“May I ask, Senior, what business you have with our Founding Ancestor?”

A Sun Lineage elder respectfully approached Chen Yi and inquired.

Chen Yi let out a faint laugh, casting a seemingly casual glance at Shen Wanquan.

“The Shen Family doesn’t even know they’re harboring a ghost…”

Shen Wanquan broke out in a cold sweat on the spot, probably mentally calculating, “Is he talking about me?” “It shouldn’t be me, right?” “How could he possibly know what I’ve done?”

Chen Yi deliberately spooked Shen Wanquan, making him live in fear before his eventual reckoning.

No need to worry about scaring the prey away; for a Martial God, the human world was not that vast.

“Senior, what do you mean by that?”

“Not important. I want to see Old Shen, because I have a tremendous opportunity to gift him.”

The Shen Family elder felt embarrassed.

Our Founding Ancestor is already a Martial God, what kind of opportunity is there left?

“Please wait a moment, Senior. We’ll go notify the family head to discuss this.”

“Fine, but don’t keep me waiting too long. My patience has limits.”

“Yes, yes, yes…”

Not long after, Shen Yue hurriedly arrived in a panic.

A few Martial Kings arrived at the same time as Shen Yue.

These Martial Kings were responsible for guarding the Star Source. Hearing that the thief who stole the Star Source had walked right into their trap, they rushed over, afraid the culprit might escape.

“Where is the thief! Come forth and die!!”

Seeing this, Shen Yue used the *Stellar River Divine Art* to press them to the ground, manually silencing them.

“Shut up! You blind fools!”

No one blamed the Shen Family’s high-ranking members for being so two-faced in front of Chen Yi.

In the current human world, the only true, living Martial God was one!

The Free and Unfettered God spent more time in the Time Room than in reality—being alive there was as good as being dead.

Shen Yang, a hardcore homebody, rarely left the Star Force Mystic Realm, relying on soul usurpation to extend his life. His body was often in poor condition, essentially only half-alive.

Only Hua Wuyan was perfectly normal, without that heavy sense of disconnect.

But comparing Hua Wuyan to Chen Yi was like comparing the dying embers of a sunset to the rising sun of dawn.

Seeing such a young Martial God radiating such vigorous life force, how could Shen Yue not be shocked and in awe?

This meant that from now on, the human world would belong to this young Martial God’s era!

“Senior wishes to see our Founding Ancestor. This junior will arrange it immediately.”

Shen Yue was much older than Chen Yi—at least in the triple digits.

But he still had to call him Senior.

Chen Yi teased him.

“You young ones are pretty savvy, huh. Not bad.”

Soon after, Chen Yi entered the Star Force Mystic Realm and saw Shen Yang playing chess alone under a willow tree.

“Old Shen, still playing chess?”

Shen Yang didn’t look up, but his Divine Sense had already scanned Chen Yi hundreds of times.

“Still? Have we met before?”

“Haha, you wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

“Understand?”

Old Shen hated it when people said he didn’t understand something.

But he didn’t press the matter. He was more curious about where this Martial God named Chen Yi had come from.

“May I ask where you learned your skills, sir?”

“Self-taught!”

“Not convenient to say? Hah. In this world, what force needs to hide from the Shen Family?”

Chen Yi smiled without replying.

“I’m telling the truth.”

Perhaps feeling Chen Yi wasn’t being sincere, Shen Yang’s face showed a trace of anger.

“You stole the Star Source, made off with the Qiankun Mirror, and now you brazenly come before me spouting nonsense. Do you think the Starry Domains are defenseless?!”

A powerful aura erupted from Shen Yang, carrying a thick scholarly air.

Chen Yi remained calm and composed, picked up a red chess piece, and captured one of the black pieces.

“Old Shen, don’t be angry. I won’t take your things for free. Consider the Star Source and the Qiankun Mirror as your trade for an opportunity.”

“Ridiculous. I’ve already cultivated to the pinnacle of the human world. What’s the use of even the greatest opportunity?”

“You said it yourself, ‘the pinnacle of the human world’…”

Shen Yang’s expression changed instantly.

This old scholar was sharp-minded and immediately understood.

“Do you have a way to reach the Real Realm?”

“Talking to a smart person is so easy.”

“Impossible. Every Martial God in history has failed to tear open the heavens. That unprecedented Great Demon is still wailing in the Great Wastes to this day. The path to breaking through the heavens is a dead end! No one can tread it!”

“Who said I was going to tear open the heavens?”

Shen Yang understood again. He even stood up abruptly, pointing at Chen Yi with a trembling finger.

“Don’t tell me… you know where the Path to Immortality is?”

“Why are you so excited?”

“If the Path to Immortality exists, it’s not just one person who can go to the Real Realm to pursue a higher level…”

So that was the source of Shen Yang’s excitement.

With the Path to Immortality, those exceptionally talented geniuses would no longer have to die with regrets because of the world’s limitations.

As long as they were willing, a longer path would lie right under their feet!

After his excitement subsided, Shen Yang calmed down and looked at Chen Yi with suspicion.

“You and I have no prior relationship—in fact, we have a bit of a grudge. The Path to Immortality is such a treasure. You’re just telling me like this?”

“Of course, things aren’t that simple…”

Chen Yi didn’t tell Shen Yang the exact location of the Path to Immortality, but he did tell him that enemies were guarding it, and they weren’t willing to share it with outsiders.

The enemies were strong, and Chen Yi didn’t want to take the risk alone, hoping the Shen Family would provide manpower and resources.

After obtaining the Path to Immortality, they would share the opportunity equally.

Chen Yi’s proposal for cooperation was reasonable, but Shen Yang remained very cautious and didn’t agree on the spot.

“You’re not messing with me, are you?”

“Do I look that idle to you?”

“Yes.”

“...”

Chen Yi covered his face.

“Old Shen, relying on your descendants to keep extending your life isn’t a solution. You’re a genius. If you go to the Real Realm, you can go further, gain a longer lifespan, and greater power…”

“Power is secondary. I’m more curious about what kind of studies the cultivators in the Real Realm are pursuing.”

“Just like you.”

Shen Yang pondered for a while.

He figured even if he was being tricked, he had nothing to lose.

“Alright. Tell me, where is the Path to Immortality, and how many troops will be needed?”

“Troop numbers aren’t the key. We need elites and high-end combat power, but not too few either, because the enemy also has a certain scale. As for the location, I won’t tell you for now. Just gather the Shen Family army as quickly as possible and wait for me at the Golden Sand Beach.”

Golden Sand Beach was located on the northern shore of the continent. From there, setting out to sea would lead into the North Sea.

Shen Yang nodded, opening his mouth as if to say something.

“Brother Shen, if you have something to say, just say it.”

“Since you know about my situation, I won’t hide it from you. This body of mine is nearing its limit. Until I obtain a new one, my cultivation level will be unstable. I’m afraid I won’t be able to contribute much in the fight for the Path to Immortality.”

Chen Yi tapped his fingers on the chessboard.

“I can help you solve that problem… probably.”

Chen Yi didn’t want to force Shen Qingshan, so he had to add a “probably.”

“By the way, I need the Shen Family to lend me some materials.”

“What materials?”

“A set of materials for refining an Immortal Artifact. For the Shen Family’s foundation, that’s just pocket change!”

Shen Yang chuckled.

“I haven’t even seen the fruit yet, and you’re already collecting your harvest.”

“I can give you another piece of information. Once you verify that I haven’t lied to you, we can use it as a trade. How about that?”

“What information?”