No-Food Goddess looked in Qi Yuan's direction, but all that greeted her was emptiness, as if there were no one there at all. Everything felt like a delusion.

Showing neither sorrow nor joy, No-Food murmured, "We met once in the future? Just once?"

Qi Yuan did not elaborate. "Mhm."

The day they first met was also the day she died. He couldn't very well say, "I just met you, and then you died."

That would be a disastrously low EQ move.

No-Food Goddess gave him a bright, radiant smile. "So that's how it is."

It was as if every trace of doubt in her heart had been erased.

Qi Yuan said casually, "Didn't they say you don't like to smile much?"

After their first encounter, he encountered quite a few of her followers and learned more about her. According to them, No-Food Goddess was not only the number one expert with fearsome combat power, but she also rarely smiled. Moreover, she placed great importance on keeping promises.

No-Food Goddess countered, "How can anyone be born not liking to smile? Should I smile at everyone I see?"

She was in a pink, round-collared short jacket and a long, vivid red skirt embroidered with floral patterns. Her dark hair fell to her waist. When she smiled, even the pitch-black night didn't seem so dark anymore.

So the records really are all lies, Qi Yuan thought.

In texts, No-Food Goddess was described as stern, unsmiling, and untouched by worldly smoke. Those were probably later generations deifying her. Nevertheless, Qi Yuan felt that something was amiss. She seemed to be hiding some kind of secret.

He added, "People are naturally curious. Aren't you afraid that I was lying to you? Anyone with common sense wouldn’t believe in something like meeting in the future."

Moreover, the future No-Food Goddess didn't seem to recognize him. That made Qi Yuan extremely curious. Could the No-Food Goddess that he would meet later not be the same as the one in front of him? Or did she accidentally smash her head on a boulder and lose her memories?

In a tone reminiscent of a tinkling mountain-spring water, No-Food Goddess replied, "If you believe, then it exists. If you don't, then it doesn't. Belief or disbelief isn't important."

Qi Yuan said casually, "Your realm is a bit too high. I'm just a normal person filled with curiosity."

He didn't pursue the topic further. They were merely passing acquaintances. She was destined to dissipate into the annals of history, which he had no means of changing.

Thinking of something, he asked, "The evil gods... have they appeared in the Mortal Heart World?"

No-Food Goddess's gaze sharpened. Even though the two were not in the same spacetime, Qi Yuan seemed to feel a bone-chilling cold, akin to an unsheathed ice sword.

"Yes."

Qi Yuan relayed information from the future. "They are the greatest enemies of the Mortal Heart World. Among them are one or two Yang Spirits."

He hoped that if the world knew this in advance, fate could be altered. Well, even if it could be, it likely wouldn't amount to much. Preparation alone could not overcome a gap in raw power.

No-Food Goddess's expression barely changed, as if she had merely heard about a couple of insects. "I see."

Confused, Qi Yuan couldn't help but ask, "No, wait. Do you think I am lying?"

If that were the case, her earlier reactions would make perfect sense. She probably thought he was some kind of shaman spouting nonsense.

No-Food Goddess seemed to be trying to stare into his eyes. "How much of what you said to me is true, and how much is false?”

Qi Yuan shrugged, too lazy to explain. "So you really don't believe me.”

He didn't need her trust.

Instead of dwelling on it, he went straight to the point. "What did you mean just now, about the Heavenly Pillar breaking?"

Visualization could cause the Heavenly Pillar to break? Didn't it break because a Yang Spirit crashed into it?

No-Food Goddess explained, "The Visualization Mountain is a projection of the Heavenly Pillar. The two are deeply connected. Now that the pillar is unstable, it could break under the pressure if you visualize it again."

Qi Yuan frowned. "For real?"

He had never heard of such a thing before. Looking up at the towering pillar, he muttered, "This pillar is way too flimsy. It almost broke just from visualizing the Thunder Ancestor?"

What would happen if he kept visualizing and actually broke it?

A sudden thought struck Qi Yuan. Wouldn't that change history? At the very least, a Yang Spirit wouldn't be able to break it.

As if reading his mind, No-Food Goddess softly said, "If the Heavenly Pillar breaks, the Mortal Heart World will fall into irreversible calamity."

"How do I repair it?"

He still had to visualize for others. The pillar absolutely could not break.

No-Food Goddess responded, "It is very simple. Eat."

Qi Yuan was stunned. "Huh?"

"When I broke through to the Great Venerable realm, I fused with the Heavenly Pillar. We are one and the same."

He was taken aback, then felt a bit guilty. "Doesn't that mean I just broke one of your bones?"

When he visualized the Thunder Ancestor, the Visualization Mountain had cracked. If that damage were reflected onto her, she would have been injured.

No-Food Goddess shot him a look with her almond-shaped eyes. "Repairing the pillar isn't difficult. I just have to eat something, and it'll stabilize again."

"It's that simple?" Qi Yuan was astonished. In disbelief, he blurted out, "I'll treat you to a meal!"

Of course, he couldn’t really invite her to eat in the present. However, he could always carry her spirit tablet over when a feast was held. Naturally, he wouldn't say such things out loud. Not only would that be another disastrously low EQ move, but it could very well get him beaten.

No-Food Goddess glanced at him, seeming to recall something. "I haven't eaten anything for a very long time."

Qi Yuan nodded. She didn't have to eat, after all. Her Dao stated that someone was most perfect and flawless at birth. Breathing air, drinking water, and eating food would pollute the self. Everything in the world contained poison.

He urged, "Then hurry up and eat!"

No-Food Goddess had to eat to repair the Heavenly Pillar. However, she remained unmoved.

Qi Yuan grew anxious. "Do you have anorexia?"

"More or less."

He offered a brilliant suggestion. "You're cultivating to achieve immortality! How did you end up with anorexia? If nothing else, just cut open your belly and stuff the food inside!"