"I, She Tian, am the Golden Divine Tree of Eternity, bearer of myriad world-shaking divine artifacts. If you submit to me, I'll grant you one divine artifact."
The voice proclaimed its power to Liu Chengfeng, introducing itself.
Any presence that intruded into Liu Chengfeng's mind could communicate with him, but it couldn't see him, let alone the Celestial Body in his mind.
The Sky Eye in his mind opened and watched everything. The Sky Eye saw through illusions—what could possibly hide from it?
As the voice bragged, the Golden Lotus Root in Liu Chengfeng's Blood Sea Divine Treasury even stretched out its roots, as if it wanted to poke the thing.
"You don't look like any Golden Divine Tree to me. You're as black as soot."
With the Sky Eye's piercing gaze, Liu Chengfeng wanted to laugh.
"Brat, do you know this is only my second incarnation? Let me show you my Nether Sky Tree."
The next moment, the Golden Giant Tree in his mind faded, replaced by a demonic tree that towered into the sky.
Streams of demonic energy poured from the towering tree, each one terrifying enough to refine the ten directions.
A ghost king's head hung from every branch, each one grotesque, baring its fangs as if ready to devour all living beings.
This was Liu Chengfeng's mind. He was the ruler here.
No, the Celestial Body was the ruler. No matter how terrifying something was, here it was nothing but a clown.
Looking at the demonic tree, Liu Chengfeng found it laughable. Even the Celestial Body ignored this clown.
"You're nothing but a tree stump, struck by lightning and burned black."
Liu Chengfeng laughed. Under the Sky Eye's gaze, he had seen through its true form long ago.
No matter what illusion the voice conjured, whether a Golden Giant Tree or a towering demonic tree, it was all an illusion.
Beneath the Sky Eye, its true form was nothing but a tree stump.
The stump was charred black all over, as though it had been struck by lightning and burned, and it was covered in scars.
"Hmph, you brat. What do you know? I, She Tian, was only robbed of my fortune by the Black Emperor. Otherwise, hmph, hmph, hmph..."
"The Black Emperor, the Black-Armored Emperor—"
Hearing this, Liu Chengfeng couldn't help exclaiming.
"Now you know how terrifying he is, don't you? I, She Tian, am an invincible existence who could stand toe-to-toe with the Black Emperor."
"Do you mean the Black Emperor in the God Burial Ground, Ghost Walk Mansion, and Ancient Mansion?"
"You brat—"
Before Liu Chengfeng could finish speaking, the stump sensed something was wrong. In an instant, it vanished from Liu Chengfeng's mind and stopped communicating with him.
"Tell me about the God Burial Ground and Ghost Walk Mansion."
Curious, Liu Chengfeng turned the Heavenly Mound and used the Sky Eye to zoom in.
Tiny roots sprouted from the stump's body. These were the roots that had burrowed underground and into the Spirit Vein Dojo on Tiger Mound, absorbing spiritual energy.
Liu Chengfeng drew closer, instantly startling the ball of light at the center of the Spirit Vein Dojo.
The light immediately took human form, and the might of the Great Dao surged toward him.
The Spirit Vein's power was boundless, crashing against Liu Chengfeng's perception.
"I've been spotted. That one is powerful."
Liu Chengfeng immediately withdrew his perception. He had gotten too close to Tiger Mound and startled the Su Family's imperial ancestor.
They had only just arrived in Great Meng City, and trouble had already come knocking.
"Tell the Fourth Elder that in three days, Liu Chengfeng is to come to the southern part of the city and surrender his head. Otherwise, he'll bear the consequences."
The Ascending Wu Clan was like a bone-deep parasite. Liu Chengfeng had just arrived in Great Meng City, and they had already shown up too.
The messenger was a young man.
He wore black and a leopard-print headband. Tall and muscular, with powerful muscles beneath his clothes, he looked like a leopard ready to pounce.
"Wang Jing, what the hell are you talking about? Get out!"
Jiang Yu flew into a rage and stood up, his aura surging.
"Jiang Yu, this is our clan head's order. It's no joke."
The young man was a personal disciple of the Second Elder of the Ascending Wu Clan. His strength matched Jiang Yu's: second stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury.
With strength like that, he would be considered a young genius in a sect.
He sneered, radiating arrogance as he looked down on Jiang Yu.
"So what if it's an order from Ascending Wu Rong? It's worth less than a fart. Take this!"
Their sect master had disappeared after the Ascending Wu Clan harmed him. Jiang Yu had no reason to show them any courtesy. If he saw an Ascending Wu Clan disciple, he wanted to kill him.
As soon as Jiang Yu finished speaking, he swept out a hand. Black stones fell like a waterfall, whistling through the air as they shot toward Wang Jing.
Wang Jing gave a cold snort and drew the Shadow Sword. A storm of sword shadows rose around him, and he knocked aside Jiang Yu's black stones with a series of metallic clangs.
"Jiang Yu, when has our Ascending Wu Clan ever feared the Cloud Rising Sect?"
Wang Jing had crossed swords with Jiang Yu before. He was confident and sneered.
His words instantly offended the Cloud Rising Sect. Every disciple present drew a blade or sword.
Liu Chengfeng also gave a cold laugh and stepped forward.
Wang Jing hadn't expected to stir up a hornet's nest. His expression changed, and he retreated several steps.
"Want to gang up on me? Our Ascending Wu Clan has never been afraid of that."
Wang Jing retreated outside and blew a whistle. A crowd of Ascending Wu Clan experts appeared on the main street.
The Ascending Wu Clan's experts were scattered across the street and among the buildings, numbering in the hundreds. They seemed ready to surround the Cloud Rising Sect's lodgings.
Leading the Ascending Wu Clan's force was a middle-aged man dressed in brocade and wearing a broad hat, a gold-threaded sash around his waist. He stood as solidly as a mountain.
He held a sword in his arms and stood at the end of the street like a mountain blocking the way, leaving no Cloud Rising Sect disciple a chance to escape.
"So many people..."
The Cloud Rising Clan disciples hadn't expected the Ascending Wu Clan to bring so many experts. Their hearts tightened, and they all drew their weapons, ready for battle.
"Young Master, that's the man who led the people that set fire to the Wu Dao Sect."
Zhou Yinfeng recognized the middle-aged man at the end of the street, holding his sword.
Liu Chengfeng snorted coldly, his eyes turning icy as he stared at the man, murderous intent in his gaze.
The middle-aged man holding the sword also watched Liu Chengfeng like a hawk. Liu Chengfeng was his target too.
Several hundred people on both sides stood poised for battle, ready to fight to the death.
"Hmph, Gu Yao, you've got some nerve, surrounding our Cloud Rising Sect!"
A cold snort rang out like thunder as the Fourth Elder stepped onto the street.
Gu Yao's expression darkened. His sword slid slowly from its sheath as he prepared for a fierce battle.
"Fourth Elder, if the Cloud Rising Sect hands over Liu Chengfeng, we'll turn around and leave."
Gu Yao was Ascending Wu Rong's eldest disciple and enjoyed his favor. He was at the third stage of the Treasure Mountain Divine Treasury.
Though he was no match for the Fourth Elder, he kept his composure. The Ascending Wu Clan's experts still maintained their encirclement of the Cloud Rising Sect.
"What great grudge is worth a brawl in our Great Meng City?"
A lazy voice sounded as a carriage rumbled closer. An extravagant procession rolled onto the street, putting on quite a show.
The most luxurious carriage was cast in gold and inlaid with gems. Even its spokes were made of Colored Copper, and it was adorned with tassels and precious glass.
The whole carriage looked like a house on wheels.
A young man lounged lazily atop the carriage, attended by four graceful, charming beauties.
The lavish procession stopped in front of the courtyard. The young man stood up and opened his folding fan with a flourish.
He was a handsome, distinguished young man, dressed in white and wearing a noble's crown. He was tall and striking.
"The Great Meng Su Family—"
Seeing the lavish procession, the Ascending Wu Clan's experts grew wary and didn't dare act rashly.
Though the Great Meng Su Family was a branch of the imperial family, Lady Chen was so powerful that everyone in the Qiuchi Kingdom feared her.
"You must be the genius Uncle Four told me about. Brother, come, come, come—ride in my carriage."
The young man laughed and warmly invited Liu Chengfeng aboard.
"The family wants to test your talent before passing on the Sage Scroll."
The Fourth Elder had persuaded the family to agree to teach Liu Chengfeng the Sage Scroll cultivation method. So he had sent a family disciple, Su Youqian, to welcome Liu Chengfeng and check whether he truly was a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius worthy of the technique.
"Anyone want to come have a drink at Tiger Mound?"
After inviting Liu Chengfeng aboard, Su Youqian lounged in a beauty's arms, looking every inch the rich young master and spoiled playboy.
"Three days from now. Bear the consequences."
Gu Yao and the others didn't want to fight in front of the Great Meng Su Family. They left those words behind and disappeared among the buildings along the street.
"Uncle Four, don't worry. I'll take good care of my own brother."
Su Youqian greeted the Fourth Elder and took Liu Chengfeng away.
The luxurious carriage rolled through the streets of Great Meng City. The residents were used to the pomp and ceremony whenever the Su family's young master went out.
Beneath them lay a soft carpet woven with golden threads, and incense burned inside the carriage, making it feel like a palace.
Su Youqian had all the airs of a spoiled aristocratic young master. Lounging in a beauty's arms, he let her feed him candied fruit.
"Brother, how about we go out and have some fun?"
"Weren't we going to Tiger Mound?"
"Hey, no rush. We rarely get out, so let's go wander around. I'll introduce you to a few young ladies from aristocratic clans."
Su Youqian looked like a wastrel who had no interest in doing anything worthwhile.
"Young Master, that's not what the Old Matriarch said."
"Go, go, go. It took me this long to get out. Why hurry back?"
Liu Chengfeng shook his head. "I'd better learn the cultivation method first."
Liu Chengfeng didn't want to waste time. Once he learned the Su family's Sage Scroll cultivation method, he would go look for Nangong Renshe. If he waited too long, something might happen to him.
"Hey, brother, you can learn the cultivation method anytime. Uncle Four already put in a word. Leave it to me."
"Heh, heh. Don't waste this beautiful time. A moment of passion is worth a thousand gold."
Su Youqian thumped his chest and promised Liu Chengfeng.
"Maybe another time."
Liu Chengfeng was worried about Nangong Renshe and didn't want to waste any more time.
"Do you really have to be so uptight? Aren't beauties delightful? A gentle embrace is something we ought to enjoy."
Liu Chengfeng glanced at the beauty beside Su Youqian, then shook his head, his resolve firm.
"Alas, you're no fun at all, brother. You don't know how to enjoy yourself."
Su Youqian sighed and pestered Liu Chengfeng, trying to coax him into sneaking away.
Su Youqian looked like a spoiled young master, but his status was astonishing.
He was not only a young master of the Great Meng Su Family, but also one of the candidates eligible to inherit the throne of the Qiuchi Kingdom.
Yet he refused to behave himself. He indulged in wine and women, idled away his days, and had no desire to work hard.
He had volunteered to pick up Liu Chengfeng this time because he wanted to take him and run off to have fun.
Su Youqian spent the entire journey tempting Liu Chengfeng, telling him where the prettiest girls were and which places of pleasure were so enchanting that people never wanted to leave.
He even thumped his chest and swore he would introduce Liu Chengfeng to young ladies from aristocratic clans.
Liu Chengfeng refused every time. All he wanted was to learn the Su family's Sage Scroll cultivation method as quickly as possible.
Tiger Mound was the largest mountain in Great Meng City and its very foundation.
Beneath Tiger Mound lay the spiritual vein's nexus in Great Meng City. It was also the Su family's Spirit Vein Dojo, the source of all the spiritual energy in Great Meng City.
The Great Meng Su Family was based on Tiger Mound. Within the mountain stood jade palaces and towers, grand and splendid, befitting a wealthy and noble household.
The Great Meng Su Family was a branch of the Qiuchi imperial family. It had once fallen into decline, only to rise again under Lady Chen.
Su Youqian's luxurious procession had just reached the foot of Tiger Mound. Before they could enter, a sudden rumble shook the air, and a surging aura swept over them like a tide.
Then the might of the Great Dao surged without end, drowning out all of Great Meng City. Everyone in the city looked up in alarm.
A magnificent procession appeared in the sky. Eight flood dragons pulled the divine carriage, which was adorned with treasures and hung with divine shells.
More terrifying still, the might of the Great Dao pouring from the divine carriage left the people of Great Meng City gasping for breath. No one dared even raise their voice.
Behind the divine carriage came ship after ship of Iron-Armored Airships.
Liu Chengfeng had seen Iron-Armored Airships like these before. The Grandmaster Mansion's Giant Warship had the same design, though the ones before him were smaller.
"The Grand Marshal—"
Seeing the procession, Su Youqian shot to his feet.
The divine carriage entered Tiger Mound, and only then did the Great Dao's crushing might over Great Meng City dissipate. The people finally breathed a sigh of relief and began murmuring among themselves.
"Quick, quick, quick, turn around and go! Turn around and go!"
They were already at the family's doorstep, but Su Youqian wanted to flee.
"Young Master, the Old Matriarch wants to see you."
"See me, my ass. Go, go, go."
"What about me?"
Seeing Su Youqian try to escape, Liu Chengfeng stared at him.
"Brother, stay at my place for a while. Don't worry, I'll take care of the cultivation method. You can count on me."
"Uncle He, look after my brother. He's here to cultivate, so make sure he's well taken care of."
Su Youqian handed Liu Chengfeng over to the steward at the gate, then fled with his procession and beauties.
"Young Master, the Old Matriarch said you should meet Princess Ye."
"Meet her, my ass. I'm not some breeding pig."
Su Youqian had already fled. He couldn't care less about the Old Matriarch's orders.
The steward could do nothing about Su Youqian. Muttering under his breath, he led Liu Chengfeng inside.
Liu Chengfeng was speechless. Su Youqian had brought him here to cultivate, but now he had run off.
Su Youqian might have fled, but the Su family still received Liu Chengfeng with the utmost courtesy and gave him a large courtyard to stay in.
At that moment, the Su family was tense and solemn. Everyone was hurrying about.
The Grand Marshal of the Grandmaster Mansion had arrived. Word was that he had come to propose marriage, so no one in the Su family dared neglect him.
The Su family was busy hosting the Grand Marshal and his party, so teaching Liu Chengfeng the cultivation method had to wait.
After hearing people talk, Liu Chengfeng understood why Su Youqian had fled in such a panic.
It turned out the Grand Marshal wanted to marry his daughter off to Su Youqian.
Su Youqian was a free-spirited wastrel. There was no way he would ever settle down and start a family.
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