Volume One: The Game of the Manipulators Chapter Seventy-Nine: Returning the Inherited Spiritual Treasure

In the Fourth Universe, on the Infinite Continent.

Even after several centuries, the commotion caused by the twelve spirit beasts choosing treasures remained the most popular topic in the region. Everyone was still speculating about those twelve fortunate individuals who had gained the approval of the spirit beasts—what benefits they might ultimately receive, and whether some had already become gods and left this place.

Zhang Xingfeng, having been a ninth-level Immortal Emperor, directly leaped over the ranks of Divine Man, Celestial God, and God King to attain the position of Celestial Lord. At the same time, he was transported to this continent—this land that would one day fall under his governance.

Upon becoming Celestial Lord, Zhang Xingfeng gained many insights. He came to understand the hierarchy between the universes: the one he inhabited was the Fourth Universe of his master Lin Meng. In the future, this Fourth Universe would be entirely managed by Zhang Xingfeng.

Once a lesser universe has a manager, it gradually begins to flourish. While it may never be divided into three realms like the principal universe, the Celestial Lord has full discretion to create various spaces and classifications within it, just as Zhang Xingfeng was now doing.

Upon arrival at the Infinite Continent, Zhang Xingfeng’s first act was to separate mortals, cultivators, and immortals. Following the blueprint once used for the Realm of Heavenly Heart, he partitioned ten thousand small spaces, each one modeled exactly after the mortal realm of the main universe, complete with individual planets. Only mortals and cultivators who ascended through diligent practice could set foot on the Infinite Continent.

There were no Divine Men on the Infinite Continent. To carve out a divine realm here was something only Lin Meng could achieve.

Nevertheless, Zhang Xingfeng had a new idea. On the fringe of the Infinite Continent, he set aside a region equal in size to the Realm of Heavenly Heart. There, he nurtured the land with the Primal Spirit Pearl, making the environment and spiritual energy far superior to other areas.

All those who had attained the rank of Eighth-Level Immortal Emperor and above were transported by Zhang Xingfeng to this new region. Here, the spiritual energy was abundant. Although these Immortal Emperors could not become gods in this space, their soul realms could still grow, and it was even possible for some to form a Soul Golden Core.

This new space was named the Realm of Heavenly Heart by Zhang Xingfeng. Over time, however, the inhabitants of the Infinite Continent did not accept this name and gradually gave it a new one: the Sacred Realm. Those who formed the Soul Golden Core were called Saints, and Zhang Xingfeng himself became a legend in the eyes of all who dwelled on the Infinite Continent.

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In the Hongmeng Space.

“Second Brother, you truly are extraordinary. Once you set your sights on someone, there’s no escape for them!”

Beneath the cassia tree, Qin Yu smiled as he spoke to Lin Meng. With Hongmeng in seclusion, the two could no longer enjoy Hongmeng’s spiritual wine and had to make do with the fine liquors Lin Meng had collected throughout the universe.

“Of course. Last time, he slipped away during the events in Shanhaitian, but this time, there’s nowhere for him to run!” Lin Meng was delighted now that the Fourth Universe had a manager. Zhang Xingfeng had no idea that from the moment of the Ruan Lingyu affair—a matter he had barely noticed—he had already been calculated into someone else’s plans. Zhang Xingfeng was even less aware that Lin Meng had set his sights on him a long time ago, intending for him to become the manager of the Fourth Universe. Even if Zhang Xingfeng had failed to obtain the Primal Spirit Pearl this time, his fate would still have been to assume this role.

“The influence of the Controllers is truly vast,” Qin Yu sighed softly, his gaze piercing through countless spaces to rest upon Qin Shuang, who had returned to the Immortal, Demon, and Beast Realm.

Zhang Xingfeng was a man of unknown destiny—it had always been this way. Lin Meng had taken a liking to him early on, but unfortunately, after absorbing the spatial source power of the Realm of Heavenly Heart, Zhang Xingfeng became trapped there, unable to ascend. Later, Lin Meng conceived the idea of making him the manager of the Fourth Universe. However, because Zhang Xingfeng’s destiny was unpredictable, Lin Meng was reluctant to force his hand. Yet Lin Meng’s repeated intentions eventually became part of Zhang Xingfeng’s fate. That was why Qin Yu lamented the profound influence held by the Controllers.

***

In the Immortal, Demon, and Beast Realm, the name Qin Shuang was now known to the leaders of every faction. Everyone understood that a peerless expert had appeared, one even more mysterious than Qin Yu once was.

Yet Qin Yu had only ascended just over twenty thousand years ago, so no one suspected a blood relation between Qin Shuang and Qin Yu. Their shared surname was dismissed as mere coincidence.

After returning, Zong Jue and his companions had been waiting for Qin Shuang. They all believed he would surely pass the arena trial, and it was quite possible he would obtain the spiritual treasure. None of them expected, however, that Qin Shuang would give away a treasure he had already secured.

Zong Jue, in particular, learned upon his return that Fang Lan had been killed and that the Peng Demon Emperor’s inherited treasure had gone missing. As the supreme divine beast—the Golden-Winged Roc—Zong Jue had a duty to retrieve the ancestral treasure and to become the new Peng Demon Emperor. The Peng Demon Emperor’s legacy was ancient in this realm, and Zong Jue was the only Golden-Winged Roc among them. This was both his destiny and his responsibility.

The Avian Tribe had no other choice. Zong Jue was immediately escorted back to their lands. After a thorough investigation, he confirmed that it was Qin Shuang who had killed Fang Lan—a conclusion that left Zong Jue troubled.

Although Qin Shuang had never demonstrated his power before them, Zong Jue knew that even if the entire Avian Tribe combined their strength, they would not be Qin Shuang’s match. Yet the ancestral treasure was of supreme importance, especially to the Roc lineage. Zong Jue had no choice but to confront the issue.

This was the business of the Avian Tribe and the Roc line of super divine beasts. Zong Jue did not inform Wu Long and the others, but Wu Long, Man Qian, and Ao Wuming were all aware and understood his intentions. They quietly helped Zong Jue gather information about Qin Shuang, but they dared not intervene. Losing the ancestral treasure was embarrassment enough; if they had to rely on outsiders to recover it, the Avian Tribe would never lift their heads again.

As soon as Qin Shuang reappeared in the Immortal, Demon, and Beast Realm, Zong Jue, Man Qian, Ao Wuming, and Wu Long immediately detected his presence. With their combined influence, little transpired in this world without their knowledge—especially since Qin Shuang made no attempt to conceal his whereabouts.

On Maple Moon Star, the very place Qin Si had once departed, Qin Shuang sat alone drinking.

He felt no regret at having surrendered the Celestial Lord’s spiritual treasure. In the past, perhaps Qin Shuang would have chosen the treasure without hesitation, but after journeying through Shanhaitian with Qin Si, family had come to mean everything to him.

Now, Qin Shuang also understood why Qin Si chose to return to the Divine Realm. The allure of the Celestial Lord’s treasure was irresistible even to a God King. If word reached the Divine Realm, they would undoubtedly descend in madness, when even the Immortal Emperors here could not hope to touch such a treasure.

“Congratulations, Brother Qin!”

Dressed in white, Zong Jue approached Qin Shuang and sat down without ceremony.

“What’s there to congratulate me for? I didn’t obtain the spiritual treasure.”

Qin Shuang had long since noticed Zong Jue. He held a favorable impression of Zong Jue—for one, the man had once helped his father and had maintained a good relationship with him. He didn’t seem foolish enough to try to seize the treasure, falsely believing Qin Shuang had taken it.

“I haven’t come for the treasure, Brother Qin. There’s a question I’d like to ask you.”

Zong Jue’s expression was serious, his eyes fixed intently on Qin Shuang.

“Please, ask.”

Qin Shuang nodded slightly. He had long since put the matter of Fang Lan behind him, as well as the ancestral treasure. Now, a third-rate Hongmeng spiritual treasure meant nothing to him; he had tossed it into his ring without a thought. Unlike Qin Yu in years past, Qin Shuang had no concerns. In the Divine Realm, the God Kings were mostly his family’s retainers—no one dared accuse him, even if he brought the Roc lineage’s ancestral treasure there.

“Was it you who killed Fang Lan?”

Zong Jue had gathered all his energy, a faint tension in his bearing. Fang Lan and Zong Jue’s strength were nearly equal; if Qin Shuang could kill Fang Lan, he could just as easily kill Zong Jue.

“Yes, I killed him. I’d forgotten—you are all of the Roc lineage.”

In an instant, Qin Shuang understood. Seeing Zong Jue so tense, he shook his head slightly.

“You’re after this, aren’t you? Here, take it.”

Qin Shuang casually tossed the golden crown to Zong Jue, poured him a cup of wine, and smiled—though there was a trace of amusement in his eyes.

“Thank you, Brother Qin!”

Zong Jue had anticipated a fierce battle, possibly even his own death, yet the outcome was so simple. The abrupt shift, and the look in Qin Shuang’s eyes, brought a faint flush to Zong Jue’s face.

“Fang Lan’s greed was excessive; he deserved his fate. My only mistake was holding on to your ancestral treasure for so long. Come, I’ll drink a cup as penance!”

Zong Jue’s embarrassment made Qin Shuang want to laugh, yet he also felt a surge of emotion. When his father had first met Zong Jue, the man had been vastly more powerful than his father. Now, this once-mighty figure was actually nervous before him.

“I know. I never intended to avenge Fang Lan. This is about the Roc lineage’s ancestral treasure…”

Zong Jue’s face reddened further. He had come only to retrieve the treasure; he had never considered avenging Fang Lan, for whom he had little regard.

Qin Shuang gave a faint smile, left the ancestral treasure behind, and vanished without a trace.

(To be continued)