Palace Master Lihua's Background

After bidding farewell to the gatekeeper Chi Yi, Luo Feng followed Chi Yi's directions and entered the inner region of Nine Regions Palace.

With Chi Yi's guidance, Luo Feng easily found his way. After arriving in the inner region, a palace steward came to receive him and led him before a grand hall.

"Lord Galaxy, according to the rules, every newly appointed regional lord must first pay respects to the chief steward upon arriving at Nine Regions Palace. The chief steward has already instructed me. Just follow me," steward Kong Shenyi said.

"Sorry for the trouble, Steward Kong." Luo Feng was quite courteous.

After entering the hall, they arrived at a palace within it. The words "Wuchen" were inscribed above the main gate.

Luo Feng had already learned that the chief steward of Nine Regions Palace was Saint Lord Wuchen, a highly formidable Saint Realm expert. Rumor had it that he was an eighth-source high-level Saint Realm expert, one of the top three super experts among You Mountain's Saint Realm cultivators.

"Chief Steward, Galaxy has arrived," steward Kong Shenyi said respectfully from outside.

"Galaxy, come in. You may withdraw first," a hoarse, somewhat weathered voice came from within the palace.

After Kong Shenyi departed, Luo Feng did not hesitate and stepped into the palace.

"A formation." Luo Feng suddenly sensed something. From the moment he entered the palace, it seemed space-time had shifted. Before him was a lake and a pavilion upon it. Within the pavilion sat a blurry alien figure before a tea table. From afar, Luo Feng could not make out the figure clearly.

On the Origin Continent, space was incomparably stable. To conceal one space within another required at least the methods of a God King. The scene before him clearly did not possess the capability of hiding a separate space; it was merely an arrangement of formations.

"Galaxy, come over," Saint Lord Wuchen said.

"Yes." Luo Feng followed the corridor to the lakeside pavilion, where he could finally see Saint Lord Wuchen clearly.

He wore a cyan Daoist robe and appeared refined and easygoing. His hands and face were bluish-gray, while his features were handsome and delicate. Only his ears were somewhat small and exquisite—by Earth's standards, unbelievably cute. Long cyan hair draped naturally from his head. His appearance, build, and attire all suited human aesthetics quite well.

"Galaxy greets the Chief Steward." Luo Feng bowed respectfully.

"Come, sit." Wuchen pointed at the seat opposite him.

"I heard that you easily defeated an Eternal True God at the limit, and could withstand a Saint Realm expert without injury. Among the Nine Regions' regional lords, you ought to be the strongest." Saint Lord Wuchen smiled at Luo Feng, his narrowed eyes seeming to peer straight through him.

Luo Feng looked back at Wuchen, then shook his head with a smile. "That is merely outside rumor. As for the truth, I have yet to fight the other regional lords."

"Hm? You truly are impressive."

Wuchen stared at Luo Feng in shock. At that moment, he finally understood why the outside world called Regional Lord Galaxy the strongest.

Although willpower was his weak point, it was still at the peak of the Saint Realm. Yet it could not affect the silver-armored human man before him in the slightest. This meant the human man before him possessed willpower no weaker than his own.

"Good! Very good!" Wuchen could not help but praise him. The more he looked at Luo Feng, the more pleasing he found him.

"It has been a very, very long time since such an outstanding seedling as you appeared among the Nine Regions' regional lords. The last one to become a Saint Realm expert was fifty-eight reincarnation eras ago." Wuchen could not help saying.

"You flatter me, Chief Steward." Luo Feng remained humble.

Wuchen waved his hand. "Nine Regions Palace bears the mission of cultivating Saint Realm experts for the empire, but producing even one is far too difficult. The previous Saint Realm expert was Palace Master Lihua, who has some connection with you."

"Palace Master Lihua is a lifeform from the Universe Ocean with exceptional talent. More importantly, she seized the Primal Universe, so her potential is incomparably immense. Even His Majesty the God King thinks highly of her, and had God King Tong Yuan accept her as a disciple. Her status and authority are likely no less than mine."

When Saint Lord Wuchen mentioned Palace Master Lihua, his expression changed slightly. It was impossible to tell whether he felt envy or displeasure.

"She seized the Primal Universe, and God King Tong Yuan accepted her as a disciple?" Luo Feng inwardly felt that things were bad. His expression shifted as well. He had not expected Palace Master Lihua to possess such a background. Seizing the Primal Universe was one thing, but being God King Tong Yuan's disciple was the truly troublesome part.

God King Tong Yuan was one of the You Mountain Empire's three great God Kings and was exceptionally skilled in illusions. His strength was second only to the You Mountain God King.

The You Mountain God King was an ancient God King whose fame had spread countless ages ago. Yet God King Tong Yuan's strength had become renowned only within the past few reincarnation eras. Although his reputation was inferior to that of the You Mountain God King, more accounts circulated in the outside world about God King Tong Yuan. He was far more famous than the third-ranked Shadow God King.

Rumor had it that God King Tong Yuan possessed an eccentric temperament and would even act against those below the God King realm. Though he did not directly kill them, his Time-Reincarnation Technique could trap even Saint Realm experts in endless reincarnation. Once one's willpower was insufficient and one fell into the illusion, one's consciousness would sink forever. That was no different from death.

A Saint Realm expert within the You Mountain Empire had once angered him and was still sinking through endless reincarnations.

"I know you have a considerable conflict with Palace Master Lihua, but rest assured, God King Tong Yuan will not lower himself to act against you." Seeming to notice Luo Feng's change in expression, Wuchen smiled. "Palace Master Lihua is arrogant by nature and looks down on everyone. I do not like her. I also have some conflict with her—I even personally taught her a harsh lesson once—but God King Tong Yuan did not act against me."

"God King Tong Yuan is a God King. As long as you do not offend him, he has no reason to act against a junior. There was someone who contradicted him before, but that person was simply foolish. He did not even give a God King any face, so he deserved the punishment."

As Wuchen spoke, he drained a cup of strong liquor.

"You should have a taste as well." Wuchen smiled.

Luo Feng drank a cup too, and felt as though his entire body were about to burn. Even his cells were boiling.

"Chief Steward, what wine is this?" Luo Feng asked in surprise.

"Hahaha, good, isn't it?" Wuchen laughed. "This wine is called Blazing Flame Wine. Aside from you, ordinary people cannot drink it. When the other regional lords came here before, not one of them received such treatment. This single cup alone probably costs several hundred Qiankun Units."

"Then I truly am fortunate." Luo Feng was also shocked. "Thank you, Chief Steward."

Wine that cost several hundred Qiankun Units per cup was likely affordable only to some peak Saint Realm experts. Ordinary Saint Realm experts would truly be reluctant to drink it.

After further conversation, Luo Feng discovered that Saint Lord Wuchen was quite easy to speak with and also valued him highly.

Later, Luo Feng learned that the You Mountain Empire was secretly divided into two major factions. One was led by God King Tong Yuan, while the other was led by the Shadow God King.

God King Tong Yuan's faction was the Mountain Alliance under his command. The Mountain Alliance united the major peak powers within ten billion light-years around You Mountain and within You Mountain City, possessing immense authority and influence. Even within the nine great regions, many branches belonged to Mountain Alliance forces. Many geniuses spread across the Nine Regions were recruited early by these Mountain Alliance branches and would eventually become members of the Mountain Alliance.

The Shadow God King's faction was centered around the Nine Regions throughout the land. It emphasized natural selection, and moreover, "secondary" selection. Those who had not been absorbed into Mountain Alliance forces but wished to enter the core of the You Mountain Empire could only do so by becoming regional lords of the Nine Regions. Overall, its strength was somewhat weaker than the Mountain Alliance's.

The Mountain Alliance had twelve Saint Realm experts, while Nine Regions Palace had only five.

Wuchen belonged to the Shadow God King's faction.

And the Shadow God King was also the Palace Master of Nine Regions Palace, Wuchen's direct superior.

The previous Palace Master Lihua from the Nine Regions lineage had joined God King Tong Yuan's camp. Several dozen reincarnation eras had passed since then, yet no further Saint Realm expert had emerged. Now that he had encountered someone with potential, Wuchen naturally valued him even more.

"I do not hold much hope for the other eight. But as for you, I have considerable expectations. Your willpower should have undergone Saint Transformation long ago. Your strength can even withstand a Saint Realm expert. Your potential far surpasses theirs."

"Remember this: within the You Mountain Empire, potential is also part of strength. Once you emerge from the Primal Chaos Stele, I hope you will challenge the Nine Dragons Tower. The more levels you clear, the more highly you will be valued. Naturally, your status will rise, and you will obtain more resources."

"As long as the God Kings see your value, then when you face Palace Master Lihua in the future, you can at least ensure that others will not do anything to you. As for the matter between you and Palace Master Lihua, the two of you may resolve it yourselves. Even God King Tong Yuan will be unable to interfere."

"I have said enough. Steward Kong will take you to the Primal Chaos Stele next. As for what comes afterward and how you should proceed, I believe you already know."

Saint Lord Wuchen looked at Luo Feng. Among the Nine Regions' regional lords, Luo Feng was indeed the one who satisfied him most.

"Galaxy thanks the Chief Steward!" Luo Feng was grateful from the bottom of his heart. It reminded him of Zhen Yan and the Primal Chaos City Leader. In terms of caring for others, this Saint Lord Wuchen, whom he had met for the first time, could do so much.

"Go." Saint Lord Wuchen smiled faintly. With a wave of his hand, Luo Feng was already outside the entrance.

"Impressive." Luo Feng could not help marveling at Saint Lord Wuchen's strength. When he came back to his senses, he found that steward Kong Shenyi, who had led him here earlier, was already waiting nearby.

"Lord Galaxy, the Chief Steward has instructed me to take you to the Primal Chaos Stele," steward Kong Shenyi said respectfully.

Luo Feng nodded. "Then sorry for the trouble, Steward Kong."

The Primal Chaos Stele was located where the Nine Dragons Mountain Range converged, at the abdomen of the Nine-Headed Dragon. Rumor had it that the You Mountain God King had erected the Primal Chaos Stele there to suppress the Nine Dragons' baleful aura. Only after the Primal Chaos Stele was established did the Nine Dragons Mountain Range gradually become habitable, eventually becoming the Nine Dragons Mountain Range of today.

The journey from Nine Regions Palace to the Primal Chaos Stele spanned more than ten light-years. However, with Luo Feng's starship capable of 9,400 times the speed of light, they arrived very quickly.

Ahead of him, Luo Feng could already see a colossal stone stele hundreds of millions of kilometers tall. Its entire body gleamed with a gilded hue, and countless golden secret patterns flowed across its surface, radiating a hazy golden light that made the entire Primal Chaos Stele resemble a mountain of golden stone shining with light.

From the outside, the entire Primal Chaos Stele seemed shrouded by some kind of "realm," appearing indistinct and impossible to discern clearly.

"We're here."

Luo Feng and the others landed before the Primal Chaos Stele, where the stele guardian was stationed.

"Lord Galaxy, the Primal Chaos Stele lies ahead. This is an important place, and ordinary people cannot set foot here. Only the stele guardian can activate the Primal Chaos Stele formation. With your regional lord token, the stele guardian will activate the formation," steward Kong Shenyi said.

Luo Feng also saw a figure sitting cross-legged in the distance, motionless as a boulder. That should be the guardian of the Primal Chaos Stele.

"Sorry for the trouble, Steward Kong." As Luo Feng spoke, he walked toward the stele guardian.