As his words fell, Li Qiwen grabbed Zhou Kai. They transformed into a streak of azure light—a cyan rainbow tearing through the heavens—and vanished instantly.

The velocity of a Golden Core Grandmaster was something a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator could scarcely comprehend.

Zhou Kai felt the world blur into indistinct streams of color. The wind screamed in his ears, a sonic boom that dragged behind them. The slipstream was sharp enough to flay skin from bone, yet it was entirely negated by Li Qiwen’s protective spiritual barrier. Not a single hair on Zhou Kai’s head moved.

This was the majesty of the Golden Core stage.

In the time it took to burn a few sticks of incense, the streak of light decelerated abruptly and drifted down.

The moment his boots touched solid ground, Zhou Kai was hit by a wave of Spirit Qi so dense it felt viscous in his lungs.

He looked around. They were deep within the Crouching Tiger Mountain range. Ancient trees pierced the clouds, and vines coiled around them like slumbering dragons. He had never ventured this deep before; he only knew that this was the domain of Second Order ferocious beasts.

“The ruins are close,” Li Qiwen said. “Nascent Soul Seniors from the five Righteous Sects are stationed here.”

Halfway up the mountain, a newly excavated cave dwelling came into view.

The entrance lacked ornamentation. A massive boulder had simply been sheared flat to form a crude courtyard. It was plain and unadorned, yet it possessed a geometric perfection that made it seem as if the mountain itself had grown that way.

A figure stood in the courtyard.

He was a nondescript middle-aged man wearing simple gray robes. His build wasn’t imposing, his face forgettable. If you passed him on the street, you wouldn’t glance twice.

Yet, the moment Zhou Kai saw him, his heart seized.

Zhou Kai’s Divine Sense was comparable to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment—sharp, invasive, and keen. But in his perception, the man before him didn’t exist.

No, that wasn’t right. It wasn’t that he didn’t exist; it was that he was the environment. He was the wind, the rock, the ancient tree.

He stood there, perfectly integrated with the breathing rhythm of the Crouching Tiger Mountain range. His presence was a void—profound as the deep sea, unfathomable and terrifying.

Nascent Soul.

And definitely not an ordinary one.

“Father. Zhou Kai has been brought.” Li Qiwen stepped forward, presenting a jade slip and two thin booklets—the Delusional Dao Cicada Scripture and its derivative arts.

Zhou Kai didn’t dare breathe too loudly. He bowed deeply, his posture perfect. “Subordinate Zhou Kai pays his respects to the Senior.”

Li Juefeng. Peak Master of Yantian Peak. Patriarch of the Li Family.

His gaze finally withdrew from the distant sea of clouds and settled on Zhou Kai.

His eyes were calm as a stagnant pond, yet Zhou Kai felt stripped naked. It was a gaze that pierced through flesh, bone, and soul, seeing every secret he held dear.

“Creation Spirit Yang Body…”

Li Juefeng spoke slowly. His voice wasn’t loud, yet it resonated in Zhou Kai’s soul like a temple bell, carrying the weight of a Heavenly Edict.

“It is indeed a one-in-ten-thousand physique. But you must remember: water can float a boat, but it can also swallow it whole.”

“If your mind becomes biased, if you indulge solely in the Dao of Yin and Yang and attempt to climb to the heavens through desire alone… you will be discarding the root to chase the branches. You will never achieve the Great Dao.”

Zhou Kai’s heart tightened.

The warning was clear: Don’t let your lust control you. The Patriarch was admonishing him not to rely on his special physique to chase women endlessly. No matter how strong the physique, there was a limit to how many partners one could ‘support’ before the vessel capsized.

“This subordinate will keep Senior’s teachings in mind,” Zhou Kai replied respectfully, sweat forming on his back.

Li Juefeng didn’t respond. His gaze shifted to the items Li Qiwen held.

“The Delusional Dao Cicada Scripture is indeed of an extremely high grade,” he said indifferently. “But the Cicada Raiment Art and Cicada Tribulation Art? They are merely simplified, diluted versions of the scripture.”

What?

Zhou Kai’s mind reeled, though his face remained impassive.

Why does everyone have a different theory?

He believed they were stepping stones. Li Qiwen believed they were derived insights. Li Juefeng believed they were simplified downgrades. What secrets were hidden behind this scripture?

“You have rendered great service,” Li Juefeng said, cutting through Zhou Kai’s thoughts. “You deserve a heavy reward. Speak. What do you want?”

Here it comes.

Zhou Kai had prepared for this.

He had a dream: a mobile home where he could keep his harem safe, cultivating together in domestic bliss no matter where he traveled.

“Reporting to Senior… your subordinate presumes to ask for a spatial Dharma Treasure.”

Li Qiwen inhaled sharply.

A flicker of surprise passed through Li Juefeng’s eyes. He shook his head. “Your merits are insufficient to exchange for an object involving the Laws.”

Laws?

Zhou Kai blinked, confused.

Li Qiwen whispered an explanation. “Zhou Kai, a spatial Dharma Treasure that can hold living beings is not just about size. It requires constructing stable Spatial Laws. It must be able to evolve vitality internally—a self-contained Grotto-Heaven.”

“A Grotto-Heaven is a embryonic world. Your contribution, while great, cannot buy a world. The value of such an item rivals a Heaven-reaching Spiritual Treasure.”

So that’s how it is!

Zhou Kai mentally clicked his tongue. He had thought it was just a fancy Spirit Beast Bag for humans. He hadn’t expected to touch upon the concept of World Laws.

He quickly pivoted.

My long-range options are limited to the Hundred Beast Banner, but my insects aren’t ready. My Starfall Myriad Manifestation Hammer is a weapon technique, not a body cultivation method. My Roaming Dragon White Jade Body is too low-grade to support my current strength.

He needed power. Specifically, ranged power or body durability.

He bowed again.

“It was your subordinate being overly ambitious. I apologize. I have another request.”

“I primarily cultivate hammer techniques, which place extreme stress on the physical body. My current body-tempering method can no longer keep up with my cultivation, throttling the power of my strikes. In close combat, I feel fragile.”

“Furthermore, I lack long-range offensive methods. I humbly request a high-grade Body Tempering method and a long-range offensive Dharma Treasure to shore up my weaknesses.”

This was a much more pragmatic request.

Li Juefeng nodded, a trace of approval softening his expression.

He pondered briefly, then flicked his finger. A flash of light coalesced into an ancient jade slip, hovering before Zhou Kai.

“This is the Five Emperors Prison Suppression Sutra.”

Zhou Kai grabbed the slip. It felt warm and heavy. As he probed it with his Divine Sense, a vast, ancient pressure slammed into his mind.

“This method draws upon the power of the Five Elements to temper the five viscera,” Li Juefeng explained. “The Liver is Wood—the Green Emperor. The Heart is Fire—the Red Emperor. The Spleen is Earth—the Yellow Emperor. The Lungs are Metal—the White Emperor. The Kidneys are Water—the Black Emperor.”

“Once your five viscera achieve the status of Emperors, you can unify the Five Elements to forge the Five Emperors Prison Suppression True Body. Your body will become a prison in itself, capable of suppressing heaven and earth, bearing the weight of the universe.”

Zhou Kai listened, his blood boiling with excitement. This was exactly what he needed.

Li Juefeng added with a faint, knowing smile, “You possess the Creation Spirit Yang Body. Completing the Five Elements by generating an Earth Spirit Root… that shouldn’t be difficult for you, should it?”

Zhou Kai realized the Patriarch saw right through his cultivation cheating methods. He bowed hastily. “Many thanks to Senior for bestowing this method!”

“As for the Dharma Treasure…” Li Juefeng paused. He flicked his finger again, and a fist-sized chunk of ore, shimmering with starlight, flew toward Zhou Kai. “This is Star Iron Essence. It is supreme material for refining flying swords.”

Zhou Kai caught the heavy ore. Just raw material?

Li Juefeng glanced at him meaningfully. “Is there not a young lady from a refining family by your side? Refining a flying sword should be child’s play for her.”

The Yu Family?

Zhou Kai was taken aback. Fish Baibai’s family is a refining clan? No wonder she’s a Second-Grade Refiner at her age!

Zhou Kai bowed deeply once more. “Your subordinate understands. Many thanks for the guidance!”

“Go.” Li Juefeng waved his hand, his gaze returning to the sea of clouds.

Zhou Kai respectfully withdrew, summoning his Spirit Boat to fly toward the Chen Family estate.

Silence returned to the courtyard.

“That young man,” Li Juefeng spoke leisurely to the air, “if used well, might become your Guardian in the future.”

Li Qiwen’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. He stepped forward.

“Father. This child believes that Zhou Kai… might also be the perfect Guardian for Li Youci. With his assistance, Youci might have a chance to compete with me for the position of Sect Leader!”

Li Juefeng remained silent.

He stood still for a long time—long enough for the wind to sweep the fallen leaves into a spiral and let them settle again.

Finally, he spoke, his voice carrying a weight that made the air tremble.

“If Youci can see through the tribulation of her Ghost Body…”

He turned to his son.

“Then you need not compete at all.”