Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun could discern the quality of the Dimai Longsui Xiang, but what he was currently absorbing yielded even greater benefits.

The answer flashed through Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s mind: “This is Zhu Fenxiang’s innate Xianghuo Shengtian ascending!”

Zhu Fenxiang possessed Xianghuo Shengtian, which could elevate the quality of offered incense by one level. This was extremely suitable for cultivating Qingshen Shu. Its effect seemed subtle, but it was unpretentious and highly practical.

It was precisely this advantage of Zhu Fenxiang that Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun valued when choosing her as one of his important devotees.

Upon seeing Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s arrival, Zhu Fenxiang immediately knelt, bowing and using her divine sense, her tone and expression extremely earnest as she confessed her transgressions.

She worshipped Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun as her main deity in cultivation, and she understood Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s temperament completely.

During her intense battle with Situ Xing, a rift had formed between her and Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s avatar; they were not perfectly synchronized, leading to a vulnerability.

Zhu Fenxiang knew very well that she had already incurred Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s displeasure.

“So this time, I seized an opportunity like Ning Zhuo’s, making a lavish offering and sacrificing to Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun. Regardless of the outcome, it should at least eliminate the rift between me and my main deity.”

Zhu Fenxiang was using public resources for personal gain, harboring such a hidden agenda.

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun reprimanded Zhu Fenxiang a few times, stating that out of consideration for her past offerings, he would overlook her transgression this time, and then inquired about her purpose for summoning him.

Having achieved her first objective, Zhu Fenxiang was delighted and promptly reported.

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun, of course, also noticed Ning Zhuo, the outsider, and thought to himself, “If I can solve the problem with just a small effort and receive several times the usual offerings, why not?”

Zhu Fenxiang was not surprised that Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun would agree. She had already probed the details of Mengye Hu and knew that the earth-element divine ability was only profound and exquisite, not particularly powerful in itself. For Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun, it was merely a flick of the hand.

This was also one of Zhu Fenxiang’s reasons for confidently agreeing to Ning Zhuo’s request to resolve the matter.

Zhu Fenxiang remained kneeling, turning to congratulate Ning Zhuo, “The deity has agreed. Young Master Ning, please bring out that mechanical puppet.”

Ning Zhuo’s face lit up with joy; it was truly excellent to solve the problem with money.

Immediately, he took out Mengye Hu.

“Hmm?!” Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s divine sense swept over it, and perceiving Mengye Hu’s state, his heart was shaken.

“This is the divine ability Huitu Baoyi! This magical energy signature—that’s right, it’s Wangchuan Fujun.”

“The Sub-Spirit cultivated by Wangchuan Fujun is the Disha Zhuohui Shen.”

“But according to rumors, after a life-and-death battle, this Sub-Spirit has been dissolved.”

“Does this mean this small mechanical puppet participated in that great battle?”

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun immediately locked onto Ning Zhuo with his divine sense, scrutinizing the big-headed young man, muttering to himself, “What is this young man’s background?”

Wangchuan Fujun was a monarch of the Underworld.

Currently in the Underworld, the great war between Wangchuan Difu and Guihuo Difu had been ongoing from beginning to end.

Initially, outsiders couldn’t understand what madness had possessed Guihuo Difu to launch such a large-scale offensive, initiating a full-scale war aimed at annihilating Wangchuan Difu!

Was Guihuo Difu not afraid that other neighboring Difu would seize the opportunity?

But as the war progressed and Guihuo Difu advanced comprehensively, outsiders realized Wangchuan Difu’s superficial strength and internal weakness.

Only then did they understand that Guihuo Difu must have known some inside information, confirming that Wangchuan Difu was extremely weakened, presenting an excellent opportunity for invasion, which prompted their actions!

The full-scale war between Wangchuan Difu and Guihuo Difu was in full swing. Normally, Wangchuan Fujun would have already employed various national arts to repel foreign enemies and fully utilize the home advantage.

However, he rarely made a move, exposing the truth of his weakness to all.

Naturally, outsiders frantically inquired about the reason, and thus learned about Wangchuan Fujun’s previous battle.

Much information about this battle had been strictly sealed off by Wangchuan Fujun. Guihuo Fujun, for his own benefit, also did not reveal it. Both sides had a natural tacit understanding in this regard.

In the Underworld, countless cultivators and forces focused their attention on this vast and tragic national war.

Although Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was a cultivator from the Yang world, he became a deity in the Underworld and naturally paid close attention.

Now, before him was a precious clue, within arm’s reach!

“My lord?” Zhu Fenxiang felt uneasy as Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun gave no response.

According to past experience, Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was quite decisive in his actions; once he agreed, he would act immediately, characterized by swiftness and vigor.

His main body was in the Underworld, separated by a layer, and channeling divine power and divine techniques to the Yang world consumed a considerable amount of energy.

Although Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was a great deity, his foundation was not deep, having only recently ascended to that rank. Everything had to be carefully calculated.

This also made him have a great demand for offerings.

He was a good deity who got things done for money and enjoyed a good reputation.

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was indeed hesitating. He casually appeased Zhu Fenxiang and then pressed her for Ning Zhuo’s identity.

Zhu Fenxiang was even more surprised; this was an unprecedented situation. Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun had his pride, so why would he suddenly take an interest in an outsider like Ning Zhuo?

“Could it be that the God Transformation-level entity who tampered with this tiger-headed mechanical puppet has caused the deity’s apprehension?”

“Who exactly has Ning Zhuo provoked?”

Zhu Fenxiang did not know much about Ning Zhuo; most of her knowledge was limited to Ning Zhuo’s various performances after arriving in Feiyun Guo and entering the main sect of Wanxiang Zong.

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was quite dissatisfied with this information and immediately wanted to use divine arts to investigate.

However, directly using divine arts to detect someone in their presence is a quite offensive act. Although Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was a great deity, he greatly valued Ning Zhuo and did not want to offend him casually, lest he poke a hornet’s nest.

Anyone who could be targeted by Wangchuan Fujun certainly wasn’t simple!

Zhu Fenxiang’s intelligence also highlighted Ning Zhuo’s genius performance and the mysterious yet powerful forces behind him.

“Got it. My divine art, Moguan Chenyuan, though unable to directly detect fate and fortune, can perceive the various worldly connections of others. By this, I can indirectly deduce their strength, temperament, and even destiny.”

Although this divine art incurred a high cost to cast, Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun looked at Mengye Hu and felt that this time held considerable value, making it worthwhile for him to use.

Divine Art—Moguan Chenyuan!

The next moment, Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s eyes were filled with swirling lights and shadows, like a rapidly changing panorama.

He saw mountains of corpses piled at Ning Zhuo’s feet, fresh blood soaking tattered armor, and a blazing wildfire in his eyes. He also saw Ning Zhuo maneuvering giant mechanical beasts, sweeping across battlefields, heads rolling, countless enemy cultivators crushed into pulp. He further saw Ning Zhuo leading vast armies, countless cultivators following closely, with equally massive enemy forces on the opposing front—

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun: “What a sea of blood and corpses—will this young man become a renowned general, famous throughout the world, in the future?!”

He saw a lotus boat under the moon, a woman in plain white playing the zither and smiling faintly, lying in Ning Zhuo’s arms. He also saw a red-candle wedding hall, the veil lifted, a female cultivator gazing at Ning Zhuo with boundless love. He further saw numerous female cultivators surrounding Ning Zhuo, fighting each other, forming a veritable Shura battlefield—

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun: “Young man, you’re quite the player. Oh, I think I saw Zhu Fenxiang and her mother too.”

He continued to watch, seeing Ning Zhuo dressed in Xuanmen robes, consecrated amidst ten thousand rays of light, with cheers like tides below, praising him as a paragon of righteousness. He also saw Ning Zhuo in a dark cave, coldly overlooking an evil cultivator’s blood sacrifice of ten thousand souls, the array disk he toyed with being the core of the altar—

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was somewhat perplexed: “Is this child righteous or demonic?”

Then he saw a mechanical puppet launching a sneak attack from behind, its sharp claws piercing Ning Zhuo’s back and emerging from his chest. He also saw Ning Zhuo being cursed with a love-gu, suffering the agony of gu worms gnawing at his meridians, wishing he were dead. He further saw Ning Zhuo consumed by red lotus karmic fire, burning to ashes. And he saw Ning Zhuo decapitated, blood gushing like a spring, his big head flying off—

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun was bewildered: “Why does this kid have so many calamities? His destiny is so fraught with peril, he’s practically a disaster among disasters!”

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun saw more and more.

He saw Ning Zhuo become a great Confucian scholar, his writings becoming classics revered by the world. He also saw him establish the Renhuang Fan, and then burn scriptures and bury scholars alive, becoming a common enemy of all Confucian scholars in the world.

He saw Ning Zhuo employing the Five Elements magic, establishing five elemental deities to benefit humanity. He also saw him attempting to control the Five Elements, enslave heaven and earth, provoking terrifying heavenly wrath, with thunderbolts striking him for eighty-one days.

“Something’s wrong, something’s wrong, something’s very wrong!”

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun realized the ominous signs and cried out in his heart.

His divine art, Moguan Chenyuan, could observe the past, present, and future—everything that had, was, or might happen around the target.

As a result, he found that Ning Zhuo was simply not human; he was a walking disaster, encountering misfortune every single second.

That he was still alive confounded Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun greatly.

He also found that countless potential events concerning Ning Zhuo were filled with contradictions, even completely opposite to each other.

“What’s wrong with this kid? He could be a great benevolent person, or he could be a heinous villain?”

“What kind of temperament is this? Is he split? Has he gone mad from cultivation?”

“Abnormal, abnormal, very abnormal!”

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun activated his divine art, scanned Ning Zhuo, and was utterly dumbfounded.

Was this even a human?!

He had collected countless ancient texts, relied on a lifetime of cultivation experience, and the scattered fragments of divination he fortuitously acquired, painstakingly creating this divine art to pursue his Dao.

He was Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun; “Zhenyu” signified his commitment to punishing evil.

With the divine art Moguan Chenyuan, he could perceive a criminal’s past, present, and future, assess the gravity of their transgressions, their true character, and whether they genuinely harbored intentions of repentance and reform.

Yet, when he tested Ning Zhuo, he couldn’t discern Ning Zhuo’s past, present, or future at all, nor could he judge his sins, temperament, or anything else.

“What’s going on?!” For Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun, this was unprecedented.

He refused to believe it and immediately tried again.

After the second scan, he was completely numb.

The divine statue avatar stared wide-eyed at Ning Zhuo, roaring inwardly, “Is this kid even human?!”

This time, the countless scenes he detected were completely different from the previous round.

But again, countless scenes flashed and vanished like lightning, dazzling Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun, leaving him bewildered and unable to make any judgment.

“Perhaps he possesses some kind of powerful treasure that happens to counteract my divine art’s detection?”

After his initial numbness, Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun came up with a plausible explanation.

“My Lord?” Zhu Fenxiang called out again.

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun had been stunned for too long, and the changes in the divine statue’s face were quite drastic. Zhu Fenxiang, seeing this for the first time, felt as if she had summoned an impostor.

In past interactions, Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun had always been high and mighty, looking down upon Zhu Fenxiang. Now, such a shocked expression completely lacked any divine presence.

“Ahem.” Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun, prompted by Zhu Fenxiang, composed his expression and, through his avatar, spoke, “This is a small matter; I will act.”

“However—”

He changed the subject: “Young man Ning Zhuo, I see that your bones are extraordinary, and you are quite pleasing to my eye. Your destiny is truly fraught with peril, with endless calamities. It would be a great pity if such a talented and charismatic individual were to one day be battered by wind and rain.”

“If you worship me, I can be your guardian deity!”

Ning Zhuo was stunned.

What was happening?

He was merely asking the deity for help to resolve Mengye Hu’s predicament, so why was he suddenly being asked to worship?

The big-headed young man, with a look of confusion, glanced at Zhu Fenxiang, his eyes seemingly asking the latter, “Is this great deity you worship usually like this?”

Then, he saw Zhu Fenxiang’s eyes widen, her mouth slightly agape, an expression of utter disbelief on her face.

At this moment, Zhu Fenxiang suffered an immense psychological shock!

She had made countless efforts, prayed sincerely, and spent immeasurable wealth to gain Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun’s approval and persuade him to become her guardian deity.

But now!

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun and Ning Zhuo had only just met for the first time, and Ning Zhuo hadn’t even performed a bowing gesture, yet Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun proactively offered to become Ning Zhuo’s guardian deity?!

“Then, what do all my past efforts and hardships even count for?!!!”

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun, being a great deity, was not intimidated by Wangchuan Fujun. He was not afraid of offending the latter by helping Ning Zhuo. Furthermore, this was the Yang world; Wangchuan Fujun might remain oblivious his entire life.

After all, the situation of Wangchuan Difu was indeed very dire.

Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun had never encountered such a peculiar person as Ning Zhuo; he was truly an exception among exceptions.

His lower limit was extremely low; he might die unexpectedly the next moment from bad luck. Yet, his upper limit was extremely high, with plans for dominance being entirely possible.

Even if a powerful treasure protected against the divine art Moguan Chenyuan, Ning Zhuo, simply by being connected to the valuable intelligence regarding Wangchuan Fujun, was worth Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun establishing a close relationship with him.

Seeing Zhu Fenxiang’s shocked expression, Ning Zhuo knew he couldn’t rely on her.

Facing the olive branch Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun suddenly extended, his thoughts raced like lightning, and he immediately made a judgment: “It is an honor for this junior to receive the favor of a great deity!”

Ning Zhuo agreed readily.

Zhu Fenxiang and Shutu Zhenyu Zhenjun already knew about Mengye Hu, and they were the most suitable individuals to help.

Furthermore, a great deity becoming a guardian deity was itself a great blessing.

Let’s do it!