When Wu Tian saw Tao Qianyang and Yuan Beizheng arrive, he smiled. "What’s going on?"

Tao Qianyang spoke first. "In one day, it will be the thousandth birthday of Heavenly King Zufu, the Master of the Eastern Taizhong Palace. I hope you and the little one can hurry over to witness the grand event."

A grand event?

Hearing this, Wu Tian smirked. What kind of grand event hadn’t he seen? Never mind the Immortal Emperor Realm; just on his journey back from breaking through the All Heavens, he had witnessed a host of people challenging the heavens themselves. He had seen a single man carrying the Coffin of Three Ages, single-handedly severing all of antiquity. He had seen...

Yuan Beizheng, however, furrowed his brow. "I have met Heavenly King Zufu before. His appearance..."

"What about it? Hurry up and tell me," Tao Qianyang urged impatiently.

"Speaking ill of someone behind their back is truly unbecoming," Yuan Beizheng said, "but I have to say this. That man is outwardly righteous and awe-inspiring, yet I can tell from his bone structure that he is utterly sanctimonious. You must be cautious if you go."

Wu Tian nodded. After Tao Qianyang and Yuan Beizheng delivered their message, they departed.

Wu Tian went to the kitchen of No Heaven Villa, where he found Qin Yuhan and the little one.

"Are you talking about Mom’s birthday?" Wu Tian asked with a smile.

Qin Yuhan nodded. "Yes. It would have been best if I could give her legendary cookware, but I’ve already inquired. That cookware was crafted by a Demon Cultivator, so it might not be suitable for Mom to use."

This statement took Wu Tian by surprise. He had no idea when he had been branded a Demon Cultivator.

Shrouded in a Blood Mist, appearing eerie and mysterious... just because of that entrance, he was labeled a Demon Cultivator?

Wu Tian could only conclude that those people were short-sighted.

Cultivation Techniques hold no inherent good or evil; it is the human heart that harbors kindness and malice!

Qin Yuhan then asked Wu Tian why he had come. He immediately told her about Heavenly King Zufu’s thousandth birthday.

Qin Yuhan’s Spirit Root was a high-grade Ice Spirit Root! It was a rare type, and although not as exceptional as Wu Tian’s or the little one’s, it was special enough that she too had been selected by the Eastern Taizhong Palace.

"Alright, then let’s go," Qin Yuhan said. As long as Wu Tian was by her side, she felt safe.

The little one also clamored, "Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go! I feel like another face-slapping event is about to happen. If I miss something like this, I won’t be able to sleep well for at least three nights!"

Wu Tian nodded. It was time to set off. The little one wanted to bring this and that, and Qin Yuhan also had a pile of things she wanted to bring.

Women... so much trouble!

But Wu Tian didn’t mind. He joked, "We might as well just bring the whole villa."

Qin Yuhan thought Wu Tian was teasing her, so she fell silent.

The little one, however, pouted. "Really? For real? Dad, you can’t deceive my young and fragile heart!"

"It’s true!" Wu Tian confirmed with a nod.

When he initially forged No Heaven Villa with the Nine Dragon Ring, Wu Tian had designed it so it could be moved at any time. He absorbed the villa into the Nine Dragon Ring, ready to head to the Eastern Taizhong Palace with Qin Yuhan and the little one.

Others from Peach Blossom Spring had also been selected. Basically, anyone with a Spirit Root was chosen. Including Wu Tian’s family, there were fifty-six people in total.

「The One and Three-Fifths Underground River」

This was a river in the Underground World, formed by converging subterranean water. It was unknown who gave the river the name "One and Three-Fifths," earning the scorn of later generations.

Did that person have any culture at all? How could they be so bad at naming things?

But this Underground River was not calm. It was home to many kinds of fish unknown to humans on the surface. Piranhas were the most common. Corpse Turtles were also frequently seen here. After all, people on the surface once practiced earth burials. The Corpse Worms and Corpse Qi from the bodies would follow the underground currents, eventually flowing into the One and Three-Fifths Underground River and giving rise to many river creatures that surface dwellers had never seen.

The One and Three-Fifths Underground River was also the only path from Peach Blossom Spring to the Eastern Taizhong Palace. Although the name sounded dangerous, you were essentially safe as long as you didn’t fall in. Tao Qianyang had even specially prepared underground sharks for the trip. These sharks, raised on Yuan Energy, grew large enough to be used as boats for crossing the Underground River. They didn’t look like typical sharks, mainly because they were much larger—about the size of a small wooden boat.

Wu Tian initially wanted the little one to ride the same shark as him and Qin Yuhan, but she refused. She insisted on having one shark all to herself.

Wu Tian sighed in resignation and let the little one have her way.

The people from Peach Blossom Spring who witnessed this all shook their heads. Mr. Wu Tian is highly skilled and daring, but his daughter might not be so formidable! If she falls off the shark into the river, it will be a disaster.

"Mr. Wu Tian, you can’t let a child be so reckless!"

"That’s right, Mr. Wu Tian, this is no small matter!"

They all tried to dissuade him, but Wu Tian just shook his head. He knew the little one was more than capable of handling herself. Seeing his resolute attitude, the others knew there was nothing more they could do.

「At this very moment, in the Eastern Taizhong Palace」

Heavenly King Zufu’s brow furrowed slightly as a thought occurred to him. If something were to happen to Wu Tian and his group within the palace, what would others think? He had almost overlooked this point. So, they must have their ’accident’ on the way!

Immediately, Heavenly King Zufu, masked and dressed in black, quietly left the Eastern Taizhong Palace. As the palace master, he couldn’t travel too far. So, instead of going after Wu Tian’s group himself, he found the nearest Assassin Organization. He issued a mission: kidnap Wu Tian and his entire party.

The Assassin Organization asked for information on the group, and Heavenly King Zufu told them everything he knew. The organization nodded and accepted the mission. Only then did Heavenly King Zufu depart.

"Wu Tian’s group is about to enter the Eastern Taizhong Palace, yet this man in black wants them dead. He must have a powerful background," one assassin mused.

"Indeed. I wonder who he is," another replied.

The underground Assassin Organization was also composed of Immortal Seekers. They had no formidable ancestors; most were just commoners who had stumbled into the Underground World and found old cultivation ruins. Lacking any significant background, they were rejected by the major Immortal Seeker factions. Their only choice was to form an Assassin Organization.

Killing for gold and silver.

Killing for supplies.

Killing for Cultivation Magic.

"This is a gift from the heavens!" the leader of the Assassin Organization said, overjoyed. "Wu Tian’s group just had their Spirit Roots tested, which means they haven’t started Cultivation yet. They’ll be no match for us."

"Correct," the others nodded.

For this mission, they were certain of victory.

「The One and Three-Fifths Underground River」

Wu Tian and his group progressed, riding atop the sharks. Suddenly, he sensed a fluctuation of Spiritual Energy within the river.

If I can absorb it, my Spiritual Power could take a half-step into the late Tongxuan Realm. My raw strength would be comparable to the Seventh Realm, Nascent Soul. And if I add my Fantasy Cultivation Techniques and skills... it would be even more terrifying!