Chapter 1617: You Think I Am Asking?

In the field, everyone could only watch helplessly as Ye Guan and his companions entered the spacetime tunnel headed for the Divine Continent. No one dared to stop them.

The leader, Tian Ya, looked extremely grim. There were two things he hadn't expected. The first was just how terrifyingly powerful Nun Shepherd actually was.

People had always known those Divine Nuns were strong, but just how strong, no one really knew, since they rarely acted. Tian Ya had assumed that even if there was a gap in strength, it wouldn't be too great. But now, he realized how vast that gap really was.

Even within the Divine Realm, there could be a difference as wide as heaven and earth.

The second thing he hadn't expected. Ye Guan actually dared to go to the Divine Continent...

That guy really had the guts to go to Divine Continent! In other words, he was confident!

This guy was most likely truly a Divine Emissary. But if he was really a Divine Emissary, why hadn't the Divinity appeared directly?

If she showed herself... wouldn't all the issues be resolved?

Could it be that, as he and Gu Hao had speculated before, the Divinity was deliberately using this young man to expose the internal problems within the Divine Civilization?

Thinking of that, his face suddenly turned pale. A wave of regret surged up from deep within his heart and began to grow and spread like wild vines.

𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Soon, his expression darkened.

Divinity or not, she's been gone for so long. Even if she returned... so what?

The leaders in Divine Continent were far more powerful and experienced than he was. Since they had already decided to kill Ye Guan, they had to have accounted for every possibility, including how to deal with the Divinity herself...

Upon thinking of that, he suddenly felt much lighter. He knew there was no turning back now.

All he could do was follow the Divine Continent's lead to the end.

With that, he stopped overthinking and declared, "To Divine Continent!"

With a step forward, he vanished from where he stood.

Around him, the other strong cultivators exchanged glances and followed. Like Tian Ya, they had no way out.

At this point, all they could do was fight to the end.

If the sky fell, someone above them would take the hit.

In the shadows, Zhan Zong, the Temple Lord of the Southern Gods Temple, also looked extremely grim. He hadn't expected that the treasure he had already secured would simply fly away like that.

Damn it!

He had fallen for Ye Guan's trick. Of course, what worried him even more now was Ye Guan himself... If Ye Guan truly was a Divine Emissary, would he spare the Southern Gods Temple?

Obviously not!

And all he had in hand was Nan Xiao's life-saving trump card, which clearly wasn't enough.

Suddenly, he thought of two people with connections to Ye Guan—Sang Mei and Little Ran.

That woman, Sang Mei, clearly had a special relationship with Ye Guan. And right now, she was still in the Southern Gods Temple...

He didn't hesitate. He immediately turned and rushed back to the temple.

He had to take control of Sang Mei, just in case.

***

Nun Shepherd held Ye Guan's little pagoda, frowning silently.

Ye Guan had already returned to the pagoda to heal.

In the earlier battle, his fleshly body had been destroyed and his soul was heavily injured. He urgently needed to recover. Now that the Little Pagoda had returned, he naturally went inside it to heal.

A moment later, Nun Shepherd looked at Xi Zhong beside her and said, "You hold it."

Then, she handed the pagoda to him and went inside it with Nun Sickle.

As soon as they entered, both women froze in place.

Nun Sickle looked around, clearly excited, tugging repeatedly at Nun Shepherd's sleeve.

Nun Shepherd scanned the surroundings, frowning deeply.

At that moment, Ye Guan appeared before them. His body had fully recovered, and his soul was also back to normal.

Fully revived!

With the pagoda, if nothing else, healing was fast.

Nun Shepherd's gaze locked on Ye Guan. She stared at him as if trying to see right through him.

Ye Guan naturally understood. She was curious and puzzled about the pagoda. He smiled and said, "This pagoda was entrusted to me by the Divinity."

The simplest explanation and the easiest for them to accept.

Hearing that, Nun Sickle nodded. If it came from the Divinity, then it made sense.

Nun Shepherd gave Ye Guan a long, deep look, but didn't press further.

Ye Guan asked, "Nun Shepherd, can you tell me more about Divine Continent?"

The woman before him clearly knew far more than Xi Zhong. Ye Guan still didn't know enough about the divine civilization, especially the Divine Continent.

Nun Shepherd said, "Divine Continent is currently controlled by two people. Lord Xuanjun, head of the Regency Hall, and Shen Fu. They're the strongest forces. They took full control of the Divine Civilization. Their subordinates were all trained by them. So..."

Nun Shepherd's face darkened.

"I heard from Xi Zhong that there are also two other powerful factions in the Divine Continent, the Arbitration Hall and the Tribunal Hall?"

"Yes, those two have remained neutral. Besides those two old men, there are two others who are extremely important."

"Who?"

"The leader of the Nine Sacred Lands and General Tianmu, who guards the Outer World Battlefield against the East Desolates. Both are incredibly powerful and command vast armies. Their influence on the Divine Civilization is immense.

"I noticed earlier that none of the people sent against you were from the Nine Sacred Lands or the Outer World Battlefield, meaning those two are likely still observing."

Ye Guan thought for a moment. "Even if they've confirmed my identity, they still may not side with me, right?"

Nun Shepherd nodded. "Correct."

Ye Guan sighed, "Seems like everyone's slowly forgetting the Divinity."

Nun Shepherd's face dimmed.

"Are there still people like you, who support the Divinity unconditionally?"

Nun Shepherd looked at him and said, "The Divine Blood Guard. They don't follow anyone's orders—only the Divinity and the founder of the Blood Guard. If you can awaken them, they will be utterly loyal to you. Because right now, you represent the Divinity. Aside from them... I can't guarantee anyone else."

Ye Guan's face grew serious.

Nun Shepherd continued, "Most people are waiting to see what happens. They are waiting to see whether you or Xuan Jun and Shen Fu win. Then they'll choose a side. Your biggest problem now is your legitimacy.

"You were labeled a blasphemer and an order establisher. That stain can't be wiped away. Even those loyal to the Divinity won't dare take your side lightly because if they choose wrong, they'll be doomed."

Ye Guan said, "So I must awaken the Divine Blood Guard to prove I'm legitimate."

Nun Shepherd nodded. "And beyond that, their strength will help suppress Xuan Jun and Shen Fu."

Ye Guan nodded. "Earlier, you looked at Jun You. If you fought her, could you kill her?"

Nun Shepherd bluntly replied, "No."

His expression darkened. Her "no" came without hesitation.

Ye Guan said, "The waters are far deeper than I had imagined."

Nun Shepherd replied, "Forget her for now. The most important thing is to awaken the Divine Blood Guards."

Ye Guan looked at Nun Shepherd and Nun Sickle and smiled. "You're both waiting for me to awaken them so that you can be certain of who I am, right?"

Nun Sickle instinctively nodded...

Ye Guan looked at her, and she grinned sheepishly.

Nun Shepherd said nothing.

Ye Guan asked with curiosity, "If I can't awaken them, will you kill me?"

She looked at him and said, "What do you think?"

This woman wasn't easy to deal with. Ye Guan turned to Nun Sickle instead. She hesitated, then muttered, "I... would... think... about... it..."

Ye Guan was speechless.

Nun Shepherd said, "Don't overthink. First, let's get to Divine Continent."

"Okay." Ye Guan nodded. Then, he remembered something and asked, "That jade pendant of yours... what is it?"

Nun Shepherd said, "The Divinity gave one each to the three of us when we were children. The reason we believe you're the Divine Emissary is because the aura in your Divine Seal is identical to the aura in our pendants."

"I see!" Ye Guan nodded, and a moment later, the three left the Little Pagoda.

Outside, Zong Xin said,

"Kid, you really dare to go to Divine Continent... Have you forgotten that you're just an imposter?"

Ye Guan stared at the end of the tunnel and whispered,

"You don't understand, senior... Someone wants to lay their cards on the table with me."

Zong Xin was speechless.

***

Slums, South Gods City...

In a small classroom, Nan Xiao was holding an ancient scroll, and he was slowly pacing across the room while reciting, "Steadfast in will, bitter in heart, diligent in actions. Great or small, all efforts bear fruit..."

The children below followed, reciting loudly, "Steadfast in will! Bitter in heart! Diligent in actions! Great or small, all efforts will bear fruit!"

Nan Xiao closed the scroll and smiled, "Class dismissed."

The children cheered and ran out.

Nan Xiao smiled warmly at the sight.

***

Outside a modest house, Sang Mei and Little Ran were planting vegetables. Sang Mei dug holes with a hoe while Little Ran dropped in seeds. The two worked in perfect harmony.

After a while, Sang Mei set the hoe aside and looked over the field. She smiled and said, "What a shame. I won't get to see you all grow."

Little Ran smiled, "Sister, these will grow in just half a month..."

Sang Mei gently rubbed her head with a smile. "Do you still remember the proverbs I taught you?"

Little Ran nodded eagerly, saying, "I remember, I remember!"

Sang Mei stroked her head again with a look of affection. "Many people in this world have suffered. They said this world was unjust and wanted to change it. But once they took power... they forgot their suffering.

"They begin treating others like slaves, enjoying everything for themselves... Many who set out to slay dragons weren't trying to change the world; they just wanted to be the dragon."

Then, she took Little Ran's hand and walked away. "Remember this—'The path of the sage lies in a conscience that is self-sufficient.' Never forget the pain you once endured."

Little Ran looked confused. "Sister, that first part... I don't quite understand..."

Sang Mei smiled. "Just remember it."

Little Ran quickly nodded, "Okay!"

In her heart, she quietly committed the words to memory.

Sang Mei turned and watched as a spacetime rift manifested before her. Moments later, a man walked out of it. He was Zhan Zong, the Temple God of the South Gods Temple.

He stared at Sang Mei and said, "Come with me."

Sang Mei smiled. "I'm afraid I can't do that."

Zhan Zong's eyes narrowed. "You think I was asking for permission?"

With a wave of his sleeve, a terrifying force surged toward Sang Mei.