Chapter 2183: He Is a Spiritual God

The figure that appeared before them, sitting in the surging spiritual pool, was indistinct; their appearance and build unclear. Yet, a profound sense of oppression, emanating from the depths of the soul, was unmistakably palpable, piercing to the bone and impossible to escape.

"An Emperor!" This sensation could only be evoked by one of the Nine Emperors of the Nine Heavens. As a Conferred God King, he was certain of his judgment. Although he didn't know which of the Emperors this person was, he knew he couldn't afford to offend any of them. Without hesitation, he immediately knelt.

"An Emperor?" The words were softly spoken, yet they echoed like thunder in everyone's ears. Patriarch Qi and the many elders behind him trembled in unison, not daring to lift their heads. While the Qi Clan was formidable, boasting countless masters, before an Emperor, they could be annihilated with a mere thought. They were simply not on the same level or in the same realm.

Plop! Qi Wei'er's legs gave way, and she crumbled to the ground. She had just been thinking this was the best chance to eliminate Qi Ling'er, certain that Qi Ling'er couldn't escape this time. She never in her wildest dreams imagined that the one who had entered the Moon-Clear Pool was an Emperor... Such a figure commanded such reverence that even Conferred God Kings dared not speak ill of them; indeed, it was an honor merely to be in their presence.

Filled with disbelief, she looked towards the pool. Despite the surging spiritual energy, she could still discern that the figure sitting there was indeed Zhang Xuan. He was an Emperor? Her eyes widened, and her heart ached, leaving her breathless. "Plain and unremarkable," my foot! If *this* was plain and unremarkable, what did that make *her*? How could Qi Ling'er, a nobody banished to Nightfall City, be connected to an Emperor, let alone invite him here?

"An Emperor?" Everyone was too stunned to speak. Zhang Xuan, who was cultivating, was equally bewildered by the exclamation. "Could it be... they've mistaken me?" The elder who had appeared, every movement aligning with the Heavenly Dao, exuded an oppressive aura from his soul, so potent that one dared not look directly at him. Such a powerful individual was addressing him this way... Could it be that even a Conferred God King could be mistaken in their judgment?

Zhang Xuan, lowering his voice, said indifferently, "Leave. I don't like to be disturbed." Although he had no idea how they could have mistaken him for an Emperor, it was a fortunate misunderstanding. This way, they wouldn't blame him for secretly using the Moon-Clear Pool. Otherwise, with his current strength, he would have had to use his only Heavenly Dao Tome to smash the Conferred God King to death.

Hearing "the Emperor" speak, Ancestor Qi Meng dared not utter another word. He immediately gestured for everyone to leave, fearing that other clan members might intrude, and even sealed off the surrounding area.

"I..." Qi Ling'er stood frozen, utterly at a loss. She had expected Young Master Zhang to enter the Moon-Clear Pool, realize he couldn't cultivate, and then leave on his own. She never imagined such a huge commotion, alerting even the Patriarch and the Ancestor... Having alarmed them, she had been certain of her demise... Who knew such a twist would occur! An Emperor... She had only previously thought he possessed an Emperor's bloodline, a descendant. She never dared to imagine he was the Emperor himself! She had actually made a transaction with an Emperor, and even profited from it... Trembling incessantly, Qi Ling'er felt like she was going mad.

"Come out! Don't disturb the Emperor's cultivation!" Seeing her hesitation by the pool, Qi Meng frowned and instructed. "Yes!" With the Ancestor himself giving the order, Qi Ling'er dared not hesitate further and quickly exited.

Leaving the Moon-Clear Pool, they arrived at a large hall. After shielding the surroundings with a formation, Qi Meng finally turned and asked, "What exactly happened? Who can explain?" He was utterly bewildered as to why an Emperor had arrived here without any prior notice.

"It's like this..." Patriarch Qi recounted the events of Qi Ling'er's entry into the clan and her talent test.

"He was brought by you..." Qi Meng said, looking at her.

"Reporting to Ancestor..." Qi Ling'er flinched, then quickly added, "I only knew he possessed an Emperor's bloodline; I didn't realize he was the Emperor himself..."

"An Emperor's bloodline?" Everyone was startled. Patriarch Qi quickly turned his gaze.

Qi Ling'er promptly recounted the previous test results from the Netherworld Pool.

"Emperors are ever-changing," Ancestor Qi Meng explained. "Sometimes they lower their cultivation to live as ordinary people... I've heard that the Emperor of the Sovereign Heaven once suppressed his cultivation and descended to the lower realms! To notice something amiss so quickly, offer a suitable counter-strategy, and even agree to the request—you are very clever! From today onwards, Qi Xiao will assign you more important tasks and provide you with the best cultivation resources! One's status must not be too low when serving an Emperor..."

"Thank you, Ancestor!" Qi Ling'er bowed deeply. Even now, it felt like a dream; she simply couldn't believe it.

"Alright," Ancestor Qi Meng said, raising his eyelids. "The Emperor is cultivating. You should all know what to say and what not to say. If I hear anyone gossiping, no matter who it is, they will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes..." Everyone flinched.

Qi Wei'er, standing to the side, burst into tears. If only she had known, why had she run her mouth? Now she was utterly finished within the clan. Even if her brother became a God King, it wouldn't matter... She relied on a God King, while Qi Ling'er had an Emperor...

"Never mind..." While some were shocked and others helpless, Zhang Xuan in the Moon-Clear Pool couldn't be bothered with such matters and continued his cultivation. Streams of pure energy surged into his body, continuously transforming his physical form.

After an unknown period, he stopped, unable to make further progress.

"Peak High-tier Heavenly God..." Feeling the strength of his physical body, Zhang Xuan sighed in relief. He had initially hoped his physical body might break through to Mid-tier God this time. He never dreamed it would reach Peak High-tier Heavenly God, just a step away from a God King! With this physical strength, he was virtually invincible in close combat among those below a God King. He now truly possessed the capability and conditions to traverse the God Realm freely.

Having reached this point, the power of the Moon-Clear Pool had also reached its limit, and he could not advance a single iota further.

"What are these golden threads?" He looked inside his body, filled with doubt. For some reason, during this cultivation, golden threads had appeared within his muscles, crisscrossing his entire body. He couldn't sense their power, but they imbued him with a feeling of endless vitality. They were full of vigor.

Knowing it wasn't the time to investigate, he stepped out. Sizzle! His true qi surged, and his soaked clothes quickly dried. He looked back at the pool and saw the turbulent water beginning to calm. After a moment, the surface rippled, and the small yellow chick swam back up.

"As expected, it's fine..." Having previously witnessed the small yellow chick being killed by Confucius's clone and then resurrecting, he was already prepared, so seeing it again didn't surprise him.

"Your strength..." Zhang Xuan said, filled with surprise as he watched it swim closer. Previously, the small yellow chick was merely a Low-tier God. Now, its aura was subtle but distinctly that of a Heavenly God. Having died once and broken through again, it had reached the Heavenly God realm, no weaker than Zhang Xuan himself. He had expended countless efforts, gained various insights, and struggled with all his might to become a Heavenly God, yet this creature had achieved the same simply by dying once... Comparing a human to a chicken, it was truly infuriating!

"I need to rest..." the small yellow chick said, looking somewhat tired. With that, it burrowed back into his Dantian.

"Rest then..." Knowing it had just broken through and that such a state was normal, Zhang Xuan said no more. After a brief hesitation, he walked out. Regardless of why the Conferred God King had mistaken him, what had to be done, had to be done; what had to be faced, had to be faced.

Stepping out of the sealed area, he immediately saw Ancestor Qi Meng, Patriarch Qi, and the others approaching to greet him.

"Greetings, Emperor!" Ancestor Qi Meng bowed again, secretly glancing at the young man before him. What he saw made him marvel. Just moments ago in the pool, he had clearly felt a rich Emperor's bloodline. Yet now, it was entirely gone. The person before him seemed utterly ordinary, without a single discernible flaw! Truly an Emperor, capable of being a dragon with one thought and a worm with another. Ordinary people simply couldn't see through their disguises.

"I used your Moon-Clear Pool," Zhang Xuan said, sighing in relief that they still misunderstood him. "As repayment, I will offer you a few pointers!" His recent advancement in strength had caused considerable damage to the Moon-Clear Pool. As a Master Teacher, he couldn't simply use it without offering anything in return.

"This..." Ancestor Qi Meng was about to decline, but then he realized an Emperor could not owe them anything, and his heart sank slightly. He turned to Patriarch Qi Xiao and instructed, "Show your skills!"

Hearing he would receive guidance, Patriarch Qi Xiao excitedly stood up. "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" He immediately performed the martial art technique he had demonstrated earlier. He had already learned the technique when Qi Ling'er demonstrated it earlier. Only now did he realize that the Emperor himself had personally modified it, which explained why it was flawless and countless times more profound than the version he cultivated.

"Your cultivation doesn't have major issues," Zhang Xuan slowly said. "It's just that you have many hidden injuries within your body, preventing your overall strength from accumulating further..." Even for a God King, the Library of Heaven's Path could identify flaws. Explaining these to him also served as compensation for using the Moon-Clear Pool.

"I'm leaving!" Zhang Xuan finished quickly and stood up.

"Qi Ling'er, you may accompany the Emperor as he leaves..." Ancestor Qi Meng quickly suggested.

Qi Ling'er dared not say more and quickly followed him out. Seeing him leave, everyone in the room finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After a long while, Patriarch Qi Xiao looked over again. "Ancestor," he said, "what the Emperor explained were all the flaws in my cultivation, but he didn't provide any solutions..."

"This is a test given to you by the Emperor!" Ancestor Qi Meng snorted. "Pointing out your flaws is for you to figure out how to correct them yourself and strive to improve! If he truly told you how to correct them, wouldn't you become a direct disciple? Do you think... you are worthy?"

"This junior is not worthy; this junior was overthinking," Patriarch Qi Xiao said, his expression freezing as he trembled with fright.

Truly an Emperor, his thoughts were profound... After all this, he realized it was his own greed. "Hmph!" Ancestor Qi Meng said no more. If he had harbored any doubts before, witnessing the pointers given to this junior made all his uncertainties vanish like smoke. Only an Emperor could possess such discerning insight, seeing through flaws with a single glance that even he couldn't perceive!

"Ancestor," Patriarch Qi Xiao asked, a little curious, "I wonder which of the Nine Emperors of the Nine Heavens this is...?"

"I have been fortunate enough to meet a few of the Nine Emperors of the Nine Heavens," Ancestor Qi Meng said, his gaze sharpening. "I have already deduced his specific identity. If I'm not mistaken, it should be... the Spirit God!"