The Misty Cloud Pavilion was the grandest pleasure den in the entire Blazing Fire City, frequented by scions of noble families and powerful cultivators alike. As long as one had enough cosmic crystals, even the rarest treasures could be procured here.
Within a sealed combat arena, two True God Sovereigns were locked in a frenzied battle. Their combat prowess was extraordinary, both capable of challenging Void Gods despite their lower cultivation.
Surrounding the arena were the young nobles of powerful clans and formidable cultivators, each accompanied by attendants and beautiful companions. Even the lone wanderers among them had one or two enchanting ladies from the Misty Cloud Pavilion serving them wine.
Soon, the battle concluded.
One emerged victorious, while the other’s body disintegrated into nothingness, unable to reform.
True Gods… were merely the most ordinary of cultivators. Even someone like *Yingshan Xiyue*, who bore the bloodline of a noble house, was considered nothing more than a commoner simply because she was only a True God. Those of even lower birth could only perform the most menial tasks—surviving peacefully if lucky, or losing their lives if they offended the wrong people.
Thus, those with true ambition fought desperately to ascend to greater heights.
Stepping onto the *Life-and-Death Arena* was an extremely perilous yet rewarding path. Every battle ended with one side dead, while the survivor earned vast amounts of Chaos Stones. With such resources, cultivation naturally progressed much faster.
“What a waste, a complete waste! All my effort for nothing!” *Yingshan Liehu* flung his cup aside, grinding his teeth in frustration.
“Lord Liehu, don’t be angry. I’ll find you a better retainer soon, one who won’t disappoint like this useless one,” a soft voice soothed him—a beauty beside him, pouring wine with delicate hands.
“Fur, you said the same thing last time. Should I trust you again?” *Yingshan Liehu* turned, lifting her chin with a finger. Every woman serving in the Misty Cloud Pavilion cultivated some form of allure, ensnaring even the most powerful cultivators in their tender embrace—a true indulgence.
“Lord Liehu, don’t worry. I’ll find someone first, and you can decide afterward. If you don’t trust me, Fur will be heartbroken.”
As *Yingshan Liehu* flirted with the beauty, a portly man approached from afar, treading upon a path of clouds.
From a distance, the man boomed with laughter, “Hahaha! Lord *Yingshan Liehu*, congratulations!”
“Congratulations?” *Yingshan Liehu* blinked, flattered yet bewildered.
The surrounding nobles and cultivators were equally stunned, recognizing the newcomer as the master of the Misty Cloud Pavilion—a figure of great renown in Blazing Fire City: *Chunyu Feng*. His elder brother, *Chunyu Weiyi*, was one of the city’s two supreme powers.
The other, naturally, was the Blazing Fire Marquis himself.
*Chunyu Weiyi* commanded the *Southern Cloud Sacred Hall*, an organization teeming with experts—far more than the Blazing Fire Marquis’ estate—as it represented the will of the *Nation’s Sovereign*. More importantly, the slumbering avatar of the *Cosmic God* guarding Blazing Fire City was none other than the ancestor of the *Chunyu Clan*—*Chunyu Divine Emperor*! Indeed, the *Chunyu Clan* was one of the four supreme families of the Southern Cloud Nation, a lineage that had birthed a *Cosmic God*.
The imperial family and the three emperor-ranked clans formed the four great lineages.
In comparison, the *Yingshan Clan* was slightly weaker, with their ancestor, *Yingshan Matriarch*, only holding the title of *King*.
Thus…
As the younger brother of *Chunyu Weiyi* and master of the Misty Cloud Pavilion, *Chunyu Feng* held immense status, equal even to the elders of the Blazing Fire Marquis’ estate. A mere True God Sovereign like *Yingshan Liehu* was beneath his notice.
“Pavilion Master *Chunyu*, you’re congratulating *me*?” *Yingshan Liehu* scrambled to his feet, overwhelmed.
“You truly don’t know?” The plump *Chunyu Feng* widened his eyes in mock surprise. “Your Blazing Fire Marquis’ estate has just welcomed a joyous event! Your wife, *Rong Xinglan*, has given birth to a child—one born as a *Void God*!”
*Yingshan Liehu* barely registered the mention of childbirth until the words “*Void God*” struck him like lightning.
A *Void God* was nothing special.
But a newborn infant as a *Void God*? That was terrifying—a testament to an overwhelmingly potent bloodline!
“My child?” *Yingshan Liehu* gaped.
“What? *Yingshan Liehu*’s child was born a *Void God*?”
“Is this real?”
“How is that possible?”
The surrounding nobles erupted into clamor. Most were lesser scions stationed in Blazing Fire City to manage business affairs, holding middling status in their clans—no higher than *Yingshan Liehu*. Yet now, this wastrel had sired a child born as a *Void God*? It was unfathomable.
“My… my child, born a *Void God*? *My* child?” *Yingshan Liehu* trembled with excitement.
He had once dreamed of becoming a powerhouse like his father.
But his talent was lacking, and he was born when his father was weaker, inheriting a diluted bloodline. Unable to even reach *Void God*, he had long abandoned cultivation for indulgence.
“*Rong Xinglan*?” He suddenly recalled—she was the woman he had seized for her beauty and brought into the estate. She had borne him a daughter, *Yingshan Xiyue*, whom he had never even seen.
He tried to contact *Rong Xinglan* via transmission.
But he realized—he had never even recorded her transmission sigil.
“Wife! Wife!” *Yingshan Liehu* immediately messaged his primary wife, *Chanyu Yanzhen*. “Did *Xinglan* really bear me a child born a *Void God*?”
“Yes. Return at once. The Marquis is furious,” *Chanyu Yanzhen* replied curtly, clearly in no mood for conversation.
“Hahaha! Hahahaha—!”
*Yingshan Liehu* burst into booming laughter, echoing through the grand hall. “My son! Born a *Void God*! Hahahaha—!”
“Brother Liehu, congratulations!”
“Brother Liehu, truly impressive!”
Even his fair-weather friends and those who had once scorned him now rushed to offer their felicitations.
Still laughing, *Yingshan Liehu* swirled his robes and declared, “Let’s go! Back to the estate!”
“As you command, Master!” His attendants chorused, their voices brimming with newfound pride.
—
Exiting the Misty Cloud Pavilion, *Yingshan Liehu* rode his carriage with haughty grandeur, his retinue in tow as the beast-drawn vehicle soared through the skies toward the estate.
Within moments—
“Whoosh!”
A gray-robed elder materialized mid-air, clearly having teleported. Spotting *Yingshan Liehu*, he barked, “*Yingshan Liehu*! The Marquis summons you immediately. Come with me!”
“Elder Tian? Of course, of course!” *Yingshan Liehu* beamed.
The elder, however, remained stern as he seized *Yingshan Liehu* and teleported away. Before vanishing, *Yingshan Liehu* called out to his servants, “Take my carriage back—no, wait! I’ll need a new one!” Already, he was envisioning a future of greater luxury.
—
In the blink of an eye, the elder delivered *Yingshan Liehu* to the heart of the estate—the Marquis’ private quarters.
“Wait here,” the elder commanded as they landed.
“What’s going on?” *Yingshan Liehu* glanced around nervously. The guards stood rigid, their expressions icy, the atmosphere thick with tension. Even the elder wore no trace of a smile.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be a joyous occasion? Why does it feel so… ominous?” He shrank slightly, unused to visiting his father’s domain without summons.
“Elder Tian, where is my son?” he couldn’t help but ask. A child born a *Void God*! He regretted not visiting sooner, but no matter what, the boy was *his* flesh and blood!
“Young Master *Xueying* is with the Marquis,” the elder replied tersely.
Then—
A thunderous roar erupted from the distant hall:
“Seize that venomous witch *Chanyu Yanzhen* at once!”
*Yingshan Liehu*’s legs nearly gave way. *Chanyu Yanzhen*? His *wife*?
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