Chapter 525: Mandate of Heaven? Death of God Descends?

Chapter 525: Fate? The Death of Shenlin?

Night fell once more.

In the inn, Qi Yuan gazed at the returning drone, his expression complex.

“Can’t find her, can’t find her.”

The Earth-level Imperial Soldiers who had explored the ruins returned one after another, all bringing the same news: they had not seen Shen Lingxuan.

Qi Yuan had also sent many drones deep into the ruins, broadcasting calls to find Shen Lingxuan.

At the time, these drones were disguised as moths, startling quite a few Imperial Soldiers.

Yet, even with the drones, Qi Yuan could not find Shen Lingxuan.

It was as if Shen Lingxuan had vanished.

“Could it be that I’m not meant to ride her now?”

“Or is this game afraid of having explicit scenes censored?”

“But I’m a shareholder!”

Qi Yuan was speechless.

He, a proper shareholder, secretly built a private server to play out some explicit scenes—was that even a problem?

“Everyone… come out, now!”

Just then, a loud roar rang out, and the overwhelming pressure of a Heaven-level Imperial Soldier filled the air.

In the inn, the Earth-level Imperial Soldiers who had been resting all changed expressions.

“What’s going on?”

“That’s Fallen Sky Ascetic!”

“A Heaven-level Imperial Soldier?”

The Earth-level Imperial Soldiers resting in the inn exchanged glances and murmured among themselves.

“Fallen Sky Ascetic, what is the matter?” a top grandmaster asked tentatively.

Outside the inn, three Heaven-level Imperial Soldiers hovered in the air, radiating murderous intent.

At their head, Fallen Sky Ascetic wore a green robe, with a bone hairpin slanting through his hair, giving him the look of a villain.

The three Heaven-level Imperial Soldiers put immense pressure on the Earth-level soldiers in the inn.

Any one of them could almost sweep through this shady establishment.

“We three went into the ruins and found a divine artifact embryo in the lair of a Heaven-level spectral creature. We joined forces to slay that creature, but then, a male Earth-level Imperial Soldier suddenly struck and snatched the divine artifact embryo,” Fallen Sky Ascetic said, fury in his eyes. “He excels in speed, and we three were held back by other specters, allowing him to escape.”

“I suspect he is now in this inn,” another Heaven-level Imperial Soldier spoke, his voice hoarse. “All of you, come out of the inn and hand over your storage artifacts for us three to inspect.”

Hearing this, the others in the inn all changed expressions.

Though Fallen Sky Ascetic claimed an Earth-level soldier had stolen their divine artifact embryo,

they knew—who could say if Fallen Sky Ascetic was lying? They had seen an Earth-level soldier seize the embryo and felt greed stir within.

But now, that Earth-level soldier was trapped in the inn.

They all felt that soldier’s life was at its end.

At that moment, in the inn, Wang Chunting’s face darkened: “Damn it, they were the ones who stole from me!”

He kept his head down, glancing around, searching for a gap to escape.

But the three Heaven-level soldiers had already achieved unity with heaven and earth, sealing the area tightly—there was no way out.

“Ascetic, this humble woman’s storage artifact contains some private items I’d rather not show others.

The one who stole the divine artifact embryo was a man—could you spare me from inspection?” a female Earth-level Imperial Soldier said.

“Hmph, how do you prove you’re a woman? What if you’re in league with him, and he hid the embryo in your storage artifact?” the short-haired old man barked gruffly.

Fallen Sky Ascetic’s eyes flashed with killing intent: “If you refuse to come out, refuse to hand over your storage artifacts… then I will have no choice but to be ruthless and kill!”

Murderous aura spread.

The air around grew heavy.

“If you don’t come out, death is your only path!”

Fallen Sky Ascetic threatened.

Immediately, the Earth-level soldiers in the inn began to file out.

Wang Chunting’s heart raced, but he feigned nonchalance.

“Damn it, is this where I die today?”

Wang Chunting’s mind churned with anxiety.

But just then, a lazy voice rang out from within the inn.

“If I don’t come out, you’ll kill me?”

The voice was young and pleasant to the ear.

Fallen Sky Ascetic narrowed his eyes, somewhat surprised.

Before he could speak, the hot-tempered short-haired old man roared.

“Refuse to come out, and you die!”

The Earth-level soldiers present were startled.

Some recognized Qi Yuan’s voice—he had once slain Idle Cloud Elder in a single strike.

His strength was among the top of the top grandmasters.

But still, he was no Heaven-level soldier—how dare he…

Yet before they could dwell on it, three beams of sword light slashed out from the inn.

“People like you exist in this world for one purpose: to enrage everyone as much as possible, so that when you die today, everyone can laugh heartily, achieving the effect of contrast.” Qi Yuan plagiarized again.

As his words fell, terrifying sword light flashed.

The three Heaven-level soldiers’ expressions shifted.

They summoned the power of heaven and earth, regaining their confidence.

But in the next instant, something horrifying occurred.

The power of heaven and earth they commanded receded like a tide.

The sword light surged, sharp and unmatched.

“No!”

Screams rang out as three corpses tumbled from the sky.

With one sword strike, three Heaven-level soldiers fell effortlessly, as if they were fake.

“Hiss!” The Earth-level soldiers present drew in sharp breaths, their faces filled with disbelief.

Wang Chunting's eyes widened, his breath rapid.

"Three Heavenly Rank Armament Envoys... just died like that?"

A feeling crept over him—escaping the wolf's den only to stumble into the tiger's lair.

Just then, a tall, upright figure appeared outside the window.

"This game's balance is terrible."

"Why give so many lines to a minor boss that can be killed with a flick of the hand?"

"No style."

Qi Yuan's voice was calm as he gazed at the three corpses, his eyes no different from those fixed on ants.

The Earth Rank Armament Envoys, witnessing this, trembled and dared not speak.

Wang Chunting dared not move, a torrent of thoughts flooding his mind.

If this senior wanted the divine artifact embryo... what should he do? Could he even keep his life?

"Stop sighing in cold air. Go wash up and sleep. It's the dead of night—don't disturb me."

With that, Qi Yuan closed the window.

About a few dozen breaths later, Qi Yuan's eyes suddenly lit up.

"No wonder the plot went this way—I've stepped into Unity of Heaven and Man!"

Having slain many Heavenly Rank Armament Envoys in the Strange Domain, Qi Yuan had amassed a vast amount of experience and devoured many instances of Unity of Heaven and Man.

Now, with the casual killing of three, the accumulated Unity of Heaven and Man was enough to push him past level 120.

"Level 135 now."

"Combat power... not much change. Heavenly Rank Armament Envoys are still one-shot kills."

"But... my strength has grown considerably. If I went back to Blue Star to carry buildings, wouldn't I earn thousands a day?"

Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

"Too bad Shen Lingxuan can't see her useless son-in-law, now so strong.

Tomorrow, I'll make another trip to the Heavenly Sect. If she's not there, I'll have to head to the Raksha Kingdom first."

The blind weapon master's role was entering its final countdown.

He would soon go blind.

He couldn't very well ride Shen Lingxuan blind, could he?

Since playing the son-in-law was stuck, he might as well first play as Divine Descent and head to the Raksha Kingdom.

"Divine Rank Armament Envoy..."

Qi Yuan's gaze grew complex.

According to his speculation, a Divine Rank Armament Envoy, when converted to other cosmic worlds, might be a Yin God-level powerhouse.

In the Canglan Realm, a full-force strike from a Yin God-level being could erase an entire nation.

Complete erasure—every living being, soil, mountain, and stone—all gone.

It was only after forming a stellar golden core that Qi Yuan had defeated the Radiant Palace.

Now, the Divine Rank Armament Envoy of this embryonic universe didn't display such power.

But compared to a Heavenly Rank Armament Envoy, a Divine Rank Armament Envoy was truly as majestic as a god!

No matter how strong a Heavenly Rank Armament Envoy was, they only borrowed the power of heaven and earth within a few dozen meters.

A single punch could only affect a very small area—unable to shake the earth, shift the terrain.

At best, they could cleave a building with one sword strike.

But a Divine Rank Armament Envoy was different—they could lift a mountain with their hands, sever a river with one sword, truly a single person standing against ten thousand troops!

Such might was something a Heavenly Rank Armament Envoy could hardly contend with.

"Right now, if I'm not in my Divine Descent state and I fight a Divine Rank Armament Envoy... I'd probably shatter on contact."

Even with the Heaven-Slaying Sword-Drawing Art, Overwhelming Power, Deathly Radiance, and the endless vitality gifted by the final boon of the Cleaver role,

the moment he clashed with a Divine Rank Armament Envoy, he'd likely be reduced to dust.

"The Raksha Kingdom has several Divine Rank Armament Envoys. I'll have to be careful and try not to run into them."

In terms of strength and combat power, Qi Yuan still lagged far behind a Divine Rank Armament Envoy.

Perhaps only by advancing further in the Divine Descent role could he close the gap.

His advantages against a Divine Rank Armament Envoy might only be his bizarre techniques, his exceptional speed, and the unyielding body granted by the Cleaver.

"So, for now, as long as I don't clash head-on, I should be fine against an ordinary Divine Rank Armament Envoy.

Unless he keeps hurling mountains at me."

"Why fear a Divine Rank Armament Envoy?"

"I'm still progressing. What about them?"

That night, the people in the inn were fraught with anxiety, barely daring to breathe, let alone sleep—terrified that their snoring might disturb Qi Yuan.

After all, he was someone who, at the slightest disagreement, casually killed three Heavenly Rank Armament Envoys.

Still, in the dead of night, some secretly slipped away under cover of darkness, unwilling to stay any longer.

Wang Chunting tossed and turned, eventually leaving under the night's veil.

"No, I must leave the Ning Kingdom!"

...

Heavenly Sect.

"Sealing the mountain for so long—when will it end?"

"Alas, if a Heavenly Rank Armament Envoy truly loses their temper, can we withstand it?"

"If you ask me, we should hand over Senior Sister Shen. I heard the one who's taken a fancy to her is a prince of the Raksha Kingdom.

And the Raksha Kingdom is a nation with a Divine Rank Armament Envoy sitting in charge!"

"Watch your tongue. If an elder hears that kind of talk, you'll be sent to the back mountain for hard labor!"

"Is what I said wrong? Bringing trouble upon us because of her—it's truly unwise!" the man muttered.

"Hmph, slandering a true disciple—slap his mouth!" Just then, a coquettish yet stern female voice rang out.

The man who had spoken changed color repeatedly, his expression panicked: "Senior Sister Ye Zhen..."

Though Ye Zhen was from the Artisan Hall, she was still a disciple of the Heavenly Sect, though not a true disciple.

But in status, she was far above that gossipy male disciple.

After the disciple beside her finished the slapping, Ye Zhen and her group slowly walked away.

A trace of lingering worry always clung to Ye Zhen's face: "Alas, I can only bully ordinary disciples."

"Ye Zhen-jie, these people are going too far," Jiang Yunxi said.

During this time, she too had left Ye Shan Lake, invited to the Heavenly Sect, arriving only today.

The Heavenly Sect’s invitation to Jiang Yunxi might not have been without a desire to borrow her strength.

“That prince of the Raksha Kingdom is even more detestable—he forcibly seizes Lingxuan, even though she has a husband!

If the God of Judgment were still here, that prince, like the Third Prince, would surely die!”

Jiang Yunxi loved biographical novels and had naturally heard the tale of *The Silk-Washing Maiden Who Slew the Third Prince with Her Sword*.

“If we must blame anyone, it’s only because we are too weak,” Ye Zhen sighed. “In this matter, aside from the Heavenly Sect lending some aid, the Shen family is powerless. As for Lingxuan’s husband, he’s even less reliable.”

“If only the God of Judgment were still alive, nothing like this would happen,” Jiang Yunxi lamented.

“Go back and ask your father, ask that emperor of Ning—would they be willing to have a God of Judgment above them?” Ye Zhen said flatly.

Hearing this, Jiang Yunxi fell silent.

Just then, a voice suddenly resounded throughout the entire Heavenly Sect.

“Is Shen Lingxuan here?”

The voice rolled like thunder, heard by everyone within the Heavenly Sect.

“Who is it?”

“Has the Raksha Kingdom’s Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commander attacked?”

From the Heavenly Sect, over a dozen figures flew out.

At their head was an old man in a Daoist robe, holding a ceremonial sword, with white hair and a youthful complexion.

At that moment, a shadow of gloom flickered across his face.

“Elder of the Raksha Kingdom, Lingxuan is a disciple of the Heavenly Sect—there is no way she could become someone’s servant!

Now that Lingxuan has left the Heavenly Sect, if you wish to find her, please seek her elsewhere.”

The Heavenly Sect’s Daoist leader, sword in hand, spoke softly but with unwavering resolve.

Other Earth-Level Imperial Soldier Commanders also flew over, their gazes complex as they regarded the newcomer.

“You misunderstand—I am not from the Raksha Kingdom.

As the saying goes, all are equal—how could I make Shen Lingxuan my servant?”

Qi Yuan said calmly, with an air of grace.

“You’re not from the Raksha Kingdom?”

“Who are you?”

Many Earth-Level Imperial Soldier Commanders were astonished.

He had shouted so loudly that the entire Heavenly Sect could hear.

And the moment he arrived, he sought Shen Lingxuan—his aura was formidable, seemingly that of a Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commander.

Just then, Wang Qingyi’s eyes widened: “You’re Qi Yuan?”

Her face showed disbelief.

Wasn’t Qi Yuan an ordinary man?

How had he suddenly gained such a terrifying aura?

“Who is Qi Yuan?”

“Elder Wang, do you know him?”

The Heavenly Sect elders present were startled, eyeing Qi Yuan warily.

This Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commander who had appeared out of nowhere was actually known to Elder Wang.

“He is… Lingxuan’s husband…”

“What, that live-in son-in-law…” An elder blurted out, then quickly covered his mouth, daring not to continue.

The elders present all stared at Qi Yuan. In the distance, Ye Zhen and Jiang Yunxi also studied him—one with a strange expression, the other with curiosity.

“You are a Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commander? You… are not yet twenty, are you?” The Heavenly Sect’s Daoist leader was stunned.

He had never seen such a young Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commander.

No, he had never even seen an Earth-Level one that young.

All the elders were shocked.

After all, they had all heard of Shen Lingxuan’s marriage.

They had felt it was a pity for Shen Lingxuan.

But now, her husband had suddenly become a Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commander?

How could they not be astounded?

“Excellent, excellent, excellent!” The Heavenly Sect’s Daoist leader suddenly exclaimed with vigor. “You are a Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commander, with the strength to protect Lingxuan—quickly take her and leave the Kingdom of Ning!”

An ordinary Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commander would, of course, be no match for the veteran Heavenly-Level Commanders of the Raksha Kingdom, but he could at least shield Lingxuan and help her escape, so she would no longer be in such danger and passivity.

“I came here to ask if Lingxuan had returned. I searched the entire Ten Thousand Mountain Abyss and could not find her,” Qi Yuan said, disappointed.

Hearing this, the Heavenly Sect’s Daoist leader’s expression shifted: “Ahem… I do not know.”

Shen Lingxuan’s departure this time had been very secretive; she left no specific whereabouts or contact information, fearing the Raksha Kingdom would trace her.

“You can’t reach her either?” The disappointment in Qi Yuan’s eyes deepened.

It seemed his role as the live-in son-in-law would have to end.

He would need to go to the Raksha Kingdom to increase his Divine Presence role-playing progress.

“Please, senior, stay at the Heavenly Sect. The Sect will spare no effort to find Lingxuan,” the Daoist leader said.

If Qi Yuan stayed and wielded the first-generation Daoist leader’s artifact, even the Raksha Kingdom’s Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commanders might not find it so easy to break the formation.

“No need. Since I cannot find her, I must leave.

By the way, if you see Shen Lingxuan, tell her that I… have gone to the Raksha Kingdom, and will likely head to the Divine Wood Abyss afterward,” Qi Yuan said calmly.

Women would not hinder his steps.

Since he could no longer play the live-in son-in-law, he would play the Divine Presence.

“The Raksha Kingdom?” The Heavenly Sect’s Daoist leader’s expression changed. “Why would you go there, senior—walking into the tiger’s den?”

“Walking into the tiger’s den? I am going… to demand an accounting,” Qi Yuan said, his voice indifferent.

The Raksha Kingdom—their god had returned!

“Senior, please think twice!” The Daoist leader thought Qi Yuan was angered over Shen Lingxuan’s situation.

The Raksha Kingdom had not only Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commanders but even Divine-Level ones.

“Think twice about what?” Qi Yuan smiled, his expression calm. “You need not seal the mountain anymore.”

“If we don’t seal it, the Raksha Kingdom’s Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commanders will break in…” muttered an elder.

“Rest assured, that will not happen. Those dozen or so Heavenly-Level Imperial Soldier Commanders of the Raksha Kingdom—I have slain them all!”

“What?”

The elders present were bewildered, wondering if they had misheard.

“They were all killed by me in the Ten Thousand Mountains’ Absolute.” Qi Yuan’s voice was calm, a gentle smile on his face, yet his words carried a faint sense of detachment.

“They were all slain by the young master. For this matter, you can go ask Tu Sihai, and Wang Dao…” Chen Kangbao said arrogantly.

As he spoke, he produced some strands of hair.

“See this? These hairs were cut from the heads of those Heaven-level Imperial Weapon Masters. I plan to make a broom out of them.” Chen Kangbao said leisurely.

The breathing of the many Earth-level Imperial Weapon Masters present grew rapid. They stared at the hair, their faces filled with shock.

Qi Yuan had killed… those dozen or so Heaven-level Imperial Weapon Masters of the Raksha Kingdom?

How could that be possible?

But the hair was indeed… that of Heaven-level Imperial Weapon Masters.

Especially the golden hair among it—they had seen it before. Aside from that Heaven-level Imperial Weapon Master of the Raksha Kingdom, the Ning Kingdom had almost no such hair.

“Alright, everyone. See you another day. Bye.”

Without any hesitation, Qi Yuan vanished with Chen Kangbao, leaving behind a stunned crowd.

The figures dissipated, but the wind still blew.

After who knows how long, one elder spoke.

“Did someone just come by?”

“Yes?”

“The live-in son-in-law? Qi Yuan?”

“Yes.”

“Heaven-level Imperial Weapon Master?”

“Mm… killed the Heaven-level Imperial Weapon Master of the Raksha Kingdom.”

“Looks like I haven’t woken up yet. I’d better go back to sleep.” That elder muttered.

In the distance, Ye Zhen watched this scene, the shock in her heart lingering for a long time. After who knows how long, she squinted and murmured, “These two… have I seen them somewhere before?”

“Sister Ye Zhen, you feel that too? …I also feel like I’ve seen them both!”

…

The sea gives birth to the lingering night; the bright moon shares the rising tide.

The Raksha Kingdom and the Ning Kingdom were separated by mountains, rivers, and a sea.

A large ship sailed through the night, and Qi Yuan gazed at the scattered stars in the sky.

“The live-in son-in-law’s performance score has been growing steadily, now stuck at 90.”

Since leaving the Heavenly Sect, the performance score had been rising continuously.

Even when he did nothing, it still grew.

Qi Yuan guessed it was because news of his slaying of the Raksha Kingdom’s Heaven-level Imperial Weapon Master was slowly spreading across the Ning Kingdom.

The Shen family members had likely heard of it too.

The name of the live-in son-in-law was known throughout the land.

“Indeed, no matter how cowardly the live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan was, he still harbored a heart for showing off.

Just by showing off at the Heavenly Sect, the score had gradually increased by nearly 30%.”

At 30% performance score, he had awakened the Heart of Artifact Refining; at 60%, he had awakened the Yin-Yang White Flame; at 90%, Qi Yuan awakened… a Faint Heavenly Mandate.

“This Faint Heavenly Mandate… is it what I understand it to be? What does it represent?”

Qi Yuan pondered.

After awakening the Faint Heavenly Mandate, he didn’t feel any different from before.

“Hey, what is a Heavenly Mandate?”

When encountering a question he didn’t know, on Blue Star he could ask Baidu; here, he naturally asked the netizens in the Divine Wood Token.

Especially that staff member from Thorn of Blood—he knew a lot and seemed like an NPC specifically for explanations.

“Why are you asking about this?” The staff member from Thorn of Blood was always online. “Speaking of Heavenly Mandate, it’s a very mysterious thing. Simply put, those who bear a Heavenly Mandate are more favored by heaven and earth.”

“That sounds like a good thing.”

Being favored by heaven and earth would bring better luck and make cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

“It’s a good thing, but also a bad thing.” The staff member from Thorn of Blood suddenly said. “Do you know of Divine Descent?”

“I do.”

“It was a divine artifact bearing a Heavenly Mandate. According to the *Green Mountain Records*, its destruction was closely tied to its bearing of the Heavenly Mandate.”

“Didn’t the Raksha Kingdom destroy Divine Descent?” Qi Yuan asked.

Based on the information he had so far, the Raksha Kingdom had ambushed and destroyed Divine Descent.

“Hmph, Divine Descent was a divine artifact at the peak of the Three Steps of Heaven-Stepping, barely a step away from condensing a Divine Domain. How could a mere Raksha Kingdom have the means to deal with such an existence?

It was precisely because Divine Descent was shrouded by a Heavenly Mandate, tied to certain secrets, that… it was destroyed.

As for the details, a small fry like me wouldn’t know.

If one day in the future, I have the chance to step into the Seventh Realm, I might be qualified to know.

But then again, with my talent… no need to think about it.”

“So… someone is watching over Heavenly Mandates?”

“You could say that. If you have a Heavenly Mandate, it’s best to hide it, or else one day, a mysterious strongman might suddenly appear and kill you.”

“Why kill those with a Heavenly Mandate?” Qi Yuan asked, curious.

“Because… a Heavenly Mandate represents the recognition of the world. Perhaps some people… who can’t gain the world’s recognition, get frustrated and angry?” The staff member from Thorn of Blood said. “These are just my speculations, don’t take them too seriously.”

“Thank you for telling me so much. When I go to the Divine Wood Abyss, I’ll treat you to some steamed buns.”

(End of this chapter)