Chapter 113.1: The Power of the White Supreme's Disciple

How could the Origin be taught? Absolutely impossible! What does Big Brother even know about the Origin?

Qi Yuan’s plan couldn't even pass the first step, let alone the rest! That was how utterly nonsensical it was. Chen Huan regretted ever believing in him!

"Who said the Origin can't be taught?" Qi Yuan said softly. "Chen Huan, if I pass the Origin to you and help you ascend to Supreme, will you serve me for a hundred years?"

Chen Huan answered without hesitation, "Forget a hundred, make it a thousand, I'm in!"

Qi Yuan said blandly, "Swear on your inner demon."

"You're serious?" Chen Huan stared wide-eyed. Qi Yuan didn't seem to be joking.

"Yes," Qi Yuan nodded, his tone deep and mysterious. "Opportunity stands before you, whether you grasp it is up to you."

"Fine! Who's afraid of a little oath!" Chen Huan's carefree nature showed. No wonder he'd been stuck in the City of No Return for so long.

"I swear upon my inner demon. If the City of No Return's Guardian successfully teaches me the Origin and helps me ascend to Supreme, I shall serve him for one hundred years. If I break this oath, may my inner demon burst forth and destroy me!"

In the Flowing Wind World, swearing upon one's inner demon was the most solemn vow of all. Breaking it truly led to death, as the inner demon would devour the body, its spawn awakening prematurely.

Chen Huan shrugged casually, "Big Brother, I've sworn the oath. Now you'd better take me under your wing and help me step into the Supreme Realm."

At that moment, Qi Yuan's robes turned crimson for no apparent reason. A deep red cloak draped over his shoulders as a mysterious aura rippled around him.

Even though he stood right beside Chen Huan, he somehow seemed distant, as if he was seated high above in some heavenly palace.

Chen Huan's eyes widened in awe. Then he heard a whisper—ancient, like the murmur of a primordial god. "The power of Human-Demon, its essence lies in the Seven Sins: Greed, Pride...The wind does not last the morning, nor rain the whole day; yet the heart of man never ceases to decay...To take, one must first give..."

The ethereal voice seeped into Chen Huan's ears, flooding his spirit. He felt both weightless among clouds, and buried deep underground. The whispers, like rain from the heavens, fell upon him. His parched body grew luminous, his dried-up soul brimming with light for the first time.

After an unknown span of time, Chen Huan suddenly opened his eyes, which surged with a dazzling brilliance. "I... I've understood it!"

Chen Huan stared at Qi Yuan, his heart churned with emotion beyond words. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what had just happened.

How could the City of No Return’s Guardian know the Origin? And even if he did, how could he teach it? And how could Chen Huan actually comprehend it?

Even the White Supreme and the Supreme One could not preach the Origin. They could only guide cultivators toward it.

Could it be, the city guardian was a reincarnation of some ancient powerhouse? But even then, no one—no matter how great—could explain the Origin!

"How is it?"

Qi Yuan's voice pulled Chen Huan out of his daze. When he looked up, the crimson robe had vanished. Qi Yuan had returned to his usual self. The suffocating awe he'd felt moments ago was gone.

Thud!

Chen Huan suddenly dropped to his knees, clinging to Qi Yuan's leg. "Father! Father! I'm your long-lost son!"

"Get off!" Qi Yuan kicked him away. "Hurry up and become a Supreme so we can move on with my plan!"

With that, Qi Yuan disappeared. Chen Huan sat alone atop the city wall, dejected. "Damn... I missed my chance to call him Dad."

He seemed like a man who'd used a losing lottery ticket as toilet paper only to find out the next day it had won millions.

"But still..." Chen Huan’s spirits rose again. "If I can't be the son of a big shot, being his enforcer isn't bad either! To think that at only one thousand one hundred years old, I've stepped into the Supreme Realm! And not an ordinary one, at that!"

Chen Huan trembled with excitement. He didn't know what others' enlightenment looked like, but he could feel the difference.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Those who barely grasped the Origin could only forge the weakest kind of Divine Technique. But now, countless paths stretched before him, each vast and magnificent. He hadn't just become a Supreme, but one of great potential!

***

The Blood Sea stretched endlessly, churning violently.

Through the crimson mist, someone whispered in a low voice, "This feeling... familiar... almost nostalgic."

The blood waves surged higher as countless demon spawns writhed within them. "Little Croc... take the sword... go to 108,000 Cities. If you encounter someone, or

something

, and the sword's edge flashes red... bring it back. Treat it... better than you treat me."

The voice faded into silence as the vast sea of blood quieted.

A massive crocodile emerged from the depths, bearing a sword upon its back, and vanished into the distance.

Upon hearing their lord's voice, the guarding Supremes showed both confusion and shock, especially at the words "Treat it better than me."

Who could have appeared in the 108,000 Cities to warrant such regard?

At the same time, a flash of white light illuminated the White Supreme Palace. The inner sanctum, unopened for a thousand years, slowly creaked open. A white crane flew out, soaring toward the 108,000 Cities.

Every Supreme who saw this was stunned. Even during the great wars of North and South, the white crane had never once left the palace. Countless messages spread from the White Supreme Palace, rippling across the Flowing Wind World. The eyes of innumerable Supremes turned toward the 108,000 Cities. The entire world began to stir with unseen currents.

***

Chen Huan followed Qi Yuan closely. "Big Brother! I've become a Supreme!”

His tone was the same as ever, though tinged with newfound respect.

Chen Huan didn't know how to face Qi Yuan at first. After all, the man was clearly a hidden master. In the end, he decided to act just like before. Talk of brotherhood was naturally off the table. Maybe one day, he could be adopted as a filial son instead.

"Barely passable," Qi Yuan said, clearly in a good mood. "Seven days to reach Supreme... it seems my meticulous plan works perfectly."

Chen Huan praised enthusiastically, "Big Brother's plan is flawless, unprecedented, and unparalleled!"

Qi Yuan said expectantly, "In that case, let's go hunt Supremes."

With Chen Huan's help, they could severely wound one, allowing Qi Yuan to land the killing blow and reap all the experience. He'd been leveling too slowly lately. Regular demon spawns gave far too little experience. To reach level 120, he had to defeat Supremes.

Now that the Great Supreme Purple Daoist had appeared, Qi Yuan couldn't rest easy. He had to hit level 120, comprehend the Origin, awaken his Divine Technique, and gain the power to fight back.

"Hunt Supremes?" Chen Huan looked worried. "Big Brother... are you sure about this?"

Qi Yuan said confidently, "Why not? I've got you, haven't I?"

Chen Huan muttered, "That's not the reassurance I wanted..."

"I'll be right beside you, assisting. Don't underestimate the value of the greatest support class."

That, at least, gave Chen Huan some peace of mind. With a powerhouse handling the offense, he just had to tag along.

"Big Brother, where do we even find Supremes?"

"Follow me, you won't go wrong."

Qi Yuan often went out to hunt demon spawns. Along the way, he'd learned which places Supremes frequented. He knew the Thousand Cities' Supremes better than most.

"Let's go," he announced.

"Alright!" Chen Huan followed eagerly, his heart pounding.

We are going to hunt Supremes! How can someone like me possibly be doing something like this?