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After the Spirit-Awakening Ceremony concluded, the group moved to another location to chat.

Yan Qi sat obediently on a stool, holding Lu San in his arms, speaking slowly as he tried to explain the whole story.

“The game was about to be officially released… I wanted to stay up all night to see if there were any issues. I ended up staying up until dawn, and when I closed my eyes and opened them again, I was here.”

He was quite surprised when he found himself here, but once he regained his composure, he began following the storyline as normal.

Not knowing how to return, he figured he might be able to go back after completing a quest. With this in mind, Yan Qi left Wanling Village and headed toward Shanning Realm, following the original direction of the storyline.

As one of the Creator Gods, Yan Qi had enjoyed the favor of the spirit beasts ever since he arrived. This, however, led to his exclusion from the Shanning Realm.

However, Yan Qi wasn’t particularly sociable to begin with, so while others isolated him, he actually found a certain satisfaction in it.

Being transported to another world and becoming the “protagonist” who must save the world—this complex situation placed an overwhelming burden on Yan Qi. On one hand, he hoped to successfully complete the storyline; on the other, he feared he might fail.

Faced with this dilemma, Yan Qi had no choice but to head to Red Cloud Sea first to assess the situation. After hearing Yan Qi out, Qin Zhou fell silent.

So, Yan Qi still didn’t know about his car accident. And the fact that Yan Qi had traveled through time… perhaps there was something wrong with his body as well. As for Lu San…

His soul had somehow accidentally ended up inside Yan Qi’s puppet—a truly bizarre twist of fate.

“How did the village chief recognize me?” Lu San was puzzled. Qin Zhou replied, “It wasn’t hard to recognize.”

Puppets aren’t spiritual beings; if they move, it’s either because they’re controlled by their master or because someone’s soul has temporarily taken up residence in their body. When the puppet charged forward to block that Thunder Lion Beast, Yan Qi’s expression didn’t look like he was fully aware of everything.

Therefore, it must have been possessed by a soul.

And with the little puppet standing firmly in front as a shield, silent and unmoving—it could only be Lu San.

Lu San was the tallest among them; whenever he needed to protect someone, he always stepped forward, placing his body firmly between the two parties—silent, yet making his stance clear.

Hearing Qin Zhou say it wasn’t difficult, Lu San felt relieved.

But the only one who could recognize them just by their demeanor was probably the village chief. Yan Qi was also pleased; he never would have imagined that the team leader had also come into the game. Moreover, the team leader seemed to hold a position of authority.

He was the village chief of his little puppet.

Lu Yi from the lake was the Little Puppet’s older brother, and the Group Leader was the Little Puppet’s village chief. And Lu Yi was the Group Leader’s “wife.” As for him, he was the Little Puppet’s friend and the Group Leader’s younger brother.

Yan Qi felt a burst of joy welling up inside him.

“It looks like Shisi and Zhanyu have lost track of you, too,” Qin Zhou said.

Lu San nodded.

Qin Zhou: “I’m not too worried about those two. Since that’s the case, let’s get down to business. Yan Qi, do you know where the World Tree is?” Caught off guard by the sudden question, Yan Qi paused for a moment. “What does it look like?”

Qin Zhou: “A tree with dense spiritual energy.” Yan Qi shook his head. “I’ve never seen one.”

Hearing this, Qin Zhou furrowed his brow.

Yan Qi was an honest boy with an excellent memory. If he answered so definitively, it meant he truly hadn’t seen it.

“The World Fruit—it’s to save my little brother and sister.” Lu San’s little wooden hand tugged at Yan Qi’s sleeve. Hearing this, Yan Qi thought hard once more, but in the end, he still shook his head. “I haven’t seen it.”

The World Tree—it can save the little puppet’s younger siblings, and the team leader needs it too… Beads of sweat formed on Yan Qi’s forehead as he strained every muscle in his body to recall. A tree full of spiritual energy, a tree full of spiritual energy.

“Yan Qi.”

Yan Qi looked up as Qin Zhou raised his hand and gave him a sharp tap on the forehead. Yan Qi winced in pain but remained dazed.

“Don’t torture yourself. If your memory tells you you haven’t seen it, then you haven’t.”

“…Alright. But I can’t help.” Yan Qi said dejectedly.

The little wooden puppet gently stroked his hand. “I can’t help either.” The little wooden puppet was comforting him.

Yan Qi smiled slightly. “Thank you.”

Lu San patted him gently with his small hand. “You’re welcome.”

Qin Zhou watched the man and the puppet, lost in thought. He hadn’t expected Lu San and Yan Qi—two such quiet children—to get along so surprisingly well.

Watching the man and the puppet, and thinking of Wen Jue still trapped at the bottom of the lake, as well as Zhanyu and Shisi, of whom there was still no word, Qin Zhou suddenly felt less anxious.

Haste makes waste.

The World Tree was unique to begin with; even if they tried to hide it, they likely couldn’t keep it hidden for long.

With the Red Cloud Sea’s forces on their side, it shouldn’t be long before they hear something.

With that thought, Qin Zhou relaxed. “You’re not entirely useless. There’s one task I intend to entrust to you.” Yan Qi and Lu San looked at him in unison.

Qin Zhou took out the blueprints he’d been saving for a long time from his Cosmos Bag.

“Why don’t you take a look at these?”

Lu San was skilled in artifact forging, and he recalled that Yan Qi had studied some design principles. Yan Qi took them and examined them closely. “These are…”

“Ornaments. Lots of ornament designs.”

“It’s a set,” Lu San said. “The village chief said this is for Lu Yi.”  

“Hmm, do you like it?” Qin Zhou asked.

Yan Qi nodded earnestly. It’s nice.

Having received a definite answer, Qin Zhou took back the drawings on the table. “The rest is up to you two.”

“Many of them are just rough sketches. They’re for the villagers,” Qin Zhou said. “I plan to use up all the meteorite metal in the warehouse. Lu San, you and Yan Qi should work together to craft some combat weapons.”

He intended to upgrade the villagers’ equipment, just in case.

The reason he entrusted this task to Yan Qi was that Yan Qi was not only skilled at design but also a weapon enthusiast. In the Spirit Mountain Realm game, many of the NPCs’ weapons were designed and created by him.

Yan Qi examined the materials carefully, his eyes sparkling with professional enthusiasm. “Can we use modern weapons as a reference?” Qin Zhou sighed helplessly. “Yan Qi, keep it within the era’s parameters—no firearms.”

Qin Zhou didn’t know if meteorite metal could be used to make firearms, but at the very least, he didn’t want to see a scene where, one day during a fight, someone pulls out a gun. Yan Qi: “Got it, Team Leader.”

Lu San looked up. “Modern weapons? Firearms? What are those?” Yan Qi’s eyes lit up. “They’re incredibly powerful things.”

Lu San looked up at Qin Zhou. “Village Chief, I want to learn.” A weapon smith must keep learning until the day he dies.

“Team Leader…” Yan Qi called out softly. The little wooden puppet really wanted to learn—it shouldn’t be a problem to teach him, right? The man and the puppet both looked at him with eager eyes.

Qin Zhou closed his eyes: “…Do as you please.”

Teaching was one thing, but actually crafting them was another—it was incredibly difficult.

And setting aside other factors, in terms of destructive power alone, spiritual energy itself is already on par with firearms.

And for a cultivator like Wen Jue, who possesses an extraordinary natural talent for controlling spiritual energy, even ten guns pointed at him wouldn’t scratch him. But just imagine—

With Wen Jue’s looks and build, if he were wearing camouflage… with a sharp, short haircut… carrying a rifle…

He’d probably look quite good.

And there probably isn’t a single man who could resist a gun.

Qin Zhou cleared his throat. “Anyway, I’ll leave this matter to you two. I’m going out for a walk.” After Qin Zhou left, Yan Qi whispered to Lu San, “Where do you think the team leader went?”

“To the lake,” Lu San replied with certainty.

Yan Qi nodded slightly in agreement. “The team leader likes Lu Yi the most.”

The character of “Lu Yi” had sparked a lot of controversy right from the start of the plot design. Some people thought “Lu Yi” was too powerful.

In the Spirit Mountain Realm, where the general cultivation level was still at the Golden Core stage, there was a figure at the bottom of the lake who had reached the Tribulation Stage. Even if it was to suppress the demon beasts, this was still too strange.

Some raised the question: Why not simply set Lu Yi as a peak Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator, yet they insisted on making him a Tribulation Stage cultivator—leaving him just one step away from ascension?

Is it reasonable for a Tribulation Stage powerhouse to remain at the bottom of the lake for thousands of years just to seal a demon beast?

In truth, Lu Yi’s characterization didn’t really matter much; he was merely a legendary figure in the Spirit Mountain Realm and didn’t play a significant role in the plot. So later, the team leader overruled the objections and kept Lu Yi’s characterization unchanged.

Some people didn’t understand, but Yan Qi did.

If he were his “wife,” he’d want to give him the very best.

That’s why Lu Yi couldn’t be at the Spirit Transformation Stage—he had to be the strongest at the Tribulation Stage. Not only that, but it was understandable that he wasn’t allowed to ascend. If he ascended, he’d leave this world, after all.

The team leader couldn’t bear to part with his “wife,” so he trapped him at the bottom of the most beautiful Red Cloud Sea.

Later, when modeling Lu Yi, the team leader handled every step of the process personally. Moreover, the team leader’s computer screensaver and wallpaper both featured Lu Yi submerged at the bottom of the lake.

“Team Leader really does like Lu Yi.”

Lu San nodded along: “The village chief likes Lu Yi the most.” Yan Qi rubbed his little wooden hand. “I like you the most, too.” Lu San stared blankly.

He’d lived for many years, but this was the first time anyone had ever told him they liked him.

“…Thank you.”

“Mm.” Yan Qi smiled, like an innocent young boy.

Meanwhile, several messenger birds were quietly soaring over mountains and rivers, searching for their destination. As they flew high above, they happened to catch sight of the master and disciple, looking dejected as they were driven out of the Red Cloud Sea. After this incident, Xu Chengli and his disciple came to harbor a deep grudge against the Red Cloud Sea. “Yan Qi can forget about ever returning to the Shanning Realm!”

“As soon as I return, I will report to the Sect Master that Yan Qi colluded with outsiders to try to kill you, and even slaughtered your spirit beast.” Xu Chengli’s master had already mapped out his plan in his mind.

“Who on earth is that person… I’ve never seen anyone capable of directly interfering with another’s spirit beast contract. I don’t know who he is, but he’s truly despicable.” Thinking of Qin Zhou, the master felt both anger and lingering fear.

“Chengli, don’t worry. Once I return and report this to the Sect Master, justice will surely be served.” 

“Yes.”

Even though he was sitting atop his master’s mount, Xu Chengli felt a chill run through his entire body. This sensation came from the other spirit beast mounts that brushed past them, as well as from the aura of spirit beasts drifting in from some unknown distance. Even his master’s own mount seemed to harbor some ill will toward him.

Why did he feel this way?

It was as if every spirit beast under the heavens despised him.

Xu Chengli tucked his trembling hand back into his sleeve, not daring to tell his master any of this. It must… just be his imagination.

With Yan Qi gone, he would still be the most talented in the Shanning Realm from now on. He had crippled a Thunder Lion Beast this time, but he had driven Yan Qi away… so it shouldn’t be a total loss… right?

Xu Chengli consoled himself with these thoughts.

However, what Xu Chengli did not know was that while Yan Qi had left the Shanning Realm, others had arrived in his place. And this person was not as easy to deal with as Yan Qi had been.

Zhanyu stood in the grand hall of the Shanning Realm, bowing respectfully to each of the elders in turn. “Lu Zhanyu, I pay my respects to all the Immortal Masters.” He was refined and well-mannered, with striking good looks and measured speech. Combined with his pale complexion and gentle disposition, he was truly likable.

“Master,” said the lead disciple of the Shanning Realm, “had it not been for Brother Zhanyu’s warning, we would likely have fallen into that Demon Beast Tamer’s trap.” They had encountered the Demon Beast Tamer while training at the foot of the mountain; had Zhanyu not intervened to save them, they likely would not have returned alive.

Upon hearing this, the Sect Master gave Zhanyu a closer look. “Thank you, young man. May I ask what level of cultivation you have attained, Zhanyu? And where is your home?”

“I am but a humble cultivator, having only just reached the Foundation Establishment stage,” Zhanyu sighed. “My family surname is Lu. We are an ancient cultivator clan, though our fortunes have declined. My talent for cultivation is not particularly high; I possess only a modicum of knowledge. As for Brother Lin, I wouldn’t call it a life-saving favor—I merely noticed the Demon Beast Tamer’s scheme and offered a few words of warning.”

“Accompanying Brother Lin back to the Shanning Realm this time… I must admit, I’ve long held the renowned Shanning Realm in the highest regard. Simply being able to come here and meet all of you esteemed cultivators is reward enough.” A faint blush spread across Zhanyu’s pale face.

His words seemed to leave nothing out. Moreover, judging by his demeanor, Zhanyu was clearly a pampered young cultivator raised in the comfort of his family home. The Sect Master harbored no suspicions.

“Master,” a disciple said earnestly, “I would like to ask that Zhanyu stay in Shanning Realm for a few days… Zhanyu has spent years living at the foot of the mountain; his knowledge and experience far surpass our own. Please allow him to stay for a while.”

“Since he is our benefactor, let him stay for a while.”

Zhanyu bowed and clasped his hands, saying, “Thank you, Sect Master.”

After they had withdrawn, the elder of the Shanning Realm stroked his beard. “I see that this young man has a steady disposition; he is indeed a promising prospect.”

“He’s at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet he has no spirit beast accompanying him. He likely hasn’t even undergone the Spirit Awakening ritual. A cultivator from a family that has fallen on hard times—how pitiful.”

Even the Sect Master’s eyes held a hint of appreciation. “Let’s observe him further. If he truly is a promising prospect, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring him into the Shanning Realm.” Among this generation of the Shanning Realm, there are indeed many with exceptional talent.

It’s a pity, though, that their temperaments are all…

Yan Qi is a good boy, but he’s too quiet; he just hides in his room every day making puppets. Chengli isn’t bad either, but he’s too impulsive to accomplish anything significant.

Considering how young they are, their character must be nurtured gradually. But seeing Lu Zhanyu today…

At the same age, some only know how to act tough and fight within the sect, while others can already see through a Demon Beast Tamer’s schemes at a glance and even guide their disciples to a safe retreat. This makes them feel even more…

…the difference in caliber is immediately apparent.

Stepping out of the main hall, Zhanyu couldn’t help but ask Lin Ziyang, “Brother Lin, you once mentioned that you have a junior disciple who has a natural affinity with spirit beasts. Yet, even during this audience, I didn’t get to see him.”

Lin Ziyang smiled. “Junior Brother Yan Qi doesn’t like to see people; he prefers to be alone. But his talent for befriending beasts is truly unmatched. Let’s go back and see if he’s still in his room.”

“Senior Brother Ziyang, Yan Qi has gone to the Red Cloud Sea to perform the Spirit Awakening ritual alongside Master Xu Chengli and his disciple,” a sharp-eared disciple suddenly replied. Lin Ziyang’s expression shifted.

He went to undergo the Spirit Awakening? But he shouldn’t have gone with Master Xu Chengli and his disciple…

He’s likely been targeted again.

Lin Ziyang sighed inwardly. If Yan Qi didn’t fight for himself, even if they, his senior disciples, watched over him, there was nothing they could do. With that thought, Lin Ziyang said helplessly to Zhanyu, “Brother Zhanyu, what a pity. Junior Brother Yan Qi has actually gone to the Red Cloud Sea.”

Zhanyu cleared his throat. “It doesn’t matter. I was merely curious after hearing Brother Lin mention it. After all, a constitution naturally attuned to beasts is exceedingly rare. Since it’s bad timing, there’s no point in forcing the issue.”

“There’s nothing to be forced. Since you have nowhere to go now, why not consider the Shanning Realm? If you can join our sect, that young junior brother will become your senior brother as well.” Lin Ziyang genuinely wanted Zhanyu to stay.

Zhanyu smiled. “Zhanyu dares not presume to such an honor.”

Zhanyu agreed with Lin Ziyang and followed the group forward.

Dealing with these disciples was as easy as drinking a sip of water for him.

However, he hadn’t yet seen the legendary junior disciple who was said to have been born with a natural affinity for beasts, which left him feeling somewhat disheartened. He wondered when the messenger he’d sent out would find his eldest uncle and the others.

Zhanyu lowered his gaze. And then there was Third Uncle.

Third Uncle wasn’t one for socializing; he had no idea what his situation was like now.