Volume 1, Chapter 21: My son, Wang Mu, possesses the bearing of a Great Emperor!

"Excellent! I knew it! My child is no mere creature of the pond, but possesses the makings of a Great Emperor!" Luo Xuanshuang wept with joy, nodding repeatedly.

Wang Mu’s eyelid twitched. "No, Mother, please, don't say that—definitely don't say that!"

Luo Xuanshuang was puzzled. "Why not?"

"Er..." Wang Mu’s eyes darted. "I mean, since I have only just begun to cultivate, I must maintain a low profile!"

Hearing this, Luo Xuanshuang immediately composed herself and regained her calm. "You are right, Mu’er. Your constitution is unique and your talent is peerless; should it be known to others, it would surely invite endless trouble. From now on, try your best not to display any supernatural powers in public."

Wang Mu nodded. "Rest assured, Mother, I understand."

"By the way, I need some of your blood."

"Ah? Why?"

"Silly child, now that you can cultivate, the magical artifacts and treasures we prepared for you in the past all need to be reforged so they can harmonize with your spiritual energy and unleash greater power."

"Oh, I see!"

The methods of an Earth Immortal were extraordinary. Before Wang Mu could even react, Luo Xuanshuang gently brushed her fingers across his palm, and several drops of blood were extracted, leaving not even a scratch on his skin.

Luo Xuanshuang nodded and patted Wang Mu’s shoulder. "Good, good boy! I shall go back and tell your father; he will surely be delighted."

With that, she turned and left, tearing through the void and vanishing from sight.

...

In another palace within the Great Liang Royal City, Li Yuanhua was pacing back and forth, frantic and disheveled.

"A core tenet of the Great Heavenly Path is never to inquire about things one should not know—that is a grave taboo!"

"The fact that the Young Master can cultivate is absolutely the Wang family’s most guarded secret. Now that an outsider like me knows, if this is not handled correctly, my Li family will surely face annihilation!"

"What to do? What to do?"

Just then, a terrifying, indescribably profound aura completely enveloped the palace.

Li Yuanhua’s expression shifted violently. He looked up and vaguely saw a majestic, unfathomable figure standing in the void, like a cold moon hanging in the high heavens, radiating a bone-chilling aura.

Even a Spirit Severing stage cultivator like Li Yuanhua felt like an ant before that figure, unable to muster the slightest thought of resistance. He felt like a small boat on a vast ocean, ready to be shattered at any moment.

That was... a Tribulation-stage Earth Immortal!

In an instant, Li Yuanhua recognized the visitor. With a thud, he knelt down without hesitation.

"This humble servant pays respects to the Holy Mistress of Beiming, the Sword Immortal Xuanshuang!"

Luo Xuanshuang was expressionless. "You recognize me?"

Li Yuanhua shouted, "This humble servant works under the Young Master; naturally, I keep the Holy Mistress’s noble countenance engraved in my heart, bowing to it day and night, never daring to show the slightest disrespect!"

Luo Xuanshuang looked down from above. "Since you serve Mu’er as your master, why must you bow to me?"

Li Yuanhua, quick-witted, waved his hand to trigger a mechanism on the wall, revealing several portraits—depicting Wang Mu, Luo Xuanshuang, and others.

"I have them all! My Li family’s loyalty to the Wang family is as clear as the sun and moon. Whether it is the Young Master, the Sword Immortal, or the Prince of Wei, I have bowed three times a day for many years without interruption!"

Luo Xuanshuang nodded slightly. "You are a clever man."

"Thank you for the praise, Holy Mistress. This servant is unworthy!"

"I do not wish for the news of Mu’er’s ability to cultivate to spread from your lips."

Li Yuanhua understood her meaning and did not hesitate. He immediately formed a seal with his hands, his brow glowing brightly as a three-foot-tall primordial spirit emerged from his head, bowing deeply.

"This humble servant is willing to bind himself in a master-servant contract with the Young Master to prove my loyalty!"

A master-servant contract was typically meant for cultivators and their spirit beasts. The status between the two parties was absolutely unequal; with a single thought, the bound party could be made to suffer a fate worse than death or be erased from existence.

Luo Xuanshuang flicked her finger, and a drop of blood imbued with immortal light drifted down, merging into Li Yuanhua’s primordial spirit. As the light flared, the contract was sealed!

"Since you work for Mu’er, bowing to him alone is enough from now on. What is the point of hanging up so many portraits?" Luo Xuanshuang’s voice fell coldly.

Li Yuanhua pressed his head to the ground. "This servant understands!"

For a long time, there was no sound. Then, footsteps approached, followed by Li Changhe’s surprised voice: "Ancestor, why are you kneeling on the ground? Quickly, get up!"

Li Yuanhua looked up and glanced around, but Luo Xuanshuang was nowhere to be seen. He finally let out a sigh of relief.

"So... this is the Holy Mistress of Beiming?" Li Yuanhua thought to himself, feeling a lingering sense of awe. He knew the gap between him and an Earth Immortal was wide, but he never expected it to be this vast. In her presence, he hadn't even dared to contemplate resistance. It was like a mortal facing a supreme god.

On the path of cultivation, a single realm difference was like a chasm. The further one progressed, the truer this became.

"Take down those other paintings; keep only the Young Master’s," Li Yuanhua said, staring at the wall.

"Ah? Why?" Li Changhe asked, confused.

Li Yuanhua’s eyes were distant. "From now on, our Li family only needs to bow to one person."

...

"Hmm? What is this..."

Wang Mu suddenly felt a jolt, noticing something new in his sea of consciousness. It was a contract mark. He was no stranger to it, as he already possessed two similar marks, belonging to the Golden-Winged Great Peng and the Golden Lion. But this one was clearly connected to a human cultivator.

Li Yuanhua!

Wang Mu paused, then chuckled. So that was why his mother had taken his blood! Ginger is indeed spicier when it’s old. His mother was truly thorough!

...

The sun climbed high, and a new day began. The Immortal Ascension Assembly continued, but the number of people coming to test today had dropped significantly.

Sitting on the high platform, Wang Mu frowned. "What’s going on? Why are there so few people today?"

Li Yuanhua bowed. "Reporting to the Young Master, over the past seven days, everyone in the vicinity of the Royal City who met the criteria has already been tested. As for the other commoners, it will take time for them to travel from distant areas."

Wang Mu suddenly realized. The Tianjue Island was vast. For ordinary commoners, traveling by ox cart or carriage from remote regions to the Great Liang Royal City could take two or three months, or even a year or more for the furthest ones.

But Wang Mu didn't have that much time.

"Starting tomorrow, set up testing stations in every major city on Tianjue Island! We must ensure that everyone who needs to have their spiritual roots tested can do so in the shortest time possible!" Wang Mu finalized his decision.

Li Yuanhua agreed immediately and left to make arrangements.

...

The news spread, and all of Tianjue Island was in an uproar.

In a remote mountain town, inside a teahouse:

"What? The Young Master of the Wang family is going to test qualifications in our city?"

"That’s fantastic! No need to travel so far!"

"The Young Master of the Wang family is truly a kind soul! My child has weak legs and could never have made it to the Royal City... now, we can get tested right at our doorstep!"

"Hey, Old Man Li, why are you running so fast?" the teahouse owner asked, calling out to an old farmer rushing past.

"Don't be daft! My son just left for the Royal City this morning; if I borrow a carriage now, I might still be able to catch up with him!"