Qiao Xuan’s initial plan was simple: he would fabricate a half-true, half-false identity, fool this group of sword cultivators, and then take the opportunity to gather information about the Celestial Realm. Meanwhile, he would search for a way to return to the mortal realm…

The possibility of actually running into someone from the Guiyuan Sword Sect? That was laughable. The Celestial Realm was vast—what were the odds of something like that happening?

He figured that by the time he left, he might never even cross paths with anyone from Guiyuan Sword Sect. Or perhaps the sect no longer even existed in the Celestial Realm. After all, during his time in the mortal realm, he’d only heard about the existence of ascended seniors in ancient sect records… Who knew if they were still alive after all these years?

But sometimes, fate works in mysterious ways.

The very first group he encountered in the Celestial Realm happened to be disciples of the Guiyuan Sword Sect…

Having just escaped from Xuanhe Valley, the last thing Qiao Xuan wanted was to be forced to acknowledge his roots and return to the grueling life of secluded cultivation. What should have been a heartwarming reunion with his fellow sect members instead left Qiao Xuan feeling sour and conflicted. Was it too late to claim that he wasn’t from Guiyuan Sword Sect after all?

The young man leading the group noticed Qiao Xuan’s dazed and lost expression, assuming he was simply overwhelmed with joy. With a hearty laugh, he said, “What a stroke of luck! It’s no small feat that you managed to find us so quickly… By the way, my name is Wu Zimo. What’s yours?”

Qiao Xuan hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, “I… I’m Qiao Xuan. I’m truly glad to have met you, Senior Brothers…”

Upon hearing this, Wu Zimo slapped Qiao Xuan on the shoulder, exclaiming excitedly, “Right? I’m thrilled too! It’s fate that brought us together! When I first ascended to the Celestial Realm, I wandered aimlessly for who knows how long, suffering countless hardships before I finally found the sect…”

Qiao Xuan remained silent, thinking, Your luck really isn’t that bad, is it?

Wu Zimo chatted on for a while, then glanced back to see his fellow disciples eyeing Qiao Xuan with fervor, itching to step forward. Clearing his throat, he said, “Hey, everyone, ease up a bit. We don’t want to scare our junior brother here.”

The other disciples exchanged glances, silently thinking, It’s you who should be careful not to scare our junior brother!

Guiyuan Sword Sect hadn’t seen a new ascendant disciple in ages, so everyone was excited. But despite their enthusiasm, verifying Qiao Xuan’s identity was still necessary.

Wu Zimo smiled and said, “Since you’re a disciple of Guiyuan Sword Sect, you should have your identity token, right?”

Qiao Xuan blinked, quickly coming up with an excuse, “I’m ashamed to say this, but during my tribulation, all my magical items and tokens were struck by heavenly lightning, leaving me with nothing but my life-bound spiritual sword…”

Wu Zimo pondered this for a moment before nodding. “If that’s the case, it’s understandable. While we believe you, Junior Brother, we still need to confirm your identity. How about this… The Guiyuan Sword Technique was passed down by our founder, Guiyuan Immortal, and only our sect’s disciples can practice it. Could you demonstrate it for us?”

Qiao Xuan’s expression tightened—this was the critical moment. If he claimed ignorance, he would be exposed as a fraud, and those swords would likely pierce him through. Now that he was riding the tiger, he had no choice but to continue the act.

Taking a deep breath, Qiao Xuan raised the “life-bound spiritual sword” that he’d acquired only days ago and performed a sword flourish before striking the ground with a powerful slash!

Though the strike seemed ordinary, it effortlessly sliced a half-meter-high boulder in two, the cut so smooth it was as if the stone had been split by a mirror.

Wu Zimo approached, bending down to examine the cut. A trace of white sword energy lingered on the surface, gradually dissipating in his hand. Satisfied, Wu Zimo nodded with a smile. “Indeed, that is the Guiyuan Sword Technique.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Xuan finally let out a sigh of relief. He’d managed to bluff his way through!

It was important to note that his current body had never actually practiced the Guiyuan Sword Technique, and he wasn’t even human anymore. Even though he remembered some of the sword techniques, without the sect’s true energy, it should have been impossible to execute such a move. What enabled him to do so was the Dayan Creation Technique he had cultivated.

Yes, this was the foundation that gave him the confidence to pose as a sword cultivator!

The technique his master had taught him was truly extraordinary. It allowed him to harness the power of heaven and earth, with formless spiritual energy that could transform at will. With just a thought, Qiao Xuan had simulated the unique true energy of the Guiyuan Sword Sect and executed the sword technique flawlessly.

Initially, he had been somewhat anxious, but now he was full of admiration—for the technique, not himself.

He might not be powerful, but his technique was genuinely impressive.

Now that the crisis had passed, Qiao Xuan calmed down. Maybe following these people for a while wouldn’t be so bad…

Once he figured out the situation, he could always slip away later…

With this thought, Qiao Xuan put on a shy smile, cupped his hands to the sword cultivators, and said, “I’m relieved to have met all of you, Senior Brothers. Please take care of me in the days to come.”

The group, now convinced of Qiao Xuan’s identity, responded with warm smiles, assuring him that there would be no problem.

As Qiao Xuan looked at the enthusiastic faces of his fellow disciples, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia. He rarely thought about his past lives, but the camaraderie of the Guiyuan Sword Sect was indeed heartwarming. His past love life might have been a mess, but he did have some fondness for his sect brothers. Thinking of how he had died in that life, he wondered if his brothers were saddened. And as for that person…

He had killed Qiao Xuan, but what became of him afterward? Given his talent, he might have ascended long ago.

This thought only strengthened Qiao Xuan’s resolve not to return to the Guiyuan Sword Sect. Thankfully, that person wasn’t among this group!

After a moment of reflection, Qiao Xuan asked Wu Zimo with a smile, “Senior Brothers, where are you headed? When will we return to the sect?”

Wu Zimo smiled apologetically. “I know you’re eager to return, but we’re currently on an important mission. It might be a while before we go back. But don’t worry, it shouldn’t take too long… For now, just stick with us, and I’ll personally introduce you to the sect elders when we get there.”

Oh? So they’re not returning right away? Qiao Xuan was secretly pleased.

He asked, “May I ask what your mission is, Senior Brother?”

Wu Zimo chuckled. “The Hua Lan Emperor has been in seclusion for a thousand years, and he recently emerged after attaining enlightenment. Many celestial sects have gone to congratulate him. Our Guiyuan Sword Sect has always had close ties with Yunhai Tiangong, so naturally, we’re sending representatives to extend our congratulations.”

“That’s right! And the Emperor is known for his generosity. It’s rare for Yunhai Tiangong to open its doors to guests. Junior Brother, you should come with us—you’ll get to taste some celestial fruits and wines. It’s a trip worth making,” added another slightly chubby, baby-faced senior brother with a smile.

Oh, there’s good food involved?

Qiao Xuan’s smile became a bit more sincere, though he tried to appear slightly hesitant. “Is it really okay for me to join…?”

“Of course it is! Why wouldn’t it be?” another senior brother quickly chimed in, his tone a mix of envy and excitement. “Yunhai Tiangong is filled with rare flowers and fruits, countless treasures, and even the paving stones are incredibly valuable. A few celestial fruits and wines are nothing to the Emperor. He wouldn’t even notice…”

“Exactly, this is an event you don’t want to miss.”

As the conversation continued, Qiao Xuan, who knew nothing about the Celestial Realm, listened intently, absorbing a wealth of new information.

When mortals ascend, they start as Tianxian, or Celestial Immortals. Above them are Shangxian and Jinxian, with clear distinctions between each rank. Only a select few are able to forge divine bodies, allowing them to be called true gods. In the Celestial Realm, a Shenjun, or Divine Lord, is already a formidable existence.

But above the Shenjun are the Shangshen, or Supreme Gods, who are the true powerhouses of the Celestial Realm.

This Hua Lan Emperor was reportedly a Shangshen from tens of thousands of years ago. Not only was he a dominant figure in the Celestial Realm, but he was also well-connected and highly respected. It seemed he was also quite the generous, wealthy figure.

It might be interesting to go and have a look, but Qiao Xuan was most concerned about finding a way to the mortal realm.

The Guiyuan Sword Sect brothers seemed very friendly, so it shouldn’t be too hard to ask them for some information…

With this in mind, Qiao Xuan smiled and asked, “Senior Brothers, I was wondering… after ascending to the Celestial Realm, is it possible to return to the mortal realm?”

As soon as he asked, the group fell silent.

After a moment, one senior brother sighed, “That’s easier said than done.”

Another explained, “To return, you’d need to have the power of a Shangshen. Only then could you break through the space to the mortal realm. Since you’ve already ascended, it’s best not to dwell on returning.”

Qiao Xuan was taken aback—he hadn’t expected it to be so difficult. Unwilling to give up, he asked, “Is it really that hard to become a Shangshen…?”

“What do you think?” Wu Zimo replied with a bitter smile, shaking his head. “I’ve been in the Celestial Realm for three thousand years, and I’ve only just reached the level of Shangxian… You never encountered any ascended seniors in the sect when you were in the mortal realm, did you?”

Qiao Xuan shook his head. “No, I never did.”

That was precisely why he had thought the sect records were all nonsense—either no one had actually ascended, or all the ascended seniors had died. Otherwise, why didn’t they ever come back to visit?

Wu Zimo sighed. “For ordinary disciples like us, the majority will never reach godhood in their lifetimes, let alone become Shangshen… Our Guiyuan Sword Sect has been around for tens of thousands of years and is well-known in the Celestial Realm. But aside from our ancestor Guiyuan Immortal, only two others have achieved Shangshen status in our sect… For Shangshen, a few hundred or thousand years in seclusion is completely normal. Even if they have time, they’re so detached from worldly affairs that they don’t miss the mortal realm at all…”

So that’s how it is.

Those who wanted to return couldn’t, and those who could didn’t want to.

Shangshen were extremely rare and powerful even in the Celestial Realm. They wouldn’t just wander into the mortal realm without reason, which explained why gods were seldom seen there.

Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but feel a little downcast. He had only just taken human form a year ago, and his cultivation level was unimpressive. Moreover, becoming a Shangshen wasn’t something that could be achieved with mere effort…

Was he really unable to return to the mortal realm?

Seeing Qiao Xuan’s expression, Wu Zimo assumed he was homesick and tried to console him. “I understand that you miss your loved ones in the mortal realm. But now that you’ve ascended, focus on your cultivation. The fates of mortals are all determined by the heavens. It’s best to let go of those worldly attachments.”

Qiao Xuan was deeply disappointed. He couldn’t possibly ask a Shangshen to take him back, could he? His master could probably do it, but there was no way he’d dare to ask.

Biting his lip, Qiao Xuan pressed on, “But is there really no other way to return to the mortal realm?”

Wu Zimo thought for a moment before replying, “Oh, right… I’ve heard that the Hua Lan Emperor possesses a treasure called the Shanhai Diagram in Yunhai Tiangong. It’s a divine artifact used to observe the Three Realms, capable of accessing any place within them.”

Qiao Xuan’s spirits lifted at this. “A treasure like that actually exists?”

Wu Zimo laughed. “The Emperor has been alive for tens of thousands of years and is incredibly powerful. A divine artifact like that is nothing special to him. Given his strength, he could travel to the mortal realm in the blink of an eye, so he probably doesn’t even use it.”

Qiao Xuan, however, made a mental note of this. He felt as if a light had appeared at the end of a dark tunnel. The Hua Lan Emperor might not care about such a function, but it was perfect for him!

Becoming a Shangshen was something he’d never achieve in this lifetime, but borrowing the Shanhai Diagram was within the realm of possibility… And weren’t they heading to Yunhai Tiangong to congratulate the Emperor?

Talk about a twist of fate…

He had thought that everything was going wrong, but now it seemed his luck was turning around!

…

Qiao Xuan continued to travel with the Guiyuan Sword Sect disciples, learning much about the Celestial Realm from Wu Zimo, who was well-informed and quite talkative.

Setting aside some of the self-aggrandizing tales from his senior brothers, Qiao Xuan learned that Guiyuan Sword Sect currently had three Shangshen. The sect’s mortal realm branch was thriving, and over the past tens of thousands of years, many disciples had ascended, forming a solid force in the Celestial Realm.

So it turned out the sect elders and his father hadn’t been lying to him in that lifetime—Guiyuan Sword Sect really was an ancient and powerful sect!

Not only was it a major sect in the mortal realm, but it also held significant influence in the Celestial Realm. Having a strong backing after ascension was far better than being part of a small sect or a lone immortal. Unfortunately, in recent centuries, no one from the sect had ascended, nor were there any extraordinary disciples… This had given Qiao Xuan the impression that all the stories were just legends.

Wait a minute, speaking of extraordinary talents, there actually was one—the object of his emotional tribulation in that lifetime…

That person had been hailed as the most promising talent for ascension in a thousand years in the mortal realm… But to sever his emotional ties and rid himself of attachments, he had even killed his own beloved Dao companion, cold-hearted and ruthless.

But that person was so obsessed with becoming an immortal that he would do anything to achieve it, sacrificing so much. Meanwhile, Qiao Xuan had simply passed a tribulation and instantly became an immortal… leading him to conclude that it was better to be born into the right family than to work hard.

Qiao Xuan’s only talent was being born under the right circumstances. In his past life, he was a second-generation rich kid; in this life, he was born directly into the Celestial Realm.

That’s what it means to win at the starting line! Hehe!

That person might have been a big deal in the mortal realm, but after ascending to the Celestial Realm, he probably had to start from the bottom just like Qiao Xuan. Thinking this way, Qiao Xuan felt much better about it.

After all, it was just an emotional tribulation—Qiao Xuan never took it seriously.

Riding his sword with the group, Qiao Xuan looked around at his senior brothers… Now that he thought about it, aside from being blind when choosing a Dao companion, that life was probably the best of all his tribulation lives. He had a powerful sect, and his senior brothers and elders were kind and loving. Even that person, before killing him, had been the perfect Dao companion. If Qiao Xuan hadn’t died… it would have been a life of triumph, far better than his other lifetimes.

At that moment, Wu Zimo suddenly stopped.

Qiao Xuan nearly bumped into him and looked at him curiously, noticing that Wu Zimo was holding a letter, his expression one of delight.

Qiao Xuan asked, “Senior Brother, did you receive some good news?”

Wu Zimo, his voice filled with joy, turned to the others and announced, “The Sword Sovereign is also going to Yunhai Tiangong. He wants us to wait for him outside the palace so we can enter together.”

As soon as he said this, everyone’s faces lit up with excitement, like fans hearing that their idol was coming. They started chattering all at once.

“Really? The Sword Sovereign is coming? Isn’t he not fond of such events…”

“Maybe he’s coming on behalf of the Ancestor. I’ve heard that the Ancestor is close friends with the Hua Lan Emperor, but since the Ancestor is in seclusion, it would make sense for the Sword Sovereign to go in his place.”

“What should I do? It’ll be my first time meeting the Sword Sovereign. I wonder if I could ask him for some cultivation advice—maybe one word from him could help me see the light…”

“You’ve been in the Celestial Realm for two thousand years longer than him, and yet you’re still willing to ask?”

“Why not? The strong are respected in the Celestial Realm! So what if he ascended later? In just a few hundred years, he’s already at the level of a Shangshen. With that kind of talent, it wouldn’t matter if you ascended ten thousand years earlier.”

“You’re right…”

“And besides, it’s been tens of thousands of years since the Celestial Realm saw a new Shangshen. Even those old-timers might have to admit that the Sword Sovereign is a force to be reckoned with!”

“If I had even half of the Sword Sovereign’s talent, I wouldn’t be…”

“Half? You wouldn’t even compare to his little toe.”

“Hah! And you think you’re any better?”

“Stop arguing, stop arguing! I’ve heard that the most beautiful woman in the Celestial Realm, Ruohua Goddess, also likes our Sword Sovereign…”

“Really? Really? The Ruohua Goddess likes the Sword Sovereign? I’ve heard that not only is the Ruohua Goddess stunningly beautiful and of noble birth, but she’s also related to the Hua Lan Emperor!”

“Of course, it’s true. The Sword Sovereign is so outstanding that countless female celestials admire him. It’s no surprise that Ruohua Goddess likes him.”

“I think only the Ruohua Goddess is worthy of our Sword Sovereign!”

Wow? Qiao Xuan was stunned by what he heard. Where did this deity come from? He seemed like the perfect male protagonist.

And judging by how these disciples idolized him, they were clearly in awe of this Sword Sovereign, admiring him without a trace of resentment. It was obvious that this Sword Sovereign was indeed a remarkable figure, one who commanded their respect, and he had achieved the level of a Shangshen in just a few hundred years…

Wait a minute. Just a few days ago, Wu Zimo had advised him not to aim too high, saying it was nearly impossible to become a Shangshen and that he should give up and let go… But wasn’t there someone who had become a Shangshen in just a few hundred years? Who was he underestimating?

Feeling indignant, Qiao Xuan was about to say something when a terrible thought struck him…

Wait… if it’s only been a few hundred years, could it be… that person?

Qiao Xuan’s heart skipped a beat, the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

That person had been hailed as the number one genius in the cultivation world during their time in the mortal realm… But mortal cultivators were like frogs at the bottom of a well, thinking that anyone who could ascend was a genius, and exaggerating their achievements. When Qiao Xuan had first come to the Celestial Realm, he hadn’t given it much thought, assuming that the person would fade into the crowd here.

But now, things weren’t going as he had expected.

If it really was that person, Qiao Xuan would need to tread carefully.

Qiao Xuan quietly stayed on the sidelines, making sure to show some admiration just like the other disciples, blending in seamlessly.

Acting was something he excelled at!

Every scumbag has a bit of a natural-born actor in them, and Qiao Xuan was no exception.

Stay calm—no one can recognize you. As long as you don’t panic, everything will be fine!

Qiao Xuan smiled and nodded along, watching as the group finished their discussion and continued on their journey.

They flew for nearly a month before finally arriving at a vast plain. Ahead of them stood a magnificent palace, towering above the white mist and clouds, with celestials flying by every now and then—clearly all here to congratulate the Emperor.

After the desolate emptiness of the journey, this was the first sign of the Celestial Realm’s grandeur.

Wu Zimo landed on the ground, smiling as he said, “Let’s wait here.”

The group nodded, each pulling out a palm-sized stone and tossing it on the ground, creating small tents that popped up like miniature yurts.

Wow, they even brought camping gear? This sect really knows how to maintain a good corporate image! The Celestial Realm’s headquarters sure were impressive!

Wu Zimo prepared his tent and enthusiastically invited Qiao Xuan to share it.

After a moment’s thought, Qiao Xuan smiled shyly and nodded.

The little tent looked small from the outside, but it was actually spacious inside, with more than enough room for two. Wu Zimo asked Qiao Xuan, “Are you going to meditate or sleep?”

Qiao Xuan didn’t hesitate, “Sleep.”

Wu Zimo chuckled and shook his head, thinking this junior brother had a lazy, laid-back personality. But since everyone had their own way of cultivating, he didn’t pry further. Instead, he prepared a pillow and blanket for Qiao Xuan before settling down to meditate.

Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but marvel at how diligent these people were. Was cultivation really that enticing?

Qiao Xuan probably wasn’t cut out for the cultivation path—he still didn’t understand the allure of it all. As long as his cultivation was sufficient, there was no need to be obsessed with it… He rolled over and comfortably drifted off to sleep.

When he woke up, Wu Zimo was already gone.

Yawning, Qiao Xuan slowly walked out of the tent, only to find the other disciples gathered ahead, surrounding a tall man.

The man was dressed in a plain white robe with a silver belt around his waist. His long black hair was half tied with a jade hairpin, the rest cascading down his back. A silver ribbon draped over his shoulder. His features were cold and refined, his lips pale, and his dark eyes deep and mysterious. When he smiled, his lips curved slightly, as gentle as a breeze and as clear as the moon… truly a man of grace and elegance, unparalleled in the world.

Even in the Celestial Realm, his presence was undiminished.

He was still the shining star, the favored child of the heavens.

Qiao Xuan sighed, reluctantly admitting that when talent reached a certain level, it was just a bit more impressive than being born lucky.

But the Celestial Realm was just too small—he had already run into someone he knew. Why couldn’t he have guessed wrong just once?

With the situation as it was, he could only take things one step at a time. No matter what, Jiang Weiqing didn’t recognize him now, so he just had to stay cautious and keep his distance… Qiao Xuan tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible and was about to find a place to hide when he suddenly made eye contact with Wu Zimo.

In that moment, a sense of impending doom washed over him.

Sure enough, in the next instant, Wu Zimo excitedly ran over, grabbed Qiao Xuan without a word, and started dragging him toward Jiang Weiqing. As they walked, Wu Zimo cheerfully announced, “Junior Brother, you’re finally awake! Come over here! I’ll introduce you to our Qingheng Sword Sovereign.”

Then, turning to Jiang Weiqing, he said, “Sword Sovereign, this is our newly ascended junior brother. We met him on the way here, and we can bring him back to the sect with us!”

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