathering it was no simple feat. Even the Heavenly Venerables, Demon Ancestors, and Devil Ancestors of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths had to laboriously set up grand formations to condense even a few wisps of starlight essence from the wandering stellar light of the cosmos if they wished to facilitate their disciples’ cultivation.
In the Three Realms, only the Innate Star Lords could control starlight; this was restricted by the laws of the Heavenly Dao. No matter if one was a Great Overarching Golden Immortal or even a Sage, one could only request or command the Star Lords to marshal the stellar energy; one could not bypass them to collect it directly.
This was dictated by the laws of Heaven and Earth. If the Star Lords refused to cooperate, even a Sage could not obtain a single speck of stellar power. Moreover, since the great upheaval in antiquity, the Innate Star Lords had also vanished from the Three Realms. Where could the Great Divine Powers of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths find Star Lords to call upon favors to condense starlight?
Yet, the magnificent pillar of stellar power above Yunhua Mountain right now looked as if Gu Wuchen himself were the Star Lord controlling the 108 Stars of the Heavenly Constellation and Earthly Fiends, pouring down starlight energy as if it were nothing!
Yu Guanzi stamped his foot and shrieked heavenward, “Heavens! Under the nourishment of such starlight, even a stubborn stone, given a thousand years, could achieve sentience and transform into a demon! How many disciples must this Senior have? No wonder he dared to claim such a vast territory!”
Feixing Daoist thought further ahead, muttering quietly, “I wonder what level this Senior’s cultivation has reached. If he hasn't even reached the Great Overarching realm, once the Ancestors descend, he’ll have to seek refuge with one of them... Tsk, tsk, looking at this spectacle, if some Ancestor were to take him in, the influence, the power... Heh heh!” Yu Guanzi’s expression shifted, and he immediately looked toward Feixing Daoist.
The two exchanged glances for a moment, then Feixing Daoist suddenly laughed, “Judging by this Senior’s bearing, he must be a cultivator of the Orthodox Path! To join an Immortal Sect is a sure thing!”
Yu Guanzi sneered repeatedly, mocking him, “Don’t be so quick to assume. The Daoist friend who threw a punch at me three years ago clearly possessed the Golden Immortal body cultivated by a Flying Night Demon. With a Flying Night Demon among his disciples, this Senior must have originated from the Evil Path; perhaps he will pledge allegiance to my Ancestor of Swallowing Moons!”
They exchanged cold smiles for a moment before both turning their heads away. Each harbored hidden motives, squinting as they pondered who knew what.
Just as they had nothing more to say, a bell chimed ahead, and a path suddenly opened through the auspicious clouds and radiant aura blanketing Yunhua Mountain. Golden light cascaded down, and countless golden Mandara flowers danced in the air as the brothers Banruo and Hehe, clad in monk robes but lacking tonsure scars, stepped forward with expressions of solemn dignity upon a golden cloud to greet them.
The brothers Banruo and Mohe were tall with handsome yet strangely alluring features. The faint aura emanating from them seemed to subtly harmonize with the Heavenly Dao, yet Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist could not ascertain what Grand Dao rules their auras represented. Their complexions could not help but change, and they quickly straightened up with extreme deference.
Although Banruo and Mohe were only at the initial stage of the Golden Immortal realm—a level they had reached by aggressively consuming pills—their bodies were descended from the Innate Great Sages of an outer domain, representing a celestial rule profoundly different from this universe. Feixing Daoist and Yu Guanzi simply couldn't decipher them.
The inability to identify the brothers’ auras meant that they wielded a power based on Grand Dao rules unknown to Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist. What did this imply? It meant that if the brothers attacked, they would have no method of defense or countermeasure. An initial Golden Immortal’s strength might very well allow them to inflict a serious blow upon two Tenth-Grade Golden Immortals like themselves! Considering those coming out to welcome guests were already this formidable, how could Feixing Daoist and Yu Guanzi dare to be slow in their reception?
Especially since the monk robes worn by Banruo and Mohe were shrouded in swirling clouds, woven from five-colored silk and studded with jewels and gemstones of all sizes, each one a rare treasure. Feixing Daoist and Yu Guanzi were consumed with envy. To say nothing else, the two jade rings on their chests used to fasten their kasayas were clearly carved from Lunar Stone!
Lunar Stone—essence condensed from Innate Lunar Qi! In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, a small piece was generated only once every tens of thousands of years, often stirring up bloody storms and attracting endless contention. Yet these two used them merely as accessories for their robes! One could only imagine the sheer wealth they possessed.
And in the cultivation world, wealth directly represented strength—a dialectical relationship where one implies the other.
Banruo and Mohe were merely the start. Behind them followed a troop of eighteen young novices, all exceptionally handsome and possessing superb cultivation aptitude. The trinkets they held in their hands, hung around their necks, or fastened to their wrists were all precious ornaments ground from pure Innate materials. Following them were eighteen young Daoist acolytes whose aptitude was also excellent; the incense burners, whisks, and other items they carried were also crafted from Innate materials.
What made one want to vomit blood was that all these objects held by the young novices and acolytes—incense burners, prayer beads, jade pendants, whisks—were fashioned from Innate materials, yet they were merely carved into those shapes, not refined into artifacts!
Heavens! Possessing so much Innate material and only using it to create mere appearances instead of true artifacts—who could be so wasteful?
Although the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were incredibly rich in resources, the output of Post-Natal materials was endless. Innate-grade materials flowed out only occasionally, immediately seized by the various Ancestors; there was no chance for minor functionaries like Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist to even get a glimpse.
Staring at the incense burners, bead chains, jade pendants, and whisks in the hands of these young monks and Daoists, the two desperately wanted to snatch them!
Banruo and Mohe had already flown before them. Banruo cupped his hands with a smile and said cheerfully, “Welcome, honored guests, please, please come in!”
A beam of golden light shot out from within Yunhua Mountain, and a welcoming arch bridge, forged from Innate Tai Bai Geng Metal, stretched directly to the feet of Feixing Daoist and Yu Guanzi. This bridge was nearly a thousand kilometers long, consuming no less than tens of millions of tons of Innate Tai Bai Geng Metal! Tens of millions of tons of Innate Tai Bai Geng Metal! Feixing Daoist and Yu Guanzi shuddered, nearly cursing out loud!
This was material used to forge top-grade Immortal Swords, yet here it was used to construct a welcoming bridge that served no purpose other than looking beautiful and showing off! Moreover, this bridge barely contained any useful restrictions or formations; instead, it was layered with countless light-emitting, heat-retaining, and dust-repelling restrictions. Wasteful, extremely wasteful, beyond measure!
With slightly unsteady legs, they stepped onto the arch bridge. Accompanied by Banruo and Mohe, they proceeded into Yunhua Mountain, and the pair froze once more.
Although they had seen the starlight descending like a waterfall from the Nine Heavens outside the mountain, indicating the high spiritual energy concentration within Yunhua Mountain, they never imagined that within the tens of thousands of miles encompassing Yunhua Mountain, the concentration of spiritual energy was so dense it automatically penetrated the body.
As soon as they entered the mountain-protecting formation of Yunhua Mountain, Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist felt their pores suddenly open, and surging spiritual energy continuously drilled into their bodies. This stimulated their immortal power to circulate like a windmill, so rapidly that if they didn't move their arts quickly, they wouldn't be able to digest the incoming spiritual energy from the outside.
The spiritual energy here—pure, pristine, and biting cold, as if it were the essence of a jade refined countless times within the ice of a billion years—every drop could be completely converted into their own immortal power without any impurities needing to be forced out. Cultivating in this environment was exactly ten times faster, not more, not less, than in their own cave mansions in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!
Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist were utterly dumbfounded. Was this the kind of blessed land that should exist in the Mortal Realm? Such a supreme cultivation sanctuary was barely comparable to the private cave mansions of their own Ancestors! In the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, such a heaven-blessed land would have already incited countless great powers to fight over it! With such a blessed land, the speed at which their disciples could cultivate would be astronomical! The ingrained habits from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths flared up, and the two immediately rolled their eyes, preparing to strike and seize Yunhua Mountain.
However, as soon as the malicious thought surfaced, silver lights shot up from the 108 spiritual peaks of Yunhua Mountain. The fundamental forms of the 108 Star Lords of the Heavenly Constellation and Earthly Fiends floated within the silver light. On the true form of each Star Lord flew a large banner, and immense pressure hammered down upon them. Their knees buckled, and they fell heavily to the ground.
The Heavenly Constellation and Earthly Fiends Star Formation! And one that had mobilized the fundamental stellar power of the 108 stars!
Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist glanced at each other, cold sweat suddenly soaking the backs of their robes. Judging by the momentum of this formation, Golden Immortals would only be disgracing themselves here. A Taiyi Golden Immortal could break this formation with a mere wave of their hand, but Golden Immortals, no matter how many came, would perish here.
In the Mortal Realm, such a formation existed!
In the Mortal Realm, such a blessed land existed!
Thinking of Gu Wuchen, in the Mortal Realm, such a figure existed!
Auspicious light shimmered all around as the Ten Heavenly Lords nonchalantly darted across the void, activating their escape lights. The treasure light faintly surrounding them intentionally triggered a trace of the innate aura from the Primordial Supreme Treasures they possessed. The vast aura of the Supreme Treasures violently buffeted Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist, nearly causing them to collapse. The clang of gongs and drums sounded from afar, and over a hundred thousand minor demons and monsters marched in formation, beating drums and gongs. These small demons, indigenous to Yunhua Mountain, were led by two panda demons, pure black and white. They merrily flew past on demonic winds and auspicious clouds nearby.
These minor demons were uniformly at the initial Golden Core stage. In the eyes of Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist, they could slaughter millions with a single breath—nothing impressive. But these small demons maintained a strict formation; as the hundred thousand minor demons flew past in ranks, the aura they emitted was comparable to that of an ordinary Heavenly Immortal. What kind of formation was this? What sort of exquisite military array?
Whoosh! A fierce gale blew, and ten thousand early Nascent Soul stage demons and devils flew past, riding black winds and red clouds. They also maintained perfectly aligned formations, the aura emitted by the great array being comparable to the Qi of a Second-Grade Heavenly Immortal.
Then, ten thousand Soul Transformation stage demons flew by. These demons already possessed a hint of the aura of secluded masters, and the power of their array was sufficient to encircle and kill a Third-Grade Heavenly Immortal.
Behind these ten thousand demons, a grand formation composed of thirty thousand demons and Daoists suddenly appeared. Those making up the array were at least at the peak of the Soul Transformation stage—the strongest were several dozen Daoists at the Heavenly Immortal level. Strange winds billowed and baleful energy surged within this array—that was expected. But the core used to suppress the formation’s eye was a lustrous, Xuan-jade colored pagoda radiating worldly energy! An Innate-grade artifact, absolutely an Innate-grade artifact!
Using an Innate-grade artifact as the eye of the formation gave it the qualification to surround and kill Golden Immortals. This array possessed the strength to kill Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist.
Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist, perpetually sweating, exchanged wide-eyed glances. Was Yunhua Mountain issuing a display of force?
No, that couldn't be right. While this display of might was enough against Golden Immortals, it was definitely insufficient to challenge the powerful figures of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!
Full of concealed intentions, the two followed Banruo and Mohe inward, proceeding along a winding, exquisitely scenic road for several hundred miles. Along the way, they saw countless strange flowers and rare plants, innumerable precious items. Various Innate materials were readily available, and precious substances like Innate Five Element Essences were piled high on the ground like unwanted scrap.
If not for their status, if not for being awed into submission by the Heavenly Constellation and Earthly Fiends Star Formation, Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist would have rushed forward to loot every Innate material in sight. It was too tempting, overwhelmingly tempting!
Their eyes darted around slowly as Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist secretly calculated various thoughts and the gains versus losses. Suddenly, a burst of precious light shone ahead, and a magnificent palace complex, cast entirely from various rare materials, segmented into the Five Elements and five colors, grand and imposing, suddenly appeared.
This palace complex spanned several hundred kilometers; it was clearly the Tian Gong Hall that Gu Wuchen had acquired long ago, now relocated to Yunhua Mountain.
Gu Wuchen had flipped all the plaques within Tian Gong Hall upside down, carving new titles on the reverse side of the original plaques. On the archway at the very front of the dwelling stood three glittering golden characters:
Evil Dragon Palace!
Evil Dragon Palace? Yu Guanzi gave a start and then smiled at Banruo, asking, “We have been exceedingly impolite; we still do not know the honored title of that Senior!”
Mohe let out a strange laugh. Honored title? What title could Gu Wuchen possibly have? This title he thought up this time is just to fool you all!
Banruo, serene and composed, clasped his hands and smiled, “Our Senior Brother styles himself the Daoist Wu Long. This place is his cultivation residence!”
Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist blinked. They had misinterpreted things. According to the customs of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, a cultivator’s Daoist name was often related to their identity. True Lord of White Bones, as the name suggests, was a skeleton that cultivated into immortality; Ancestor of Crimson Blood was naturally one who cultivated demonic arts of blood. This Daoist Evil Dragon—could this Senior’s true form be a dragon?
As if to confirm their speculation, a stream of five-colored Qi suddenly surged into the sky above the main hall of the Tian Gong Hall. A pitch-black demonic dragon, its shape identical to the black dragon embedded on the exterior of the former Gu Group skyscraper, rolled and writhed within the five-colored Qi, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws. Its scarlet eyes glared at Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist from afar before it suddenly descended and vanished without a trace.
Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist followed Banruo and Mohe into the main hall of the Tian Gong Hall—the name of this hall had also been changed to the Evil Dragon Hall. It had to be said that Gu Xiechen was rather lazy when it came to naming things.
Gu Xiechen, clad in a long black robe embroidered with nine true dragons in purple silk thread, was reclining lazily on a jade couch in the center of the hall, faint spiritual light glinting in his eyes. He looked toward Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist from a distance and smiled, “You two Daoists have arrived late; we have been waiting for you for three years.” Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist managed dry laughs. They entered the hall and bowed to Gu Xiechen.
Just as they were about to speak, several hundred burly men lined up on both sides of the hall startled Yu Guanzi and Feixing Daoist.
Standing three zhang tall, shaped like a bear, clad in yellow robes and red skirts, with cloud boots on his feet, his face like red jade and gold, enveloped in a faint celestial aura—he was impossibly imposing. Coiling around his waist were immeasurable divine chains, and his eyes shot forth divine light, as brilliant as the stars. Standing guard on the left and right within the grand hall of Gu Wuchen were clearly seven or eight hundred Yellow Turban Warriors!
Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Yes, it was Yellow Turban Warriors! This was the standard attire for Yellow Turban Warriors. Even under the seats of some Heavenly Venerables and Ancestors in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, there were a few on duty, and they certainly hadn't mistaken them!
But even those Ancestors and Heavenly Venerables in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths commanded no more than seven or eight Yellow Turban Warriors, and those were all divine generals inherited from the cave mansions of ancient Great Divine Powers. Being able to command Yellow Turban Warriors represented a status in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—a status a notch above others, much like worldly people commanding fine steeds; it signified superiority.
Well, look at this! Gu Xiechen had hundreds of Yellow Turban Warriors lined up to attend him. Had he stumbled upon the cave mansion of some ancient Great Divine Power? Or... or what? Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing exchanged glances, cheerfully believing they had uncovered some secret about Gu Xiechen.
Bowing with utmost respect to Gu Wuchen once more, Daoist Feixing carefully plastered a smile on his face and said, "Senior, please forgive us. Your juniors have too many mundane affairs to manage and truly couldn't spare the time. It is only today that we could honor your summons and arrive at such a blessed grotto-heaven. It is truly our honor."
Yu Guanzi also lowered his gaze, displaying a hundred thousand measures of caution and a million parts of submission. With a faint smile, he spoke cautiously, "Seeing Senior’s immortal paradise today, we juniors are truly... alas. Only a divine being such as Senior is worthy of such a supreme grotto-heaven, such a blessed realm!"
Gu Xiechen smiled, adopting the countenance of a truly venerable, high-ranking figure, and slowly waved his hand.
Thus, a contingent of female demons, who had taken form from the flora and fauna of Cloud Splendor Mountain, presented various rare fruits, fragrant teas, and fine wines, setting up two jade tables before Gu Xiechen’s jade throne and inviting Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing to be seated.
The fruits were exotic immortal yields, the fragrant teas stemmed from spiritual veins, and the fine wine was brewed from all manner of immortal fruits, using ancient immortal recipes. The fruits and immortal teas originated from within the Youming Fan of the Divine Realm, and the immortal wine recipe was contained within the memories of True Lord Taiyin. Given True Lord Taiyin’s status, the fact that he so carefully retained this wine recipe indicated its unparalleled quality.
Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing were indeed stunned. The immortal fruits and tea were one thing; those were produced throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, though the quality here seemed marginally superior to what they were accustomed to. However, gazing at the thick, viscous, pale golden liquid that shone with the crystalline clarity of amber gemstones, both men froze.
It seemed, if their memory served, they had glimpsed this immortal wine from afar once, when they were attending a banquet hosted by an Heavenly Venerable in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, at the behest of their own Ancestor-Grandfather. That Heavenly Venerable had stolen a single jar of this exquisite wine from the cave mansion of some ancient Great Divine Power at the cost of nine deaths and one life. It was rumored to be the 'Jade Nectar of the Azure Pool' (Yaochi Yuye), reserved exclusively for the Ancient Great Golden Immortals and Harmonious Sacred Beings during the Heavenly Court's Peach Banquets in antiquity. "This is... the Jade Nectar of the Azure Pool!"
Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing moaned softly. At that banquet years ago, their own Ancestor had only been permitted a thimble-sized cup of the Jade Nectar of the Azure Pool. Back in their own grotto-heaven, he had praised its sublime taste without end, boasting about it to his peers for nearly a thousand years!
In ancient times, the Great Divine Powers who now inhabited the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were not qualified to attend the Azure Pool gatherings; the Jade Nectar of the Azure Pool was a treasure far beyond their entitlement.
Yet now, Gu Xiechen served it to his guests in jars the size of a jin wine sea, and at the side, one of the attendants held several enormous jade wine vats, also filled to the brim with this peerless liquor.
A chill shot up from the soles of Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing's feet straight to their crowns. They felt cold, misty air escaping from every pore, and a bone-chilling terror seized their bodies.
What on earth was the origin of this Senior Evil Dragon Daoist? He was serving the Jade Nectar of the Azure Pool by the vat!
Gu Xiechen looked with satisfaction at their reaction. Sometimes, violence wasn't necessary; a small display of extravagant luxury could make others deeply misjudge one's background and intimidate quite a few people!
Tsk tsk, having eight hundred original Heavenly Court Yellow Turban Warriors on guard, Jade Nectar of the Azure Pool brewed according to the original recipe, welcoming bridges, numerous innate materials, several grand formations, plus the power of the stars descending from the sky—the perfect image of a Great Divine Power, unfathomably profound, who had secluded himself since antiquity, was flawlessly established! With a slight, knowing smile, Gu Wuchen raised the wine sea and solicitously urged the two to drink a full sea-measure of the Jade Nectar of the Azure Pool.
It was indeed fragrant, mellow, exquisite, and left an endless aftertaste. Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing narrowed their eyes, completely intoxicated by the marvelous flavor.
Gu Xiechen watched the two with a chuckle, then suddenly asked with a light laugh, "Juniors, do you desire Innate Artifacts?" Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing were startled. They simultaneously asked in astonishment, "Senior said what?"
Gu Xiechen toyed with the ancient, mottled bronze hai in his hand, saying faintly, "I asked if you desire Innate Artifacts?"
Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing exchanged glances and declared in unison, "Naturally, we desire them, Senior! Is there perhaps some matter for which you require our service?"
Smiling contentedly, Gu Xiechen held up one finger: "Tell me the detailed situation of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths now, and I will guide you to a certain place where you will certainly reap rewards. I do not ask you to reveal the secrets of your own sects; just tell me everything you know about the other major powers."
With a long sigh, Gu Wuchen’s face took on a look of desolation as he murmured, "It has been too long since I returned. I wonder if the Ever-Shining Light Domain of the Small North Pole in the Celestial Heaven of Cosmic Manifestation (Dongyuan Huaying Tian) still bathes in eternal radiance? I wonder if the sunsets over Scarlet Jade Cliff in the High Void Pure Heaven (Gao Xu Qingming Tian) are still as magnificent as before? I wonder if the Three Lives Flower on the Three Lives Astrological Measurement in the Stillness of Great Evolution Heaven (Jiran Doushu Tian) still smells as fragrant?"
He rattled off the names of nearly a hundred notoriously dangerous locales scattered throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing glanced at each other and secretly nodded. This Evil Dragon Daoist truly had emerged from the ranks of the Sacred Beings of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Alas, of all the perilous spots he named, Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing had only heard about a small fraction from their own Ancestor.
This Senior was far more ancient than their own Ancestor; he absolutely could not be offended. They had to cling tightly to this thick, powerful thigh! If such a Senior could become an ally of their own Ancestor, wouldn't their faction's power multiply immensely? In three hundred and sixty years, if such a Senior truly became their friend, the benefits...
Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing calculated their advantages rapidly, eagerly agreeing to Gu Xiechen's demand.
The two spent a full month describing the detailed situation within the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to Gu Xiechen. Their intelligence even delved into gossip they had gathered about the leading figures of certain powers—like which influential man kept several mistresses outside his primary residence.
Gu Xiechen pondered the heavens with satisfaction for a moment, then slowly tossed each of them a superior-grade immortal artifact, the finest quality, sourced from a massive batch of scattered cultivators. Afterward, he told them the method for entering and exiting the star domain where Mo Yue Longgen was hiding. "Go now. There is a beast sealed there; it possesses many good treasures. Kill it, and the materials you salvage will be enough to refine several excellent Innate Artifacts."
He paused, and Gu Wuchen sneered, "If your artifact refining skill is insufficient, I can make an exception and refine one or two for you!"
Having received the superior-grade immortal swords as a reward from Gu Xiechen and hearing this tremendous piece of good news, Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing were beside themselves with joy. They hurriedly departed Cloud Splendor Mountain, rushing toward the star domain where Mo Yue Longgen was besieged. Once the two were far away, Gu Wuchen clutched his stomach and rolled off the jade couch, bursting into uproarious laughter. The Yellow Turban Warriors, like Xin Jia, who had been standing by in feigned composure, also burst into laughter.
Mo Yue Longgen, this time you're in for terrible luck! No matter how powerful he was, he was trapped in the seal. For two Tenth-Grade Golden Immortals from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to plot against him—was that too easy?
If Mo Yue Longgen were truly as formidable as rumored, and he managed not only to survive but to slay Yu Guanzi and Daoist Feixing... "Hmph, then you are truly unlucky!" Gu Xiechen belly-laughed, chuckling until he could barely catch his breath—Six thousand plus eight thousand, this pig's head is only updating a small amount today to celebrate the National Day's excitement!