"Hey, I've never seen such a fine thing before," Yun Zhongjun said as he looked at the small triangular flag laid out in front of him, admiring it with a sigh before carefully picking it up for closer examination. "The divine materials used here are quite exquisite; a palm-sized flag infused with hundreds of different materials. Its current shape is the result of the final step in the refining process, evolved by itself, which is the most suitable form for it. Hmm, this flag can be used for offensive purposes, quite a remarkable treasure indeed... Who would have thought the Queen Mother of the West would be so generous, giving you such a treasure upon first meeting."

In the Annihilation Sect, in the Temple where Yun Zhongjun had resettled, Wu Wang and Yun Zhongjun huddled in a corner, using Divine Power and Mana to envelop the area. Then, they began to study the small flag head-to-head.

Hearing such praise from Yun Zhongjun, Wu Wang smiled calmly, took a Treasure Sack from his sleeve, and placed it in front of Yun Zhongjun. The latter opened it and nearly had his eyeballs pop out.

"So many! What are these? Where did the Queen Mother of the West get so many divine materials!"

Wu Wang secretly observed Yun Zhongjun's reaction, his mind already clear. Since the second divine era, only the Divine Kings, who have established order or might establish order, can access the secrets of the Kunlun Ruins. This trip to the Kunlun Ruins was actually the Queen Mother of the West's recognition of him. But... What would Emperor Shun think? What he was experiencing now, Emperor Shun might have already gone through. Although this was a bit 'outside looking in' and overly concerned, if there was any situation later, and Wu Wang revealed any flaw that let others know he might create a new cosmic order, then Emperor Shun would surely associate it with Wu Wang's trip to the Kunlun Ruins. Moreover, Wu Wang was certain that when he entered the Kunlun Ruins, Heaven Palace had captured this news.

Thinking of this, Wu Wang felt quite a headache. He slumped in his chair, speaking in a low voice, "There are a total of three hundred and sixty pieces. These weren't given by the Queen Mother of the West, but by a group of old timers."

Yun Zhongjun frowned, "Who?"

"A group of Divine Spirits who fancy themselves as the remaining will of the old order."

At these words, Yun Zhongjun was taken aback. Wu Wang intertwined his fingers, hands behind his head, and said with a wry smile, "Does the Great Wilderness need to be this profound? Every time I think, 'Ah, this is all there is to the Great Wilderness,' something beyond my imagination springs up."

"You've also encountered these old gods?" Yun Zhongjun, instead, broke into a smile. "This is rare, indicating that we might indeed achieve great things in the future. Who would have thought your trip to the Kunlun Ruins was to meet these old gods? Back in the day, Emperor Wen Tian... COUGH, the Third God King also had such an experience."

Wu Wang immediately became interested. "What did that senior Divine King say?"

"A bunch of decayed husks!" Yun Zhongjun straightened his body to appear more authoritative as he laughed. "They are just losers destroyed by their own arrogance and conceit. They disguise themselves with the endpoint of the Great Dao but can't hide the fact that they have long passed away. They had the chance but gave up searching for the ultimate answer, settling in the false prosperity they concocted. This is why the current world is bound and silent in nothingness. The current world is distorted by the nature of the spirits of the Great Dao; that's the fruit of their creation!"

Wu Wang raised his hand to wipe the spittle from his cheek, admiringly saying, "The Third God King was truly domineering."

"That was him. He ultimately drove himself mad and vanished without a trace." Yun Zhongjun sighed lightly, then stared solemnly at Wu Wang. "Let's not talk about the past. The Queen Mother of the West's move has certainly surrounded us with crises. What shall we do if Emperor Shun becomes suspicious?"

"I am also worrying about this matter," Wu Wang replied seriously. "My current ease, the lack of pressure on me, is mainly because the Candle Dragon Divine Faction is covetously eyeing us from the Outer Sky, and Emperor Shun wishes to win over my mother. Although I will eventually oppose Emperor Shun, the later this formal opposition or his murderous intent occurs, the more advantageous it is. Moreover, Emperor Shun must have had his Divine Thought closely monitoring the Kunlun Ruins. When I went to the Kunlun Ruins, the Heaven's Gate closed, and a phenomenon of a myriad of glimmers appeared within. Emperor Shun is probably thinking along these lines now."

"The Northern Wilderness and the Human Domain are too far apart. If Emperor Shun feels that the threat I pose surpasses the Candle Dragon Divine Faction under the current circumstances, the situation might change again. The trilateral struggle between Heaven Palace, Candle Dragon, and Human Domain has already made the situation tense. A small stone thrown in could lead to unpredictable consequences."

Yun Zhongjun's eyes flashed with a few glimmers of light as he stood up and began to pace back and forth. Before long, Wu Wang also stood up frowning, hands clasped behind his back, head bowed, walking to and fro in the corner.

Ming Snake stood some distance away, gazing at this scene, holding a jade bottle containing Elixirs, silently concealing his presence.

A moment later, Lin Suqing came with the Maidens to serve tea.

Knowing that Wu Wang had safely returned, Jingwei was already on her way over from the main pavilion of the Human Emperor Pavilion.

After thinking it over, Wu Wang decided to unseal the Yan Emperor Order within him and called out to the flickering flames twice, addressing it as 'Senior'.

"You're back? HEH HEH HEH HEH." Shen Nong's feigned laughter.

Wu Wang asked in a deep voice, "Senior... what's the price?"

Shen Nong's silence.

Wu Wang cleared his throat, just about to sidestep this topic that might embarrass his father-in-law. Unexpectedly, Shen Nong countered with another question, "Is your primal yang gone?"

Wu Wang's face flushed red. He hemmed and hawed for a long time, then stood up straight and declared, "How could that be! How could I, Wu Wangzi, be such a frivolous person! Ah, no, that's not what I meant, Senior... after all, you have been a widower for many years... it's not that either... Don't worry, I won't tell Jingwei."

Shen Nong hummed lightly and then sighed softly. A somewhat distant voice floated out from within the Yan Emperor Order, echoing in Wu Wang's heart. "I have my own principles as well, and besides, the Queen Mother of the West never fancied this old frame of mine. The price I paid for the Longevity Spirit Grass was my yearning for her. She took away the emotional bond between me and Ting Huan, saying she wanted to experience the companionship that lasts a lifetime."

Wu Wang muttered, "Then why did you ask me about my primal yang?"

"When Lu Wu came by earlier, the Queen Mother of the West transmitted a Divine Thought to me, saying she fancied you for various reasons, and that you should accompany her for a few days."

"And... you don't object, Senior?"

"Alas, I trust you." Shen Nong laughed. "Even without the curse the god in charge of destiny had put on you, the persistence that's in your bones wouldn't have allowed you to easily break that barrier. Besides, the Queen Mother of the West's domineering nature would surely elicit resistance from the depths of your heart. I understand you well."

"Then I really hope you're wrong for once, Senior." Wu Wang let out a wry laugh and swiftly changed the subject. "Senior, what do you think I should do to make Emperor Shun trust me and not see me as a threat to his power?"

Even Shen Nong was stumped by Wu Wang's question. Shen Nong spoke slowly, "Sometimes, to hide one's light and bide one's time, it truly is necessary to show weakness to the enemy. But to speak of gaining trust may not be appropriate. Why should you gain Emperor Shun's trust? If you are concerned about Cang Xue's safety, you might consider the following approaches. First, convince Emperor Shun that you're nothing remarkable. Second, visibly dismantle the forces that have already gathered around you. For example, I can cooperate with you, punish you, and lock you up in prison for a few centuries."

"I—"

"No need to thank me; it's simply a modest effort."

"PAH! Forget it! I'll find my own way!" Wu Wang spoke indignantly to the Yan Emperor Order and raised his hand to cut off the communication.

Shen Nong burst into laughter, clapping his hands. But before Wu Wang could seal the Yan Emperor Order, he added a third suggestion: "Let yourself have a weakness that falls into Emperor Shun's hands, or make Emperor Shun believe that you have a weakness in his grasp."

This was indeed not a bad idea.

"Let's see how things unfold." Wu Wang sighed softly.

Yun Zhongjun nodded slightly, saying, "I have a plan, but you'll definitely find it very risky. However, after careful calculation, it is actually the safest strategy."

"What is it?" Wu Wang looked at Yun Zhongjun.

"Go to Heaven Palace." Yun Zhongjun's lips curled into a self-assured smile. "Become the Fourth Auxiliary God. When you're right under Emperor Shun's nose, he will feel most at ease about you."

Wu Wang: ...

He was just short of uttering the phrase 'poaching'!

"Isn't that just inviting the Human Domain to curse my name?"

"Human Domain, HEH HEH." Yun Zhongjun's mouth twitched a few times. "As long as Shen Nong trusts you, why should you care about those foolish people? Moreover!"

Yun Zhongjun raised his eyebrows at Wu Wang. He said, "Brother, I'll help you stir things up. When the time comes, you won't be the one who gets scolded, and it won't affect the reputation you've already established in the Human Domain. How about that?"

"How can this be done?"

"You just say," Yun Zhongjun laughed, "brother will sort this out for you. Are you brave enough to go mingle in Heaven Palace then?"

Wu Wang stroked his chin in thought for a moment. "I am seventy percent sure I can persuade myself."

"Alright then." Yun Zhongjun rolled up his sleeves. "I'll let you see the tactics of the Third Divine Era's second greatest schemer!"

Wu Wang asked, "Second? Brother, you're being modest for once. Who's the first then?"

"The Divine King, of course." Yun Zhongjun chuckled. "He was my teacher, my guide, and it was he who led me to awaken my true self. With his own strength, he suppressed heaven and earth for countless years, brought order to the Divine Spirits, and gradually allowed the Innate Spirits to flourish, providing a place for all living beings for their reproduction. What a pity. The disappearance of the great Goddess Nuwa was too much of a blow to him."

The Eight Trigrams Dao left inside Wu Wang by Emperor Fuxi suddenly stirred!

But Yun Zhongjun ultimately didn't want to bring up too much of the past. He waved his hand, and his figure floated away. "I'll go ponder over how to set things up precisely."

Wu Wang laughed softly, feeling instantly more at peace. He stood in the Temple, pondered for a while, glanced at the vast hall, and walked towards the door with his hands behind his back.

Should I start living with someone? Jingwei is getting on in years, and Xiaolan, while a bit lacking in experience, could catch up after we roam the Great Wilderness a bit more. Having visited the Kunlun Ruins, my mind is full of images of the Queen Mother of the West emerging from the pond. I'm of an age full of vigor, and my mentality teems with energy. I feel I reached my limit by maintaining my true self then, not being swept away by the tumultuous waves of desire. I also have to thank my abundant imagination for dressing the Queen Mother of the West in those cotton pants and a floral jacket. If it happened again, I'm not sure I could control myself…

"Little brother!" Just as Wu Wang reached the front of the Temple, Yun Zhongjun hurriedly returned, his eyes fixed on Wu Wang.

Wu Wang was quite astonished. "Have you arranged it so quickly?"

Yun Zhongjun said anxiously, "Arrange what! I just discovered that a Qingluan bird flew from the Kunlun Ruins, and the Queen Mother of the West has issued an edict! It might just be to strike you, exposing you prematurely to Heaven Palace! Listen, it's coming right now!"

Wu Wang frowned slightly upon hearing this. Just as he was about to say something, a crisp bird cry echoed through heaven and earth. Racing out of the Temple and looking up at the western sky, he saw a Qingluan swiftly streak across, with strands of Divine Thought dispersing in the world.

Those above the level of Immortals saw the shadow of an edict deep in their hearts, upon which were written lines of ancient text:

*Wu Wangzi of the Human Domain, with a pure nature and outstanding appearance, and brimming with righteousness, has withstood my many tests and still abided by my teachings, truly a rarity. This is a rare Yang Spirit in the world. From now on, should any woman win his affection and receive his favor, she shall be rewarded with Kunlun treasures and bestowed the Medicine of Immortality.*

As Wu Wang had just finished reading, the shadow of the edict in his heart quietly dissipated, leaving only the echo of the Qingluan's cry. A series of black lines hung across his forehead. He was about to comment, but he suddenly realized something. Savoring the words carefully, he couldn't help but smile widely, followed by an uncontainable hearty laughter that was incredibly loud.

Yun Zhongjun, in front of him, carefully savored the moment, also unable to help but laugh loudly, continuously praising it as brilliant.

A head Maiden who, due to her low cultivation, couldn't hear the Qingluan's edict, cast a worried look. The young master spends all day playing with the Sleep God; he mustn't have played himself silly.

Admiration filled the eyes of Ming Snake watching from behind. He looked at Wu Wang's back and thought: Truly fitting of my master, a man whom even the Queen Mother of the West can't have.

As the laughter subsided, Wu Wang and Yun Zhongjun faced each other, both in high spirits. Wu Wang asked, "What are you laughing about, brother?"

"And what are you laughing about, little brother?"

"HAHAHAHA! I'm laughing at how Emperor Shun is witless and the Head Manager is... you go first." Wu Wang cleared his throat; when happy, he always let out strange words.

Yun Zhongjun joyfully said, "The Queen Mother of the West has actually taken action herself, muddying the waters, even at the cost of ruining her reputation and earning a name for fancying men. In the future, there will be unspeakable rumors about you and the Queen Mother of the West, but this also gives you an extra layer of protection, making Emperor Shun warier of you. We must really hold onto this Great Tree!"

"MMM, indeed."

"Then what were you just laughing at?"

"I was laughing at this absurd world." Wu Wang stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the northern sky. His left hand pressed down on Yun Zhongjun's wrist as he spoke softly, "The Queen Mother of the West as the fourth pillar of the Heavenly Dao is secure."

...

The Human Domain seethed. Heaven Palace was in an uproar. The Nine Wildernesses of the Great Wilderness were thrown into turmoil by that swiftly passing Blue Bird.

Salacious rumors between the ancient and mysterious Strong God and the newly risen young man of the Great Wilderness were most effective at catching the attention of all beings. Unlike the power of the Eight Trigrams Dao created by Emperor Fuxi, gossip flared up all over the Great Wilderness. Even the remote country of storytellers to the east of the East Sea was engulfed by the incoming heatwave of news.

Almost all beings, regardless of their strength, learned of the news that 'Wu Wangzi stayed for several days in the Kunlun Ruins with the Queen Mother of the West.' Consequently, those who previously did not know of Wu Wangzi began to learn about this rising figure of the Human Domain, the successor to the Human Emperor, because of the Queen Mother of the West's actions.

The news spread fastest and changed most within the Human Domain. There, story scripts tens of thousands of characters long were printed into booklets and circulated in major cities. Titles like *Nights in the Kunlun Ruins*, *The Queen Mother of the West's Night Rendezvous with Wu Wangzi*, *Forbidden Love Between God and Man*, and *Shocking! Here's What the Attendant Fairy Immortal of the Kunlun Ruins Actually Said...* became instantly popular.

When Ling Xiaolan heard the news, she just smiled and said nothing more.

Jingwei, who had just returned to the Annihilation Sect, dragged Wu Wang by the ear into the inner cave...

「Heaven Palace.」

Numerous Goddesses gathered there, passing around Wu Wang's portrait, all engaging in endless assessments and laughter.

"He does look quite handsome. I wonder about his physique."

"To be chosen by Lady Queen Mother of the West, he must indeed be extraordinary."

"What kind of charm does he possess to have caught the Queen Mother of the West's favor? It looks like he boldly turned her down, which prompted this edict."

"Sister, you're almost drooling."

"Don't misunderstand. I merely feel that the Kunlun treasure is quite good, and the Medicine of Immortality is also very tempting to me."

Meanwhile, inside the highest Temple, Emperor Shun frowned slightly, wiping the jade Short Sword in front of him, a hint of contemplation in his eyes.

Suddenly, he heard a gentle female voice beside him, "Wu Wangzi went to the Kunlun Ruins?"

Golden light flickered, condensing into Xihe's figure, who was seated on a throne beside Emperor Shun.

Emperor Shun's furrowed brow smoothed out. He put down the jade Short Sword and turned to look at Xihe, speaking warmly, "That's nothing to worry about. The Queen Mother of the West has three incarnations; it must be that one of them felt a bit lonely."

Xihe inquired, "Your Majesty thinks there's no correlation with the Ruined Land?"

Emperor Shun countered, "On what basis would Wu Wangzi gain the recognition of the Ruined Land? Because of the Human Domain? Or that Dao of Fire, constricted by the Power of Living Beings? Wu Wang is a young man I favor, it's true, and I quite like him. But to say that he could create a new order... that's a bit of a wild fantasy. The cosmic order I've established, if not for the Candle Dragon's chaos, would be extremely stable."

Xihe nodded slightly, sitting quietly and pondering by his side for a moment. She suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, it seems you also stayed in the Kunlun Ruins for quite some time back then."

"AH," Emperor Shun revealed a warm smile. "Don't misunderstand. I was then meditating on the methods of order given by the old gods of the Ruined Land, condensing seeds for the Order Incarnation. The Queen Mother of the West is too domineering and also possesses the Dao of Divine Punishment. How could I have any untoward connection with her? With you and Chang Xi by my side, I am already content."

"Your Majesty..." Xihe called softly.

Emperor Shun's raised hand hesitated for a moment, yet he still naturally moved forward two steps, conveniently embracing Xihe's indescribable waist. In this moment, the two closely bonded Divine Spirits seemed to rediscover that indescribable feeling from the past, drawing closer and closer to each other.

For a while, the great hall was filled with a reasonable, emotional, but indescribable mist. The entire Temple was sealed by Divine Power, blocking any observation.