"Some people are trying to find you to exchange for their own Heavenly Monarch suppressed within the Federation; some suspect you might be hiding secrets of the Netherworld; and many others have unclear motives..."

"Now, not only are the forces outside the realm eyeing you and the Federation, but many within the realm are as well; even within the Cangqing Lineage, some have developed different thoughts."

Elder Lu murmured,

"Go to the Holy King Lineage, for if anyone in the Netherworld can help you now, it would be the Holy King Lineage."

Ji Jingqiu nodded, thanking him for the advice.

His spirit returned to his true self, and Ji Jingqiu excused himself on the pretext of some matters. Under the regretful gaze of Elder Lu, this spiritual incarnation dissipated on the spot and slipped into the Nether Sea.

Elder Lu put away the bracelet, looking at the spot where Ji Jingqiu vanished, before returning to the Cangqing Temple after a long while.

"Lv Chuan, why did Ji Jingqiu come to the door but not enter? What did you say to him?"

"What did Ji Jingqiu give you earlier? Is it related to Cang You?"

In the Divine Temple, towering shadows cast down questioning one after another.

Lv Chuan, with a calm expression, blocked them all one by one and said:

"Are you blind? The one who came was merely an incarnation of Ji Jingqiu, not his true self."

"What he gave was a gift to my disciple; you're overstepping your bounds a bit."

"This is Cangqing Heaven, under the rule of the Divine Lord. It can't be overthrown. Be wary of your ulterior motives; you'll be held accountable in the future!"

...

Daluo Heaven, Thirty-Six Layers.

This place is the highest point of Daluo Heaven and the stronghold of the Holy King Lineage.

Ji Jingqiu, transformed into multiple clones, was visiting not only the Cangqing Lineage.

As soon as he entered, Ji Jingqiu saw a brilliant Holy Light shooting straight into the sky, illuminating the entire heaven and earth. Among it was an unparalleled woman, dazzling and extraordinary like a celestial fairy.

Such a sight could be called earth-shattering, surprisingly affecting the entire movement of Daluo Heaven, with particularly intense primordial Qi of earth, fire, wind, and water.

As one who's been through this, Ji Jingqiu recognized at once that this was the mark of breaking into the Heavenly Monarch Domain, establishing the Heaven Opening Divine Power.

And that woman standing in mid-air at the center of heaven and earth, extraordinary and stunning, was naturally Chi Ji of the Holy King Lineage.

Among the women Ji Jingqiu had seen in his life, excluding those Ancestor Masters on the Returning to Truth Road, it was Hel and Chi Ji whose beauty was the most remarkable.

He didn't expect that after so many years, this former rival was also attempting to breakthrough into a Heavenly Monarch. Truly, times have changed...

Just as Ji Jingqiu was reminiscing about the past, a brilliant Holy Light transformed into a magnificent Sword Light, slashing down from above and interrupting his thoughts!

This was no joke, at least the murderous aura contained within the Sword Light was ominous, sweeping across heaven and earth.

His reminiscence interrupted, Ji Jingqiu reached out to catch this wisp of Sword Light, a bit speechless as he looked at this woman who, compared to years past, had not lost her arrogance, but it had instead intensified, becoming even more domineering.

Still as unlikable as ever.

Unlike himself who, when traveling abroad, relied entirely on good relations with others.

"Ji Jingqiu!"

"You have finally appeared!"

Chi Ji pronounced each word slowly, descending to the ground like an orchid on a sheer cliff, her long unbound hair cascading behind, her white robe and bare feet making it seem as if no one could take away her extraordinary elegance and radiant beauty.

As she walked toward Ji Jingqiu, with each step her aura grew stronger, her body like a Divine Sword, with Heavenly Divine Light resonating with heaven and earth, becoming more radiant and domineering, locking onto Ji Jingqiu.

Yet the next moment, Chi Ji's sharp eyes suddenly locked onto Ji Jingqiu's position.

She lost her lock on Ji Jingqiu; although he stood clearly before her, there was no trace of him in her perception.

This meant that Ji Jingqiu could completely act against her without her reacting!

Chi Ji's pupils shrank: "You've actually stepped into the Heavenly Venerable?! Have you skipped the Heavenly Monarch Domain, directly striving for high realms just to pass through the current crisis?"

Ji Jingqiu chuckled and said: "Congratulations, Chi Ji Xiaoyou, for stepping into the Heavenly Monarch. With Xiaoyou's talent, the Heavenly Venerable is just ahead."

"What kind of tone is that?" Chi Ji's eyebrows rose, "Are you looking down on me from above?"

With a generous expression and a kind tone, Ji Jingqiu said: "It's a misunderstanding, I'm merely expressing my admiration for Xiaoyou's rapid breakthrough. If it caused any misunderstanding, it's my fault."

Chi Ji's face instantly turned dark, and she clenched her fist, feeling an urge to punch him.

She understood what Ji Jingqiu meant. Whether the Five Divine Systems or the True Saint Dojo, breaking through the Eighth Realm Barrier leads to another level.

Below the True Saint, Heavenly Venerate Ancestors, regardless of age, are considered peers, seen as the foundation of the dojo.

Now, she was still only a Heavenly King, just within the "middle-young generation", yet to reach the Eighth Realm, a "generation" behind. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Chi Ji glanced up and down at Ji Jingqiu and suddenly said:

"If you are here to seek aid, you can leave. Our Holy King Lineage temporarily cannot spare any help; this has nothing to do with my personal impression of you."

Ji Jingqiu raised an eyebrow: "Even the Holy King Lineage can't spare help?"

Chi Ji coldly said: "Among the Five Divine Systems, only my father stands alone, how can he defend for you? We are occupied ourselves."

She didn't even look at Ji Jingqiu, but lowered her gaze to the Thirty-Fifth Layer Heaven below, her tone icy:

"There is a heap of rebels, even more external enemies countless in number; those hoping for the fall of our Holy King Lineage, both openly and covertly, are by no means fewer than those covetous of your Federation."

"You've been to the Cangqing Lineage, haven't you? The Cangqing Lineage is leaderless, and now internal strife has erupted leaving them occupied; the Nether Ruins Lineage is entirely trapped in the Netherworld dilemma, harming others and themselves. The Taiyou Lineage, on the other hand, has recently become active, continuously advocating communication and alliance with the outer realm forces; and as for the Void Lineage, haha, the Void Emperor is still wandering with some True Saints outside."