【Some time later.】

【"Little Wan, how's the interrogation going?"】

【"Hmph! This kid is really tough. He lasted until the forty-ninth torture method before he self-destructed!"】

【"You played him to death?"】

【"It should be said he chose death over dishonor."】

【However, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner did manage to get something out of him.】

【When that guy self-destructed, he shouted, "The Dragon-Man race will never be slaves!"】

【So, the name of this alien race really is the Dragon-Man race.】

【But it's obvious at a glance that it's definitely not the "dragon" of Eastern divine dragons. It's more like the anthropomorphized version of Western evil dragons from Earth.】

【Also, Feng Yucheng's soul is also inside the banner.】

【That Dragon-Man knew Feng Yucheng. Upon seeing him, he exclaimed directly, "Why is the Demon Seed here too?!"】

【However, Feng Yucheng didn't know this guy. He thought the Dragon-Man was just another unlucky demon you had collected into the banner.】

【"Next time you can simulate following him to see where he's going."】

【This time, there was no preparation.】

【In that situation just now, when you saw him, he had already seen you. If you deliberately avoided him, it would be no different from him seeing you.】

【The Ten Thousand Souls Banner clamored.】

【"A bunch of aliens, why are you meddling in this? Mind your own business."】

【You lectured the Ten Thousand Souls Banner with a serious face.】

【"That's where you're wrong. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Little Wan, you still have a lot to learn."】

【The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was stunned for a moment.】

【"Then it has even less to do with you!"】

【"If these really are a group of invaders, how could it have nothing to do with me? Do you understand the principle that when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact?"】

【"Pfft~ This Dragon-Man race clearly isn't from this world. For an extra-world race to cross the World Barrier, it's not that easy. One or two might be possible, but a whole bunch? I don't believe it. I've never seen it anyway!"】

【"World Barrier? You seem to know quite a bit?"】

【"In our Immortal Artifact circle, things like the World Barrier are called common knowledge!"】

【"Care to enlighten me too?"】

【Seeming to have a rare chance to educate you, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner spoke in a pompous tone.】

【"Young man, you haven't experienced enough. Some things can't be told to you yet. It won't do you any good. The area ahead, please come back later to..."】

【"Da Chun..."】

【"The so-called World Barrier is the barrier between two worlds. For example, if World A is on the first floor and World B is on the second floor, if there's no staircase between the floors, it's naturally extremely difficult for a person to go upstairs."】

【"Are there many worlds?"】

【"Of course. The Human Realm is just one among the myriad worlds."】

【"Besides the Human Realm, what other worlds are there?"】

【"Like... uh, like..."】

【"You don't know?"】

【"Let's change the subject."】

【While chatting with the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, you hurried to the next stop, Dongchi Town.】

【The fifteenth year, age thirty-three.】

【Drawing trait...】

【Draw successful!】

【「Alchemy Saint」(Purple Epic): You are proficient in recognizing the spiritual plants of this world, knowing their medicinal properties, toxicity, growth conditions, etc. Your comprehension and efficiency in learning alchemy far surpass others.】

【Adjust traits?】

【Yes/No】

【You replaced 「Monster Aura」 with 「Husband Material Vibe」.】

【You replaced 「Senior Tomato User」 with 「Ageless Male God」.】

【You replaced 「Bad News Spreads in Martial Circles」 with 「Dragon Plays with Phoenix」.】

This wave was still about micro-management.

Chen Yi knew the key events of each year, so when this year arrived, he knew what he needed to do.

Therefore, he temporarily replaced the traits he could do without for now with the ones he absolutely needed to use.

Once the related event was over, he would switch them back.

"Ahem, this is all to maintain connections... The martial world isn't just about fighting and killing, it's all about human relationships and worldly affairs..."

【"Because I believe we were destined in a past life~"】

【Humming a cheerful tune, you rode Black Wind, wandering in the woods near Dongchi Town.】

【Where is the Female Emperor?】

【There's no need to deliberately search for her.】

【You just need to know that she will definitely pass through this area.】

【「Treasure-Sniffing Nose」 will naturally guide you in the right direction.】

【On this day.】

【You finally caught a familiar scent.】

【"Don't say I, Chen Yi, am taking advantage of your feelings. In this life, I will save you before you eat the Passion Flower Grass. In the future, if I have something I need your help with, you can just consider it repaying this life-saving favor."】

【You urged Black Wind to speed up.】

【Amidst the overgrown old forest, you saw Li Lingyue fleeing in panic.】

【At this moment, she had just escaped from the marriage alliance procession.】

【However, behind her were a large number of pursuers, including those two guards, one tall and one short, both at the Spirit Condensation realm.】

【"Princess—Where are you? There might be demons and monsters in the forest, please don't go any further—"】

【Hearing the pursuers' shouts, Li Lingyue knew that with their spiritual sense, she definitely couldn't escape.】

【Her gaze inadvertently glanced to the side, and she saw a strange purple plant under a certain withered tree.】

【"Heartbreak Grass?"】

【Thinking of the deadly, blood-sealing poison of Heartbreak Grass, Li Lingyue gritted her teeth and pulled it up.】

【"I, a dignified Great Qian Princess, am actually being forced to marry a barbarian, and an old geezer at that! I'd rather die!"】

【Just as Li Lingyue was about to eat this plant she thought was "Heartbreak Grass," you appeared.】

【"Snap!"】

【With a light flick of your spear tip, you sent the plant flying.】

【"Miss, this isn't Heartbreak Grass, it's Passion Flower Grass. Are you sure you want to eat it?"】

【Hearing the words "Passion Flower Grass," Li Lingyue was greatly alarmed and hurriedly moved away from the plant.】

【"Thank you..."】

【She looked up, and the words of gratitude stopped at her lips.】

【White robe, silver armor, holding a silver spear, riding a black fiery steed, young, heroic, full of Vitality Energy, and that strand of red bangs in front of his forehead was especially distinctive.】

【So handsome...】

【Li Lingyue stared, mesmerized, until the sound of the pursuers brought her back to reality.】

【You glanced at the pursuers and extended your hand to her.】

【"Get on the horse, I'll take you away!"】

【Ask any young, budding maiden whose heart can withstand this combo of a visual assault and a heroic rescue.】

【Flames ignited beneath Black Wind's hooves, transforming into a black fire meteor, carrying you and Li Lingyue southward.】

【The horse's back jolted up and down. Li Lingyue leaned against your chest, feeling a sense of security she had never experienced in her life.】

【Li Lingyue, as the number one beauty in the current Five Regions, could make anyone's heart flutter. It was as if she came with a built-in "Mesmerize Thousands of Handsome Men" trait.】

【"General, I should repay you for saving my life, but I am now a fugitive princess. I'm afraid I cannot use the court's power to grant you any rewards..."】

【"I don't need any rewards."】

【"May I ask where the General is taking me?"】

【"Li Lingyue, do you want to take control of your own destiny?"】