Qiao San and Xuan Nu stood there in shock as the waiter kept chattering non-stop, his words indistinct and incomprehensible. After a long while, when the waiter finally finished reciting his lengthy catchphrases, the disheartened Zifu Holy Maiden couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you a local deity? Why are you working as a waiter?”
“Heh, heh… I’m merely an assistant land god here. Sigh… The salary is too low, life is tough, and all sorts of ragtag immortals still demand protection money. To support my family, I had no choice but to partner with the mountain god and open an inn. Dear guests, please do me a favor and stay for a while!”
“Plop!” Inside his spiritual realm, Qiao San had completely collapsed in disbelief. At the same time, he was delighted by this different side of Heaven—he found this genuine heavenly realm quite to his liking. It seemed that being a rogue had real potential after all.
Seeing the assistant land god about to start his nasal humming again, the two, unable to bear it any longer, finally agreed. They followed the land god through several twists and turns to his so-called “luxurious” inn.
“Land god, this… is your ‘luxurious’ inn?”
Pointing at the few low, shabby wooden huts, Qiao San finally understood why the land god had to go out onto the streets to solicit customers, especially targeting poor wanderers like himself.
“Heh, heh… It’s great value for money! Come, come… Let me introduce you. This is the assistant mountain god, and this is the apprentice of the god of cuisine.”
The land god dragged and pulled the guests into the inn. After calming them down with warm hospitality, he joyfully rushed back out to attract more customers. Qiao San waved goodbye with a grin, giving a thumbs-up to this immortal’s street-hawking method: This land god had potential—he would surely become a wealthy upstart in the future, hehe…
“Honored guests, please sit. This is our special seat, specially prepared for you two!”
Equally enthusiastic, the assistant mountain god, with a smile that made Qiao San shudder, pulled them to the central seats inside the inn.
Qiao San couldn’t figure out what was so special about this seat, while Xuan Nu had already been driven to fury by the antics of these minor immortals. No sooner had they sat down than another waiter, another unknown assistant immortal, arrived carrying a tray of tea.
“Honored guests, here’s your tea. Please enjoy!”
Qiao San gulped down the tea in one go, only then realizing the cup was too small. In a particularly good mood, he struck a noble pose and said, “Waiter, could you change this for a bigger cup? This one’s too small—I’m still thirsty.”
“Heh, heh… Sure, a bigger one!”
Before the waiter even finished speaking, the tiny teacup suddenly expanded to the size of a bowl, emitting brilliant golden light—something only top-grade magical treasures could produce.
Xuan Nu’s chaotic thoughts were abruptly startled, and Qiao San nearly jumped up in shock. He hadn’t expected this assistant immortal to possess such a treasure.
A sense of foreboding made the rogue’s smile stiffen. He hastily pulled out his money pouch and threw it onto the table, pretending to be terrified of being robbed by a bandit gang. “B-Big brother, I’m n-not hungry anymore. Wife, let’s go.”
The woodcutter grabbed his wife’s soft, delicate hand and hurried to leave the suddenly ominous inn.
“Honored guests, it’s getting late. Please stay the night.”
The other three waiters still wore their overly polite smiles, but the leader raised his hand and pointed to the sky. The bright daylight instantly turned pitch black, with thunder and lightning roaring.
What must come will come. The ambush from Heaven had finally arrived, yet it actually relieved Qiao San. Open enemies were always better than hidden threats. As his aura surged, he resumed the form of Yuan Shi Tian Wang, standing upright and solemnly declaring, “What lowly thief dares hide here? Show yourself immediately!”
Amidst the storm, the former land god returned leisurely, accompanied by thousands of heavenly soldiers. The false land god transformed with a flicker, now tall and mighty, clad in golden armor that radiated dazzling light.
“Haha… Honored Tian Wang, your vision is excellent! Golden Armor pays you respect!”
As Golden Armor stepped through the door, the four waiters surrounded Qiao San and Xuan Nu from all directions.
“Celestial Generals of the Four Symbols greet Tian Wang! The Queen Mother has ordered us to escort Tian Wang to Heaven!”
Qiao San no longer needed to pretend. His elegant aura naturally exuded as he stood with hands behind his back, composed and serene. “Ah, esteemed celestial friends, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. Please!”
Yuan Shi’s calmness caused a slight tremble in Xuan Nu’s quiet eyes. Without thinking, she stepped forward eagerly. “Master, let your disciple bear this burden!”
The Zifu Holy Maiden pointed her jade hand toward the heavens. Her soul-bound immortal sword materialized in her palm, already at the Golden Immortal level. With a single slash, she calmly sent a blade of sword-light slicing toward the smug Golden Armor.
Golden Armor raised his sword to block, but at the moment their blades met, he suddenly heard Xuan Nu’s calm voice in his ears. His soul chilled, and the power of his golden armor rapidly diminished.
His sword was knocked aside, yet Xuan Nu’s blade abruptly halted in mid-air, unable to advance even an inch. A burst of radiant light suddenly appeared, sealing Qiao San and Xuan Nu within it, while the celestial beings burst into triumphant laughter.
Qiao San finally understood—the seat was indeed special. It was truly prepared especially for them.
As the formation activated, Xuan Nu’s attack failed. Golden Armor laughed so hard his throat trembled. “Tian Wang, we’ve prepared this Four Symbols Formation especially for you. Please surrender willingly. Heaven is so wonderful—why rush to that desolate Sansheng Heaven, haha…”
“Xuan’er, step behind your master. Let me show you how to break this tiny formation!”
Before Xuan Nu, Qiao San had become so immersed in playing the role of the master that he instinctively believed himself to be her true mentor, his affection genuine and heartfelt.
This was the pinnacle of the rogue’s skill—deceiving others to the point of deceiving oneself.
A glimmer of emotion flickered in Xuan Nu’s beautiful eyes, her previous doubts melting into the warmth of the moment. Subconsciously, she leaned toward her master’s towering figure—not just approaching, but truly leaning.
Sparks flew as Yuan Shi Tian Wang pushed relentlessly against the glowing barrier of the Four Symbols Formation, forcing it back inch by inch, instantly freezing Golden Armor’s smile.
The previous Four Symbols Generals had perished in a great battle over a decade ago. The new generation—Generals of Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning—might be young, but their power was formidable, especially when combined in formation, their strength multiplying manifold.
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