In the bustling market, a humble wonton shop housed an inconspicuous middle-aged man wearing a simple blue robe, savoring the wontons in his bowl.

He swallowed them in one gulp, his expression quite content.

His appearance was not striking, with a square face and brows that conveyed an innate, dignified authority. At first glance, he seemed ordinary, but closer observation revealed an invisible dao aura surrounding him.

Amidst the crowd in front of the wonton shop, a figure suddenly appeared, dressed in a plain Daoist robe, with a hair crown holding back greying long hair, wielding a horsetail whisk, and carrying a peaceful smile.

At just a glance, ordinary people who weren't aware might assume him to be an old Daoist with mystical abilities.

If Chen Yuan were present, he would recognize him... as the Fei Yuan Taoist, the sect leader of the Immortal Sect Kunlun Mountain, who rose to fame during the battle at Purple Gold Mountain.

After the Purple Gold Mountain battle, Fei Yuan Taoist returned to Kunlun Mountain in Youzhou, submitted a report to the Immortal Domain, and since then, he had not appeared again before people, although Chen Yuan had continued to trace his whereabouts.

Unfortunately, there was nothing to be found, and eventually, he focused his genuine attention on Nangong Lie and Xiang Qianqiu.

"Sima, my Taoist friend, you seem quite at leisure, lacking any urgency despite your country's impending chaos, your Qi Cultivation Kung Fu makes this humble Daoist feel ashamed."

Fei Yuan Taoist smiled faintly, glancing toward the dignified middle-aged man in the corner.

If those around knew him as the legendary Grand Ancestor who founded Great Jin, they would be utterly astounded.

Sima Yuande slowly ingested the last wonton from his bowl without responding to Fei Yuan Taoist. Instead, he turned to the busy shop owner and said:

"Another bowl, please."

"Got it, sir, please wait a moment...."

The middle-aged man clad in a sweat-stained shirt promptly replied, taking a handful of wontons and placing them into the pot, letting the steam hit his face, which couldn't conceal his joy.

Seeing that Sima Yuande ignored him, Fei Yuan Taoist turned to the wonton shop owner with a smile and asked:

"Why so cheerful?"

"Hey, old Daoist, haven't you heard? King Yan ascended to immortality a few days ago."

The wonton shop owner looked extremely proud.

Fei Yuan Taoist raised his eyebrows:

"Isn't King Yan a rebel? He has become an immortal, posing a threat to the court, to Great Jin... aren't you afraid someone might hear and bring disaster?"

"What's there to fear? Now the whole street talks like this, do you think the court dares to interfere? Hey... truly, I don't look down on the Emperor, but perhaps he is already waiting for the King's army to arrive and surrender directly..."

The middle-aged man's voice lowered.

"Hey, interesting."

"It's not a bad thing. Nowadays, it's said King Yan commands an army of a million, holding most of the Central Plains. Just how is the current court supposed to fight? Direct surrender would save us from the scourge of swords and wars..."

"Aren't you afraid the Yan Army will enter the city and plunder?"

"Only the officials need to worry. We ordinary folks have nothing worth robbing. Moreover, King Yan has a good reputation; people praised him during his time in the Capital.

Recently, my brother, who went to seek work under King Yan's rule, sent a letter saying it's more stable there than in the Capital. If not for having a family, I would've run over long ago."

The middle-aged man said, as he stirred the boiling pot of wontons with a ladle, lowering his voice.

"It seems quite good then. Alright, serve this old Daoist a bowl of wontons to taste."

Fei Yuan Taoist tossed a few copper coins down with a wave.

"Got it, old Daoist, please find a seat, it will be served soon...."

Fei Yuan Taoist nodded, casually walking to Sima Yuande's side, flicking the horsetail whisk and sitting down right next to him.

"Sima, my Taoist friend...." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"The wontons here are quite nice."

Sima Yuande glanced at Fei Yuan Taoist and said offhandedly.

"You certainly have quite the taste."

"After being in the imperial mausoleum for hundreds of years, I've grown tired of it, so upon returning, I naturally want to savor the human world's delicacies. It's a pity; the shop from hundreds of years ago is gone, and this newly opened one tastes slightly off..."

"Heh heh... you heard what the shop owner said; any thoughts?" Fei Yuan Taoist looked smilingly at Fei Yuan Taoist, seemingly not at all intimidated by his Six Realms cultivation.

"Just observing.... This Dynasty couldn't have lasted longer anyway. The descendants who find a fallback early aren't necessarily foolish."

"Do you not feel attached?"

"Nothing to be attached to. Over two hundred years ago, when you came to me, it was already destined." Sima Yuande's gaze lingered on Fei Yuan Taoist.

Over two hundred years ago, he was loyal to Great Chu, though holding the power of the court and authority comparable to the Emperor, he had no intention to rebel, knowing the Sima Family's strength was insufficient to overthrow the Great Chu Dynasty.

It was better to cling to the Dynasty and drain it to strengthen the Sima Family.

But the arrival of Fei Yuan Taoist changed everything; it was he who gave Sima Yuande hope to break through the Six Realms, and who facilitated the liaison between the Immortal Domain and the human world.

Ultimately, at a critical moment, a celestial being descended to eliminate the Xiang Family's ancestor.

"Such were the times; now these are the times. Earlier, your descendants, like Sima Zhaoye, came to me, yet you did not act then.

Otherwise... the chaos would not have happened so quickly."

Fei Yuan Taoist shook his head.

"Even if the world is in chaos, what of it? The Immortal Domain is about to descend into mortality, what waves can it stir?"

"Heh heh, not entirely true; I came to you today precisely because of King Yan, Chen Yuan. The world rumor has it that he is the Child of Destiny destined to end this chaos.