Chapter 24: Lin Meng’s Invitation

"An ascender? You could say that," Qiankun replied, glancing at the Asura God King, neither confirming nor denying it. Then, with a half-smile, he continued, "Why? Are you hoping I’ll shield the ascenders’ faction in the future?"

Luo Fan, the Asura God King, gave a slightly awkward laugh, while the alluring Blood Demon King quickly added with a smile, "Since you consider yourself one of us, all the powerful ascenders will naturally follow your lead from now on."

"Is that so? Then tell me, will you ascenders listen to me, or to the Unfettered Celestial Sovereign?" Qiankun asked with a faint smile.

At this, Luo Fan, the Blood Demon King, and the other ascender God Kings exchanged glances, momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Qiankun rolled his eyes at them and shook his head. "Enough! I’m a free spirit—I have no interest in meddling with your ascenders or the eight great divine clans. If not for my disciple Qin Yu, I wouldn’t have intervened at all."

"I know, you’re all wondering why my strength is so great even though I’m not a Celestial Sovereign, aren’t you?" Qiankun’s gaze swept over the assembled God Kings.

Their eyes lit up with excitement, one after another fixing their fervent attention on him.

Qiankun couldn’t help but laugh. "Ha! Look at you, how amusing! Even if I told you my cultivation method, you might not be able to learn it. And even if you could, why would I teach you? Don’t get your hopes up. You’d do better to focus on comprehending the Dao of Time. True, it’s much harder than the Dao of Space, but if you dedicate yourselves to it, you’ll have the tiniest sliver of hope of mastering it and becoming a Celestial Sovereign."

A tiny sliver of hope to become a Celestial Sovereign? The God Kings were left inwardly frustrated and speechless—such words were as good as saying nothing at all.

"I have no patience to talk further with you fools. I need to check on my beloved disciple Qin Yu," Qiankun said, and instantly teleported away.

Only after Qiankun departed did the God Kings begin to discuss among themselves. Qiankun’s power filled them with both confusion and longing. What’s more, they’d noticed that both Qiankun and Qin Yu were able to enter Celestial Sovereign Mountain without passing through the stone statue passage, something none of them could fathom. They could only marvel at the mysterious abilities of this master and disciple.

While the God Kings talked, the North Pole Holy Emperor, Jiang Fan, wore a dark expression, as if he’d lost his dearest kin. Previously, he’d hoped to use the Seal of All Beings to become Celestial Sovereign, but Qin Yu had ruthlessly taken it from him.

...

Outside the city of Mist, Qin Yu suddenly appeared in midair. He did not immediately teleport back to the Zixuan Manor, fearing to worry his family.

No sooner had he arrived in the void outside Mist City than he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

"The attack of a Celestial Sovereign’s spiritual treasure really is terrifying," Qin Yu sighed. Physical wounds healed in the blink of an eye, but the true harm was to his soul.

In his mind, his soul-infant, shimmering with eight kinds of light, was swirling with a shifting halo. When struck by the Sword of Original Sin’s energy, it was as though a great wound had been sliced into his soul-infant—Qin Yu had felt himself teetering on the brink of death.

Fortunately, after his eight great source energies fully fused with his soul-infant, his regenerative power had reached unprecedented heights. And since his soul was now perfectly attuned to the new universe, the universe’s source energy continuously poured in to help restore him.

"Hm?" Wiping the blood from his lips, Qin Yu suddenly sensed something. He turned toward Celestial Sovereign Mountain, blinking in astonishment. "Master? Did he actually injure the Thunder Punishment Celestial Sovereign? Could it be that Master, like me, has cultivated the Stellar Transformation and gradually opened up a universe of his own?"

Moments later, as Qin Yu returned to Zixuan Manor, Qiankun appeared there as well.

Earlier, when they’d seen Qin Yu bleeding from every orifice in the water mirror, everyone in the manor had been terrified. When Qin Yu returned seemingly unharmed, only then did they breathe a little easier. Because Qin Yu had been attacked by the Sword of Original Sin and could not control the water mirror, it had dissolved, and so none had witnessed Qiankun injure the Thunder Punishment Celestial Sovereign.

When Qiankun appeared so abruptly in the manor, everyone was surprised. After Qin Yu respectfully greeted his master, he introduced him to the others.

Some had met Qiankun before, but many had not. To learn this was Qin Yu’s master was a true shock.

"Brother Qiankun, it’s been many years. I never imagined your power would become so unfathomable, even to me," Jiang Lan exclaimed in wonder.

Having absorbed the aura of the Primordial Yellow Energy, Qiankun’s body was as tough as a quasi-saint’s, and his power rivaled a Celestial Sovereign’s. His soul force was so restrained that even the God Kings could not sense it, which was why Jiang Lan spoke thus.

"Haha, my master’s strength far surpasses ours. Back at Celestial Sovereign Mountain, he personally injured the Thunder Punishment Celestial Sovereign," Qin Yu said with a smile.

What? At this, everyone’s eyes widened. The Wind God King was so astonished he blurted out, "He injured the Thunder Punishment Celestial Sovereign? How can that be? Has Brother Qiankun become a Celestial Sovereign already? Impossible! The current descent of Celestial Sovereign Mountain isn’t finished yet; how could a new Celestial Sovereign have appeared so soon?"

"Heh, I am not a Celestial Sovereign. I only managed to injure Thunder Punishment by a stroke of luck," Qiankun replied casually.

Though Qiankun spoke so nonchalantly, everyone was inwardly stunned, finding him more mysterious and powerful than ever.

Since he’d come to see Qin Yu, Qiankun stayed at Zixuan Manor for some time. Because he had intervened, the other God Kings dared not come to Mist City, sparing them a disaster.

A little over a month later, in a garden pavilion within Zixuan Manor, Qiankun was chatting over tea with Qin Yu.

Suddenly, without a sound, a young man with silver eyes appeared in the garden and walked toward the pavilion. Three black horns, like a feathered crown, rose from the back of his head, giving him a somewhat strange appearance.

"Klevig?" Qin Yu stood up at once. The newcomer was Lin Meng’s chief disciple—the Celestial Sovereign Piaoyu of the Divine Realm.

The young Klevig gave Qin Yu a slight bow, then turned to Qiankun. His manner became even more respectful, and he said with a hint of reverence, "Lord Qiankun!"

Lord? At this, Qiankun’s brow twitched, and he looked at Klevig in some confusion. Why was he addressing him so?

"Lord Qiankun, I come on behalf of my master to invite you. My master wishes to ask, do you still remember Linley of the Yulan Continent?" Klevig said politely.

Qiankun’s expression changed—he hadn’t expected Klevig to say this, and his heart filled with suspicion. Of course, Qiankun knew of Lin Meng’s origins, but to be asked if he knew Linley of the Yulan Continent truly shocked him. Could it be that Lin Meng not only knew he was not of this universe but also knew his true origins? How could that be possible?

No, Lin Meng couldn’t possibly have that ability. Unless… At this thought, Qiankun swiftly arrived at a certain possibility.