Amid the attention of the entire audience, Jiao Xiuyuan opened the wooden box.
A thin, translucent “paper” as light as a cicada’s wing and emitting a gentle white glow slowly floated into the air.
“The True Heavenly Spirit Flower!” A cultivator in the crowd couldn’t help but exclaim.
Some were even so stunned by the flower’s beauty that they stood up in astonishment.
Strangely enough, even though the True Heavenly Spirit Flower was sealed within a flat surface, those who gazed upon it did not perceive anything unnatural.
It was as if a real flower were blooming slowly before their very eyes, breathtakingly beautiful.
Even a faint floral fragrance seemed to drift through the air.
As the crowd fell into complete silence, entranced by the True Heavenly Spirit Flower’s beauty, Jiao Xiuyuan smiled triumphantly and gently pointed at the translucent paper in midair.
In an instant, countless rays of light shot out from it, projecting the originally palm-sized flower into the sky above the venue.
While all the cultivators were captivated by the sight, Jiao Xiuyuan discreetly crushed a small round bead in his hand.
A faint white mist, carrying an aura of profound mystery, began to spread across the venue.
Even though his body was only a puppet, Jiao Xiuyuan instinctively avoided the mist. He subtly cast a protective barrier around himself, keeping the mist at bay.
He recalled the words of the Dao Integration cultivator named Liu San—clearly an alias—who had given him this item.
“Ahem, this is an elixir I have meticulously refined. It aids cultivators in their cultivation. Once inhaled as mist, it induces an almost—but not quite—genuine state of enlightenment…”
As Jiao Xiuyuan observed the entranced expressions of the cultivators around him, he muttered to himself:
“Even though he swore that this improved version has absolutely no addictive properties…”
“It’s still best to avoid this kind of mysterious stuff whenever possible.”
The True Heavenly Spirit Flower continued to bloom radiantly. Its petals cast mesmerizing reflections on the faces of every cultivator in the Paradise Amidst Flowers.
Each viewing session lasted only three hours. Once the time passed, the opportunity would be lost forever. Thus, almost every pair of eyes remained locked on the projected True Heavenly Spirit Flower above.
Only one person, however, was staring blankly at the frozen thin paper in the center of the venue.
“There’s no mistake—Ice Dew Condensation, Image Capture, Thousand-Color Elegance…”
“This is exactly the same technique I use in my Floral Anthology to preserve flowers. But I have never shared this method with anyone else!”
Zhao Chong’s eyes were filled with disbelief.
“Could it be… that someone else in this world has managed to think of the same technique as I did?”
After laying eyes on the True Heavenly Spirit Flower, Zhao Chong’s lifelong yearning was finally fulfilled. He no longer cared about breaking through realms or comprehending divine abilities.
Instead, his curiosity was drawn toward the mysterious owner of the Heavenly Spirit Flower, who had yet to reveal themselves.
Time passed slowly as the cultivators remained immersed in their trance.
As the three-hour mark approached, no one had shown any signs of breaking through or achieving enlightenment.
“This is the first exhibition—I can’t afford to mess this up.”
Just as Jiao Xiuyuan was about to activate his pre-arranged backup plan, a sudden fluctuation stopped him in his tracks.
“It’s that kid! Perfect—now I don’t have to waste extra effort advertising this!”
Seeing who was undergoing a breakthrough, Jiao Xiuyuan was overjoyed.
He instantly teleported next to the cultivator and sealed off the energy fluctuation to prevent any disturbances to the others’ comprehension.
The first to break through was none other than Sun Qi.
As he gazed at the breathtaking scene of the Heavenly Spirit Flower in the sky, he suddenly felt as if he had been transported back to a brutal battlefield.
Yet, unlike the current blood-soaked battlefield infused with the Heavenly Spirit Flower’s aura, this time, he felt no urge to kill.
Instead, the world’s beauty flowed through him like water, healing and soothing the deep psychological scars left by war.
It was as if time had reversed—blood, corpses, and the cracked earth all vanished. His vision soared above the Tianling Prefecture, returning to an era before the great war.
Sun Qi was completely mesmerized by everything he saw.
In that moment, he forgot his family’s expectations, the disappointment of his elders, the mockery of his peers, and even his own relentless desire to break through.
His mind was filled solely with the beauty of the Heavenly Spirit and the world itself.
His hostility dissipated entirely, and his cultivation advanced naturally.
By the time he regained consciousness, the seemingly insurmountable bottleneck of the Heaven’s Calamity—which had troubled him for years and nearly driven him to despair—had completely vanished without a trace.
Now, all he needed was a suitable cave dwelling to refine the energy, and he would instantly step into the Nascent Soul Realm.
For the Sun Family, this was an easily achievable feat.
In the past, if he had broken through suddenly, he might have been overwhelmed with joy.
But at this moment, Sun Qi felt neither happiness nor sorrow.
He remained seated in silence, ignoring the occasional glances cast his way, and continued to gaze intently at the True Heavenly Spirit Flower above.
It was only when the host, Jiao Xiuyuan, finally stored the flower back into the wooden box and announced the end of the first appreciation event that he snapped out of his trance.
Excited voices, sighs of regret, and words of admiration filled the air.
“Daoist Jiao, name your price! How much for this Heavenly Spirit True Flower?”
Having witnessed its wonders firsthand, some cultivators could no longer hold back and asked impatiently.
Their inquiries quickly gained support from others.
Jiao Xiuyuan, however, only smiled and replied:
“How many times do I have to tell you? The flower’s owner is very clear about his stance: Not for sale. Not for sale. Still not for sale!”
“Even though I’d love to broker this deal, there’s nothing I can do if the owner refuses to sell!”
A commotion erupted among the crowd.
A rotund, middle-aged cultivator stood up arrogantly and said, “I refuse to believe that there’s anything money can’t buy! Ten million contribution points—does that work? If not, I’ll offer more!”
Before Jiao Xiuyuan could respond, another voice from the crowd mocked him sarcastically:
“Oh? Isn’t this Daoist Zhu Yuhua from the Tianshu Prefecture? I heard you’re quite wealthy, but why start with only ten million contribution points? Are you looking down on us?”
“Heh, with such a low offer, you might as well settle for those imitation flowers!”
Zhu Yuhua’s expression darkened as he turned toward the speakers. They were indeed all influential figures.
Realizing that ten million contribution points were insignificant to them, he swallowed his words and prepared to increase his offer.
However, Jiao Xiuyuan quickly stepped in as the mediator.
“Everyone, everyone…”
Raising his voice, he once again captured the audience’s attention.
“The Heavenly Spirit Flower’s owner is an extraordinary person, unmatched in both grace and elegance. Naturally, he treasures the world’s only Heavenly Spirit Flower beyond measure and would never sell it.”
“However…” He paused before continuing,
“While he won’t sell it, he has agreed to an alternative arrangement after some persuasion on my part.”
“The True Heavenly Spirit Flower will be available for rental instead of sale!”
“If any of you are interested, stay behind to hear the details.”
…
“Only for rent, not for sale. This Master of the Heavenly Spirit Flowers truly knows how to do business.” Sun Qi chuckled.
Watching the crowd of cultivators swarming toward Jiao Xiuyuan, Sun Qi knew that he lacked the ability to rent the Heavenly Spirit Flower. Shaking his head, he quietly left the Paradise Amidst Flowers.
After leaving, the first person he visited was his uncle, Sun Liancheng. After all, his recent breakthrough was primarily due to the Floral Invitation that Sun Liancheng had gifted him.
He had only waited for a short moment in his uncle’s cave dwelling before Sun Liancheng arrived in a hurry.
“Good… good…” Sun Liancheng examined him from head to toe, even more excited than Sun Qi himself about his breakthrough.
“The prodigy of the Sun Clan has finally returned after all these years,” Sun Liancheng sighed with emotion.
Sun Qi let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Prodigy…?”
“Born at the Foundation Establishment realm, reaching Golden Core by the full moon—I did indeed live up to the title of ‘prodigy’ back then. But now, I am already 213 years old…”
Sun Qi gently shook his head. “How can I be considered a prodigy? Uncle, please refrain from calling me that in the future. Others have long since reached the Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation stages, while I am still lingering at the Golden Core stage…”
“If word gets out, I will surely be ridiculed.”
Sun Liancheng, however, remained unconcerned. “Why should our Sun family care about what others think? Qi’er, you have remained at the Golden Core stage for over two hundred years, but now you have finally broken free. With such a solid foundation, your future is boundless.”
“Moreover…”
A peculiar expression flickered across Sun Liancheng’s face. “Breaking through is so difficult—it’s not your fault. After all, the entire clan’s bottleneck has been placed upon your shoulders.”
“On top of that, with the Primal Qi of Heaven and Earth as your innate companion artifact, you naturally draw the hostility of the world. To have even broken through the Golden Core Heaven’s Calamity within your lifetime is already a blessing. Many ancestors never even reached the Golden Core stage before exhausting their lifespan and perishing. But now…”
Sun Liancheng patted Sun Qi’s shoulder, his tone filled with satisfaction. “The future is promising!”
Sun Qi’s expression remained entirely unchanged.
“The next major bottleneck in Reversing the Heaven and Earth Record should be in the late Soul Transformation stage, correct?” Sun Liancheng asked.
Sun Qi gave a slight nod.
“Don’t worry. The Cave-Heaven, Heavenly Marrow, and all necessary resources will be prepared for you by the clan. You only need to focus on cultivating.”
After a long silence, Sun Liancheng suddenly sighed. “Qi’er, the burden of the entire clan rests solely on your shoulders. This has hindered your cultivation, and you cannot even voice your struggles to anyone. You must endure it all in silence. Do you feel wronged or resentful?”
Sun Qi remained composed. “It is simply my duty. Countless ancestors have made silent sacrifices just as I have. It is precisely because of their dedication that the Sun family is as powerful as it is today. How could I possibly feel resentment?”
Sun Liancheng narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing Sun Qi, as if trying to determine whether his words were genuine.
After a long moment, just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly shifted. “We have a guest.”
“Then I shall take my leave, Uncle.” Sun Qi cupped his hands and turned to leave.
“No need, just stay here. It’s nothing important,” Sun Liancheng stopped him.
“Hahaha, Old Sun, we’ve hit the jackpot this time!” A voice rang out before the person even arrived.
Upon hearing Jiao Xiuyuan’s voice, Sun Qi remained silent and motionless.
Moments later, Jiao Xiuyuan strode in, brimming with confidence.
“The number of cultivators who have traveled here is far beyond your expectations, hahaha…”
Mid-sentence, he noticed Sun Qi standing quietly in the room and immediately halted, his eyes flashing with an unreadable expression.
“Haha, no need for secrecy, Daoist Jiao. Qi’er is not an outsider,” Sun Liancheng waved his hand dismissively.
Jiao Xiuyuan opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately let out a light chuckle instead.
“Old Sun, you misunderstand. Of course, I know the relationship between this boy and you. However, we agreed to confidentiality when signing the contract.”
His voice suddenly became inaudible as his lips moved in silence. Upon hearing his words, Sun Liancheng’s expression shifted between shock and delight.
After exchanging a few more words, Jiao Xiuyuan retrieved a small Tianxuan Mirror from his sleeve.
Following the completion of their transaction, he promptly departed in a hurry.
“I never expected someone to be willing to trade a Dao Integration-level Derivative Jade Token just to be the first to lease that Heavenly Spirit Flower…”
“It seems that compared to the true elites of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, our Sun family still has a long way to go.” Sun Liancheng sighed lightly. “The road ahead is arduous.”
Hearing this, Sun Qi was momentarily stunned. “Wasn’t this supposed to be confidential?”
“The contract only binds Jiao Xiuyuan, not me,” Sun Liancheng replied indifferently.
“That Master of the Heavenly Spirit Flower is rather intriguing, though. An ancient cultivator from the distant past, emerging from the White Mist, now seeks my help in obtaining an entry status into the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance…”
“Qi’er, what do you think?” Sun Liancheng asked after a brief moment of contemplation.
Sun Qi pondered for a moment before responding, “A schemer. Possibly a spy from the Five Elders Association.”
Sun Liancheng burst into laughter and shook his head. “Qi’er, you are still too young. The Master of the Heavenly Spirit Flower has gone through so much trouble simply to meet Derivation Law Jade and request a Dao Integration cultivation technique suited to himself. If he were truly a spy, would he waste such a rare opportunity on something like this?”
“Besides, Derivation Law Jade is stationed at the headquarters of the Immortal Alliance Guardian Hall. With the True Intent of the Dao suppressing the area, what kind of spy would dare to cause trouble there? That would be a blatant act of suicide.”
Sun Qi remained silent.
These hidden secrets were beyond the understanding of a mere Golden Core cultivator like himself. His uncle, Sun Liancheng, was subtly reminding him—no matter how much he advanced in cultivation, even if he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, he was still nothing compared to the entire Sun family. His sole duty was to cultivate the Reversing the Heaven and Earth Record and bear the clan’s bottleneck. He must never develop any rebellious thoughts.
“Hmph.”
Firmly burying his fleeting thoughts of defiance deep within his heart, Sun Qi dared not reveal even the slightest change in expression.
Sun Liancheng seemed quite satisfied with his reaction. From that day forward, Sun Qi was permitted to stay in the City Lord’s Mansion.
Seven days later, Sun Qi finally encountered the mysterious Master of the Heavenly Spirit Flower, Xu Bai.
Despite priding himself on his unshakable composure, Sun Qi found himself momentarily dazed upon seeing the man. Only then did he realize that Jiao Xiuyuan’s claim—”Master of the Heavenly Spirit Flower is a rare, unparalleled figure”—was not an exaggeration.
Xu Bai had come seeking status within the Immortal Alliance.
For Sun Liancheng, who held dominion over an entire province, this was a trivial matter.
In less than half a day, he bypassed all the necessary verifications and successfully secured Xu Bai’s membership.
After personally verifying his identity using the Tianxuan Mirror, Xu Bai nodded in satisfaction.
After offering a few words of praise regarding Sun Liancheng’s immense authority, he folded his fan and departed gracefully.
Sun Qi’s gaze followed his silhouette until it disappeared.
“He does seem to bear the favor of the heavens…”
“But what a pity—he has strayed from the righteous path,” Sun Liancheng snorted coldly, giving his evaluation.
Sun Qi was momentarily stunned. He wondered if he had unknowingly done something to anger his uncle.
It was only after a few moments that he realized his uncle was not referring to him—
But to Xu Bai, who had just left.
“Strayed from the righteous path? Uncle, what do you mean?” Sun Qi asked, puzzled.
“Those favored by the heavens—back in the Ancient Cultivation Era, they would have been sought after by the great sects, natural-born prodigies of the Dao.”
“But in this era…” Sun Liancheng’s eyes flashed with disdain.
“The New Method of the Immortal Ancestor is an act of defiance against the heavens themselves. The more one benefits from the heavens, the harder it becomes to defy them in the future.”
“When the time comes to sacrifice one’s Spirit of Heaven and Earth, the backlash from the will of the heavens will be exponentially stronger. No matter how talented one may be, they will likely never surpass the Soul Transformation stage.”
“Just like your Primal Qi of Heaven and Earth—a fragment of the Heavenly Wonder, a gift of the heavens. Have you not sensed the world’s hostility towards you? As your cultivation grows, this hostility will only intensify.”
“Once, the heavens showered them with blessings, and yet, they choose to turn against it. How could they not be despised?”
Sun Qi silently nodded, lost in thought.
Neither he nor the Dao Integration-level Sun Liancheng noticed—
That from the very beginning, their conversation had been silently observed, every word recorded.
By none other than Li Fan—who lurked in the shadows, concealed within a formless killing intent.