Master Sun, seated on the rocking chair, was furious: "Dead granddaughter, have your wings grown stiff now?" Seeing that Grandfather was truly serious, not merely joking or scolding, Sun Miao Miao immediately changed her tone and smiled brightly: "Got it, got it! But Grandfather, following Master Yuan Shi Tian Zun has been so rewarding—better than meeting a real doormat. Look, I just cleared an S-rank raid, and you mentioned those seals could let me fight above my rank, yet they're all my life-saving back-up cards." Master Sun gazed at his granddaughter, admiring her round, sweet face with a hint of baby fat, her bright, white teeth showing when she smiled, her large, lively eyes—without realizing it, she had already grown into a young woman. "Ah!" he sighed, "Miao Miao, you must be nearly 24 now?" "Yes," said Sun Miao Miao, gently pressing her hand against the girl's face—this little one from the locust tree, her childhood playmate. "You're past the age of adolescence now," said Master Sun. "How do you think Master Yuanshishen is? Young, talented, and good-looking—doesn't he seem like a great match for someone?" Sun Miao-miao straightened up suddenly, shook her head vigorously. "Absolutely not! This guy is clumsy, dull, and fickle. Any girl who ends up with him must be blind." "My father hadn't even been born when I was trying to act cute and pretend to be naive in front of your grandmother." "Alright, maybe a little bit," Sun Miao-miao admitted, tapping her little finger, her expression pouting. She had expected her grandfather to mock her for being so unrefined, but Master Sun only gazed at the gradually darkening sky, silent for a long time. "Grandfather?" Sun Miao-miao asked hesitantly. Master Sun sighed. "When the stakes are too high, pieces outside the board eventually get pulled in—whether it's fate or a curse, I'm not sure." "I simply don't understand," Sun Miao-miao puffed. "You've always been slow-witted, of course, you never will." " ... Japan, Ginza. The headquarters building of the Chihaya Group, the Oohara House. The Oohara House serves as the venue where the Chihaya Group's executives host guests. As an official organization of Japan, the Chihaya Group never sends guests out for meals when hosting distinguished visitors. The Oohara House boasts Japan's finest aged wines, the most elegant waitstaff, and within an hour of a single phone call, the freshest ingredients from across Japan are delivered directly to the chef's workbench. In the "Nan'ya Road" private dining room of the Oohara House, the executives of the Chihaya Group gather. As soon as Shino Reo takes his seat, the usually serious and dignified Group Leader, Koshu Ichiro, offers a remarkably warm smile: "Congratulations to our Chihaya Group's brightest star on successfully completing the S-tier quest, Reo. You have now become one of our most experienced executives." The enthusiastic and laid-back Kujira Kōtsu asks, "Reo must have gathered quite a collection of treasures, surely?" "I've obtained consumables from cross-level battles and high-quality Saint's items," Reo replies honestly. The staff of the Chiharu group cast admiring glances, now having secured their place alongside the legendary Yuan Shi Tianzun—surely, Shizuka's future achievements would surpass theirs. Shizuka enjoyed these looks, took out the Yashimikagami, and placed it on the wine table. "Director, Yuan Shi Tianzun has returned the Yashimikagami," she said. Kubota Ichiro's eyes sparkled as he waved his hand, and the Yashimikagami floated up, landing gently in his hands. The staff exhaled in relief, their expressions brightening with ease. Yuan Shi Tianzun had changed greatly since his early days—after two promotions, he had now become a figure they could no longer afford to underestimate. Thus, the staff of Chiharu group felt both eager and anxious, dreading that Yuan Shi Tianzun might grow cold and claim the Yashimikagami for himself. Shizuka's next words gradually dimmed the smiles on everyone's faces. "The second item Yuan Shi Tianzun seeks is the Amaterasu no Kusanagi," she said. Ryōzaki Ichirō paused for a few seconds, then said, "Ryō, you well know the significance of the three items recovered from Kōten'ō to the Chihara group. The Yuan-Shi Celestial Sovereign is now far more powerful than before; even if he borrows without returning, the Chihara group has no choice. We would like to ask you to intervene and cancel the original agreement." The other officers turned their expectations toward Asano Ryō. "No!" Ryō gently shook his head. "Why not?" the fire demon, Kōjū Kōshin, exclaimed angrily. "You have a close relationship with the Yuan-Shi Sovereign, haven't you? That's why you joined his faction. But don't forget that you are also a senior officer of the Chihara group—your homeland is Japan. Your loyalty cannot waver outward." "Kōjū-sama, please calm down," said Kōhoku Ichirō, turning to Ryō. "Ryō, please share your thoughts." Ryō pressed his lips together, straightened his posture, and said, "I'm not sure my intervention will be effective. Moreover, the Yuan-Sh Moreover, everyone has underestimated Yuanshǐ's wealth. "Underestimated his wealth?" Shinko Ichiro was momentarily taken aback. Asayoshi Ryō said seriously, "Yuanshǐ's treasures are far more abundant than we imagined. The three master artifacts of the Chihara Group may, to him, merely be useful weapons—nothing more. Don't be upset, I'll gradually tell you all about it." He then provided the senior officers of the Chihara Group with a detailed account of his experiences at the Mozu Sect's mechanical city. From the Sacred Infant to the Purple Golden Hammer, then to the Ritual of Heaven set and the Yin-Yang Rotating Disk—each artifact was of the highest caliber, a true heirloom worthy of the Chihara Group. Though their status may not match that of the three master artifacts in Kōten-no-Original, as Asayoshi Ryō pointed out, Yuanshǐ Tianzun is not lacking in exceptional artifacts. "According to my knowledge, Yuanshǐ still possesses master-level artifacts, though he hasn't brought them into this副本," Asayoshi Ryō added. The officers exchanged silent glances, expressing both astonishment and appreh Kobayashi Ichiro sighed, no longer hesitating, and drew out Ame no Murakumo. Ame no Murakumo was a bronze sword two shaku long; the copper patina had been polished and oiled, and the bronze inlay along the sword's spine gleamed beautifully. With a lingering affection, he tossed it to Asano Ryoko, saying, "Take it." Ryoko accepted the sword and uploaded it to the afterlife return guild's warehouse. Finally settled, she thought with a joyful heart. "Ryoko!" Kobayashi Ichiro said, "A few days from now, a delegation led by a Level 1 Executive Officer from Tenpen will come to our country. All the senior officers of the Chikurin Group will need to meet them. So, will you be able to stay in the guild dungeon during this time?" "Ah, I still have to enter the guild dungeon tomorrow," Ryoko frowned, slightly troubled. "What exactly will the Level 1 Executive Officer be doing in our country?" Kobayashi Ichiro said seriously, "We can't reveal it yet, but it has nothing to do with us. They're heading to the continent. You'll find out when the time … Jiangnan Leather City. Xuehou Aotian strode proudly into the clan elder's study. "Uncle, I'm here again!" Xuehou Aotian declared loudly. "Grandfather, this young man has come once more," said the grandson of the elder family. "Go to hell," Xuehou Aotian retorted, kicking him aside. The elder, seated at his desk writing a manual on Materials Science, sighed and lifted his gaze, offering a warm smile. "Are you off again to the treasure vault?" "No," Xuehou Aotian replied. "I'm here to discuss a business deal with Uncle. But before we begin, I believe Uncle should first ask me about my rank." The elder paused, surprised, and exclaimed, "You've reached Level Six?" Xuehou Aotian raised his chin proudly. The elder was both astonished and delighted, yet also deeply concerned—among the younger generation of the Xuehou family, Level Six Saints were rare, and this was supposed to be a cause for great joy. Yet here was such an unrefined, impetuous young man. Seeing Xuehou Aotian maintain that fixed, nose-to-the-forefront expression, the Xiahou Aotian pulled out several drawings from his pocket, "Uncle, take a look." The head elder received the drawings with a look of suspicion, but upon close inspection, a bright light flashed in his cloudy eyes, and his hands, which were holding the paper, began to tremble slightly. "Marvelous! Truly marvelous!" the elder exclaimed, his whole body shaking with excitement. "Such an ingenious design for the automata—where did this exquisite craftsmanship come from? From which master's hand?" To a master scholar of the highest rank, automata were not particularly remarkable. What stirred the elder's excitement were the design concepts and internal mechanisms—more technical aspects. "Uncle, you seem utterly out of your depth," Xiahou Aotian remarked, looking down his nose at his elder. "I have an entire volume of such drawings." At the word "volume," the elder's gaze sharpened, so sharply that Xiahou Aotian felt a little intimidated. "A complete volume? Is it a full treatise on mechanisms? Where did you obtain it? Quickly, quickly, show it to Uncle." The elder of the Xiahou family seized Xiahou Aotian’s arm with a firm grip, his thin, withered hands suddenly radiating immense strength. This man, long known for his calm demeanor and vast capacity, who was among the few elders in the family capable of enduring Xiahou Aotian’s temperament—had now become as animated as a young husband celebrating his first child’s birth. One could say that a single, exquisitely crafted blueprint of a mechanical automaton already signaled the quality and prestige of the entire compendium. Mechanical engineering was indeed a valuable asset—though the tools themselves were not widely accessible and remained in limited supply, the technology itself could be mass-produced, much like military equipment. It had the power to fundamentally reshape the structure of a family’s lower ranks, enabling the Xiahou family’s grassroots strength to surpass that of other spiritual realm families, even reaching a level that would make the official authorities take notice. Yet, mechanical engineering was not something that could be created or developed merely through wealth or power—it required the cumulative efforts of generations. The ancient cultivators had accumulated such expertise over several thousand years. For contemporary spiritual realm practitioners, attempting to catch up within just a century seemed utterly impossible. Thus, a scroll documenting various mechanical creations is undoubtedly precious. Xiahou Aotian drew in a sharp breath, "Uncle, you now look like a villain. I'm annoyed." The elder patriarch was taken aback, then realized his own awkwardness, promptly released his grip and stared at him, saying, "Speak!" Xiahou Aotian thought quickly and responded fluently: "I entered the Yuanshiben's guild quest this morning." "You entered the quest? You even joined Yuanshiben's guild?" the elder patriarch asked, puzzled, "I didn't know that... Ah, never mind—go on." "The quest is called the Ink Sect's Mechanized City, rated S-tier. The mechanical scroll is one of the rewards, currently held by Yuanshiben, but members of the guild have the right to read it at any time," Xiahou Aotian explained. S-tier quest: the Ink Sect's Mechanized City... The elder patriarch furrowed his brows, quickly reviewing his database in mind. His scholar's ability to absorb information instantly enabled him to grasp the relevant terms swiftly. "There was indeed a legendary sect during the Song Dynasty, documented in our archives, though its difficulty rating is only C-level, and there's only one such quest—known as the 'Trial of the Mo Sect.' Our elder master explains: 'The rewards for lower-tier quests are typically modest and unremarkable.' 'That's because the City of Mechanisms perished during the Southern Song Dynasty, a relatively brief historical period, resulting in fewer corresponding quests. Our current main storyline task is precisely to uncover the cause of its downfall,' says Xue Hou Ao Tian. Xue Hou's elder master nods in agreement—rewards for S-level quests are naturally more understandable. 'Ao Tian, you mentioned earlier that members within the guild can share the secret texts on mechanical arts, correct?' the elder master says, with a hint of hope in his eyes, 'The family is willing to purchase these texts, provided they offer a suitable price.' 'Then it will ultimately depend on the family's performance,' replies Xue Hou Ao Tian." “…” The elder patriarch, probably moved by the drawings or well-acquainted with this young man’s character, took a deep breath and held back, speaking calmly: “Then, how much are you offering for these drawings?” Xia Hou Ao Tian replied, “I’ll settle the family’s debt in full. By the way, I’ve also used up one energy package—so that will be settled as well.” “Excellent!” The elder patriarch immediately agreed. Xia Hou Ao Tian expressed his doubt, “Uncle, am I selling them too cheaply?” “These drawings aren’t worth 1.5 billion, but the family is willing to pay a premium for outstanding young talents.” “Uncle, you’re right—outstanding young talents would consider a premium of another 1.5 billion?” “Ao Tian….” “Then, Uncle, please.” “Get out!” Xia Hou Ao Tian was sent out of the villa. As he left, he still couldn’t be satisfied and kicked several of the elder patriarch’s grandchildren. On the way back to the villa, Xia Hou Ao Tian moved gracefully, feeling completely debt-free. But there was still one thing he wanted to do—without doing it, he felt as though something were stuck in his throat, making it hard to fall asleep. Returning to his villa, he retrieved the drone, hung up the banners and speakers. "I've reached level six now," said Xiaohou Aotian. "It's time to make a big move." A response came through his ring. "Are you going to inform the entire family?" The drone ascended, the two banners hanging straight, bearing the words: "Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west—never underestimate the young and poor." "You ignored me yesterday, but today you can't touch me. By tomorrow, I'll simply press a finger and make you vanish." Xiaohou Aotian held the remote, maneuvering the drone with a look of disdain. "The strong never boast to the weak—they only challenge the stronger." In the astonishment of the old ring, the drone flew deeper into the villa complex, heading toward an ancient manor. "What do you intend to do?" Qin's court official thought, his heart sinking. "Let me pay a visit to the place where my ancestors once meditated in seclusion—where they once humiliated and wronged me. Today, I shall make them see that those who scorned me shall be forsaken by heaven." Xiahou Aotian smiled with the resolve to devour the barbarians' flesh and drink their blood, determined to storm the imperial court and give his ancestors a sound beating. "What status does the patriarch of the Xiahou family hold?" asked Qin Dynasty's court magician, hesitantly. "Not much different from mine." "A sovereign?" "A half-divine being!" The court magician was astonished: "Did your mother seek him in vain?" ... International Tower. Annette, dressed in a refined office professional suit, sat at her desk, swiftly drafting an email. Today was the day for her regular intelligence briefing to the headquarters of the Goddess Association. She compiled the latest intelligence findings into the email. In the Many-Heaven Realm during August, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun achieved two consecutive promotions, setting a record unmatched in both history and future—yet he was held accountable for killing the grandson of Cai Elder, the head of the Five Elements Alliance's headquarters, within the quest副本. Thanks to the intervention of the Red Fire Clan's chief, the matter was ultimately settled without further escalation; however, the tension between Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun and the headquarters of the Five Elements Alliance deepened, resulting in a surface-level harmony with underlying discord. I believe the Association should seize this opportunity to further strengthen ties, elevate Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun to a senior member status, and Anni is always ready to make personal sacrifices. According to reliable sources, the King of the Mysterious Eye escaped from Songhai. During the incident, the Night Rose appears to have close ties with senior officials of the Taiyuan Sect—details remain unclear. I had intended to gather intelligence from Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, yet he has shown no interest in my personal charm. Though he has become a peripheral member of the Association, he has never proactively reached out to me. Of course, this is not due to Anni's lack of excellence As Anne wrote this, she sighed, a deep sense of disappointment flickering in her sea-blue eyes. She had always considered herself beautiful, commanding in comparison to her female peers, and with her professional grace, she had rarely faced any obstacle—few men could ignore her allure. Yet she had to admit that beauty alone was not enough. The act of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun pulling her into the cold palace had seriously shaken her confidence as a proud and elegant diplomat. After carefully reviewing the email several times, she sent it to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Anne picked up her water cup, stood up, and walked to the water dispenser to fill a glass of warm water. When she returned to her desk, she found a reply from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She set down the cup and opened the email.