"I truly have no interest in your World Seed. Leave the Mortal Heart World? How would I keep playing the game then? I'm afraid I can't grant your request."

Yang Lian was briefly stunned by Qi Yuan’s answer. This was the World Seed they had been talking about! The very embodiment of an entire world’s fortune! Even Yang Spirits coveted the seed born of a Primordial World, for it represented limitless potential.

She was unwilling to give up. "Heavenly Sovereign, won't you reconsider?"

Perhaps, he was the only one who could take her sister out of the Mortal Heart World.

"No need," Qi Yuan replied decisively, then vanished in the next moment.

Left alone in the narrow alley, Yang Lian stared at the space where he had been, her expression unreadable.

***

Outside Feiwu City, powerful figures had gathered in great numbers. The collapse of the evil god base camp had shaken the world. The high-ranking ancient gods in the Southern Lands had argued fiercely over what it meant.

Some believed they had to firmly support their world’s savior, Qi Yuan, while others thought his recent brilliance was only temporary. Rather than believe he could defeat two Yang Spirits, they preferred to rely on the so-called Mythic Plan. Of course, some were also wary of him, suspecting he was just another evil god. As powerful as he was, he wasn’t to be trusted. Those who had arrived in Feiwu City were largely his supporters.

Dong Jianghe stood among the crowd, following closely behind his master. His earlier smugness had been replaced with simmering frustration.

"How could they seize the Mythic-tier art I painstakingly visualized? Those geezers are outrageous!" he muttered.

He and his master had decided to head north and formally become Qi Yuan’s citizens. However, before he left, some ancient gods forced him to hand over his Mythic-tier art. They claimed that since the Mythic Plan had provided the resources to nurture a chosen Destiny Child, any visualized Mythic-tier arts had to remain in the south.

His master gently consoled him. "Coming north may be the greatest opportunity of your lifetime. A Mythic-tier art is nothing in comparison."

In truth, a visualization art of such a tier could push a Second Step Venerable into Third Step overnight. For Great Venerables, gaining half a step would already be astonishing. Of course, in terms of growth potential, it didn't even compare to what Qi Yuan had visualized.

Besides, Qiuyuann Sovereign said he'd give me benefits! Dong Jianghe brightened at the thought.

Nearly everyone from their group chat had come. They clustered together, chatting quietly. In truth, Dong Jianghe’s complaint was partly a humblebrag. Unfortunately for him, the others knew his tricks too well and ignored it.

Shenmiao disdainfully glanced at him. "You've only reached the First Step to Heaven, and you call yourself a Young Celestial Emperor? I'm at Third Step. Should I call myself a Prime Celestial Emperor?"

Heilong, who was older and more easygoing, chuckled. "Among us, Dong Jianghe might actually be the weakest."

"I still remember when Qiyuann Sovereign first appeared," Bai Xi said thoughtfully. "Dong Jianghe thought he was just some god who hadn't even entered the True God realm. Who would've guessed he was a Mythic?"

Even though it hadn’t been that long, it felt like another lifetime.

Dong Jianghe bristled. "How was any of that my fault?! He looked like such a clueless newcomer! Heck, he didn’t even know what a True God realm is! Who would’ve thought he was pretending to be weak just to toy with us?!"

When Qi Yuan had first joined their group, he had indeed acted like an innocent rookie, asking endless basic questions.

"And yet, he turned out to be a Mythic," Shenmiao murmured, awe flickering in his eyes.

Naturally, he wasn't the only one who held reverence for Qi Yuan.

Heilong thoughtfully asked, "Could it be that when we first met him, Qiyuann Sovereign wasn’t yet a Mythic?"

They froze. Not a Mythic? Just a god?

Dong Jianghe shot back. "Don't be ridiculous, who goes from Violet Palace to Mythic in a single month? Even a reincarnated Yang Spirit couldn't manage that!"

He was certain Qi Yuan had simply been hiding his strength. The others agreed. Qi Yuan had likely been patiently biding his time before striking decisively at the evil gods.

Dong Jianghe added, "Let’s not indulge in wild speculation and rumors. Do you know what they say about him out there? That he’s erratic, even unstable. How can that be? Someone who reaches the Mythic realm and wields such power cannot be muddleheaded!"

"Exactly. We've interacted with him often enough."

"Not even No-Food Goddess can compare to such a supreme ancient god."

At that moment, Twilight appeared. A vast, ancient aura spread across the area, deep as an endless ocean. All the Great Venerables and Venerables turned toward him in shock.

"This presence..."

"It feels like boundless water..."

They instinctively sensed that if Twilight chose to act, no one would be able to resist.

One Venerable stared at him in disbelief. He had met Twilight before, when they were both at the Second Step to Heaven. Now, Twilight had become an extraordinary Great Venerable. As a fellow water technique cultivator, he felt the urge to bow in submission.

Twilight addressed the crowd, "It is late, the Heavenly Sovereign has already retired. Please join the banquet tonight. He will receive you at dawn."

At that very moment, Qi Yuan was fast asleep, hanging from a crooked-neck tree with Little Bride. Twilight had been stunned the first time he saw it. At their level of cultivation, who still bothered to sleep? In fact, someone had even dared to ask.

Qi Yuan's answer was simple. "Even True Gods still eat. Why can't I sleep?"

No one could say anything back.

Of course, the southern ancient gods had no idea of this. They were baffled. Sleep? Surely, it’s a deliberate show of dominance, a way to unsettle us!

They went to the banquet uneasy. However, when they saw Qi Yuan the next morning, they realized they had misunderstood. He had truly just been sleeping.

Qi Yuan yawned and stretched his neck. His eyes were still hazy with drowsiness. "So you're all here? Not bad, there are nearly a thousand of you. Did you enjoy the feast?"

He looked every bit the casual host welcoming guests into his courtyard.

"Very much," they replied.

The ancient gods studied him carefully, trying to associate the legend with the man before them.

Qi Yuan stretched lazily. "My goal is simple: a feast should be waiting wherever you go in the Mortal Heart World. We're more than halfway there."