There were no male gods in this world—until enough people started pretending to be one.

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Bang! The door was flung open.

When Sha Yu arrived, the room was completely empty.

Where was everyone!?

Wait… why had he rushed here so urgently just now? Could it be that this was all part of Long Ming‘s calculations? If he showed up now, wouldn’t everyone assume he was responsible for the Blood Contract that had just taken place?

Sha Yu was overthinking it. No matter how adept Long Ming was at scheming, he couldn’t have predicted that the wolf warriors would pull such a stunt on him, or that someone would rush over. In this building filled with competitors, everyone was suspicious of each other. Long Ming’s sudden disappearance only added to the mystery. At this point, anyone seen leaving the building would be under suspicion.

Ironically, Long Ming, the one who had actually left, would end up being the least suspicious.

Instead of heading directly to Nine-Prong Plaza, Long Ming quietly made his way toward a hidden mountain within the prison.

The further he walked, the more desolate and eerie the surroundings became.

The prisoners were divided into different zones based on their abilities and attributes. In these remote mountains were held special beings—some imprisoned for life, some with unique characteristics that even the prison wardens only visited periodically.

As a contestant, Long Ming shouldn’t have been wandering aimlessly around Dimensional Prison. After all, it wasn’t a tourist spot, but a prison.

But Long Ming wasn’t wandering aimlessly. He had a specific goal: Feng Shi.

Feng Shi had a secret—his mother was imprisoned here.

Long Ming’s previous self had known Feng Shi for a long time and was privy to some secrets.

Back in the day, Feng Shi had been a despised figure, his emotions always on full display. Unlike now, when he was powerful and unreadable, Feng Shi back then was easy to see through.

Why was Feng Shi abandoned in the countryside right after birth? Even if he was an illegitimate child, shouldn’t Phoenix City have at least offered him some protection? Yet, Feng Shi had been cast away.

It was because his mother was a notorious Class A criminal—the Nine-Tailed Fox.

He was a hybrid of the Divine Beast Clan and the Demon Clan.

Feng Shi’s existence would have ruined Phoenix City’s reputation. No matter how many dirty deeds the family did in secret, they’d never want them exposed to the public.

So, from birth, Feng Shi was an obvious outcast.

From his childhood words and occasional slips, it was clear that Feng Shi harbored no affection for his parents. In fact, he despised them.

He wasn’t visiting his mother out of some heartwarming desire for a family reunion. His eyes were likely set on her beast core.

Whether it’s the Divine Beast Clan, Beast Clan, or Demon Clan, the core components of their strength are the same—beast soul, beast core, and beast bone. Each has its own use, but the beast core is the equivalent of their cultivation. Swallowing and refining a beast core can significantly boost one’s power.

For the Fox Clan, their number of tails corresponds to their power level. Nine tails represent the ninth stage.

However, a beast core can only be willingly given by the beast. Losing the core is tantamount to losing one’s life. Unless under extraordinary circumstances, even a mother like the Nine-Tailed Fox wouldn’t hand her core to Feng Shi.

If Feng Shi wanted the beast core, he would have to deceive her.

How did Long Ming know this for sure? It was something Feng Shi had let slip in a moment of deep hatred!

Throughout history, people who know too many secrets tend to die young.

Long Ming’s previous self was a perfect example of this.

The mountain Long Ming was now heading towards was where Feng Shi’s mother, the Nine-Tailed Fox, was imprisoned.

He wasn’t going there to confront her with the truth, nor to stop Feng Shi, and certainly not to assassinate him. Long Ming wasn’t a savior, nor did he have time to meddle in other people’s family affairs. Without a solid foundation of his own, any such thoughts were premature.

Dealing with someone as cunning and ruthless as Feng Shi required patience.

You eat a meal one bite at a time, and you walk a road one step at a time.

Why rush?

Long Ming had a plan, turn Feng Shi’s own methods against him.

Feng Shi prided himself on his looks, didn’t he? He had seduced Long Ming’s former self, hadn’t he? His schemes were flawless, right?

Well, this time, how about switching roles? Let’s see how Feng Shi reacts to being seduced!

Sure, this might be unnecessary, but would letting someone like Feng Shi off easily be fair to anyone?

To truly torment someone like him, you had to attack both the body and the heart. Only then would it match Long Ming’s vengeful nature.

Feng Shi was a master manipulator, especially when it came to emotions. To grab his attention, Long Ming would have to be… genuine.

That word—genuine—was loaded with meaning. On a micro level, it encompassed facial expressions, demeanor, gestures, and even the gaze in one’s eyes, along with attire. On a macro level, it involved the setting, environment, and effects.

But all of that required the perfect location. In layman’s terms, the ideal encounter—an important detail, as it would set the tone for a strong first impression.

First impressions have a lasting impact, often creating ripples that influence everything that follows.

Since Long Ming was going for the high-end, elegant approach, he couldn’t just choose any old place for this meeting.

Long Ming’s mind was methodical. To successfully scheme against someone as sharp as Feng Shi, he couldn’t afford to leave a single trace. This was going to be a long-term battle, and this was only the opening move.

At last, he arrived at the foot of a secluded mountain. The narrow path leading up was damp, the stone steps covered in moss, and the trees lush and green, with a faint fragrance hanging in the air.

Understanding the terrain was a basic skill.

Don’t underestimate these small details; they often determine success or failure.

Long Ming pinched some moss, brought it close to his nose, and sniffed. A flash of recognition lit his eyes—there was a hot spring here!

He mentally gave it a hundred thumbs up.

He had an idea!

What could be more natural and enticing than using the environment itself for a seduction?

No matter how beautiful Feng Shi was, he was still a man. And men—well, they all have a common weakness when it comes to seeing a beauty, drenched in water.

It’s direct, impactful, and the ultimate, unintentional allure.

No matter how resolute someone’s mind, they’re still visual creatures. Feng Shi, with his good looks and vanity, was bound to take the bait.

The goal of this first encounter wasn’t love—it was to leave a lasting impression.

Long Ming took another deep whiff of the air. Most people would miss this faint scent, but not someone like Long Ming, who had spent a millennium dissecting various species.

The scent was coming from tree spirits—tiny humanoid creatures with transparent wings that glowed a faint green. Usually, they preferred the company of elves, but they also appeared in particularly pure environments.

Once, a king had summoned all the magicians and warriors of his kingdom to capture tree spirits to decorate a forest with their glowing beauty, just to win a smile from his beloved concubine. This made tree spirits particularly fearful of humans.

A sly smile crossed Long Ming’s face. Sorry, little tree spirits, but he was never one to waste resources. These creatures were destined to be his guides, and would conveniently add some color to the environment.

Simulating the presence of tree spirits was no challenge for Long Ming, the master of mimicry.

Everything was in place, all that was left was a gust of east wind!

With graceful steps, Long Ming ascended the stone path, heading toward the hot spring.

Today was the quarterfinals, and as Phoenix City’s representative, Feng Shi wouldn’t stay long. Long Ming had to find the perfect spot before Feng Shi returned!

At the mountain’s summit, a massive cage made of Mystic Black Iron stood tall, its surroundings adorned with clusters of white flowers dotting the green grass. Inside, a white fox lay with its eyes closed, its nine tails chained to the top of the cage by thick chains. With each flick of its tails, the chains clinked with a crisp sound.

Suddenly, the fox opened its sharp, glassy eyes, locking its gaze on the approaching figure.

There was a rustling sound.

The soft click of boots on the ground, followed by the sight of a pair of exquisite shoes with red soles and gold inlays entering the fox’s view.

The person was dressed in a Phoenix Soaring Robe, the most prestigious attire of the Phoenix Clan. Golden embroidery shimmered against the red fabric, and a crown held up his high coiffure. A smile curled at the corner of his lips, and beneath his arched brows, his glass-like eyes shone, radiating an undeniable charm that transcended gender—an assertive, radiant beauty.

Confidence and pride exuded from him.

Dappled light filtered through the trees, casting a halo on him, making the world around him fade in comparison. He was Feng Shi, the third prince of Phoenix City.

But no one here appreciated the view. The Nine-Tailed Fox, Ling Tong, glanced at him briefly before closing her eyes again.

Feng Shi, seemingly accustomed to this, wasn’t bothered. He crouched down, gazing gently at the fox, his voice as soft as music played on a nine-stringed zither. “Mother, Father asked me to tell you that if you’re willing to confess your crimes, he will apply for your release from Dimensional Prison, and you’ll no longer have to suffer here. That way, our family can be reunited!”

Legend had it that Ling Tong, the Nine-Tailed Fox, was sentenced to life imprisonment for her heinous crimes. Long ago, when she only had seven tails, she had sought to become a powerful demon by traveling across the planes, seducing human emperors and stealing their heavenly fates. She had also performed ancient human sacrifices, gaining immense strength through ruthless means.

However, when she was finally captured, her newly-grown ninth tail had been brutally severed, leaving her severely injured. The supposed immense power she had gained through human sacrifices and the stolen heavenly fate had vanished without a trace.

During the trial, Ling Tong refused to confess, and even the impartial elders of the Temple of Light had no solid evidence. In the end, she was sentenced to life imprisonment.

“…” The white fox, Ling Tong, twitched her ears as if she hadn’t heard the melodious voice, and continued her nap, her indifference palpable.

“Father misses you very much. Don’t you miss him at all?” Feng Shi tried to appeal to her emotions.

“I do…”

Feng Shi’s heart lifted, just as he was about to continue his persuasion, only to hear Ling Tong’s icy voice cut through.

“I want him dead!” Ling Tong finally spoke, her eyes flashing with unmasked hatred.

Feng Shi fell silent, finally sighing as if in helplessness. “Even if you don’t miss Father, what about me? I grew up without a mother… I’ve always missed you…”

Before he could finish, Ling Tong spat a single word, “Scram!”

Feng Shi, unused to such defiance, had a flicker of malice in his eyes before it quickly vanished, replaced by his usual gentle smile.

After a few more fruitless attempts to express his longing for her, Feng Shi gave up, rising to leave. “I’ll be staying in Dimensional Prison for the next few days. I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

He received no response from Ling Tong, who continued to ignore him.

A soft sigh escaped into the air, enough to melt hearts and make anyone want to offer her the world.

Only after Feng Shi had gone did Ling Tong murmur to herself, her voice laced with sadness and pain, “Feng Shi, you’re just like your father—ruthless and willing to stop at nothing…”

Feng Shi descended the stone steps, his graceful figure mesmerizing. But once he was alone, all traces of his gentle demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, emotionless sneer.

That old hag! Not budging an inch!

His eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing. If the soft approach didn’t work, he’d have to try something else. Feng Shi had never failed to get what he wanted!

As he was deep in thought, a streak of green light arced past him, creating a stunningly beautiful illusion in the dappled sunlight. He had never seen anything so breathtaking that didn’t involve the use of magic or force.

It was a gift from nature!

Tiny glowing specks, like stars in the velvet night sky.

Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be little creatures he had never seen before. They had human-like bodies, no bigger than a thumb, with delicate crystal-like wings. Flitting about in the air, they flew in a specific direction.

The soft flapping of their wings combined to form a harmonious melody. Where were they going?

For the first time, Feng Shi felt a flicker of curiosity.

Following the direction of the tree spirits, he trailed after them.

The sound of flowing water became louder.

Unconsciously, he slowed his steps.

A strange mix of excitement and anxiety churned within him, creating a growing whirlpool of emotions, as if catching just one more glimpse would change his fate forever. The sound of water splashing on skin tugged at his will, bending his steps, convincing him that whatever was ahead would turn his world upside down. Anyone else might have hesitated, but not Feng Shi. His prideful and arrogant nature drove him to explore forbidden territory. The more dangerous the place, the more he wanted to reach it.

As someone who had reached the pinnacle of beauty, Feng Shi had every right to be this confident. He was certain that nothing could shake his resolve—now or ever.

But as he drew nearer, his steps became lighter and lighter. By the time he reached the scene, he had stopped breathing, his fingertips trembling slightly. His vision slowly unfolded before him, and his mind went blank. His gaze filled with one figure, and everything else faded into insignificance.

His heart skipped a beat.

It was a pool of steaming water, surrounded by rocks. In the center was a man, his back exposed. His pale skin looked like the finest jade, his waist slender yet strong. Water droplets traced their way down the muscles of his back, disappearing into a thin robe clinging to his hips, making one wish they could become those very droplets.

Through the mist, the outline of his curves shifted subtly with each movement, teasing the mind. His long, ink-black hair was swept to one side, unkempt yet still mesmerizing, making one itch to run their fingers through it.

The man’s movements lacked any hint of seduction, yet his every gesture captivated the eye, radiating a natural nobility. It was not an arrogance born of pretense like Feng Shi’s own, but something innate, something that couldn’t be imitated.

He was like a star in the night sky—distant, unattainable, a figure so noble and unique that no one could even dream of reaching him.

Feng Shi’s heart raced uncontrollably, his desire to tear down this noble facade growing by the second. He wanted to shatter this serenity, to see this man reveal another side of himself.

Deliberately, Feng Shi made a slight noise.

The sound was barely noticeable, but the man in the pool was clearly powerful, immediately sensing the disturbance. In such a remote place, he hadn’t expected anyone to be around.

Quickly, he grabbed the white robe hanging on the dry rocks by the pool and, with a sharp flick, sent a wind blade flying toward the source of the sound.

Feng Shi dodged quickly, but not quick enough. The man had been in such a rush that his attack missed, only cutting off a few strands of Feng Shi’s hair, which floated to the ground.

By the time Feng Shi looked again, there was nothing left but the rippling surface of the water. The man’s figure had completely disappeared.

It was as if the entire scene had been a figment of his imagination, as if that man had never existed.

From beginning to end, Feng Shi hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the man’s face.