Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

A little gray wolf in gleaming silver armor runs through the pine forest. It leaps over mountain peaks and valleys, heading towards its distant home.

The bunker on the wolf's back swayed and rocked with the rise and fall of the waves.

Liu Xingmo leaned back on the cushions, settling into a comfortable position. He asked, "By the way, can you determine which path this essence of enlightenment belongs to?"

"It should be the path of cultivation," Sumali said steadily.

Liu San Niang, supporting her shoulder, laughed: "Our family's alchemy master has really struck it lucky! I'm so jealous!"

Sumali closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled: "I don't want to rely on external forces to improve my strength. I want to use my own hands to derive formulas and theorems, perfect the inherited techniques, and pave the way for the future."

"Huh? That's quite ambitious!" Liu Xingmo said, crossing his legs as he lay down. "So, what about this treasure?"

"I've made up my mind," Sumali said, her eyes gleaming. "I'll use it to forge a divine artifact!"

"Holy crap! What the hell?" Liu Xingmo trembled in shock. "Mary, you just said a divine artifact?"

"The Divine Chart, the supreme secret I obtained from the alchemical heritage of Silvermoon Fortress. It elucidates the five elements that constitute gods, and the path to godhood." Sumari extended her palm, gesturing with her five fingers, "One, Energy; Two, Soul; Three, Life; Four, Rules; Five, Spacetime."

Liu San Niang nodded: "Yes. It's similar to the cultivation methods in the Central Plains. First, you refine your Qi, concentrate your mind, and temper your body, then you embark on the profound and difficult Great Dao."

Liu Xingmo pressed, "Tell me about the divine artifact!"

"The Divine Chart is a magic circle from a divine alchemist, crafted from unknown materials." Sumali's voice trembled slightly. "By adding the five elements, it can fuse together divine power."

"Five elements? You mean the five Philosopher's Stones you mentioned?" Liu Xingmo exclaimed excitedly, "We've collected them all! First, the Seven-Colored Coral; second, the Spirit-Connecting Rhinoceros Horn; third, the Tai Sui Flesh; fourth, the Enlightenment Essence; fifth, the Void Stone!"

"That's right. I don't believe one can become a god simply by using a magic array, but I believe in the research results of my predecessors—the Divine Chart can be forged into the sixth type of Philosopher's Stone!" Sumari calmed herself and said firmly, "As long as I integrate it into my natal furnace, I can forge a divine artifact! Perhaps it should be called a pseudo-divine artifact, but it undoubtedly possesses the power of a god!"

As Liu Xingmo listened, he gradually sat up straight from his reclining position: "Wow, amazing! A divine artifact!"

Liu San Niang was also in high spirits: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go home quickly!"

The fully armed little gray wolf ran even faster.

Its four claws stirred the wind, raising a scattering of withered leaves that trailed behind it in the autumn breeze.

……

On the other side, a pine forest.

Sunlight filters through the dense branches, casting dappled shadows on the golden pine needles scattered on the ground.

The four disheveled people walked silently toward the lake.

"Hey! You guys are here?" Tie Yuanying chuckled as she approached. "I've finally found you!"

The shirtless man and the female assassin stared at the man's intact body and the large knife on his back, but said nothing and continued walking forward.

The middle-aged man, claiming to be a member of the royal family, jumped up and down in anger: "You two-faced traitor! What are you doing here?"

"Lord Yu, what you're saying..." Tie Yuanying dusted off his fur coat. "If I had leaked the news, it wouldn't have been this group that came. Even a random manager would have been too much for you all, right? Besides, isn't everyone alright now? Haha!"

"Then tell me, why did they come looking for us?" Lord Yu pressed on aggressively.

"That man leading the group is Liu Xingmo! Who knows what clues he discovered that led him to chase after us all the way here." Tie Yuanying turned to look at the female assassin. "Shadow Guard Commander, your well-trained men were wiped out by that guy last year."

Lord Yu frowned: "Just who is he? Who did you say he was again?"

"The storyteller, you call him the Nameless Guest. Yes, the Nameless Guest you're thinking of." Tie Yuanying tapped his temple with his index finger. "People's brains are different. Nobody knows what that guy is thinking, just like nobody can guess what the next chapter of his novel will be about."

"It really is him? I see..." Lord Yu muttered, then his face turned cold. "Tie Yuanying! Your identity as a traitor to Black Dragon Stronghold has been exposed. What use are you now?"

"Don't worry, I haven't been exposed!" Tie Yuanying patted his chest and said confidently, "I made an appointment with the nameless guest; he won't reveal my identity. In fact, I'm practically his teacher."

"Is such a thing even possible?" Lord Yu remained cold-faced.

The mountain forest was chilly in late autumn. The group of people, their clothes disheveled, were equally cold.

The shirtless man and the female assassin sensed something was wrong, and silently stood between the two opposing figures, their sword energy gathering in their palms.

"Relax, guys," Tie Yuanying chuckled. "Let me tell you, the Nameless Guest has always put profit first. Yin Kingdom can provide you with cultivation talents, so he released you. I can also provide some benefits, so he helped me cover it up."

Lord Yu glared at the burly woman: "You mean, you'll continue to be a mole within Black Dragon Stronghold, working against us from the inside? What exactly do you want to do?"

"I possess an innate martial arts physique, of course I need martial arts secrets!" Tie Yuanying puffed out his chest and said matter-of-factly, "As long as I help close the deal and we all happily make money together, whether I'm a traitor or not doesn't matter, right?"

"You also said before that you wanted to take revenge on Black Dragon Village!"

"I've changed my mind! Hahaha!" Tie Yuanying laughed, but then noticed that none of the other four people were laughing.

She wiped her nose and said awkwardly, "Well, the nameless guy has already set his sights on me, and I'm afraid I can't get revenge."

"Good, remember what you said! Our Great Yin Kingdom has always been generous in rewarding truly talented people! As long as you help us get things done, you can choose any cultivation technique, whether it's a fourth or fifth rank technique, or even a divine rank technique!"

After Lord Yu finished speaking solemnly, he turned to look at his other companions. His smoky, comical face was now unusually serious.

"Captain Qian! You made many mistakes on this mission! Your actions were not discreet, you lacked composure in the face of adversity, and you were indecisive in your actions!"

"Shadow Guard! I'll accept your men's unauthorized killings after being exposed as normal self-defense. But why didn't the stolen secret technique end up in the hands of the royal family? Have you forgotten your oath?"

"Chief Tian! I don't know what the Tian family of Anyang is up to, but I'll definitely report you when I get back!"

The mountains and forests in late autumn were pitch black. Occasionally, a few rays of sunlight would pierce through the branches and leaves, shining on people's faces, but there was no warmth to be found.

Tie Yuanying sensed that something was wrong, and his hand unconsciously reached for the hilt of his sword behind his back. He silently stood between the royal nobleman and the three generals.