Gu Yuena took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions.
She turned to face the confused Ferocious Beasts behind her and explained in a solemn voice:
"You only need to know one thing."
"The Divine Realm's so-called Super Divine Artifacts, like the Asura Demon Sword or the Sea God Trident, are like wooden sticks compared to steel swords when faced with this Supreme Divine Artifact."
"They're simply on completely different levels."
"Even the Silver Dragon Spear in my hand probably wouldn't last a single exchange against it."
At those words, the color drained from Di Tian's dignified face.
It was even stronger than the Master's Silver Dragon Spear?
That Wind God had actually wielded something so heaven-defying?
"This Wind God Venti..."
Gu Yuena narrowed her eyes, her mind racing.
"There's more to him than meets the eye."
"No, there's far more to him than meets the eye!"
She had originally thought this Wind God was merely an unusual human, or perhaps the inheritor of some reclusive deity.
But now, it seemed the depths of his background were unfathomable.
With an artifact like that, even without a divine position, he could walk all over the Divine Realm.
"Our Soul Beast Clan absolutely cannot antagonize someone like him."
Gu Yuena made her decision at once.
The Soul Beasts were now in decline, while the Divine Realm watched them like a tiger eyeing its prey.
If they could win over such a powerful figure, or even simply befriend him, it would bring immeasurable benefits to the future of the Soul Beasts.
"Di Tian."
Di Tian hurried forward and bowed.
"This subordinate is here."
"Master, since this Wind God is so powerful, why don't I go to Godwind City right away and pay him a personal visit..."
"No. You won't do."
Before Di Tian could finish, Gu Yuena shook her head.
She looked over his black robes and his fierce, murderous expression.
"You're practically dripping with bloodlust, and you look..."
Gu Yuena paused, leaving the words "far too ferocious" unsaid.
"You're the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, and your aura is far too domineering. If you go there unannounced, he might think you've come to provoke him and pick a fight."
"If you end up displeasing the Wind God, that would only make things worse."
Di Tian was taken aback, then gave a wry smile.
With his looks and temperament, he really wasn't suited for diplomacy.
Gu Yuena's gaze shifted before finally settling on a woman not far away, dressed in a long emerald-green gown with a gentle, warm air about her.
The Emerald Swan, Bi Ji.
"Bi Ji."
"This subordinate is here," Bi Ji replied softly.
"On behalf of the Star Dou Forest, go to Godwind City."
Gu Yuena instructed her:
"Bring some specialties from Life Lake, along with those few ten-thousand-year-old medicinal herbs."
"Remember, be humble."
"You're an Auspicious Beast with a peaceful aura, and you're also a healer. You're the least likely to arouse hostility."
"Find out how the Wind God feels about us. It would be best if you could meet him."
"If you can't, don't force it. Just deliver the gifts and express our goodwill."
Bi Ji nodded, a glimmer of determination in her gentle eyes.
"Rest assured, Master. Bi Ji understands."
The inner courtyard of the City Lord Mansion in Godwind City.
Seeing the longbow named "Skyward Harp" on the Sky Curtain, Venti rubbed his chin.
There was little disturbance in his clear eyes, only a trace of surprise.
He had indeed used this lyre-bow to commemorate Dvalin back in the day.
He just hadn't expected the Golden Ranking to raise its grade all the way to Supreme Divine Artifact, while also granting it an unreasonable rule-based attribute like "Absolute Penetration."
"Teacher! Is this really yours?"
Shui Yue'er was the least able to hold herself back. She had already come around from behind the grand armchair and was tugging at Venti's sleeve with both hands.
Her big eyes sparkled, and excitement had turned her cheeks rosy.
"That's a Supreme Divine Artifact!"
"It's even stronger than Tang San's Asura God Sword!"
Bai Chenxiang was just as thrilled. She wasn't grabbing at him like Shui Yue'er, but her eyes were just as fixed on Venti.
Who would have thought that their cheap master, who spent his days drinking, eating apples, and lazing around, really was the Wind God who had stirred the heavens and earth?
And he had a Supreme Divine Artifact just lying around.
That was one hell of a powerful backer—stronger even than the Clear Sky Sect!
Shui Bing'er was the older sister and had a steadier temperament, but even her breathing had grown a little uneven.
She looked at Venti and asked softly:
"Teacher, since Skyward Harp is ranked third, does that mean this bow of yours is your strongest weapon?"
At that, Venti took a bite of the apple in his hand and answered around a mouthful:
"The strongest?"
"Not quite."
He swallowed the fruit and waved a hand casually.
"This bow is just so-so. It's all right for playing music, but it doesn't have enough killing power. I usually just make do with it."
Make do with it?
At those four words, the three girls nearly fainted on the spot.
A Supreme Divine Artifact, and he just made do with it?
If he said that out loud, every Soul Master on the continent would probably drown him in spit.
Venti watched the Sky Curtain, still speaking with easy nonchalance:
"If nothing unexpected happens, the first and second places should belong to my things too."
The courtyard fell silent at once.
Even Feng Xiaotian, who was miserably washing apples in the corner, almost dropped the basin in his hands.
There were two even more powerful ones?
Shui Yue'er's eyes widened, and she could barely get the words out:
"T-Teacher, you mean all of the top four are yours?"
Venti shrugged.
"What's so strange about that?"
"Each artifact has a different function. I choose which one to use depending on my mood."
"If I want to listen to music, I use Skyward Harp."
"If I want to give someone a boost, or just slack off, I switch to something else."
At that, Venti paused and added, with great modesty:
"But in terms of power, those other two really should be just a tiny bit stronger than Skyward Harp."
He held up a finger and showed a tiny gap between its tip and his thumb.
Looking at their teacher's "I'm being very low-key" expression, the girls exchanged glances. There was only one word on their minds:
Ridiculous.
The Tang Sect's headquarters in Heaven Dou City.
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was stifling, yet charged with excitement.
Everyone stared intently at the azure longbow on the Sky Curtain.
Ma Hongjun swallowed and murmured:
"Good grief, that bow looks incredible."
"Absolute Penetration... Does that mean there's no way to defend against it once it's aimed at you?"
Ning Rongrong looked just as dazzled.
As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had seen countless treasures. Yet before this Skyward Harp, all the Soul Tools she had ever seen seemed like scraps of copper and broken iron.
Tang San sat in the main seat, his eyes narrowed slightly. A glimmer of Purple Demon Eye light flickered in their depths.
His breathing was even more labored than Ma Hongjun's.
Greed.
An uncontrollable greed took root in his heart and began to grow wildly.