Chapter 174.2: If You Do Not Disdain Me

Meanwhile, Qi Yuan felt his strength steadily rising. "Level 21.”

Defeating new gods and holding feasts felt amazing. Moreover, killing two new gods had taken him from Level 11 to Level 21. After all, he was only at the Core Formation realm, while his opponents were late-stage Nascent Souls.

If I kill more and reach Level 90, would that be the Yin Spirit realm?

Qi Yuan pondered.

This world wasn't all that bad. It was full of elite monsters, causing his EXP to soar. The only downside was that after every fight, he had to eat or he'd starve.

Qi Yuan sighed. "I hope I can condense my Nascent Soul here."

At that moment, Qi Qi approached, her expression resolute. "Lord God, I came to Clearwater Village for something very important."

Qi Yuan glanced at her. "I know. Pig head."

He couldn't help marveling. She was so young, yet she was already at Golden Core. In the Canglan World, she'd qualify for the Eastern Lands Prodigy List. Talents were scattered all across the Mortal Heart World..

Qi Qi smiled gently. "Lord God, must you tease me? I came bearing a gift for you."

Qi Yuan's interest was piqued. "What gift?"

"May I ask you to take me to see Clearwater Village's divine statue?"

"The item you mentioned earlier?"

"Yes."

"Alright. Let's go." Qi Yuan waved his hand. "You all continue eating. I'll be back shortly."

Once Qi Yuan left, everyone relaxed and ate even more happily.

***

A streak of light flashed, landing before Clearwater Village's shrine.

Qi Qi stared at the empty shrine in shock. "Where's the statue?!"

"Well, you're looking at it. Or them. All those fragments on the ground are it," Qi Yuan said. "Maybe my entrance was too brilliant. The statue couldn't handle it and exploded."

Qi Qi fell silent for a long while. "The Clearwater divine statue was forged by the Qi family. It was extraordinarily sturdy, and even a peak divine being would struggle to destroy it."

"Must be because I was too dazzling."

Qi Qi glanced at Qi Yuan. She didn't quite understand him, but she felt that his earlier words held hidden meaning.

Looking at the fragments, she said slowly, "When the Qi family forged this statue, a Yinbirth Stone was embedded within."

As she spoke, she watched Qi Yuan's reaction, but he remained utterly unmoved. Her heart trembled. What a true big shot! He didn't even bat an eye at the mention of such a priceless treasure. She grew even more convinced to invest in him.

"The great change of heaven and earth prevents ancient gods from reaching True God realm," she continued, "but the Yinbirth Stone solves that issue."

She bent down, collecting the statue fragments. "Though the statue is broken, I can still extract the Yinbirth Stone from these fragments and offer it to you, Lord God."

Qi Yuan pondered. He was essentially a player. Would the world's restrictions even apply to him? Back on Moonwatch Continent, the Great Sun had prevented everyone from reaching level 100. Qi Yuan had been affected as well. If so, the Yinbirth Stone would indeed be useful.

Qi Yuan treated Qi Qi like an NPC offering a mission. "No reward without effort. Tell me, what quest are you giving me?"

The Yinbirth Stone was simply the quest reward.

"Lord God, why count so carefully between us?" Qi Qi blushed slightly. "When my ancestor forged the statue, an agreement was made with the statue spirit. The god born from it would..."

Her translucent ears turned crimson.

Qi Yuan's eyes widened. "Don't tell me we're engaged, and you came here to break off the engagement?"

Thoughts raced through his mind. If she broke it off, should he shout the classic line,

“The river flows east for thirty years, west for thirty years. Do not bully the poor youth?”

[1]What if she didn't? Should he seize the initiative?

Qi Qi was confused by his reaction. "No, the agreement was that I would acknowledge the Lord God as my godfather."

Qi Yuan froze.

Another daughter?

"Even if we share the surname Qi, calling me godfather is a bit much. We don't even know who's older."

Qi Yuan always considered himself young. Another grown daughter would cause misunderstandings.

"It was my ancestor's agreement with the statue spirit," Qi Qi said hesitantly. "If Lord God refuses, then we'll drop the matter."

She produced a token—a yellow cloth inscribed with the ancient agreement.

Qi Yuan looked at the shattered statue and murmured, "The statue shattered to guide me here. Very well, I'll take the loss and accept you as my daughter."

Joy bloomed in Qi Qi's heart, mixed with embarrassment. "Mister Godfather!"

Qi Yuan grimaced. "Call me Godfather instead."

For some reason, "Mister Godfather" reminded him of Lu Bu.[2] Compared to that, "Godfather" felt safer.

Qi Qi paused, then smiled sweetly. "Godfather!"

She felt no psychological burden calling an ancient god that. Most ancient gods were heroic spirits fallen in antiquity. Every one of them had fought and died for the Mortal Heart World. They were worthy of reverence.

Having accepted the role quickly, Qi Qi said, "Godfather, since you now possess the Yinbirth Stone, you must not continue as you are, focusing only on personal strength and charging headlong into every fight."

"

Oh

?" Qi Yuan raised a brow. "What does that have to do with it?"

Qi Qi asked, "Godfather, do you know that a True God's strength is not only tied to themselves, but also to their people?"

Qi Yuan recalled the evil gods he had slain. "

Mm

."

They had drawn power from their villagers. Clearwater Village's villagers were too weak, so Qi Yuan never let them empower him.

1. In other words, what goes around comes around. ☜

2. Lu Bu or Lu Fengxian refers to the famous Three Kingdoms warrior Lü Bu, where "Lǚ" (吕) is his surname, and "Fèngxiān" (奉先) is his courtesy name, meaning "to serve heaven first" or "daring to be first," embodying bravery and ambition. It signifies his martial prowess and adventurous spirit, famously described as "Among horses, Chitu; among men, Lü Bu" ☜