Days passed one by one. Wu Tian was preparing to raise his Immortal Spiritual Power to the Heavenly King Realm. The ability to manipulate elements with one’s spiritual power was the defining characteristic of this realm.
In his past life, when he reached the Heavenly King Realm, Wu Tian had been able to manipulate lava. He wondered if the elemental power he could command this time would be different.
One day, Wu Tian took his little one out of the Royal Palace to play. His daughter was very interested in the local trinkets.
"I want this."
"Ooh, and I want this one too."
His daughter’s demands left Wu Tian unsure whether to laugh or cry. For the most part, however, having a daughter was a joyous experience. To Wu Tian, his daughter felt like a cozy little coat that kept the cold away. He thought to himself, If I’d had a boy, I would have undoubtedly been a strict father. He agreed with the old saying: Raise a boy with hardship, but a girl with luxury.
"Mr. Wu Tian."
At that moment, an aged voice called out from behind him. Holding his daughter, Wu Tian turned to see the white-haired Master Li the Fortune Teller approaching. He bowed respectfully. "This old one greets you, sir."
"There’s no need for that." Wu Tian smiled. In terms of lineage, Master Li was likely his grand-disciple. Judging from his appearance, however, his Martial Arts Cultivation was poor, and he looked quite elderly.
Master Li straightened up, but his eyes remained filled with deep respect for Wu Tian.
"By the way, Master Li, you rarely seek me out. Is there something you need this time?"
"Your perception is as sharp as ever, sir." Master Li nodded and cupped his hands. "Sir, do you remember the portrait of a woman I once showed you? Any man who approached her, including her fiancés, would die inexplicably."
Her? Wu Tian’s eyebrows rose as he recalled the portrait, which had revealed nothing unusual. He was quite intrigued by such a person. What exactly was the reason this woman was fated to be without love or marriage?
"Has she come?" Wu Tian asked.
"Her avatar has," replied Master Li. "She doesn’t practice the Martial Path, yet she seems to be protected by an imperial light. When she walks in a downpour, a cloud shields her from the rain. When she walks over sand and stones, the ground where she steps becomes clear of any sharp objects. It’s very strange."
Wu Tian nodded. He had never witnessed such a phenomenon. Her Martial Arts Cultivation is poor, yet she can create an avatar? That’s strange.
His daughter, however, stared wide-eyed. She was eager to see who could be so miraculous, as such wonders had never happened even to her.
"You came here to take me to see her, didn’t you?" Wu Tian said.
"Yes." Master Li nodded, but then a look of nervousness crossed his face. "Originally, she wanted to come see you herself, but someone stopped her just now. The man claimed to be the Monarch of the Mantis Kingdom from the Domain of Myriad Demons. He had suddenly received an order from his superiors to watch her avatar and prevent her from acting recklessly."
Wu Tian let out a soft chuckle and gave a casual nod.
Unable to discern Wu Tian’s mood, Master Li felt his heart pound with anxiety.
"Daddy, don’t scare the old gentleman. You’ll frighten him to death," his daughter said at the crucial moment.
Wu Tian smiled and, for his daughter’s sake, said, "Let’s go."
"Yes." Hearing this, Master Li’s face filled with gratitude. He quickly nodded, then gave a grateful nod to the little one as well.
The little one simply smiled, paying it no mind.
Under Master Li’s guidance, they walked towards an inn. Xiuyuan Country now ruled over the Xiuyuan Realm. Due to the chaos in the Domain of Myriad Demons and the Artifact Domain, many people had flocked to the area, making the royal capital a bustling hub.
Soon, Master Li stopped in front of a rather ordinary inn. It was a two-story building constructed from bamboo, exuding a natural aura amidst its simplicity. He led them inside and they arrived outside the Heaven-tier room.
"Stop." Two guards, Mantis men from the Mantis tribe, now stood at the door. They immediately blocked the way as soon as they saw Master Li and Wu Tian arrive.
"When did you get here? I am Master Li, a friend of Princess Miaoshan. I was the one who brought her here. You have no right to block my path," Master Li declared.
The Mantis men exchanged a glance, and one of them spoke harshly, "I don’t care about what happened before. We have orders from above. Princess Miaoshan’s avatar is now the responsibility of our Mantis Kingdom. You may leave."
"Scram." The little one was displeased. She wanted to see this princess and hated anyone who stood in her way. She activated the Wind and Cloud Overbearing Scripture, causing the power of wind and cloud to surge around her. The force made the two Mantis men instinctively step aside.
Master Li and Wu Tian entered with her.
Inside, there was a Mantis man wearing a crown and a graceful, twenty-year-old young woman. This young woman, clad in plain clothes, was presumably the avatar of Princess Miaoshan. Her simple and unadorned temperament made her seem approachable at first glance; the avatar was just like her true self.
"Princess Miaoshan," Master Li said, bowing with cupped hands.
"There’s no need for such formality." Miaoshan shook her head, then looked at Wu Tian and the little one. "Is this the remarkable man you told me about?"
"Indeed," Master Li nodded. "This is Mr. Wu Tian. His prowess in physiognomy is extraordinary and has earned my profound admiration."
Miaoshan nodded.
"Are you trying to make a fool of the princess?" King Mantis spoke up with displeasure, his voice cold as he targeted Wu Tian. "This is a princess from a Nine-Star Nation. She is no ordinary royal. You cannot disrespect or deceive her."
In the past, King Mantis wouldn’t have dared to be so reckless. He was the king of a Three-Star Kingdom and a subordinate of the Monkey King. Given that the Monkey King himself had died at Wu Tian’s hand, what did that make him? However, this time, he was acting under orders from King Wudong of the Wudong Immortal Dynasty, tasked with protecting Miaoshan. Although it was only her avatar, any harm to it would also affect her true self. Bolstered by this authority, King Mantis had the air of a dog relying on its master’s power, a fox borrowing a tiger’s might.
"Can you shut up?" Wu Tian replied, neither servile nor overbearing. His tone was indifferent, as if King Mantis was nothing but trash in his eyes.
So what if this trash is backed by a Nine-Star Kingdom? To me, he’s still just trash.
"Do you know what you are saying?" King Mantis stood up furiously, a menacing glint in his eyes. He threatened, "Remember, I am now serving the Wudong Immortal Dynasty of the Nine-Star Nation. Insulting me is insulting the Immortal Dynasty." His voice was chilling, and he placed heavy emphasis on the word "insulting."
"Have we insulted you?" the little one huffed. She never hid her displeasure, and right now, she was clearly annoyed.
"Yes," King Mantis sneered. "And I will tell you exactly how you have insulted the Immortal Dynasty."
King Mantis’s arms were natural blades. He waved them, making the air hiss.
"First, when you saw Princess Miaoshan, you did not kneel. That is the first insult.
"Second, you entered without announcing yourselves. That is a second insult to both the princess and the Wudong Immortal Dynasty.
"Third, I am representing the Wudong Immortal Dynasty, yet you dare speak so recklessly to me. That is the third insult.
"Fourth, you have already insulted the Wudong Immortal Dynasty and remain unaware of your transgression. That is the fourth insult.
"These four great insults are more than enough to warrant your deaths." King Mantis’s blades pointed sharply at Wu Tian and the others. "You have committed a capital offense. Now, commit suicide."
Instantly, the tension in the Heaven-tier room became as sharp as a drawn blade, and the atmosphere turned chilling.