602: Chapter 602 The Lord of the South Seas

[Twenty-sixth year,]

[Over the past few months, Fang Ruoqing has been visiting you at Tianxing Tower from time to time, while Chu Yiyi returned to her Sect on business.]

[You have finally gathered all the Materials to forge the immortal slaying sword.]

[You pawned another batch of unused supplies. After the expenses for purchasing Materials, you have eighteen million Spirit Stones and twenty-three Magic Treasures left.]

[You found a deserted Shattered Star Continent in the nearby starry sky and successfully forged the immortal slaying sword (Wind).]

[After completing the forging, you returned to Tianlan Immortal City.]

[You did not leave immediately—because Old Ancestor Yin Hanshan's original body is still alive.]

[To kill a Void Refining original body through a Clone, you must use the immortal slaying sword. At that time, hundreds of thousands of Cultivators in the Immortal City were watching, so you naturally wouldn't reveal your trump card, which is why you let Qin Han take action.]

[You looked up at the sky and fell into deep thought: "It seems Old Ancestor Yin Hanshan won't be coming. Should I go to the Heavenly Palace to assassinate him?"]

[After thinking it over, you eventually gave up on that idea.]

[Just as you were considering whether to leave Tianlan Star, a person suddenly appeared on the teleportation plaza, catching your attention.]

[Your gaze pierced through layers of walls and pavilions, landing on that person.]

[That person also looked at you and gave a faint smile.]

[In the next second, his figure moved, teleporting right in front of you.]

["What brings Elder Qi to such a remote place? Do you have any advice?" you spoke with a smile.]

[That's right, he is exactly the number one person below the Mahayana stage in the Heavenly Palace—Elder Qi, Qi Yuan.]

[Elder Qi sat down with a smile, poured himself a cup of spiritual tea, took a sip, and said slowly, "Fellow Daoist, last time we could be said to have met through a fight. This time, I bring good news."]

["Oh? What good news?"]

["How should I address you, Fellow Daoist?"]

["Qin Tian."]

["Fellow Daoist Qin should be a Loose Cultivator, right?"]

[You looked at him and didn't respond, which served as a silent confirmation.]

["I wonder if Fellow Daoist is interested in joining my Heavenly Palace?" He paused and looked at you, "I am willing to yield my position as Commander to you."]

[You frowned: "Is this your idea, or...?"]

["It is the Flame Emperor's intention. I informed the Flame Emperor about our previous encounter," he said bluntly.]

[You calmly picked up your teacup, took a sip, and began to think.]

[Joining the Heavenly Palace to scout its details—that seems like a good idea.]

[Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.]

[You repeatedly recalled your past and confirmed you hadn't been exposed—if you had, given the Heavenly Palace's personality, they wouldn't be coming to recruit you so politely.]

[However, the position of Commander of the Heavenly Palace's Secret Guard is probably not a good post.]

[The bird that sticks its head out gets shot. As someone joining halfway, agreeing directly would make you seem too ambitious.]

[Besides, you aren't interested in that position anyway.]

[Moreover, Elder Qi's strength is not low. Without using the immortal slaying sword, neither of you could do anything to the other.]

[He watched you in thought, not in a hurry, just smiling as he sipped his tea.]

[You thought for a moment and said calmly, "I'm not interested in your position; I only wish to focus on my cultivation. If it's convenient, just give me a nominal post."]

[Seeing you agree, Elder Qi immediately laughed: "Hahaha... Good, good! We've already discussed this. You shall be the Star Lord of Nanyang, with your fief on the Heavenly Palace's Nanyang Star."]

["Fine, then thank you very much," you cupped your fists.]

["Hahaha, don't mention it, don't mention it," Qi Yuan laughed. "Now we are colleagues. Let's talk as we go; I will explain the situation of Nanyang Star to you."]

[The two of you immediately moved, teleporting to the teleportation plaza in the center of Tianlan Immortal City.]

[People were coming and going on the plaza. Several Teleportation Arrays were lined up, their spiritual light flashing incessantly.]

[Qi Yuan led you toward the largest inter-star Teleportation Array in the middle.]

[With a flash of light, you both disappeared from the spot.]

[After several transfers.]

[Every time you emerged from a Teleportation Array, it was a different Star Continent—some were covered in endless yellow sand, some had glaciers spanning ten thousand miles, and some stars were completely wrapped in spiritual mist, hiding their full appearance.]

[Qi Yuan was familiar with the route, casually mentioning the name of each star as you went.]

[The last time the spiritual light faded, you appeared on a grand teleportation plaza.]

[In the center of the plaza stood a pavilion built entirely of ten-thousand-year spiritual wood. The ground was paved with solid slabs of spiritual jade, and Spiritual Qi rose from beneath your feet, permeating the air like a thin mist.]

[Two rows of guards stood near the Teleportation Array. The leader was a Spirit Transformation Cultivator, and the guards behind him were all at the Nascent Soul Stage.]

[When they saw Qi Yuan, they cupped their fists in unison: "Elder Qi!"]

[Qi Yuan's gaze was cold; he didn't even give them a glance as he walked straight ahead.]

[The guards were used to it. After cupping their fists, they retreated to both sides, making way.]

[You followed beside him.]

[The guards' gazes swept over you with scrutiny and curiosity, but not one of them dared to ask—they didn't dare to question someone personally accompanied by Elder Qi.]

[Walking out of the plaza, the smile returned to Qi Yuan's face. He turned his head to look at you: "We've arrived. This is Nanyang City of Nanyang Star."]

["Not bad!" You nodded.]

[He smiled, and then took to the air with you.]

[Below, the teleportation plaza grew smaller and smaller, and the outline of the entire Nanyang City unfolded before your eyes.]

[After flying to an altitude of ten thousand meters, you scanned Nanyang City.]

[To be precise, it could no longer be called a single city—]

[In the sky, immortal mountains hung among the clouds, each like a small city. The mountains were built with palace complexes, pavilions, Immortal Caves, and medicinal gardens—everything was provided. Spiritual springs seeped from the mountain walls, turning into silver waterfalls that dropped thousands of feet to join the spiritual rivers on the ground.]

[On the ground, mountains and hills rolled continuously, and spiritual rivers crisscrossed. Cities spread out along the mountain ranges and rivers, stretching as far as the eye could see. Spiritual light flowed through the city like a woven web, like a flowing Bloodline, connecting the entire city into a heavenly paradise.]

[You flew toward the city center.]

[The closer you got to the urban area, the more prosperous it became, looking unlike the mortal world.]

[In the sky, various flying Spirit Beasts pulled all kinds of palanquins, their scales shimmering and wings blotting out the sky.]

[On the ground, various Spirit Beasts carried strange war chariots, their hoofbeats like thunder and wheels rolling.]

[On every street, dense crowds of people surged, and flying Magical Artifacts covered the sky, their spiritual lights converging into a flowing ocean.]

[Suddenly—]

[Whoosh—!]

[A sound of breaking air rushed past your ear as a huge palanquin brushed by you, nearly colliding.]

[A female Cultivator's voice came from inside the palanquin: "Sorry, I'm in a hurry!"]

[It was a Gold-Crystal Beast covered in scales pulling the palanquin, its four hooves treading on fire, running like a moving flame. Inside the palanquin, a woman in luxurious clothing was vaguely visible, looking down at some Jade Slip.]

[Qi Yuan explained with a smile: "It should be the carriage of some city lord. Nanyang Star has tens of thousands of cities, and each city lord manages a region. You'll get to know them slowly later."]

[Before he could finish—]

[Whoosh—!]

[Another streak of light zipped past you.]

[It was a Luan bird with golden feathers carrying a pavilion. On the top floor by the window, a male Cultivator was drinking and making merry with eight female Cultivators. Their laughter floated down from mid-air, frivolous and flamboyant.]

[Your face showed no emotion: "Is there no ban on flying here? What if someone gets hit and killed?"]

[Qi Yuan smiled: "Your predecessor, the former Star Lord of Nanyang, acted casually and loosely, without imposing many restrictions. From now on, Nanyang Star is under your control; you can decide for yourself."]

[You chuckled inwardly while remaining expressionless on the surface.]

[You couldn't wish for anything better—originally, you were worried that the order on Nanyang Star was too good and you wouldn't find an opportunity to cause some damage.]

[Now it seems it suits your intentions perfectly.]