...

In the Mountain God Temple, Chen Sheng sat quietly for a long time.

Dao Rhyme flowed around him like stars rushing through a galaxy, and the ancient and modern illusions intertwined in his eyes, until a certain moment when his eyes slowly opened.

At the moment his eyes opened, a ray of light burst forth, the turbulent airflow around suddenly calmed, and even time seemed to freeze for an instant. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

He did not further urge Divine Thought to trace the past; firstly, as time is set, things spilled cannot be gathered again, tracing is futile, no need for haste; secondly, the source of the Golden Seal had already been damaged by his previous investigation. Though not a supreme Treasure, it is still quite mysterious, and he could not just destroy it.

"Nurture it for a few days, and trace again later."

Chen Sheng mused in his heart, his Divine Thought moved, and his gaze fell upon the trembling Mang Mountain Monarch below, his voice was calm:

"Young one, I still need to use this Golden Seal for a few days, and then I will return it to you."

Qi Mang felt the restraint around him loosen, the suffocating sensation in his throat dispelled, finally able to speak.

He gritted his teeth hard, though his heart felt like it was being cut by a knife—this Golden Seal was his foundation.

But in the face of Chen Sheng, a being unfathomable and deep, he dared not harbor even a fraction of rebellion, bowing deeply and respectfully to the utmost:

"I offer this item to the senior, for it to catch the senior’s discerning eye is the fortune of this seal, and also my fortune."

With a faint smile, Chen Sheng glanced at him, his fingertip lightly tapping, a wisp of Dao Qi encircling the Golden Seal, buzzing:

"Oh? Are you truly willing to part with it?"

Qi Mang felt pain in his heart like being twisted, but maintained a calm exterior, choosing his words, seeking reasoning, his tone increasingly reverent:

"As it is said, Treasures belong to those with virtue, senior’s Divine Techniques are vast, far exceeding mine."

"This seal belonging to the senior would reveal its full capabilities, I dare not have even a fraction of reluctance."

Chen Sheng suddenly burst into laughter:

"Hahaha—"

"You’re indeed a young one who can bend and stretch, knowing the times."

As the laughter faded, his tone softened:

"Alright, no more jokes with you, this item is of little use to me, borrowing for a few days at most, no need to covet your opportunities."

Chen Sheng continued:

"Moreover, borrowing your Golden Seal means I owe you a favor. If you have any requests, feel free to tell me."

Upon hearing this, Qi Mang’s heart surged with joy, quickly kneeling, respectfully kowtowing to the ground, his voice tinged with barely concealed excitement:

"I wish to follow the senior’s side, bring tea and water, lead horses and hold whips, even willing to work like an ox or a horse!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng paused slightly, the Dao Qi around him fluctuated, contemplating for a moment before speaking slowly:

"The rules under me are stringent, not easy to join."

The sudden cold water extinguished Qi Mang’s joy, his body trembled slightly, even the strength to kowtow weakened a bit.

In the next moment, Chen Sheng shifted his tone, with a hint of concession:

"However, I can give you an opportunity!"

Boom!

With a sweep of his sleeve, the Power of Laws burst forth, causing the void to violently shake.

Qi Mang felt the world before him abruptly overturning, thunderous roars at his ear, his body enveloped by an Invisible Power, even his Heart Spirit unable to function, losing Perception in an instant.

When his consciousness returned, the surrounding phenomena were gone, and opening his eyes, he found himself in a world with myriad manifestations.

Here the sky was clean, countless rays of light, mountains towering into the clouds, rivers rushing like dragons coiling.

Enveloped in thick Innate Dao Rhyme, it was precisely the realm Chen Sheng had opened—the Panwu Realm.

Qi Mang’s Heart Spirit jolted, subconsciously whispering:

"What kind of Grotto Heaven is this? Why is there not a trace of tribulation Qi?"

"Could it be...another complete world?"

"The senior’s methods are truly..."

In a single thought, he had transported him to another world.

Such Divine Techniques had surpassed his limits of understanding in Cultivation, his heart filled with endless awe and shock.

Buzz—

The next moment, darkness suddenly enveloped overhead, as if the heavens were collapsing, a colossal pillar crashed down, overshadowing all rays of light.

The terrifying pressure felt like Mount Tai weighing down, causing Qi Mang’s Divine Soul to tremble, struggling even to breathe smoothly.

"No!"

Startled, he instinctively wanted to flee, yet found his body restrained by the pressure, unable to move even a finger.

He could only watch as the "pillar" fell, closing his eyes to await death.

Yet the anticipated demise did not arrive, the oppressive pressure gradually dissipating.

Qi Mang fearfully opened his eyes.

Only then did he realize he was amidst a surging Cloud Sea, clouds steaming beneath his feet, fragrant aroma assaulting his senses.

And before him stood a colossal White Tiger celestial being, he himself was within the palm of this being.

The so-called "heavenly pillar" was merely one of the celestial’s tiger claws, scooping him without harming a single hair.

Qi Mang hurriedly calmed himself, respectfully bowing, his demeanor humble to the extreme, his voice carrying a slight tremble:

"Junior Qi Mang, greets the senior! The senior’s celestial prowess is peerless, this junior is in utmost admiration!"

Faced with a celestial being whose mere gestures carried the might of the world, all pride vanished, leaving only pure reverence.

Yuanji gazed at him with drooping eyes, tiger eyes like sun and moon suspended high, as their gaze shifted, the surrounding Cloud Sea surged, Primordial Qi trembled, his voice like the sound of clocks and drums resounding through the skies:

"Young one, my name is Yuanji, my elder brother has already explained your matter."

As his words fell, he slightly raised his tiger claw, pointing to the Cloud Sea beside him.

There hovered a scroll of scripture, glowing with brilliant gold, causing the surrounding Primordial Qi to converge repeatedly, buzzing.

"Do you see the scripture beside you?"

"You have three months’ time, should you be able to enter, you will become my elder brother’s Named Disciple. Failing that, you’ll be sent back to your degenerate Small Realm, with all ties severed."

Upon hearing these words, Qi Mang’s heart immediately became restless.

He fixed his gaze upon the scripture, sensing acutely that this apprenticeship was an opportunity to transcend degeneracy.

A greater opportunity than the Golden Seal!

But thinking about the mere three-month timeframe, he worried his talent might be lacking, unable to enter, missing this chance.

Qi Mang couldn’t help but feel agitated.

Yuanji saw through his mindset at a glance, his tiger eyes slightly condensed, surrounding Evil Qi faintly leaked, causing the Cloud Sea to churn, wind howling:

"Cultivating this method must not be rushed; the more impatient you are, the harder it will be to glimpse the path."

Qi Mang shook all over, hurriedly restraining his mind, suppressing the anxiety and greed within, respectfully bowing to Yuanji:

"Thank you for your guidance, senior. Junior shall remember your teachings, and will cultivate with a humble heart, not failing the expectations of both seniors!"

Yuanji nodded slightly, waving his tiger claw lightly, and Qi Mang fell steadily from his palm, standing firmly upon the Cloud Sea.

The scripture scroll slowly floated over, suspending before him, Dao Rhyme circulating, nourishing his Divine Soul, gradually restoring the damaged Divine Thought from the Golden Seal.