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"Wu?"

Qin Tian glanced at Wu Hongdie. There weren't many people with the surname Wu.

"Hehe, I have nothing to do with your little fox girlfriend. I was born without a name. An old friend gave me the name Wu Hongdie." Wu Hongdie smiled charmingly, took a drag from her pipe, and blew a puff of smoke towards Qin Tian. The smoke was truly alluring, the fragrance wafting through the air.

"You know a lot."

Wu Bingchan had been taken away by the ancestor of the Nine-Tailed Fox lineage from Myriad Beasts Mountain in the lower realms. They had only met briefly, and few people knew that Wu Bingchan was his woman.

"Di Ting can discern everything in the world, past events, and even human hearts through hearing."

"The intelligence business is very profitable." Wu Hongdie smiled meaningfully.

Qin Tian's face darkened when he heard this. He wasn't sure if Di Ting knew about his incest with his mother or that he was the reincarnation of a demon. If he knew all this, he would have to reconsider whether Di Ting should continue to exist. "Don't worry. Everything in the Qin clan is priceless to me. I promised someone I'd keep all of the Qin clan's secrets." Wu Hongdie said calmly, seemingly sensing the murderous intent in Qin Tian's eyes.

"Someone? Who?" Qin Tian asked curiously.

"The ancestor of your ancient Qin clan."

At the mention of the Qin clan's ancestors, a flicker of memory flashed in her eyes.

"Another Qin clan ancestor?"

Yi Yu's ancestors had ties to the Qin clan, and so did Di Ting?

Were all the Qin clan ancestors' businesses so extensive? Why do I see their presence everywhere?

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I don't know how many years it's been since they died." Wu Hongdie swung her slender bare foot, tapping the ground lightly. She stood up, twisting her slender waist as she approached Qin Tian.

"Come with me! Chun Lan almost died because of you." Qin Tian's expression grew more serious when he mentioned this. He had put aside the matter of his Qin ancestors. He would ask the elders about it when he returned to the Qin clan.

"Stop staring at my butt. Hurry up and follow me."

Wu Hongdie glanced back and smiled, teasingly.

That smile was breathtakingly beautiful.

A light silk fan adorned a white orchid flower, a slender waist and jade belt danced in the air.

She looked like a fairy descended to earth, her smile gleaming brighter than the stars.

Although Qin Tian hadn't looked at Wu Hongdie's butt, this comment made him focus on her back.

The swaying waist, the slender legs, the graceful figure were all accentuated by the curves and elasticity of her butt.

Beautiful! Truly beautiful.

"Little brat, don't even think about hitting on me, unless you're trying to betray your master and ancestors," Wu Hongdie said without turning her head, wiggling her slender waist and hips, taking a puff from her pipe from time to time.

Qin Tian followed behind her, taking in her perfect curves. It would be a lie not to be moved, but he had more or less guessed something from Wu Hongdie's words.

She was most likely the wife of a Qin ancestor, or perhaps the one she loved was a Qin ancestor.

And this ancestor was already dead.

It was such a waste for such a perfect mature woman to remain a widow.

However, since she was a Qin ancestor, he had no reason to touch her. While Wu Hongdie was beautiful, she wasn't absolutely necessary.

Wu Hongdie led the way, seemingly able to read Qin Tian's heart. When she sensed that Qin Tian's desire for her had subsided, a subtle smile of satisfaction crossed her lips.

Soon, they arrived at a room.

The room was extremely bare, devoid of any furniture. Only a complex and powerful formation was carved in its center. Within the formation, a divine crystal, over a meter tall, stood.

The formation was operating, continuously pouring rich life energy into the divine crystal.

As he approached, he could see clearly that within the divine crystal was a naked young woman.

Her limbs were slender, her breasts were large and full, her legs were round and straight, and the lush grass between her legs was a dark, luminous green.

But even with such a voluptuous and alluring body...

Chun Lan's body was severely injured, including a hand and a leg.

Her arm was severed at the shoulder, and her leg was broken at the calf.

Currently, Chun Lan was sealed within the divine crystal, relying on the life formation to sustain her life.

Qin Tian knew Chun Lan was injured, but he hadn't imagined her injuries were so severe.

"Can she still be cured?"

Qin Tian, feeling somewhat sympathetic, turned to Wu Hongdie and asked.

"Huh..."

Wu Hongdie exhaled a puff of smoke, looked at Chun Lan in the divine crystal, and said, "I raised this girl from childhood. I'm much more heartbroken than you."

"Don't worry. The Ten Directions Ancient Ship holds enough wealth to buy an entire Dao Realm. While it might be a little difficult, curing her won't be a problem."

"Why did you sell the four of them to me?" Qin Tian was becoming increasingly confused by the Di Ting proprietress.

"My daughters have grown up, and it's time to find them a home. Although you're lustful and evil, you're kind to women. Thanks to your Qin ancestors, I'm giving you my daughter and her dowry." Wu Hongdie said coquettishly.

Truly, compared to the four women, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, Wu Hongdie more suited his taste. He didn't want a daughter; he wanted a mother.

Unfortunately, she was the woman of a deceased Qin ancestor.

If he went in, he'd feel somewhat disrespectful and treasonous.

Besides, he couldn't fathom this woman's cultivation, and he wasn't sure he could defeat her.

"You're truly lustful and audacious. Seeing a mature woman excites you so much?" Qin Tian's every thought seemed to be subject to her prying eyes, listening to everything and reading everyone's heart.

"Please don't pry into my heart. This is just a personal hobby." Qin Tian felt somewhat helpless. If this woman were anyone else, being able to peer into his heart would almost certainly result in death, as he held so many secrets.

Qin Tian gathered his thoughts and stopped dwelling on them.

"You might as well use your Magic Eyes of Judgment to look back." Wu Hongdie glanced meaningfully into Qin Tian's eyes.

"How much do you really know about me?" Qin Tian's gaze gradually grew colder.

"Hehe, that's all."

Qin Tian: "I don't care how much you know, or what your relationship is to my Qin ancestors. You'd better keep your mouth shut."

"Okay, okay, you're still threatening me." Wu Hongdie let out a look of grievance.

Qin Tian ignored her and approached the divine crystal that sealed Chun Lan. Runes swirled in his eyes, and his dark pupils shimmered with divine light.

His gaze fell on Chun Lan, following the long river of time upstream, tracing back to what had happened.

Purple Cloud Dao Realm...

Chun Lan arrived here with a group of people. This place was a dense forest.

"The clues point to the Purple Cloud Dao Realm. Everyone, be careful." Chun Lan sorted out the clues while examining the map of the Purple Cloud Dao Realm.

The Purple Cloud Dao Realm was not a very powerful Dao Realm. According to Di Ting's database, there wasn't even a Great Emperor ruling it.

The highest combat power was only four Quasi-Emperors.

This place is remote and peaceful, making the Purple Cloud Dao Realm a good choice for hiding.

"Big Sister Chun Lan, who is this Han Xiu?" A short-haired man stood atop a tall tree. He had four eyes that could see a thousand miles away, and he was keeping a vigilant eye on his surroundings.

"He's the man the young master requested, but he's overly cautious and rarely leaves his mark," Chun Lan said calmly.

The more she tracked down Han Xiu, the more she realized he was no ordinary person. Everything he had done was shocking, yet he was incredibly well hidden.

This kind of person is often incredibly terrifying, so she didn't dare neglect him. She had come to the Purple Cloud Dao Realm solely to investigate Han Xiu's hiding place. Once she found him, she would leave immediately, with no intention of engaging him.

"Four Eyes, keep your eyes peeled. Pay attention to any signs of movement." At this moment, a burly man with a flat head emerged from the dense forest. He approached Chun Lan and said, "Big Sister, I've already set up formations and restrictions around here. I've also investigated, and there's nothing unusual." "Uncle Yan, we're all out from Team 3 of Di Ting. You're being too cautious about just this little-known character, a name I've never heard of." Four Eyes observed the surroundings from atop a tree, speaking nonchalantly.

"Don't be careless. I'm trying to locate Han Xiu with the Soul-Chasing Array. Keep watch." Chun Lan held a piece of metal in her hand—the very same metal from the grenade Di Ting had found. She shifted her hand seals, sketching out array patterns, and soon a magic circle formed in her palm.

"Yes," several people nodded in response.

Team 3 of Di Ting consisted of six members, each one exceptionally talented and at the Dao Enlightenment Realm. The team leader, Uncle Yan, was at the Dao Body Realm. "So lively! Are you guys camping? Take me with you."

Just then, a playful voice suddenly echoed through the previously quiet forest.

This startled everyone, and Uncle Yan, the first to react, immediately located the source of the sound.

Atop a tree, a young man crouched, gazing at them with a grin.

"Damn it!"

"Siyan, what are you doing? You didn't notice they were right in front of you?" Uncle Yan and Chun Lan were startled, and Uncle Yan angrily scolded Siyan for his incompetence.

"Siyan?"

Uncle Yan hadn't heard Siyan's reply, and immediately sensed something was amiss. He quickly glanced towards the sentry post where Siyan was standing.

He found Siyan slumped over in the treetops, his eyes wide open in disbelief. A bloody hole the size of a finger etched in his forehead.

He was already dead.

"How is this possible! Four Eyes was at the Enlightenment Realm, after all, and he was killed without a sound!?" Uncle Yan looked at the young man smiling at them from the tree, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Chun Lan looked at the young man in the tree, her brows furrowed, her expression grim.

She knew this man; he was the entry point Qin Tian had initially suggested for investigating Han Xiu.

Qingshan Sect—Chang Qing.

"This young lady seems to know me? Your Di Ting intelligence agency is quite impressive," Chang Qing said with a smile.

"Are you human or a ghost?"

Chun Lan's spiritual energy surged. She was ready to take action, but she still had some doubts.

Chang Qing, seemingly only a teenager, was a figure from thousands of years ago. He had disappeared from the Qingshan Sect thousands of years ago and had a grudge against Han Xiu.

Han Xiu had also disappeared with him.

How had Chang Qing survived until now? His cultivation was weak, only at the Qi Training Stage. Someone with only half a foot in the doorway to cultivation couldn't possibly live for thousands of years.

It could be said that Chang Qing's cultivation and appearance were frozen in time thousands of years ago.

"What? Is there something the all-powerful Di Ting doesn't know?" Chang Qing laughed.

Uncle Yan: "He's only at the Qi Training Stage. I can kill him with a single breath. I want to see who he is!" With that, Uncle Yan was about to strike. The other members of Di Ting's third team also drew their own magical weapons, ready to kill Chang Qing.

"Hello, how dare you do this? You're outnumbered, bullying the weak. With so many of you, I'm going to call for help." Chang Qing stood up, looked at the people under the tree, smiled slightly, and snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, many people began to appear from the trees surrounding Chun Lan and the others.

They ranged from men and women, young and old, with cultivation levels ranging from the Qi Training Stage to the Guiyi Stage.

"They are..."

Chun Lan looked at the people surrounding them with shock. Some of them she didn't recognize, but several were within her investigation.

"Why are they here?" Her face darkened slightly, and she looked at Chang Qing in bewildered surprise. "You're not living!" Chang Qing feigned surprise, "Oh, what do you think?"

"Wen Long, Hou Junjian, Guitou Patriarch, Gui Qiurou." Chun Lan glanced at the figures in the crowd.

"Wen Long, 18 years old, died 3,500 years ago from murder for treasure."

"Hou Junjian, 23 years old, died 3,000 years ago from a mysterious place."

Chun Lan's face grew grim as she spoke. These people were all connected to Han Xiu, and she had tracked them down through clues. Yet, all of them, who had been dead for thousands or even hundreds of years, were now here.

"Pa, pa, pa!" Chang Qing clapped his hands in approval, praising, "As expected of a Di Ting member. Amazing! I've been so flawless and careful, yet I didn't expect you'd still find me here." "Did you know we've been investigating you?" Chun Lan looked at Chang Qing, then repeated, "Young Master Han Xiu." "Do you know what I hate most?" Chang Qing smiled at Chun Lan, raised his arm, and then, unexpectedly, it parted, revealing a pitch-black gun barrel.

"I hate clever people the most. Dealing with them is exhausting." A series of bangs erupted from the gun barrel, and suddenly, a fiery snake erupted from the pitch-black barrel, unleashing a barrage of bullets towards Chun Lan and the others.

"Be careful!"

Chun Lan shouted, instantly releasing her aura shield, blocking all the bullets.

Not only Chang Qing, but the others also extended their gun barrels from their arms, firing at Chun Lan and the others.

"What the hell is that? Why is it so powerful!" Uncle Yan's face grimaced. These things hit the shield with incredible force; a cultivator in the Qi Condensation Realm could never deliver such an attack.

"Run!"

Chun Lan quickly ordered. Each bullet wasn't a big deal, but with so many of them, she was starting to feel overwhelmed.

Swish!

Just then, a slight sound of air piercing was heard, and then a man's shield was shattered. A bullet pierced his forehead, blasting him in the head.

"Big Sister! Run!"

Uncle Yan's eyes raged at this. Even though he had heard countless rare treasures and magical instruments, this was the first time he had seen one like this. A cultivator in the Qi Condensation Realm could actually use it to kill a cultivator in the Dao Condensation Realm!

"AMR-2 large-caliber heavy sniper rifle, firing 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets, with strong penetration and high lethality, and an effective range of 1.5 kilometers." Chang Qing smiled, then pointed his thumb behind his head and said again, "Just run! I'll even let you run a few hundred meters." A man on a distant mountain was aiming a sniper rifle at Chun Lan and the others.

"By the way, with improvements to immortal cultivation materials, the range has been increased to 3 kilometers. If you don't have Saint-level or higher defenses, you'll be in big trouble." "Forget it, you won't understand even if I tell you this." Chang Qing pointed at Chun Lan, and immediately three more people were shot in the head by sniper rifles, their spiritual shields becoming as fragile as paper.

"Hurry and break through! These magic weapons are too powerful!"

Chun Lan shouted, leading the remaining people in a rush.

Chang Qing waved his hand: "Chase them, kill them all, leave no one alive." The scene ended there.

The divine patterns in Qin Tian's eyes dissipated. With his current strength, he couldn't reverse the flow of time for much longer.

But he could guess what happened next. Most of Chun Lan's injuries were from the explosion, and one hand and one foot had been blown off.

She probably used weapons like grenades or mines.

But why did Chun Lan survive?

Qin Tian felt something was amiss. Based on his understanding of Han Xiu, he seemed like the archetype of a protagonist from a traditional immortal cultivation novel.

Cautious, decisive in killing, and meticulously thought-provoking.

This kind of protagonist had risen step by step from mortal form, and their golden fingers wouldn't be too abnormal. But it was precisely this kind of protagonist that was difficult to deal with, because they weren't brain-dead.

There was no brotherhood, no family or love, only loneliness and freedom from attachment.

From the images he saw, it was easy to conclude that these people, tentatively called robots, were all enemies or foes Han Xiu had encountered previously.

It was clear how ruthless he was. He didn't even show up, but instead controlled his robots to kill the entire Di Ting team.

But it was this person who actually allowed Chun Lan to survive.

Just then, Wu Hongdie spoke up, "I've carefully examined Chun Lan's body. There's no trace of any aura or other magical spells."

"Don't overthink it. Chun Lan is quite capable." Wu Hongdie didn't take it too seriously. Even if she had some tricks, they would be futile within her Ten Directions Ancient Ship.

Even a Great Emperor wouldn't be able to breach this Ten Directions Ancient Ship, let alone Han Xiu.

"Your pregnant wife is here. Do you want to go see her?" Wu Hongdie chuckled.

"Yan Duo'er?" Qin Tian was stunned, then remembered what he had said to Dong Mei at Luohen Immortal Dynasty. There was a very good pregnancy-preserving magic tool in Di Ting, and he would bring Duo'er to Di Ting when the time came.

"Of course. My children and wife are here, how could I not go?" "Come with me." She took Qin Tian's hand and led him out of the room.

Feeling the softness and smoothness of her hand, Qin Tian couldn't help but feel a little distracted. He couldn't help but ask, "Auntie Hong, what is your relationship with my ancestor?" Wu Hongdie paused and turned to look at Qin Tian. Her gaze lingered on him for a long moment, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes before she smiled faintly.

"Why? Seeing Auntie Hong's beauty, you even want my ancestor's woman?"

"How old are you?" Qin Tian was curious. Since he was an ancestor, it must be more than just a few thousand years old.

"It's very rude to ask a woman's age." Wu Hongdie tapped Qin Tian on the head with her pipe.

She looked at Qin Tian, shook her head, and smiled, "You look a lot like him, but you're not him." Qin Tian was a little disappointed. He only knew one deceased ancestor of the Qin clan: the half jade pendant Yi Yu had given him.

"What jade pendant? Let me see it."

Just as Qin Tian had just thought of half the jade pendant, Wu Hongdie spoke up.

"Ah, this... Aunt Hong, could you please stop reading my mind?" Qin Tian said helplessly.

"Hehe, it's a passive skill. There's nothing I can do about it." Wu Hongdie chuckled softly.

Qin Tian took out the half jade pendant Yi Yu had given him and handed it to Wu Hongdie. He hadn't expected Wu Hongdie to even know such avant-garde terms as "passive skill."

"It's him!"

Wu Hongdie took the jade pendant, sensing its lingering aura, and exclaimed in surprise. Then, cradling it in both hands, a look of longing etched across her beautiful face.

Her eyes gleamed with longing as she gazed at the half-piece of jade in her hand. A choked whisper murmured, "You're here? You said you'd come find me. I've been waiting for you..." Seeing this, Qin Tian felt completely resigned.

After a moment, once Wu Hongdie had calmed down, he asked, "Auntie Hong, who is the owner of this jade pendant?"

"Sorry, I lost my composure," Wu Hongdie gathered her thoughts, then reluctantly returned the jade pendant to Qin Tian.

Her charming smile reappeared as she said, "He's the bad guy, but I can't tell you his name. It would affect karma."

"A single name could affect karma?" Qin Tian was stunned. Was she even human?

"I don't know, but he told me anyway." Wu Hongdie recovered quickly, no longer showing the trace of longing she had just endured.

Qin Tian wanted to ask more questions, but seeing Wu Hongdie already walking forward, Qin Tian knew she didn't want to say more, so he continued to follow her.

Qin Tian and Wu Hongdie soon arrived at a room. Wu Hongdie seemed to have the ability to shrink the earth to an inch while on the Ten Directions Ancient Ship, which was incredibly large, so large it was a world unto itself.

But Wu Hongdie only walked for a moment before she arrived at a completely different place.

Pushing the door open, she saw a beautiful, red-haired pregnant woman sitting upright on a chair.

Accompanying her was not Hu Jiuli, but a white-haired woman. While her appearance was pure and beautiful, her figure was slender and petite, like a little girl who hadn't grown up.

However, what concerned Qin Tian most was the empty sleeve of her shirt.

One arm!

"Husband," Yan Duo'er shouted happily upon seeing Qin Tian, standing up.

"Duo'er," Qin Tian reached forward and took her hand. Yan Duo'er was no longer suitable for hugging, her belly already protruding.

Qin Tian glanced at the white-haired, one-armed girl standing nearby and asked, "Who are you?"

"Listen carefully, Four Beauties, Qiu Zhu greets the Young Master." Qiu Zhu bowed gently, her posture graceful and elegant, her manners elegant, evident in her well-educated upbringing.

Qin Tian looked at her. Now he had seen all four beauties: Chun Lan, Dong Mei, Xia Ju, and Qiu Zhu.

Dong Mei was eyeless.

Xia Ju was legless.

Qiu Zhu was armless.

Except for Chun Lan, they were all imperfect beauties. Perhaps this imperfection made them look even more unique and different, but now Chun Lan had lost both a hand and a foot.

All four beauties were the same.

"Didn't Jiuli come with you?" Qin Tian asked.

Yan Duo'er: "Jiuli is in seclusion, preparing to reach the Saint Realm. Mother is also protecting her, so I came alone." Qin Tian wasn't worried about Yan Duo'er's safety. She now exuded the aura of at least four Great Emperors. If anyone attacked her, the Great Emperors of the Luohen Immortal Dynasty and the Qin Clan would instantly appear at her side.

You're kidding! Yan Duo'er's belly is carrying Qin Tian's first child. The other Great Emperors wouldn't dare to attack.

"Qiu Zhu, take Young Master Qin and Madam Yan to the Wanchun Fetal Pond," Wu Hongdie said. Then, looking at Qin Tian, her red lips kissed, "Little one, stay with your wife first. We'll discuss Han Xiu and the Chaos Destruction Flame later."

"Okay, Madam."

"No need. Let's talk first," Qin Tian declined. Although this might hurt Yan Duo'er's feelings, he wouldn't be at peace until Han Xiu's issue was resolved.

Qin Tian could clearly see the disappointment in Yan Duo'er's eyes.

With a slight heartbeat, he approached Yan Duo'er, gently stroking her long, flaming red hair. Seeing her close her eyes comfortably, he whispered, "I have something important to attend to. I apologize."

"Well, my husband, there's no need to apologize. Men shouldn't dwell on romantic relationships. No matter what you do, no matter how far you go, the children and I will be waiting for you right here." Qin Tian's hands remained gentle, his eyes filled with fondness.

Yan Duo'er's face flushed with intoxication, deeply enjoying immersing herself in this wonderful, warm feeling.

"Let's go," Hong Die observed the loving couple, feeling a mixture of emotions.

Qin Tian and Hong Die arrived at a room, sat facing each other, and began to discuss business.

"Let's talk about the Chaos Destruction Flame first. You spent so much just to borrow it from me. What are you going to do with it?" Qin Tian asked first.

Hongdie took a puff of her cigarette, exhaled the smoke, and said calmly, "This isn't some secret."

"Do you know how much it costs to maintain the Ten Realms Ancient Ship? Every time it appears, it consumes the entire wealth of an ancient sect."

"Even routine maintenance costs billions."

"The Chaos Destruction Flame can solve this problem. The energy emitted by this number-one exotic fire in the entire Dao Realm is enough to keep the Ten Realms Ancient Ship running for tens of thousands of years." The energy issue is indeed a huge problem. The Ten Realms Ancient Ship is comparable to a Dao Realm, a realm unto itself, so its consumption is naturally terrifying.

"Are you not going to return it to me? Tens of thousands of years??"

Qin Tian realized what Hongdie meant. This woman is not a good person. Damn it, she said she would borrow it, and now it's tens of thousands of years.

I should have set a deadline earlier. Dealing with merchants can be very costly if you're not careful.

"Hehe, don't be so stingy. I've given you the four benefactors, to whom I share a mother-daughter bond, as well as the Chamber of Commerce they manage. I'm only borrowing them for a few tens of thousands of years," Hongdie said with a sweet smile. This was her real purpose. She borrowed it with her own ability, so why should she pay it back?

"Forget it, you can borrow it for as long as you want, but I have one request." Qin Tian looked at Hong Die and said seriously, "This Chaos Destruction Flame is a relic of an old friend of mine. You can use it, but don't damage it."

"That actually surprises me, that you actually know Nian Ruyun." Hong Die looked at Qin Tian with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Nian Ruyun is an unforgivable evildoer, a murderer, arsonist, and even a clan leader. She's incredibly evil."

"But since you were able to obtain the Chaos Destruction Flame, you must have met Nian Ruyun."

"But I'm curious, are you tracking down Han Xiu just to avenge Nian Ruyun?" Qin Tian fell silent. Nian Ruyun was a villain from the previous generation. She completely believed in the system and the will of the world, becoming a complete villain.

But ultimately, she went down the path of self-destruction.

"Han Xiu and I have some fateful connection," Qin Tian made up an excuse. After all, Hong Die didn't understand what he was talking about with the system, villain, or protagonist.

Actually, there wasn't much to discuss about Han Xiu. After all, there was so little information available. Whenever he appeared, he disguised himself as inconspicuous, blending in with the crowd.

"Han Xiu is in the Ziyun Dao Realm, right?" Qin Tian asked.

"Well, what's certain is that he's there, but a Dao Realm is so vast, finding him is like searching for a needle in a haystack." "That's fine, I have my own way. With Chun Lan's situation, Di Ting shouldn't pursue the matter any further. I just need to know which Dao Realm he's in," Qin Tian said. His logic was simple: he only needed to know a rough range. Wherever the protagonist was, there would be no peace.

If anything major happened within that range, it was likely related to the protagonist. Even if they weren't, they would be involved.

At that point, even if it meant killing everyone, they would still be involved to force Han Xiu out.

A dark glint flashed in Qin Tian's eyes. If he wasn't afraid of damaging the reputation he'd maintained for so many years, he would even consider asking the ancestors to seal off the entire Dao Realm and wipe out the Ziyun Dao Realm.

The Ziyun Dao Realm is a remote, outer Dao Realm, without even a Great Emperor in charge.

But even if he could absolutely kill Han Xiu, even if he destroyed a Dao Realm and killed billions of lives, his reputation would crumble, and he would follow the same path as Nian Ruyun.

So he had to go there in person and eliminate Han Xiu himself.

He still had confidence in dealing with Han Xiu. The images he had seen during the time travel back only showed machine guns and sniper rifles, and possibly explosive weapons like grenades.

Although these were powerful, they were still within Qin Tian's expectations. He was afraid Han Xiu would unleash some incredibly powerful sci-fi weapon.

That would be truly troublesome.

Qin Tian chatted with Hong Die for a while, sorting out the information Di Ting had gathered over time. The meeting was almost over.

Qin Tian was about to leave to find Yan Duo'er and spend some time with his beloved pregnant woman.

But Hong Die stopped him.

"Han Xiu is cunning and cautious, and probably a meticulous person. If we're not careful, something similar to what happened to Chang Qing might happen." Hong Die said, reaching into her arms and pulling out a tiny, palm-sized object resembling a puppy.

"This is a little gadget I created myself. You can call it Di Ting. It has the same talent as me: it can see into people's hearts and distinguish truth from falsehood. I'll give it to you." With that, the little creature leaped. Despite its small size, it leaped quite far, leaping directly from Hong Die's hands onto Qin Tian's shoulder.

Qin Tian found the little creature quite adorable. With Di Ting around, finding Han Xiu would be much easier.

"Thank you very much. I'll take my leave now." Qin Tian bowed to Hong Die, then, as if struck by something, he held out half a jade pendant and asked, "How about you keep this half? Its owner must be very important to you, right?" Hong Die looked at the jade pendant in Qin Tian's hand. After a moment's silence, she shook her head slightly and said, "No need. He said everything has a cause and an effect. He told me not to do anything but wait for him to come back. Since this jade pendant is in your hands, it must be some kind of cause and effect."

"He's dead, right? Are you really going to wait forever?" Qin Tian asked.

"Hehe, little one, you still haven't given up. I promised him I'd wait for him forever, even if he died, I'd still wait for him."

"I believe, in the end, he'll come for me," Hong Die said.

What is love in this world? It makes people pledge their love for each other, even through life and death.

For a promise, she was willing to wait a lifetime, until she could be reunited with him in death.

"Okay, goodbye," Qin Tian shrugged, and was about to leave. Suddenly, the world they were in shook violently, accompanied by a massive explosion.

Hongdie's expression froze as she asked, "What's going on?"

"Is the Ten Directions Ancient Ship under attack?" Qin Tian frowned.

"Impossible! The Ten Directions Ancient Ship is as large as a Dao Domain. Let's not even talk about whether the defensive formations surrounding it can be breached. Even if it were under attack, it wouldn't shake like this."

"Inside!" Hongdie and Qin Tian said simultaneously.

The Ten Directions Ancient Ship was under attack from within.

Hongdie's beautiful face turned furious. Spiritual energy surged throughout her body as she shouted, "Investigate! Seal off all exits of the Ten Directions Ancient Ship and find this traitor!" Immediately, everyone aboard the Ten Directions Ancient Ship sprang into action.

At this moment, the formations above the Ten Directions Ancient Ship suddenly began to vanish, leaving it without any defensive capabilities.

"Your Majesty, this is bad news! The Ten Directions Ancient Ship's defense core has been attacked, and all its formations have been temporarily ineffective." At this moment, Xia Ju, along with Yi Yu, Xiao Meng, and Fan Shu, came running over.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Meng hurried to Qin Tian's side, gripping his sleeve with some concern.

Although she often called Qin Tian a villain who only knew how to bully her, after all, Qin Tian's methods for obtaining her were not honorable.

But when the moment came, Qin Tian was still the only person she could rely on.

"It's okay, don't worry." Qin Tian patted Xiao Meng's head in comfort.

"Young Master, an unidentified spacecraft is approaching." Yi Yu gazed skyward, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

Boom!

Another explosion, this time from outside, could be clearly seen as a ball of fire rose from a spot on the Ten Directions Ancient Ship.

Then, a spacecraft flew from the horizon into the Ten Directions Ancient Ship.

Qin Tian and Yi Yu simultaneously looked towards the ship.

Runes swirled in Qin Tian's eyes, allowing him to see all the truths of time.

Yi Yu's eyes shone with gilded fire, like a pair of blazing golden suns, capable of penetrating the subtlest details, their gazes drawing arrows wherever they went.

One possessed the Devil Eyes of Judgment, the other the Golden Eyes of Extreme Vision.

To them, a spaceship landed on the Ten Directions Ancient Ship. Many people, some honest and some not, disembarked, numbering around a hundred.

These few hundred men were insignificant to the Ten Directions Ancient Ship.

But Qin Tian spotted several of the men who had besieged Chun Lan.

"These people are Han Xiu's men!" Qin Tian blurted out.

Then, he muttered to himself, seemingly unconcerned, "I was just about to find you, but I didn't expect you to come to me first."

"My Lady, urgent reports are coming in from multiple locations within the ancient ship. A group of people have suddenly appeared, indiscriminately attacking and destroying the ship." Xia Ju, clutching a sound-transmitting jadeite in one hand, reported the information she had received with a grim expression.

"Dong Mei has already led Di Ting Teams 2, 6, and 7 to clear out the situation."

"These are the people who injured Chun Lan. You'd better bring some cultivators or magical artifacts above the Saint Realm," Qin Tian warned.

"Okay, I'll notify everyone." Xia Ju quickly picked up the sound-transmitting jadeite, ensuring that each team had at least one Saint Realm cultivator and at least one magical artifact above the Saint Realm.

This group's destructive power was immense. Soon, from above, the Ten Directions Ancient Ship was ablaze with explosions and flames in multiple locations.

"In all my years, this is the first time anyone has dared to touch me!" Hong Die was practically livid.

But she was somewhat helpless. The Shifang Ancient Ship was Di Ting's headquarters, but Di Ting was a guild organization. Furthermore, the Shifang Ancient Ship sailed through the rifts of the universe year-round, protected by a shield even the Great Emperor couldn't penetrate. Therefore, Di Ting didn't possess many offensive weapons.

"No... Oops! Intruders are coming from the direction of the Wanchun Fetal Pond!" Xia Ju's face changed upon receiving this news, and she looked at Qin Tian with some uneasiness.

Yan Duo'er was currently at the Wanchun Fetal Pond!

"Duo'er!" Qin Tian was startled, but without further ado, he quickly called to Yi Yu, "Yi, protect Xiao Meng." With that, Qin Tian's figure vanished into a shadow, instantly disappearing.

"Damn Han Xiu, if you dare touch Duo'er, I'll tear you to pieces, even if it means destroying the entire Ziyun Dao Realm!"

Wanchun Taichi...

Yan Duo'er, heavily pregnant, stood by the spring pond. Her fiery red hair and clothes were still slightly damp, with tiny drops of water clinging to each strand.

She had just been bathing in the Wanchun Taichi Pond, letting her unborn child absorb the pool's protective energy.

Then, a sudden explosion occurred. With Qiu Zhu's help, she didn't even bother to wipe the water stains before getting dressed.

Yan Duo'er clutched the Yanyang Overlord Spear in one hand, the other hand holding the gun, and the other supporting her belly, staring intently at a young man outside the door.

Qiu Zhu, with his white hair and one arm, shielded Yan Duo'er behind him. Nothing must happen to Yan Duo, even if it meant her death!

Chang Qing stood at the door, watching Yan Duo'er inside, his expression a mixture of surprise and hesitation.

"Capture her. The child in her belly is a very useful hostage."

"No, if we touch her, the situation might escalate beyond our expectations." Chang Qing's mind was suddenly filled with thoughts. No, it was Han Xiu who was hesitating. None of these puppets were him, but his thoughts were connected to everyone.

"I, Chang Qing, greet Madam. Please don't wander off. It's dangerous out there." Chang Qing hesitated for a moment, then smiled and warned.

Yan Duo'er, or rather, the child in her belly. Han Xiu wasn't sure what Qin Tian would do if he touched Yan Duo'er.

Now was not the time to engage in direct battle with Qin Tian and the Qin clan, and he couldn't defeat them.

At least not yet.

"And please, Madam, give this to Young Master Qin if he arrives." Chang Qing placed a small, palm-sized square box at the doorway. Then he slowly retreated, disappearing into the Wanchun Fetus Pond.

As soon as Chang Qing left, Qin Tian hurried over.

As soon as he saw Yan Duo'er, he immediately came to her side and asked, "Are you okay?" Yan Duo'er shook her head and said, "I'm fine, but someone came here, and he didn't attack me." "That's good," Qin Tian breathed a sigh of relief.

Han Xiu was smart enough not to attack Yan Duo'er.

"But he asked me to give this to you." Yan Duo'er took out a small square box and handed it to Qin Tian.

Qin Tian recognized the small square box immediately; it was the Rubik's Cube from Earth.

"Did he say who he was?"

"He said his name was Chang Qing."

Qin Tian was stunned. Chang Qing was the guy who had approached and deceived him back in the Tianwu Immortal Dynasty.

"It seems Han Xiu himself didn't come. His target wasn't Duo'er. What was his purpose in attacking Di Ting?" Qin Tian had originally thought Han Xiu was coming for Yan Duo'er, but now he realized that wasn't the case.

Qin Tian waved his hand, and a massive golden scroll materialized behind him. It unfolded, revealing a vast expanse of land and rivers.

"Duo'er, enter the map of mountains and rivers and the state first. It's too dangerous outside." The scroll shone with golden light, and a tall woman emerged.

The woman was dressed in a cyan alchemy robe. While formal in appearance, it exposed several areas, revealing her delicate private parts.

A dan robe resembled a modern doctor's white coat, but it was cyan and transparent.

"Ling Xiao, take Duo'er to the alchemy pavilion to rest."

The woman was Ling Xiao, who had been practicing alchemy within the map of mountains and rivers and the state.

"I understand, Madam. Come with me." Ling Xiao stepped forward, taking Yan Duo'er's arm. Then he said, "I know you're pregnant. I've specially concocted a number of elixirs that are beneficial to the fetus. Go and try them."

"Miss Ling Xiao, long time no see." Yan Duo'er smiled faintly.

Ling Xiao is an alchemist. Alchemists are essentially like researchers; they wish they could stay indoors and focus on refining elixirs.

Besides, with so many races within the map of mountains and rivers and the state, there's no such thing as boredom.

Simultaneously, Jiaocai, Sha, and Heiyu emerged from the map of mountains and rivers and the state, leading members of the Jiaolong, Yincrow, and Binglang clans.

"Go and assist Di Ting in eliminating the invaders."

"Yes, sir!"

With the three clans joining the battle, Di Ting's situation was quickly stabilized, and they began hunting down the remaining remnants.

Qin Tian put away the map of mountains, rivers, and states, then looked at the Rubik's Cube in his hand. He gripped it with one hand, his five fingers dancing as the cube shifted. With a crisp sound, the six sides of the cube were restored.

If this Rubik's Cube had existed before Qin Tian's time travel, he would have been scratching his head, at a loss. But now, having entered the cultivation realm, his consciousness is clear, his soul is broadened, and as long as he understands the principles, he can figure it out with a little thought.

As the Rubik's Cube restored itself, it opened from both sides, revealing a storage box.

Inside was a piece of paper.

Qin Tian opened it, revealing a letter.

Fellow Earthling:

Hello!

We are both time travelers, both from the same hometown. I think we need to talk.

Your enemy is not me, and my enemy will not be you. I'm sure you have many doubts in your mind. Protagonists and villains are merely identities defined by Him. Everything about us is controlled by Him. Under His watchful eye, if you kill me, you lose your value.

A villain who has lost his value will have a next time. You should know all about it from Nian Ruyun.

If you're interested, we can collaborate.

Wishing you good health!

Written by: Han Xiu. This familiar letter format shows we're from the same hometown.

But...

Do you really think I'll believe him just because he wrote a few words?

True and falsehood are the most false.

"System, are you there?" Qin Tian called softly.

"Ding, host, this system is here."

The long-lost system voice echoed in Qin Tian's mind.

Qin Tian sneered, and seeing the letter in his hand sway, he said, "I don't care who you are, but please tell Him to return the previous system to me, otherwise I will seek cooperation with Han Xiu."

System: "..."

"When did you discover this, host?" The cold system voice sounded again.

Qin Tian said coldly, "Ever since leaving the Nine Abyss Secret Realm, I've sensed something's wrong with you." Qin Tian hadn't called the system in a while, and in fact, he had suspected for a long time that his system had been swapped.

Furthermore, the system's behavior in the Nine Abyss Secret Realm was also strange, as if someone was watching it.

If it had been before, if Qin Tian hadn't called the system for so long, the system would probably have come out to complain, instead of remaining silent.

"Ding, Villain P42, please wait a moment. The system is reporting."

Qin Tian frowned. This was the first time he'd heard the codename P42. Did this mean he was the 42nd villain chosen by the World Will?

"Surely there are so many..."

"Ding, the World Will has agreed. This system will be offline soon. The new one is loading."

"..."

"Host... I'm back." A pleasant female voice echoed in Qin Tian's mind again.

"Well, it's good to be back. I won't ask you any more questions. Let's continue our partnership." Qin Tian smiled, instantly feeling a sense of familiarity.

"Hmm." The system hummed softly.

Although Qin Tian was curious, he also knew there would be many restrictions and that even if he asked, he wouldn't get an answer.

Qin Tian looked at the Rubik's Cube in his hand, a wicked smile playing on his face.

"Although it's a little early, the goal has been achieved."

He had long suspected that his system had been swapped with the World Will, but he didn't have enough leverage to make demands. Han Xiu became a crucial bargaining chip.

"I suppose he's in the power room right now, his target indeed being the Chaos Destruction Flame." Qin Tian's eyes gleamed, a smile on his lips as he walked away.

He had always suspected Nian Ruyun was incredibly powerful back then, possessing the Chaos Destruction Flame, ranked first in the Great Thousand Dao Realm and capable of injuring a Great Emperor.

Was Han Xiu truly so formidable that he could kill Nian Ruyun without taking any damage?

Qin Tian had never been able to verify this suspicion, but now Han Xiu had proactively attacked Di Ting, not for Yan Duo'er or Di Ting's wealth.

So, his only goal remained: the Chaos Destruction Flame.

It was Han Xiu's proactive attack that confirmed Qin Tian's suspicions. Han Xiu was injured. He must have paid a heavy price in his battle with Nian Ruyun.

This price, even after a thousand years, hadn't fully recovered.

That was why he needed the Chaos Destruction Flame, relying on something of the same origin to repair himself.

Chang Qing's original appearance at the Tianwu Immortal Dynasty's Wutian Monument wasn't solely to contact him, but also to investigate the Chaos Destruction Flame, or perhaps to confirm Nian Ruyun's complete death.

"System, is Han Xiu aboard?" Qin Tian asked.

System: "No Destiny Protagonist has been detected aboard the Ten Directions Ancient Ship."

"Yes," Qin Tian nodded. Protagonists like Han Xiu are extremely cautious, so it's only natural that he hasn't been present.

By this time, the unrest on the Ten Directions Ancient Ship had been largely quelled.

Not only had the three tribes of the Mountain and River Realm joined in, but Yi Yu had also taken action.

He stood on the rooftop, clutching a golden bow, his body covered in gilded runes, carrying the Sun God Wheel on his back, his eyes like the radiant sun.

No matter how large the Ten Directions Ancient Ship was, or how well the intruders hid, they couldn't escape the gaze of its golden pupils. The sun-shooing arrows would pierce all obstacles and kill them.

These invaders had no way to hide, and Yi Yu's bow and arrows could reach far farther than a sniper rifle.

Just then, Yi Yu's head tilted as a bullet grazed his ear.

Golden eyes glanced at his slightly burned ear, then looked in the direction of the bullet.

In the distance, a man lay prone on the ground, holding a strange, club-like magical weapon.

"Interesting." Yi Yu gave him a cold look, then drew his bow and arrow, carefully tugging the string.

"Nine Arrows to Shoot the Sun, First: Pierce the Sun."

Bang!

The moment Yi Yu released his grip, a sonic boom erupted between bow and string. The arrow was released as fast as wind and thunder, almost imperceptible even to the naked eye.

Bang!

The sniper rifle spitted out a fiery flame, and a bullet streaked through the sky like a silent death.

Arrows and bullets collided, and a dazzling sun exploded in the air between them. But the next moment, a bolt of light pierced the sun, pinning the sniper-wielding invader to the ground.

Since ancient times, archers often clung to the wall, relying on the external force of their weapons. Ultimately, they fell.

…

Hongdie puffed on her pipe as she observed the three invaders before her, wiggling her round hips and moving her long legs.

"I'm not very skilled in combat, but you're really underestimating me."

"There's no escape! Kill her!" One invader, knowing his five options, decided to kill the woman before him.

"Haha, I'm really being underestimated. Auntie, I'm going to get angry." Hongdie twirled the pipe in her hand, placed it in her mouth, took a deep drag, and then exhaled.

The smoke was vast and misty.

The swirling smoke filled the entire space, then took shape, and towering guards emerged from it.

Each of them was tall and sturdy, clad in heavy full-body armor, wielding Azure Dragon Crescent Blades. They were imposing and powerful, their demeanor unleashing a murderous rage.

"Immortal Technique: Breathing Mist and Magical Smoke - Transformation: Cloud and Mist Guards."

"Capture them alive," Hongdie ordered.

As soon as Hongdie finished speaking, the Cloud and Mist Guards, formed from smoke, charged forward, their swords drawn, engaging in a brawl to perfection.

The invaders did resist, but these Cloud and Mist Guards were incredibly ruthless. Their blows were real, but your attacks were like hitting smoke, feeling nothing and inflicting no damage.

...

Inside the Ten Directions Ancient Ship, in the core area.

This was a vast expanse, with a raised platform in the center. Atop this platform sat a massive, porous sphere.

The overall structure was so massive that a single person standing before it seemed dwarfed.

Each hole in the sphere was connected to an output pipe, densely packed with them. Chang Qing stood on the platform, gazing up at the kinetic energy core. He raised his arms, thrust his hands into the core, and with a powerful twist, a small crack appeared. Suddenly, pitch-black chaos flames burst forth from the rift, and black roses blossomed in their glory.

Chang Qing was immediately engulfed in the black flames, but he did not melt immediately. Instead, runes illuminated his skin as he entered the core. Soon, Chang Qing, now largely burned, emerged from the core. He no longer resembled a human, revealing the delicate mechanical parts beneath his skin. However, much of his body had melted, and he stumbled out of the core. The blazing chaos-destroying flames had also dissipated.

"Chang Qing, do you still remember me?" A voice suddenly echoed from the vast space, and Chang Qing turned his head to look in its direction. Qin Tian walked in from outside.

"Chang... Qing, meet... meet... the Son of God." Chang Qing spoke haltingly, sparks occasionally exploding from his body.

"You're quite clever! You actually knew the Ten Directions Ancient Ship's defenses and core mechanisms were separate. You destroyed the defenses, then created chaos on board, luring everyone to the defenses, and yet you came here to steal the Chaos Destruction Flame."

"Ah, no, it's your master who's clever, am I right, Han Xiu?" Qin Tian looked at Chang Qing coldly.

"Son of God... you're... too... kind."

"Chang Qing... I can't... let... let my master come now..." Chang Qing tremblingly pulled out a jade pendant and crushed it.

"We finally meet. This generation's villain, number P42, Qin Tian." The speaker was a long-distance runner dressed in black with a crimson pattern, with short black hair, but his face couldn't be seen clearly.

"You're truly afraid of death. A mere projection doesn't even dare reveal its true form," Qin Tian scoffed.

"As the ancients said, 'Better safe than sorry.'" Han Xiu chuckled nonchalantly, then added, "No need for me to translate for you."

"You should have received what I left for you. When you've thought it through, come find me. I'm sure you'll find me."

"Goodbye."

Han Xiu finished, turning around and preparing to leave with the damaged Evergreen.

"You can go, but the Chaos Destruction Flame remains."

Qin Tian didn't need to hold back in front of Han Xiu; he knew more than anyone else.

A shattered, void universe enveloped the heavens and earth. Qin Tian's eyes transformed into demonic pupils, and twin horns sprouted from his head.

Demonic energy surged from his body like rolling waves.

The aura emanating from Qin Tian became terrifying and ominous, causing all living beings to tremble.

A pitch-black figure, resembling a demon god, towered before him. Its immensity was immense, like a monstrous demon, its body brimming with demonic energy.

Even at a distance of several meters, the demonic energy surged towards him, and even Han Xiu, whose features were indistinct, exuded a sense of heaviness.

Horror!

Terrifying!

Unspeakable, unspeakable, unseen!

The end of all life, the greatest calamity in the world, slaughtering all living things without regret.

This is the Heavenly Demon!

A feeling that trembled the very flesh and soul of all living beings emanated from Qin Tian.

"Oh, now that's what a villain should be like, but you can't stop me." Han Xiu remained unmoved as he watched Qin Tian unleash his Heavenly Demon form.

Qin Tian wasn't about to waste time on him. In a blur, he teleported in front of Han Xiu and unleashed a relentless punch.

"Three Thousand Demon Realms Kill!"

"Well-timed." Han Xiu didn't even dodge. Dazzling lightning suddenly erupted from his body, crackling with a loud noise.

The arc of lightning pierced the enveloping demonic energy, and Han Xiu also punched Qin Tian.

"Ten Thousand Tribulations True Thunder!"

The power of millions of thunderbolts converged in his fist.

Thunder and darkness collided, and suddenly the entire space shook violently, the vibration even affecting the Ten Directions Ancient Ship.

The darkness swallowed the thunderbolt, and Han Xiu was already at a disadvantage. But at this moment, under the cover of millions of dazzling thunderbolts, five grenades flew towards Qin Tian.

Qin Tian's eyes widened in shock. Right on his face, he could clearly see the grenade shells shatter and flames erupt from within.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Five explosions erupted in quick succession, sending Qin Tian flying backwards from the smoke, slamming heavily to the ground.

The pitch-black Undead Armor covered his entire body, but by this point, half his body and half his head had been blown off.

The Undead Armor quickly repaired Qin Tian's body. He stood up, staring intently at Han Xiu on the platform.

This idiot is such a jerk.

"It's not so easy to kill you, after all. My proposal still stands. Goodbye." Han Xiu's projection grasped Chang Qing, who was slowly being eroded by the Chaos Destruction Flame within him. It opened a lightning portal behind him, stepped into it, and vanished.

Qin Tian: "System, have you collected Han Xiu's information?"

"Yes, but he's tampered with it. I need time to analyze it." Qin Tian nodded. The Heavenly Demon Undead Armor vanished, and the Heavenly Demon's true form retreated.

"He's acting, I'm hiding. Let's see who will prevail." Qin Tian sneered.

Just then, the commotion here finally caught attention.

Hongdie arrived first, immediately seeing the destroyed kinetic core and the vanished Chaos Destruction Flame.

"Damn it! I should have realized they were attacking Di Ting for the Chaos Destruction Flame." Hongdie was furious. The damage to the Ten Directions Ancient Ship was nothing to Di Ting, and besides, the Ten Directions Ancient Ship wasn't easily damaged.

Han Xiu's destruction had only destroyed less than one-ninth of the area.

"I knew he was going to take the Chaos Destruction Flame, but I didn't expect him to have so many tricks up his sleeve. We still couldn't stop him." Qin Tian's expression was grim, a mixture of resentment and a hint of anger.

Hongdie glanced at the surrounding battle scars and Qin Tian's true feelings, and could only sigh.

"Never mind. You've done your best. Now I want to see who infiltrated my Di Ting and orchestrated this insider collusion." Qin Tian nodded, unconcerned. With the Chaos Destruction Flame in hand, the hidden pawn Han Xiu left within Di Ting became a useless, discarded pawn.

And it was most likely a robot like Chang Qing.

Seeing Qin Tian about to leave, Hong Die asked, "Where are you going?"

Qin Tian stopped, turned to look at Hong Die, and said, "Purple Cloud Dao Realm."