Chapter 289: The Origami True Lord

Sensing Jiang Jian’s gaze upon them.

The two paper figures lifted their faces, revealing eerie smiles.

“These two paper figures were crafted personally by the Origami True Lord; few remain in existence, their value exceeding ten digits.”

Lu Qingqing cleared her throat.

“Both possess cultivation of the Divine Palace Realm; they can kill without a trace and swap places across millions of miles, substituting for their master in death.”

Upon hearing this.

Jiang Jian’s expression hardened slightly as he studied the two paper figures closely.

Their bodies resembled sheets of paper, seemingly folded at random, painted with reds and greens, radiating an uncanny, deep, and secretive aura.

“Please convey my thanks to the True Lord.”

A few seconds later, Jiang Jian withdrew his gaze and spoke his thanks.

Lu Yezhen, a being of the Spirit Platform Realm, towered above all others.

He would not act petty toward juniors, lest he lose face.

This gift was by no means insignificant.

“Since you kept your promise and brought the Book of Life and Death, my Lu family must likewise show sincerity.”

Lu Qingqing pulled out a token and handed it to Jiang Jian. “This is the key to controlling their spiritual core. Once you bind a thread of your divine soul’s essence, you may use them at will.”

Here, she paused. “By the way, they possess semi-autonomous awareness—they’re almost living beings. Give them names.”

Jiang Jian took the token and studied it for a moment.

Within his pupils, faint frost-white vortices flickered.

Karmic Fire.

At this moment, Karmic Fire, within the story world, was nourished by false karmic energy.

Its talent tier had risen dramatically!

Its “True Sight” trait.

Now activated, it could perceive truth, piercing all illusions within its range.

A few seconds later.

Jiang Jian confirmed the token and the two paper figures were clean—no hidden tricks.

He then quietly infused a thread of his divine soul’s essence into it.

The next instant.

The token dissolved into light and merged into his palm.

Jiang Jian felt two distinct, clear energies linked directly to his divine soul.

Whenever he expended source energy to activate the token.

He could swap positions with them at any time, anywhere.

“These two paper figures are indeed powerful guardians.”

Jiang Jian spoke softly, his gaze fixed on the paper figures. “As for names—one is Clear Wind, the other Bright Moon.”

Lu Qingqing’s eyebrow twitched. “You name them rather casually.”

She stepped beside the paper figures, stroking their heads. “These aren’t the common death-dummies sold in markets.”

“They’re the Origami True Lord’s signature wares—premium among premiums.”

“Even one alone, if fully unleashed, can crush an ordinary Divine Palace Realm cultivator in a single strike!”

As she spoke.

The two paper figures stepped before Jiang Jian, grinning eerily, their forms twisting and folding.

In moments, they became thin sheets of paper, vanishing into nothingness.

Jiang Jian sensed they were hidden nearby, ever guarding him.

“Let’s go.”

Lu Qingqing walked forward. “For the sake of the Book of Life and Death, our ancestor specifically cleared half an hour to meet you.”

As they walked.

She asked, seemingly offhand.

“Jiang Jian, are you satisfied with this gift?”

Jiang Jian smiled. “The Lu family is generous and sincere—no wonder you’re among the top families of the Surface Realm.”

Two Divine Palace Realm guardian paper figures, personally forged by a Spirit Platform True Lord.

The Lu family’s regard for the Book of Life and Death is evident.

Lu Qingqing nodded. “Our Lu family governs the Seven Realm Realms, wealthiest under heaven. We never stint on friends.”

As they spoke.

Soldiers stepped forward and opened the hatch.

Leading Jiang Jian and Lu Qingqing aboard the sky-ship.

The portal to the Seven Realm Realms stood hundreds of meters tall, reaching straight into the heavens, majestic and immense.

The colossal sky-ship, compared to the portal, appeared tiny.

A hum arose.

The sky-ship activated, slowly ascending.

A cerulean light shield enveloped the entire vessel, drifting toward the portal.

In the luxurious passenger cabin of the ship’s midsection.

“Jiang Jian, are you married?”

Lu Qingqing sat on a space sofa, sipping coffee.

Jiang Jian stood before a transparent window, gazing down at the scenery below.

Hearing this.

He turned slightly, saying nothing.

Jiang Jian knew.

He had once struck a deal with Nie Zheng.

A formal marriage, in exchange for fragments of a Divine Decree.

Lu Qingqing set down her cup, her expression unreadable. “You’re a hot commodity now—master of Yinshan’s wonderland, gifted beyond measure, unparalleled in roots, your future limitless.”

“Many great clans are investigating your background, eager to take you as a son-in-law.”

As she spoke,

she seemed to recall something, her lips twitched, and her expression grew awkward.

Boom.

The cabin floor trembled slightly.

Outside the panoramic window, darkness instantly swallowed all light.

The entire sky-ship, wrapped in cerulean light, had truly entered the Seven Realm Realms!

Lu Qingqing’s expression remained unchanged, unfazed.

Jiang Jian stared out the window, eyes thoughtful.

A few seconds later.

Outside the panoramic window, daylight blazed bright!

Lu Qingqing rose, walked to the window, stood shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Jian, squinting.

“Welcome to the Lu family.”

She whispered.

The Seven Realm Realms—the Lu family’s stronghold!

The sky-ship, blotting out the sky, glided steadily through the heavens.

The white light faded.

Jiang Jian gazed out the window, his pupils trembling, awe rising within him.

What met his eyes.

Were neon megacities and floating islands.

Planetary-scale steel skeletons emitted icy glimmers, stretching beyond sight.

Binding these structures together, suspended in the sky!

These aerial cities, one after another, linked head to tail, forming a continuous expanse high above the heavens!

Compared to this, the Sky City of the Zhou family in Taiping Prefecture was nothing but a corner detail!

A single neon megacity equaled the entirety of Taiping Prefecture’s Divine Illumination District!

One sky-ship after another sped past the heavens, their noise nearly silent.

Yet the most astonishing sight lay below.

Looking down.

Every structure on the ground was an artificial resource zone.

Spirit beast breeding, weapon forging, spirit plant cultivation, technological research, array assembly, armor casting, talisman production, and more.

The ground here was a colossal wholesale market.

Its goods were countless, everything imaginable.

Most importantly, if you need anything, you can purchase it directly here.

As the place of origin, its goods are unusually cheap—far cheaper than anywhere else, almost unimaginably so.

In the seventy prefectures on the surface, many major merchants travel thousands of miles to enter the Seven-Layer Realm of Chang’an Prefecture, solely to stock up.

Countless aerial vessels come and go within it.

Like a shower of starlight, they blanket the sky.

“Below is the largest wholesale market on Earth’s surface.”

Lu Qingqing’s expression was proud, “Above, however, lies the largest auction house and the largest bank on the surface.”

“The Seven-Layer Realm.”

“It is the most prosperous economic center on Earth’s surface.”

With that, she fell silent.

The sky-ship accelerated, piercing through the planetary-scale steel framework, flying deeper into the Realm.

Along the way,

Jiang Jian stood by the window, observing places he had never heard of.

There were floating casino cities, towering like mountains, glowing with neon, drowning in luxury.

There were vast entertainment complexes, built upon floating islands, lit by red lanterns and wine.

And even stranger islands, impossible to describe, teeming with handsome men and beautiful women, humans, demons, ghosts, and monsters—all exuding exceptional aura, yet dressed in startlingly scant clothing.

The Seven-Layer Realm is also a favored retreat for many wealthy individuals on the surface.

Previously, the world portals had been squeezed shut.

The place that suffered the greatest losses was Lu family’s Seven-Layer Realm!

Even the Tianjing Central Hub of the Nine-Layer Realm could still transmit imperial edicts remotely via identity devices.

But if the Seven-Layer Realm were cut off, its economic losses would be incalculable!

This is why the Lu family’s ancestral patriarch has been so amiable toward Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian and Shen Xi perfectly executed their plan, pinpointing the Realm’s coordinates in advance, tracing the vine to the root, and fully opening the world portals of Chang’an’s Nine-Layer Realm!

As a result, the Lu family halted their losses and prevented further resource drain.

“We’ve arrived.”

After an indeterminate time, the sky-ship finally slowed and descended downward.

Lu Qingqing stood up, gazing out the window, her expression complex.

Though she had brought Jiang Jian here now,

she herself had not returned in a very long time.

This place, far from noise, was quiet, nearly at the edge of the world.

Below lay a vast blue ocean.

The sea surface was emerald blue, calm and still.

Looking far into the distance, sky and sea merged, indistinguishable.

A lush, verdant island rested in the midst.

Beside the island stood a super-large shipyard.

Boom.

The sky-ship shuddered slightly, finally landing firmly.

The hatch opened.

“Please.”

Lu Qingqing walked to the door and gestured inward with a light motion of her hand.

Jiang Jian said nothing, gave a slight nod, stepped past her, and ascended the gangway.

The hatch was tall, dozens of meters above the ground.

As Jiang Jian walked up the gangway, a gentle sea breeze brushed his face, carrying thick spiritual energy from the sea veins.

This island was clearly a key stronghold of the Lu family.

Most of the island was covered in forests and lakes.

The structures upon it were few and far between.

“Why is it him?”

Behind him, not far away, Lu Qingqing suddenly spoke, her expression complex.

Jiang Jian raised an eyebrow and looked down.

At the end of the gangway, dozens of meters away, stood a black-clad youth.

He stood alone, expressionless, gazing at the sea.

“Who is that?”

Jiang Jian asked softly.

On the black-clad youth, he sensed an immensely powerful aura.

The aura was terrifying.

Even he himself had to take it seriously.

Lu Qingqing bit her lip and said, “He is our Lu family’s Young Master.”

Jiang Jian frowned slightly: “Young Master?”

Lu Qingqing nodded: “Yes.”

“Among spirit-platform sect families with many descendants, only one may hold the title of Young Master.”

“To earn this title,”

“means being recognized by the spirit-platform ancestral patriarch as the sole heir, the one upon whom the entire clan concentrates its resources.”

Her expression grew even more complex.

“I was just one step away from claiming that position.”

“Unfortunately, in the end, he outmaneuvered me with a dirty trick and stole it from me.”

“If only I had been more careful back then,”

“the Lu family’s Young Master would be me now.”

(End of Chapter)