Stepping into the pavilion, Qi Yuan found the interior surprisingly stark. The four walls were bare, the space simple and unadorned, devoid of any furnishings save for a single rush cushion.

Seated cross-legged on the cushion was a young maiden clad in palace attire, appearing no older than fourteen or fifteen. She possessed skin like snow and a countenance like a flower, her temperament pure and exquisitely beautiful. Her long, narrow peach-blossom eyes shone with a crimson-gold hue, and a wondrous rhythm flowed around her, nourishing all things like sweet rain—a presence brimming with vigorous vitality and youth.

Merely standing in her presence, Qi Yuan felt as though he were basking in a spring breeze. A sense of comfort and ease washed over him, sweeping away all fatigue and worldly clamor.

At this moment, the maiden’s starry eyes lowered slightly, casting a faint, indifferent glance at Qi Yuan standing not far before her.

Feeling her gaze, Qi Yuan’s heart, however, was scorching with anxiety.

He could now confirm it with absolute certainty: The Command Mantra does absolutely nothing!

From the moment he stepped into the pavilion, he had been frantically chanting the Command Mantra Elder Shi had taught him in his mind. Yet, Cheng Feihuang sat there without the slightest reaction.

Fuck!

That old bastard actually dared to scam me!

Qi Yuan recalled Elder Shi’s solemn vow: “Once you encounter the Cheng Huang, simply recite the mantra silently, and it will become docile and obedient. There is zero risk.”

And this was the result?

To think I actually believed him!

Fraud! Absolute scammer!

Forcibly suppressing the urge to vomit blood, Qi Yuan maintained a façade of nonchalance. He bowed respectfully and spoke with an even tone, “Qi Yuan, Holy Scion of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary, pays respects to Ancestor Feihuang!”

At a critical juncture like this, he absolutely could not reveal any flaws. Otherwise, this would truly turn into “delivering his head from ten thousand miles away”—dying of sheer stupidity would be too aggrieved a way to go.

As for reciting the Command Mantra out loud? That would be an act of stupidity beyond measure. In front of a late-stage Great Ascension existence, if he could even finish the first syllable without being vaporized, it would count as his fate being exceptionally tough.

Just you wait, Qi Yuan swore internally, grinding his teeth. Once I get out of here, I will definitely go back and chop that old bastard Shi into eight pieces, then throw his ring into a latrine pit to soak for three thousand years!

Of course, right now, he had to figure out how to survive this level first…

Just as Qi Yuan was racking his brain for a countermeasure, the maiden’s vermilion lips parted slightly. Her voice was clear and melodious, like a yellow oriole leaving a valley.

“Qi Yuan, I perceive a wisp of Heavenly Dao Merit Qi upon your person. Whence did you obtain it?”

Hearing the question, Qi Yuan couldn’t afford to overthink. He hurriedly improvised an explanation based on half-truths. “Reporting to Ancestor, this Junior once saved a ten-thousand-year-old plant spirit, and thus obtained a wisp of Heavenly Dao Merit Qi.”

“So that is the cause.”

The maiden nodded, her tone turning gentle and warm. “To have Merit Qi bestowed upon you proves that your benevolent deed has gained the recognition of the Heavenly Dao. In the future, you shall surely be blessed with profound fortune; your prospects are limitless.”

For some reason, she felt quite favorably disposed toward this junior. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to grant an audience to an unfamiliar cultivator from an external sect. To gain the Heavenly Dao’s praise itself proved that this youth’s nature was pure and good; he couldn’t possibly be a villain.

Sensing the appreciation in her words, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the [Spirit Affinity] talent and the “Heavenly Dao Merit” (which was actually just a system reward) had garnered him some initial favorability with this Cheng Huang beast.

Through the special intuition granted by [Spirit Affinity], he had completely confirmed his theory: Ancestor Feihuang was not human, but the innate divine beast, Cheng Huang.

While his thoughts raced at lightning speed, Qi Yuan remained composed on the surface, wearing a humble expression. “Senior praises me too highly. This Junior merely did a small deed within my power. I harbor absolutely no pride or complacency. Rather, this Junior’s presumptuous visit is truly impolite, and I hope Senior does not take offense.”

He knew the truth of his own affairs. The so-called Heavenly Dao Merit Qi was just a quest reward; it had nothing to do with the Heavenly Dao’s actual recognition. Judging by the fact that he was struck by heavenly tribulation lightning twice during his Nascent Soul formation, the Heavenly Dao probably despised him.

“For you to possess such a mindset is rare indeed.”

The maiden chuckled lightly and nodded, not pursuing the matter further. Instead, she asked, “Speak. What is the purpose of your visit this time?”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. He knew clearly that if he couldn’t provide a reasonable explanation right now, suspicion would immediately fall upon him.

He couldn’t exactly say, “I was bored, so I stole your Holy Maiden’s token to come over for a tour,” could he?

If he said that, he would likely experience the wrath of a Great Ascension divine beast within seconds. No amount of favorability points would save him then.

But… how to explain this?

Qi Yuan’s mind spun rapidly, searching for a plausible narrative. Suddenly, an idea struck him. His spirits lifted, and he summoned his most sincere, earnest expression.

“Ahem, Senior… This Junior came this time… actually, to propose marriage!”

Propose marriage?

Cheng Feihuang was stunned. She looked at Qi Yuan with a strange expression, a moment of genuine confusion flickering in her crimson-gold eyes. “The Holy Scion of the dignified Supreme Mystery Sanctuary has run all the way here to propose marriage to me, an Ancestor of the Exquisite Sanctuary?”

Qi Yuan steadied his mind and spoke with deep, heartfelt emotion, “To be frank, this Junior and your sect’s Holy Maiden, Fairy Xiao, are close confidants. From the moment I first saw her, I was deeply infatuated with Fairy Xiao’s peerless grace and charm.”

“Not long ago, Fairy Xiao agreed to help me find a place with excellent Feng Shui within the Exquisite Sanctuary to bury the ashes of a deceased friend. Unexpectedly, due to a strange twist of fate, we were accidentally bewitched by a ten-thousand-year-old Phantom Star Fruit and fell into an Illusion Realm. Sect Leader Shao also fell into the illusion with us.”

Qi Yuan sighed, his face a mask of regret. “Because that Illusion Realm was truly too absurd, this Junior inadvertently committed some… blasphemous acts. Although no major line was crossed, it truly damaged Fairy Xiao’s pure reputation.”

“After escaping the Illusion Realm, this Junior was filled with extreme self-reproach. I felt truly ashamed to face Fairy Xiao’s goodwill. But as a man, one must take responsibility for one’s mistakes.”

“Therefore, this Junior boldly came here to request Fairy Xiao’s hand in marriage. I beg Senior to grant permission!”

After hearing him finish, Cheng Feihuang fell silent.

Could it be that young people nowadays are so bold for love?

To dare claim before her—an Ancestor of the Exquisite Sanctuary—that he wanted to marry the Exquisite Holy Maiden?

For some reason, she felt a stirring of emotion. As an auspicious beast representing longevity and, in many legends, pure connection, she had a soft spot for those who were brave and loyal in love.

But immediately, she thought of another key point, and her brows furrowed.

“Holy Scion Qi.”

Cheng Feihuang sighed lightly, her tone turning slightly stern. “According to the Exquisite Sanctuary’s rules, the Holy Maiden cannot marry an outsider. Moreover, this appears to be merely your own one-sided wishful thinking; you haven’t sought the Holy Maiden’s own opinion. I cannot agree to this.”

Yes, yes, yes!

This was exactly what Qi Yuan wanted to hear.

He knew that the Cheng Huang in ancient legends was a beast of chastity and pure love. It was this very Ancestor Feihuang who had intervened to forcefully reform the Joyous Union Sect over a hundred years ago.

If he pretended to be a “simp” deeply infatuated with Xiao Yueni, seeking to take responsibility, not only would he avoid punishment, but he might also mitigate the earlier disaster with the Illusion Realm.

With Cheng Feihuang’s transcendent status within the Exquisite Sanctuary, resolving such a “small misunderstanding” would be a matter of a single word from her.

But before he could continue his act, another respectful voice drifted in from outside the tree.

“Reporting to Ancestor: The Sect Leader and the Holy Maiden request an audience!”

They’re here!

Qi Yuan’s heart tightened, and he secretly thanked his lucky stars that he had arrived early.

If he had been a step later, his current situation would likely be fatal!

Old bastard surnamed Shi, I’ve figured it out now. You must have had a grudge against the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary in your past life and wanted to use a borrowed knife to kill me, didn’t you?

Just you wait!