Chapter 195.2: Hang On a Tree

Qi Yuan lifted his face, gazing at the clouds and the crimson-tinted star. He felt rather pleased. “It was raining endlessly when we left. Now when we return, the sky is clear.”

After a long journey, he led everyone back to Clearwater Village once more. The village was peaceful and serene. Yulei and Shen Tu hadn’t returned from their supply trip to Feihuang City. The Four Heavenly Kings and the Eighteen Arhats dispersed, leaving Qi Yuan alone in the divine temple.

Looking at the blood-colored sky, Qi Yuan prepared to dig a large pit and sleep. Just then, he paused and turned to Little Bride, who stood quietly nearby.

“I just remembered those garment demons in the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone all sleep hanging from trees.” Qi Yuan stared at her with growing interest. “How about tonight, you and I hang from a tree together?”

Little Bride stood quietly. The faint blood-red glow illuminated her figure, lending her an eerie allure. Soon, they did just that.

“Sleeping in a dirt pit still feels safer,” Qi Yuan clutched Little Bride’s slightly cool sleeve. “But hanging from a tree, catching the evening breeze, and looking at the stars... It’s sometimes romantic, too.”

The night sky was studded with countless stars.

Then, he pointed toward where the moon once was. “I’ve heard that Chang’e lives on the moon. I wonder if it’s true.”

Little Bride also turned to face the moon, as if lost in thought. From the delicately patterned sleeve, a wooden plaque with a happy expression slipped out, and fell into Qi Yuan’s hand.

“Little Bride, it looks like you really do like hanging from trees.”

Little Bride gripped Qi Yuan’s hand a little tighter, saying nothing. Time flowed slowly. The evening breeze was gentle as time passed in quiet peace.

Qi Yuan closed his eyes, all manner of thoughts drifting through his mind. “This game world really is strange.”

Through summoning Little Bride, he had confirmed the difference in the time flow between this world and the Canglan World. His conclusion: the time flow was very odd. An instant in the Canglan World could span ages in the Mortal Heart World.

Despite having spent so many days here, the time in the Canglan World was still frozen at the moment before he entered the game. He was somewhat afraid to log out as a result. What if Clearwater Village was gone by the time he returned?

Qi Yuan felt puzzled. “How weird. Logically speaking, since the time in the Canglan World is frozen, my core should be as well. Then why is the True Sun Fire still continuously growing?”

It was as if time itself had lost any precise reference or scale.

“This world is truly bizarre.” He sighed. Since he couldn’t figure it out, he decided not to think about it. “Even Subduing Dragon Arhat and Taming Tiger Arhat can’t advance using supreme treasures. It seems that visualizing more powerful ones won’t work for now either.”

On the way back, Qi Yuan had the two men try to break through to the True God realm. It left him with a dilemma as he was troubled over whom to visualize next. If he visualized weaker beings, they could break the world’s limits and become True Gods. However, visualizing powerful ones could leave them stuck at peak Violet Palace.

To break this deadlock, there were two methods. The first was to have more subjects like Qionghua among his followers. The second was to resolve the limitation on breaking through to the True God realm itself.

Clutching Little Bride’s cool sleeve, Qi Yuan slowly drifted into sleep.

***

At the same time, in Feihuang City, a carriage stopped outside the city lord’s manor.

Three men and two women dressed in luxurious attire alighted, obviously hailing from great families. They were members of the Wang family, which controlled seventy percent of the tavern business in Feiwu City. The mere stomp of said family could shake the entire Feiwu City.

Upon receiving a message, Huang Mengying emerged from the manor, looking puzzled. “What brings you here, Madam Wang?”

She was referring to the Wang family’s leader, a middle-aged woman with black hair streaked with white. Deep concern was etched in the woman’s gaze. “Today, at the hour of Yin, the former emperor passed away.”

The news struck Huang Mengying like a bolt from the blue. She was shaken to the core. “What?!”

In the fallen zone, the Lin Empire had stood as one of the strongest nations resisting the evil gods, led by a ruler devoted to the ancient gods and his opposition to evil ones. Now, that emperor was dead.

Madam Wang added another cruel reality, “The one who ascended the throne is the third prince.”

Said prince had always advocated worshipping the evil gods within the imperial court. The meaning behind his succession was crystal clear to Huang Mengying and the others. The skies over the Lin Empire were about to change.

What Madam Wang said next caused Huang Mengying’s face to pale even further, “An official transfer order arrived from the capital at noon. Lord Zhuge has been reassigned away from Feiling Prefecture.”

Prefect Zhuge was also a pure supporter of the ancient gods. Feihuang City, Feiwu City, and the other five surrounding cities were all under Feiling Prefecture’s jurisdiction.

Madam Wang said, “Our family has always kept a close eye on the situation. We’ve long made preparations. Now that the former emperor has passed, we’re preparing to leave Lin Empire and head to the Ancient God Alliance.”

With the situation changing so abruptly, even someone as central as her had begun moving.

Madam Wang then added, “Feihuang City should also prepare early. If the Huang family wishes to leave, our family can lend a hand.”

The Wang and Huang families were old acquaintances. After some discussion, Madam Wang took her leave, choosing not to stay overnight.

Huang Mengying watched the Wang family’s carriage disappear into the distance, her gaze steadying. “Someone, report this matter to the Qiyuann Sovereign.”

***

The carriage disappeared into the night, the expressions of those inside grim.

Madam Wang lifted the curtain and looked at Feihuang City, still filled with the warmth of human life. She sighed. “After the evil gods descend, who knows when Feihuang City will turn into a ghostly domain.”

Though placing faith in evil gods could bring short-term prosperity, once assimilation occurred, one became nothing more than a walking corpse. The great families could never accept such an outcome. Of course, some evil gods offered conditions that won over many families and even some ancient gods.

Wang Wenya thought of something and softly asked, “Madam Wang, do you think the guardian god of Clearwater Village will leave?”

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Along the way, they had learned of what happened in Feihuang City, and found the guardian god quite fascinating.

Madam Wang explained her assessment, “Judging from his arrangements, he likely won’t leave.”

One could tell a god’s intentions from their territory. For example, the Wang family had been gradually downsizing their tavern business and selling off fixed assets in Feiwu City. By contrast, according to the information Madam Wang had received, Clearwater Village had been steadily opening new farmland and placing great emphasis on agriculture. The former suggested readiness to leave at any moment, while the latter indicated they were here to stay.

Wang Wenya said, “Right now, heading to the Ancient God Alliance is the best option.”

Just then, the man beside her said, “Maybe he is unwilling to abandon his people.”

The others fell silent. After some time, the convoy continued forward.

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out. “Routine inspection!”

Whenever caravans passed through cities and towns, routine inspections were customary. In the territories of the evil gods, they searched for spies of the ancient gods. In the territories of the ancient gods, they looked for agents of the evil gods.

Upon parting the curtain, surprise flashed in Wang Wenya’s eyes. “Zhao Zun! It’s you!”

Zhao Zun recognized her. “Wenya?”

Seeing Zhao Zun, a flicker of joy passed through Wang Wenya’s heart. “What are you doing here?”

He had once been her classmate at the academy. Their relationship had been ordinary. A year ago, something had happened to the Zhao family, and Zhao Zun had vanished.

“There were troubles at home. I fled here as a refugee,” Zhao Zun said briefly, summarizing his past.

Wang Wenya’s feelings were complicated. She hadn’t expected such upheaval to have befallen the Zhao family. Her former classmate had suffered such a blow.

“And now, you follow Qiyuann Sovereign?” Wang Wenya asked curiously. Recalling their old bond, she offered. “War may break out very soon. Do you want to leave this dangerous place with me?”

“No.” Zhao Zun shook his head, his gaze firm. “My future was given to me by Qiyuann Sovereign. I won’t leave.”

Having become the Subduing Dragon Arhat, he was no longer the Zhao Zun of the past.

Wang Wenya was puzzled. She didn’t understand why he was so resolute. Still, seeing his unwillingness to leave, she didn’t press the matter. Wang Wenya returned to the carriage with a sense of desolation.

Seeing her state, Madam Wang frowned in confusion. “Was your classmate always this strong?”

Wang Wenya didn’t understand. “

Huh

?”

Madam Wang asked in bewilderment, “If he’s this powerful, how could Zhao Si have seized his family assets?”

Wang Wenya asked in confusion, “Isn’t he just at the Nascent Soul realm?”

Madam Wang said quietly, “He’s no Nascent Soul. If he chose to stop us, no one in this carriage could resist.”

As her family’s leading figure, Madam Wang was at peak Violet Palace. Yet when she faced Zhao Zhun, she had a vague sense that she wouldn’t withstand even a single blow.

Wang Wenya couldn’t comprehend it. “How could that be? How did he become so strong?”

He had crossed an entire major realm in one year?

Madam Wang murmured, “Perhaps it has something to do with him calling himself the Subduing Dragon Arhat. No wonder he’s willing to serve that guardian god. To reach the peak of the Violet Palace so quickly, the grade of that God Visualization Art must be exceptionally high.”

High as it was, admiration was one thing. The Wang family would not remain in Clearwater Village, nor would they swear loyalty to some so-called guardian god. Heading to the Ancient God Alliance was the only path of survival in the fallen zone.