Chapter 14: The Expectations of Zuo Shan Ke

“Master?” Mo Luo Sa also felt Luo Feng was too affected—after all, it was merely an illusion cast by a Void True God.

Luo Feng glanced at the black-robed woman and nodded: “You may leave.”

“Su Ya takes her leave,” the black-robed musician Su Ya bowed deeply and withdrew.

Luo Feng ignored Mo Luo Sa and the green-clad attendant beside him, drinking alone.

For a time, neither Mo Luo Sa nor the green-clad attendant dared speak in the vast hall.

Luo Feng drank silently, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

His will was now being tempered by the Seven Emotions Refining Will Method.

Like steel forged through a hundred temperings, it requires repeated strikes. A living being must endure setbacks to gradually grow.

Will is no different.

It must endure repeated trials! The fiercer the trial, the stronger the will becomes—if it does not break.

The Seven Emotions Refining Will Method is unique: it hones the will through intense emotions. As the secret technique activated, powerful feelings surged repeatedly to his heart, striking his will without pause.

“I’ve cultivated too long—my emotions have grown deep and restrained. Who would have thought that in this Dream Flower Pavilion, I’d be thrust back into the height of passion?” Luo Feng’s eyes held a look of reminiscence.

“The Lie Yuan Technique contains many methods to refine will. I long ago chose the Great Destruction Refining Will Method to forge my will. Over a century of seclusion, I’ve practiced it many times. Its upper limit is high enough, while the Seven Emotions Method’s ceiling is ultimately limited—I can’t remain under constant emotional assault forever, or I’d go mad.” Luo Feng thought.

The Great Destruction Refining Will Method uses the concept of universal, total destruction to erode the will!

All Luo Feng needed to do was resist with his will.

Because Mo Luo Sa naturally wielded the ‘Source of Destruction,’ Luo Feng could directly observe it—and even attempt to condense the Great Destruction aura, making this method far more efficient.

The Source of Destruction holds the same status as the 'Source of Life' in the Original Universe! By enslaving a Jie Shou, one gains direct insight into the Source of Destruction—Luo Feng naturally prioritized the Great Destruction Refining Will Method.

“Yet those memories were truly beautiful,” Luo Feng gradually calmed his emotions.

“Is this musician Su Ya the one whose illusions most strongly affect emotion in your Dream Flower Pavilion?” Luo Feng suddenly asked.

The green-clad attendant hurriedly replied: “The strongest illusionist in our pavilion is, of course, the Pavilion Mistress—though she only hosts the Hundred Flowers Banquet occasionally, and only honored guests receive invitations. Among the other musicians, over a dozen are nearly as skilled as Su Ya.”

Luo Feng nodded: “Have them perform.”

“Yes,” the attendant replied, though inwardly puzzled—why would a Permanent True God care so much about a Void True God’s illusions?

In Hu Yang City, some Permanent True Gods were indeed enamored with the Pavilion Mistress, and a few even obsessed. But… no one had ever heard of a Permanent True God being particularly drawn to Void True God-level illusions.

Yet Luo Feng had given his order—the green-clad attendant immediately arranged it.

…

As Luo Feng practiced the Seven Emotions Refining Will Method, he experienced the illusions of these musicians one after another. Though they all shared the same lineage, each had unique strengths—some even crafted illusionary worlds in which Luo Feng became part of the story.

“My Lord, are these musicians satisfactory?” the green-clad attendant said. “Our Dream Flower Pavilion has other intriguing curiosities—music illusions are merely one of them.”

“Today, I’ve had my fill! I’ll come again later!” Luo Feng rose, glancing at the petite woman covered entirely in leaves—she was shy, named A Luo Ya, a plant life from the Origin Continent. Her music held unique allure and stirred Luo Feng’s emotions more powerfully than any other musician, far surpassing the rest. “This musician A Luo Ya is excellent.”

As he spoke, Luo Feng casually tossed down a grain of sand that looked ordinary—but instantly drew the gaze of many beings present.

“Cosmic Sand?” the green-clad attendant gasped, quickly bowing. “My Lord, all expenses tonight are on us—the Dream Flower Pavilion. You need not—”

“I don’t like taking advantage,” Luo Feng said, walking out.

Mo Luo Sa swept the wine flask aside with a wave of his hand and hurried after him, glancing at the grain of Cosmic Sand left on the table: “My master gave it—take it.”

The green-clad attendant finally picked up the Cosmic Sand, marveling at the embryonic universe contained within.

The night’s total bill had been barely over two thousand Chaos Crystals—this single grain of Cosmic Sand far exceeded its value.

“A Luo Ya, the Lord is very pleased with your music. Here’s ten Chaos Crystals as a reward,” the green-clad attendant said.

“Thank you, Manager Yu Luo,” the plant life A Luo Ya bowed in delight. The other musicians could only envy—each received only basic service fees, while A Luo Ya clearly held the Permanent True God’s favor.

Deep within the Dream Flower Pavilion’s great array, in an unassuming small tower.

A figure in loose robes stood there, her gaze encompassing most of the pavilion’s scenes.

“Pavilion Mistress,” the green-clad attendant bowed respectfully. “The Permanent True God has left. He paid with a grain of Cosmic Sand.”

The Dream Flower Pavilion Mistress nodded slightly: “Tell me everything about him.”

“Yes,” the attendant replied solemnly. “His servant has visited us many times before, but this Permanent True God is new. In the pavilion, he cares only for the music illusions.” “All the musicians are Void True Gods—by rights, they should barely affect a Permanent True God.” The attendant added, “Yet he’s deeply drawn to them.”

“He even wept while listening—it’s truly inexplicable,” the attendant admitted, baffled. “And from his tone, he intends to return.”

The Dream Flower Pavilion Mistress smiled faintly: “Ten thousand beings each have their peculiarities. Perhaps this stranger is especially susceptible to emotional fluctuations.”

“If even these musicians’ illusions affect him so strongly… what if the Pavilion Mistress herself were to act?” the attendant whispered. “He might become passionately obsessed with you.”

The Dream Flower Pavilion Mistress gazed out the window.

Over countless eons, only two Permanent True Gods had ever become obsessed with her. After all, Permanent True Gods possessed extraordinary wills—even if momentarily immersed, they would recover once the illusion ended. True obsession remained exceedingly rare.

“When he returns next time, tell him I will host a Hundred Flowers Banquet in ten days—and invite him.” The Pavilion Mistress spoke softly.

“Yes, Pavilion Mistress,” the green-clad attendant bowed respectfully.

…

A day on the Origin Continent was long. In the following days, beyond cultivation, Luo Feng was taken by Mo Luo Sa to many places for various expenditures, broadening his horizons.

When Luo Feng returned to the Dream Flower Pavilion again, he received an invitation.

!.

“My Lord,” the green-clad attendant said warmly, “Our Pavilion Mistress will host the Hundred Flowers Banquet in ten days. Many Permanent True Gods in Hu Yang City have been invited—and she has extended the invitation to you as well.”

“The Pavilion Mistress’s Hundred Flowers Banquet?” Luo Feng was surprised. “In ten days?”

“Yes! Exactly in ten days! The next time she hosts it may be several eons from now,” the attendant said.

Luo Feng smiled: “Since I’ve been invited, I’ll gladly attend. I look forward to witnessing the Pavilion Mistress’s illusionary artistry.”

“May I ask your honored name, My Lord? The banquet requires advance preparation,” the attendant said.

“Luo He,” Luo Feng replied.

The green-clad attendant immediately memorized the name.

This banquet was, in truth, being held for this very man—if the Permanent True God ‘Luo He’ became passionately obsessed with the Pavilion Mistress, her influence in Hu Yang City would grow further.

In the region surrounding the Original Universe.

Zuo Shan Ke was reclusive, rarely interacting with other True Gods. Now, he left his small universe and flew toward Luo Feng’s small universe.

“I’ve been away from the Origin Continent for merely ten thousand eons—but time flows over ten thousand times faster here in the Original Universe region. I’ve waited too long!”

“After such a long time, I’m still only a True God. My power has barely advanced,” Zuo Shan Ke’s weathered face bore melancholy. “I can only endure the torment of time’s passage.”

As he thought, he pressed onward toward Luo Feng’s small universe—until finally, its vast form came into distant view.

“Hmm?” Zuo Shan Ke froze, squinting intently at Luo Feng’s small universe.

“The rate of absorbing chaotic energy has slowed dramatically,” Zuo Shan Ke felt excitement. “Luo Feng’s divine body has finally reached its limit.”

“His small universe, over a thousand billion light-years in diameter, absorbs colossal amounts of chaotic energy every moment—over such a prolonged period… his divine body on the Origin Continent should stand between 15 and 20 billion kilometers tall.” As a former Jin God-King, Zuo Shan Ke’s judgment of energy scale was precise.

“Good. Good. Good.”

Zuo Shan Ke’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “With such a colossal divine body, far surpassing peers of the same level, when he becomes a God-King, his divine power advantage alone will dwarf even ten or twenty God-Kings combined.”

“With Luo Feng, I have hope of revenge,” Zuo Shan Ke’s heart brimmed with boundless hatred—all he cherished had been destroyed by the three sovereigns of the Shih Kingdom.

His master’s sister, his wife, his close friends, his fellow disciples…

All were gone.

From that day on, Zuo Shan Ke’s mind held only one thought—revenge.

For this, he would pay any price.

Everything he had done in the Original Universe served this goal. He was fortunate—he had cultivated Luo Feng!

“My power is far weaker than Tian Kun, the foremost of the three Shih Kingdom sovereigns. Back then, I barely escaped using a secret treasure. In direct combat, I stand no chance,” Zuo Shan Ke knew this well. “Only when Luo Feng grows strong will I have hope of revenge.”

“Simply with his divine body’s overwhelming advantage, Luo Feng should be able to crush those three sovereigns,” Zuo Shan Ke thought silently.

After Luo Feng entered the Cycle and journeyed to the Origin Continent, Zuo Shan Ke remained in the Original Universe region to monitor the energy reserves of Luo Feng’s divine body.

Now, Zuo Shan Ke was at ease.

“It’s time to prepare for entering the Cycle—I’ve been away from the Origin Continent far too long.” Zuo Shan Ke immediately turned toward his own small universe, beginning his final preparations before entering the Cycle.

(End of Chapter)