Outside the dark and gloomy palace, jagged white bones carpeted the ground.

No sign of human life could be seen for a hundred miles. Ravens circled in the sky, their scarlet pupils turning as they surveyed the mountain scenery below.

The toad-moon cast a white glow, and a deep, sinister mist drifted about.

TAP... TAP...

The Venerable Alliance Leader, clad in magnificent robes, paced alone through this desolate land.

He hadn’t yet reached the entrance.

The human-bone Spiritual Artifacts, strung together like beads, clattered against each other.

A sinister wind poured in from outside in wisps and strands. The rasp of flesh on bone created a bizarre, soul-shaking sound.

At that moment, a black mist suddenly appeared, abruptly solidifying at the entrance to greet his arrival.

"Senior Brother, long time no see."

The Nine Celestial Venerables stood at the entrance with his hands behind his back, wreathed in black mist. He watched the approaching Alliance Leader like an old friend reunited after a long separation and said with a faint smile:

"You finally came."

"You summoned me here so suddenly. What is this about?"

The Alliance Leader’s expression was stiff and cold, his eyes filled with nothing but vigilance and caution as he looked at the Nine Celestial Venerables.

The Venerable Alliance and the Beast God Sect had always been in opposition. Although a pact ensured they stayed out of each other’s way, this was, after all, a secret meeting between their two leaders.

If word of this were to get out, the upper echelons of the outside world would surely see the Venerable Alliance in a new light!

He had only secured his position as Alliance Leader through extreme caution, as if walking on thin ice.

"Why the rush, Senior Brother?"

The Nine Celestial Venerables observed the Alliance Leader’s expression, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile as he said leisurely:

"How long has it been since we last met, my dear brother disciple?

I remember when we were from the same sect, as close as two people sharing a single pair of pants. We sat under the old, withered vines, studying the great dao of the Pill Scripture together.

You haven’t forgotten those wonderful days, have you—"

Before he could finish, a sudden surge of Star Pressure erupted within the grand hall. BOOM! The pillars cracked, spiderwebbing with branch-like fissures as a murderous intent filled the air.

"Shut your mouth!"

The Venerable Alliance Leader’s face was grim as he gnashed his teeth and snarled.

"Nangong Li! Don’t you dare act so presumptuously before me!"

Seemingly triggered by unpleasant memories, he glared at the Nine Celestial Venerables and threatened in a low voice, "Ever since you defected to the Beast God Sect, we have ceased to be brothers-in-arms.

If you dare mention this again, don’t blame me for taking action right here and eliminating a Demon like you!"

"Heh heh, eliminate a Demon?"

Hearing this, the Nine Celestial Venerables chuckled, a smile playing on his lips as if he’d heard something amusing. He toyed with a Star Beast skull by his side and shook his head.

"Meng Tianxuan, oh, Meng Tianxuan... After all these years hanging around those righteous path types, you’re still the same old you—as pedantic as ever...

Everyone looks up to you, but do you think I, your junior brother, don’t understand you?"

As he spoke, he stepped forward, walking directly toward the Alliance Leader. "Back then, we slept side by side. As your brother disciple, I know every little thing about you."

"Understand me? You?"

The Venerable Alliance Leader dodged his outstretched hand and frowned. "Stop trying to act so familiar!"

"Those with different paths cannot walk together. Nangong Li, for old times’ sake... I will advise you one last time as your Senior Brother: leave the Beast God Sect as soon as possible to avoid a fate of utter annihilation. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what? You’ll use your righteous status to suppress me?"

The Nine Celestial Venerables cut him off, a hint of disgust now in his gaze as he looked at the Alliance Leader.

"In my eyes, you are all nothing but a pack of cowards!"

"What bullshit righteous path and evil path? When you’re dead, you’re dead, and your reputation is left to others to decide! All paths lead to the same Great Dao. You and I are the same kind of Dao seeker!"

As his words fell, the Venerable Alliance Leader felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

"You!"

Those words were a thorough and complete insult.

’How could I possibly sink to their level?’

"What’s wrong? Did I strike a nerve?!"

Seeing the Alliance Leader’s discomfort, the Nine Celestial Venerables easily retreated several yards away, the smile on his face widening.

"Senior Brother, think about it. How long have we been stuck at the Peak of the Celestial Venerable Realm?

If not for your obstruction, the grand plan of my Beast God Sect would have been realized long ago. The Celestial Gate would have opened, Celestial Beings would have descended upon the world, and an unprecedented golden age would have begun.

Otherwise, why would I... be stuck at the Celestial Venerable Realm, unable to break through for a full one hundred years?"

"Immortals descending?

Meng Tianxuan said coldly, glancing around. "After all these years, you’re still clinging to this baseless rumor?"

Inside the grand hall...

The dome was covered in patterns of flying Immortals and ornate caisson ceiling paintings.

Even the supporting pillars were carved with numerous related texts and records.

From this, one could see the extent of the Nine Celestial Venerables’ obsession.

"To yearn for something and never obtain it..."

Alliance Leader Meng Tianxuan said gravely, "No one knows what the consequences will be. If otherworldly beings descend, the world will be plunged into misery and devastation. Will there be any place left for people like us?

He then glared at Nangong Li and said, "Besides... how can one allow others to snore beside one’s own bed?!"

As his voice fell, the hall fell silent for a moment. Neither of them spoke further.

A cold mountain wind blew past.

Tiny pellets of snow drifted down beside them.

After a long moment.

"Meng Tianxuan, a hundred years have passed, and you are still just as hopelessly foolish..."

The Nine Celestial Venerables shook his head and sighed. "Forget it. Good advice is wasted on a dead man. I can’t be bothered to argue with you any longer. Time will prove everything."

With that, the Nine Celestial Venerables smoothed his breathing and changed the subject. "I invited you here this time mainly because of the Jianghai Arrow God. You need not concern yourself with other matters."

"The Arrow God?"

Hearing this, the Venerable Alliance Leader’s brow furrowed.

"Their lineage no longer belongs to our Venerable Alliance. You must have heard the rumors, so what explanation are you hoping to get from me?"

"Hmph. When a man is dead, the matter is over."

The Nine Celestial Venerables shook his head. "The matter naturally ends here. I will not pursue it further."

Then, his tone shifted abruptly as he looked at Meng Tianxuan. "However, what about the Blood Spirit Array in Jianghai City?

According to my estimates, the Blood Spirit Array in that city can only be maintained for another six months at most."

"Maintained for six months...

Th-this has nothing to do with our Venerable Alliance!"

The Alliance Leader’s expression changed slightly, and he stammered, "That’s a matter for your Beast God Sect."

"Haha, excellent! What a fine example of ’none of my business’!"

The Nine Celestial Venerables clapped his hands and laughed. "Your Venerable Alliance is truly hypocritical! After so many years, I refuse to believe you haven’t discovered the location of the Blood Spirit Array.

You found it but never destroyed it, even sending people to guard it... Don’t you have any idea what your true intentions are?"

As he spoke, he paced quickly, pressing in close to the Alliance Leader and questioning him, word by word:

"If the Blood Spirit Array fails, you should know what the consequences will be... When that time comes, it will be too late for regrets!"

"..."

Hearing this, the Venerable Alliance Leader fell silent for a moment before saying hesitantly:

"Then what do you want?"

His tone was weak, no longer as forceful as before.

"Heh heh..."

At this, the Nine Celestial Venerables simply smiled without speaking, giving the Alliance Leader a meaningful look, feeling inwardly smug.

From start to finish, this conversation had been entirely in his control. The other man was already a bird in a cage with nowhere to run.

’What else could they do?’

"Naturally, I need you ’Human Guardian Gods’ to cooperate a little."

...

...

「Jianghai Library.」

「Noon. The Steward’s office.」

The clamor of voices from outside drifted in. Warm sunlight poured into the room, and a spring breeze rustled the white lace curtains.

"How’s this position, Xiaobai?"

Qin Yang, holding a pot with an Earth-Surging Golden Lotus, carefully placed it on the windowsill, adjusting the angle to align with the arrangement of his small Feng Shui array.

He finished speaking, but the little loli sitting on the desk didn’t move. Wearing headphones and a white lace sundress, she was lying on the desktop, engrossed in a mobile game.

"Stop playing games, you hear me? Go stand by the door and see if it’s crooked."

"Oh, okay,"

Xiaobai snapped out of it and ran to the door, holding her hand out flat. "A tiny bit more to your right."

"Here?"

"A little more, Master. It still looks a bit crooked."

"How about now?"

"That’s it! That spot is perfect, Master."

Wagging her tail, Xiaobai hugged her phone and went back to her power-leveling rhythm. Qin Yang leisurely walked to his desk and surveyed the room’s layout.

He hadn’t been idle since starting the job these past few days. He had adjusted the office’s Feng Shui according to the arrangements in the *True Understanding of Array Dao*.

He did a big clean-up every day, sweeping out the old and welcoming the new.

He even brought in some potted plants to liven the place up.

’An office needs more greenery. It’s pleasant to look at and soothes the spirit.’

The Array was in operation, drawing in wealth and fortune. Every day it brought a considerable profit of Spiritual Qi, which was incredibly nourishing for the soul.

’Not bad, this should be about right.’

Qin Yang walked to his desk, picked up his teacup, and glanced down.

Goji berry and herbal wellness tea.

The fragrance of the tea wafted through the air.

He’d been studying Alchemy these past few days and, relying on his knowledge of pharmacology, had come up with several wellness tea recipes.

It couldn’t be helped.

He was just too idle!

After becoming the Steward, the job had become incredibly easy. Every day, he just organized some files, occasionally interviewed a few people in batches, and slacked off however he wanted.

As for catching his old colleagues slacking off...

Qin Yang put down his teacup. He didn’t really care about that.

He had always turned a blind eye whenever he could. As long as they weren’t too blatant about it, he wouldn’t make things difficult for them.

"After all... why should a working stiff make things hard for other working stiffs?"

Qin Yang glanced out the window, feeling a bit stuffy, and stepped out of the office for some fresh air.

After the Beast Tide, staff had trickled out of the huge library. They came and went, new and old faces constantly replacing one another.

Some old employees had already left Jianghai to settle in other cities, while others, drawn by the Arrow God’s reputation, had come seeking employment.

There were quite a few new hires in the library as well.

"Hello, Steward!"

"Mm."

As Qin Yang walked, he often ran into familiar faces—all people he had personally interviewed and selected.

Not long after he left, he spread his Spiritual Power to probe his surroundings and picked up on the idle chatter of the employees in the library.

"Is that the new Steward? He’s so handsome, and so young too!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"I wonder if he has a girlfriend."

"Do you think he has connections?!"

"You don’t know? I heard that during the Beast Tide, it was just him and the old steward holding down the fort..."

"..."

Qin Yang listened to their words but paid them no mind.

As he was listening, his phone suddenly chimed. It was a message from Xia He.

[Old Qin, you still have any of that wellness tea? Your bro is coming over to get some!]