This Item Is Fated with Me

Countless stars radiated dazzling light, and the future constellations would be born within this vast sea of stars.

Lu Changsheng stared at one enormous star. It was far larger than the surrounding stars, and within it lay boundless spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

That star was precisely what had drawn him here.

Lu Changsheng reached out and effortlessly broke the seal on the star's surface, as though taking something from his pocket. Cracks spread across it, erupting with power enough to shatter an Immortal's immortal body.

"Clang, clang, clang~"

Endless bell chimes resounded through the starry sky, and the surrounding stars dimmed in response.

He drew a great bell from within. Sun, Moon, Stars and Earth, Water, Fire, Wind adorned its outer surface, while Mountains and Rivers, Great Earth and the Myriad Races of the Primordial Era faintly appeared within. Five-Colored Light illuminated the heavens, while Chaos Sacred Might intimidated the universe.

"An Innate Supreme Treasure—the Chaos Bell?"

Lu Changsheng was stunned. Innate Supreme Treasures were considered the highest grade of treasures in Hong Huang, and the Chaos Bell possessed limitless mysteries and infinite creation. It could imprison time and suppress space, reflect the attacks of any treasure or divine weapon, and negate the damage of all Supernatural Abilities and Magic. It combined offense and defense; placed above one's head, it ensured invincibility.

The bell's chimes were vast, the cosmos brilliant. Heaven and earth lost their color, and Heaven and Earth trembled.

He had never expected the sensation he had felt this time to originate from the Chaos Bell.

But why had the Chaos Bell appeared inside this star?

Suddenly, Lu Changsheng seemed to sense something. His features gradually blurred as White Mist curled around him, making him appear and disappear.

When he turned around, someone had appeared behind him at some unknown time.

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun." Lu Changsheng named the newcomer.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun smiled faintly. His long robes seemed to evolve into countless things, and he stroked his white beard. "You must be the one in Hong Huang who became a Saint without relying on Primordial Violet Qi, Fellow Daoist."

"That's me. What do you want?" Lu Changsheng concealed himself within the void, activating the Chaos Bell above his head. Its vast chimes echoed throughout the starry sky.

"Hahaha, there is no need to be nervous, Fellow Daoist. Old Man merely came to witness the bearing of Hong Huang's number one Saint." Dao Ancestor Hongjun said with a smile.

"Number one Saint?" Lu Changsheng asked doubtfully.

"That is correct. Ever since Fellow Daoist became a Saint, word has spread through Hong Huang that you are the strongest among Saints." Dao Ancestor Hongjun explained.

"I don't deserve it. It's merely an empty reputation, nothing compared to an old Saint like Senior." Lu Changsheng had no interest in the title of Hong Huang's number one Saint. The taller the tree, the stronger the wind; he had no desire to be burdened with such a title.

"You flatter Old Man." Dao Ancestor Hongjun looked toward the Chaos Bell above Lu Changsheng's head. He said nothing, merely watched with a smiling expression.

Lu Changsheng declared righteously, "This item is fated with me. Why are you staring at it, Senior?"

He had already prepared himself for a fight. Although Dao Ancestor Hongjun was an established Saint of Hong Huang, he too was a Saint, and he was not bound by the Shackles of Primordial Violet Qi. If they had to fight, then they would fight. Since he had obtained the Chaos Bell, there was no reason for him to hand it over.

[Host, this Old Man looks terrifying.]

"What's there to fear? We're both Saints."

[I'm afraid that if you fight, you'll kill me too...]

"..."

At the moment Lu Changsheng was left speechless, Dao Ancestor Hongjun seemed to have considered something and smiled. "It is yours. All of it is yours. The Chaos Bell chose you, and Old Man will not covet it. However, Fellow Daoist forcibly became a Saint, which has made Old Man quite curious."

"Good luck." Lu Changsheng said.

"Luck? A person of Great Destiny possesses strength in Hong Huang as well. Besides, how could becoming a Saint possibly be summed up by a single word like luck?" Dao Ancestor Hongjun shook his head. "I would like to invite Fellow Daoist to Discuss Dao."

Discussing Dao meant explaining the portions of one's own insights, strengthening one's own comprehension while absorbing the Dao of others to enhance one's own Dao.

"Another time. I'm not free right now." Lu Changsheng politely declined.

"Very well. Whenever Fellow Daoist has time, come to Zixiao Palace. Then we can properly Discuss Dao." Dao Ancestor Hongjun said seriously, cupping his hands.

In Dao Ancestor Hongjun's eyes, a powerful figure like Lu Changsheng naturally meant what he said. If he said he would come later, then he would come.

With that, Dao Ancestor Hongjun fled into the distance.

[He seems to have taken it seriously...]

"Shh. I never gave him a deadline. It wouldn't matter even if I dragged it out until Hong Huang was destroyed. If I hadn't come to retrieve the Chaos Bell this time, Hongjun wouldn't have been able to find me." Lu Changsheng had concealed his appearance and obscured the heavenly secrets. Even Saints could not find him.

[...]

Returning to the Hong Huang sect.

After tens of thousands of years, the sect had grown ever more powerful.

Some disciples who had once been Lu Changsheng's peers had become geniuses who broke through to Mystic Immortals.

His nominal master had even stepped down and become a Supreme Elder of the sect.

Meanwhile, his Avatar had revealed Mystic Immortal strength, putting him on par with his fellow disciples.

Yet no one discovered that the sect's Senior Disciple Brother, who spent every day alongside them, was merely a puppet with Mystic Immortal strength.

Still, that was hardly surprising. Since it had come from the hands of Lu Changsheng, a Saint, it was naturally a High-Quality Good.

Misty Peak was surrounded by layer upon layer of formations. A saying circulated throughout the sect: better to enter the sect's Forbidden Area than Changsheng's Misty Peak.

Previously, a disciple had accidentally entered this place and nearly perished in body and soul.

Later, an elder had come to rescue him and nearly died as well.

Only when Lu Changsheng's puppet returned in time was the problem resolved.

From then on, no one in the sect dared approach the territory of Lu Changsheng, the Senior Disciple Brother, without reason.

At the same time, they learned that not only was the sect's Senior Disciple Brother immensely powerful, but his attainments in formations were also unfathomable. Some Junior Sisters and Senior Sisters wished they could offer themselves to him, but unfortunately, they could not break into Misty Peak.

Lu Changsheng was in high spirits. Having acquired the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Chaos Bell, he sat beside the Spirit Lake, humming a tune and drinking Enlightenment Tea as his mind immersed itself in the Chat Group.

Chat Group—

Takanashi Rikka: I want to become as strong as everyone else too! Hnghhhhh!

Shinobu Kocho: Aren't there plenty of things in the Group Mall that can increase your strength?

Iron Man: True enough. Spend some Points on one of my suits of armor, and you'll become the King of Special Forces.

Takanashi Rikka: Stop saying that!!! Spend some Points? A single suit is so expensive it's terrifying! I painfully save Points by checking in every day, and it would still take me years!

Deep Sea Otaku: Luckily, I can exchange blood donations for Points too, roar.

Batman: I've more or less put all my suits into the mall.

Iron Man: Your Bat Suit has traces of my armor. Did you secretly buy one of my suits?

Batman: Yes. Looking at the latest armor you put out, I can see traces of my suit too. You obviously bought one of my suits as well.

Takanashi Rikka: (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)

Everyone chatted idly in the Chat Group. Teasing and bickering with one another had become part of their daily routine.

Iron Man: By the way, does anyone want to come play in my world? I bought a Gathering Ticket.

A Gathering Ticket differed from a Mission Ticket, but their functions were largely similar.

A Gathering Ticket allowed group members to gather in one world for three days.

A Mission Ticket had a one-month limit, and completing its mission came with rewards.

However, Mission Tickets were issued by group members rather than the Chat Group, so the richness of the rewards depended on the group member in question.

True Lord of Future Expectations: Go play in your world? I kind of want to.

Mumen Rider: Oh! The Immortal has appeared!

Passerby Kamen Rider: True Monarch, are you back from fighting?

True Lord of Future Expectations: No fight. I just picked up a decent treasure.

Shinobu Kocho: If even Mr. Immortal says it's a decent treasure, it must be very good.

[Beep. Group member Iron Man has used a Gathering Ticket. Participant limit: three.]

[True Lord of Future Expectations, Batman, and Passerby Kamen Rider have claimed slots.]

Yatogami Tohka: So cunning! I wasn't even ready yet!

Iron Man: Haha, then I'll await everyone's arrival.

Takanashi Rikka: (๑˭̴̵̶᷄൧̑˭̴̵̶᷅๑)

Passerby Kamen Rider: It's time to take pictures in a new world.