Primordial Era: A member of the Jie Sect, apprenticed to Tongtian

"Yes, yes, the master still saw through it."

Yuan Ling wasn't embarrassed when he was exposed. He just chuckled, scratched his head, and then started gesturing enthusiastically.

"Master, you don't know, everyone outside is talking about you!"

"The rumors about the Great Immortal Shiyuan and the Lord of Yuanquan Mountain have spread even to Shuangcha Ridge, which is eight thousand miles away."

As she spoke, her eyebrows danced with excitement, pouring out all the information she had heard from those little demons.

Shi Yuan listened and couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

He had heard these rumors to some extent.

The reason is actually not complicated.

Firstly, the deaths of Qingfu, the God of Fuxu Mountain, and those few sorcerers could not be concealed at all.

Secondly, the appearance of the Thunder God above Yuanquan Mountain and the falling of heavenly lightning on that day could not be hidden from the surrounding mountain gods, river gods, and cultivators.

When you put the two things together, the conclusion naturally follows.

Within the territory of the State of Lu, a powerful immortal emerged who was not to be trifled with.

Not only did they dare to kill the mountain god appointed by the imperial court, but even Qingfu, who held the seal of the human court, managed to get the Heavenly Court's Thunder Department involved, yet they still couldn't gain the slightest advantage. More importantly, the Heavenly Court didn't investigate at all afterward, as if nothing had happened.

In the eyes of these spirits, this alone says it all.

Thus, the name "Immortal Shiyuan" spread like wildfire.

Within a radius of ten thousand miles, mountain demons and river monsters all spoke of Yuanquan Mountain with a sense of awe; even human cultivators began to address him as "Lord of Yuanquan Mountain," regarding Shi Yuan as one of the truly influential figures within the State of Lu.

Shi Yuan, however, took it all in stride.

"It's true that you can't do without your imagination at any time."

He sighed inwardly, but he didn't reject the change.

With a good reputation, at least a lot of trouble will be saved. It won't be so easy for a second or third Qingfu to come knocking on the door in the future.

On the contrary, there was another matter that had been bothering him for some time.

His gaze fell on the seal on the table.

"This imperial seal has been passed down through the state of Lu for a long time, and no one has come to claim it."

Shi Yuan picked up the jade bowl handed to him by Yuan Ling, drank a mouthful of Creation Spring water, and felt a cool sensation flow down his throat and into his soul, making him more awake.

Although Qingfu died, the seal that symbolized the power of the people of Lu remained with him.

This object is essentially a powerful artifact bestowed upon the feudal lords by the Zhou dynasty. As long as the Zhou dynasty does not collapse, this seal is virtually impossible to truly destroy.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't envious.

The fortune of the State of Lu is an immense temptation for any cultivator.

But unfortunately, you can't just move this thing around.

The fate of a dynasty is predetermined. If one forcibly uses the seal to absorb its fortune, it will at best backfire and at worst bring real trouble. Therefore, Shi Yuan has been waiting for the State of Lu to send someone to demand its return.

At that time, he can naturally make demands and exchange them for what he needs.

"Um?"

As he was thinking about these things, Shi Yuan's expression suddenly changed, and then the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"It's true what they say, what they say comes true."

He muttered something to himself, then looked up at Yuanling and smiled, "Go, greet the guests for me."

"guest?"

Yuan Ling blinked, looking puzzled.

Meanwhile, outside Yuanquan Mountain.

A rather dignified carriage was parked at the foot of the mountain. A group of armored guards surrounded it, their expressions wary.

"Your Majesty, shall we escort you inside?"

The lead guard hesitated, glancing at the figure beside the carriage.

He was a young boy.

Although she was dressed in a luxurious and formal suit and had a dignified demeanor, her face still looked quite young, and she looked no more than ten years old.

This man is none other than Duke Min of Lu, Ji Qi, who is currently the nominal ruler of the State of Lu.

"No."

Ji Qi shook his head, his tone serious.

"The Lord of Yuanquan Mountain is my benefactor."

"We have come here with a request; it would be impolite to have soldiers accompany us."

Although he was young, he spoke clearly and logically, and his demeanor already showed signs of a monarch.

The guard leader wanted to persuade him again, but suddenly, he saw a flash of light among the trees ahead.

A small figure appeared out of thin air in front of everyone.

It was a little girl who looked only three or four years old, with bright eyes and a clear, innocent aura.

"Huh, so many people?"

She muttered something under her breath, then looked at everyone with curiosity.

"The master sent me to greet the guests. Which of you is it?"

Ji Qi immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"I dare not accept this as a guest. Ji Qi has come to pay a special visit to the Lord of Yuanquan Mountain."

Yuanling looked him up and down, and seeing that the other man was not old but had a dignified expression, she nodded.

"Oh, it's you."

"Then come with me."

As soon as she finished speaking, she raised her hand and gently tapped in front of Ji Qi.

The immortal spirit's innate teleportation ability was then activated.

With a flash of light, the two figures vanished from their spot.

Only the guards remained standing outside the mountain, looking at each other blankly.

On the other side...

Ji Qi felt a blur before his eyes, and when he came to his senses, he found himself in an elegant and secluded pavilion.

The interior of the pavilion is simply furnished, yet it exudes an extraordinary aura.

Before him stood a young man in a blue Taoist robe, watching him quietly with a calm gaze that seemed to see into his very soul.

At that moment, Ji Qi subconsciously held his breath.

He knew that the person he was meant to see was already before him.

When the Taoist priest in the blue robe, with a composed demeanor, came into view, Ji Qi already knew the answer in his heart.

Even without hearing Yuan Ling's natural and affectionate "Master" from the side, he could be certain that the person in front of him was none other than the now-famous Lord of Yuanquan Mountain in Lu.

Therefore, without the slightest hesitation, he immediately stepped forward and bowed solemnly.

"King Qi of Lu pays respects to his benefactor!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he respectfully kowtowed in accordance with the highest etiquette for worshipping gods and immortals, his attitude extremely sincere.

Upon seeing this, Shi Yuan's gaze shifted slightly, and he began to carefully examine this young man who, despite his young age, was already the ruler of a nation.

"benefactor?"

He first raised his hand to signal Yuanling to go out and play, and then gently waved his sleeve, a soft yet irresistible force lifting Ji Qi up.

"I remember that your uncle, Qingfu, died at my hands."

Shi Yuan's tone was calm, yet tinged with amusement.

"Yet the ruler calls me his benefactor. What is this benefactor?"

Ji Qi steadied himself without the slightest hesitation, his tone firm.

"The kindness of a benefactor has three layers."

"Firstly, Qingfu was tyrannical and cruel, harming the people and causing widespread suffering in the State of Lu. Our benefactor removed this villain, saving the country from collapse. This is a great act of kindness from the state."

"Secondly, Qingfu murdered his brother to seize power, disgracing the clan and bringing shame upon our Ji family. Our benefactor killed him, which is to uphold human ethics; this is a great favor to our family."

"Thirdly, Qing's father is extremely ambitious. If he hadn't died, I knew I would have met my end within a year. My benefactor saved my life; this is a personal favor."

Ji Qi's gaze was clear and unpretentious.

"Having received such three acts of kindness, how can one not call him a benefactor?"

These words made Shi Yuan take another look at him.

First of all, Ji Qi's judgment was extremely accurate.

According to the original trajectory, Duke Min of Lu would indeed reign for no more than a year before dying at the hands of Qingfu. Secondly, these three layers of "national favor, family favor, and personal favor" are clearly stated, yet they also conceal hidden intentions.

This is more than just expressing gratitude.

She was clearly trying to curry favor with him.

As expected, Ji Qi's next words directly revealed his purpose.

"I have a request."

He took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.

"I wish to worship the mountain lord as the totem of my State of Lu."