Qi Yuan perked up at Qi Jianjun’s words. The upper world?

He asked, "That upper world?"

Qi Jianjun replied seriously, "Yes, the upper world where Mother is!"

Qi Yuan's gaze toward Shen Wushen changed once more. "Let's go. We're heading to Seven-Colored Peak."

As for the Nascent Soul Gathering, who cared about that now? Shen Wushen came from the same world as Jin Li! Ruan Yixi was also there!

Unfortunately, Qi Yuan could not leave the Canglan World. The Great Calamity had not yet dissipated. Even if he became a Yin Spirit, he still couldn’t use the teleportation array to reach the upper world. However, Shen Wushen could carry a message for him.

Shen Wushen seemed eager. "Since Brother Qi invites me, how could I refuse?"

The two transformed into streaks of light and vanished.

***

Standing in front of a newly built cement bungalow, Qi Yuan asked calmly, "Brother Shen, what do you think of my new cave dwelling?"

Since Shen Wushen called him Brother Qi, calling him Brother Shen wasn't too much, was it?

Shen Wushen paused slightly, gazing at the flat-roofed structure. He was not one for many words. "The Great Dao is all about simplicity."

"You speak with refinement." Qi Yuan smiled. "Come. Let's talk inside."

The two entered and sat down.

Qi Yuan stared at him eagerly. "I heard you're from the upper world?"

"Yes."

"You can travel between the upper and lower worlds?"

Shen Wushen answered honestly, "It's very difficult. The cost is immense."

Even he had relied solely on the Shen Clan’s ancestral treasure and his sect’s supreme artifact. Consequently, he could descend to the lower world just once, hence his willingness to trade a Divine Method for Qi Yuan’s guidance.

Qi Yuan's mood brightened. "As long as it's possible!"

A great price? With his intellect, he could come up with a meticulous plan to solve Shen Wushen's difficulties.

Without wasting time, he asked, "Do you know of the Divine Moon Palace? Can you meet the Moon Maiden, Jin Li?"

They had never truly met. At best, he had only seen her past incarnation.

"I know of the Divine Moon Palace. Your daughter met me yesterday..." Shen Wushen recounted Qi Jianjun's visit and her request. "However, Futu Mountain is far from the Divine Moon Palace. I've only heard of the Moon Maiden by reputation. I do not know Jin Li personally. It may take three years to relay a message across such distance."

Qi Yuan murmured, "Three years..."

He thought of Moon Maiden by the Seventh Moon Lake. He thought of Jin Li, who had waited for him for thousands upon thousands of years. For him, time had been brief. For her, it had been long beyond measure.

Qi Yuan asked, "I'll write a letter. Can you deliver it?"

Shen Wushen shook his head. "Items from Canglan cannot be brought to the upper world."

The Canglan World was extremely special.

"You can't?"

"You may relay a verbal message. After I ascend, I can write it into a letter and send it to the Divine Moon Palace."

"That's too little privacy." Qi Yuan shook his head. "In that case, I will compose a cultivation method and recite it to you. Please deliver it to Moon Maiden Jin Li."

His idea was simple. He would create a powerful Dao art and embed his message within it. When Jin Li received it, she would understand. To speak a single sentence to her, he would create an entirely new and formidable method.

Shen Wushen agreed, "No problem."

"I'll give it to you in five days." He needed time to craft it properly. After all, he couldn't just create something useless. "Oh, right. Do you know Ruan Yixi of the Divine Moon Palace?"

Shen Wushen shook his head. "I do not."

Qi Yuan frowned. Ruan Yixi was connected to the Divine Moon Palace, but whether she truly belonged to it remained uncertain.

He suddenly broke into a smile. "Does the upper world have newspapers?"

Shen Wushen appeared confused. "What is that?"

"Do you know about the Ling Tian Pavilion? They offer a service. You can pay spirit stones to publish information."

After exterminating the Black Mountain Sect, Qi Yuan had spent a large sum to publicize the news.

Shen Wushen lowered his voice. "I know. There is something similar in the upper world. However, if you want the Divine Moon Palace to see such a message, the price would be considerable."

Qi Yuan was shamelessly transparent. "How much would it cost to publish a confession to Ruan Yixi?"

Just moments ago, he wanted to contact Jin Li. Now, he was thinking about confessing to Ruan Yixi.

Shen Wushen replied expressionlessly, "A Divine Method that hasn’t been recorded."

The one he had given to Qi Yuan was already recorded, and thus less valuable.

Qi Yuan frowned. "That's troublesome."

He had no Divine Methods. The Canglan World likely had none either.

He thought for a moment. "How do you usually make money?"

Based on Shen Wushen’s earlier words, he likely spent a fortune to descend to the lower world. He had to know how to make money.

Shen Wushen replied, "By completing sect missions."

"Are there missions involving modifying cultivation methods, refining incomplete pill formulas, or repairing fragmented techniques?"

"There are."

Qi Yuan's eyes sparkled. "How about this? Accept all such missions and bring them to me. I'll complete them. You can exchange the rewards for Divine Methods and Heaven-tier cultivation methods for me."

Beyond uncovering a method to fleece the upper world, he also realized that their techniques could replenish the Qi Yuan Scripture.

Shen Wushen hesitated. "This..."

Most of the easy missions were already taken, leaving extremely difficult ones. For example, there was a Divine Method titled Primordial Art. Seventy-two characters long, it was missing three characters of its core mantra. Without ever seeing the original, how could anyone fill them in? Even a Yang Spirit would fail. Yang Spirits would never waste such efforts.

"You don't trust me?" Qi Yuan asked. "Have you taken such a mission before? Show me. I'll demonstrate on the spot."

Shen Wushen fell silent. Recalling Qi Yuan's overwhelming strength, he ultimately chose to trust him. "When I return, I will accept such missions."

Qi Yuan smiled. "Since you're so cooperative, I'll give you some guidance in advance."

Their original agreement had been that Shen Wushen would provide new Divine Methods in exchange for guidance. Qi Yuan offered it upfront.

Shen Wushen felt genuine gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Qi!"

Qi Yuan asked casually, "You tell me, what's your biggest cultivation issue?"

Giving guidance was easier than modifying Divine Methods, hence why Qi Yuan chose the former.

Shen Wushen's expression grew solemn. "I was overly impatient during Core Formation, which left flaws in my foundation. My spiritual energy is weaker than that of other cultivators. Yet you barely used any spiritual energy when defeating me. Can you teach me how to fight without relying on spiritual energy?"

Qi Yuan probed Shen Wushen’s spiritual energy and clicked his tongue. "Your spiritual energy is eighty to ninety times that of Lord Withered Tree, and you call that little?"

Of course, compared to Qi Yuan, it was little. After all, he could even summon a Star Golden Core.

Qi Yuan said casually, "Solving this is simple. I have 1,728 solutions."