Feng Yunqiu gracefully knelt down, her forehead resting against the back of her hand.

From an angle she couldn’t see, Nuwa mischievously winked at Xuan Yuan  —only to receive a white-eyed glare from the Celestial Taiyi in return.

Originally, Xuan Yuan   had planned to simply deliver a celestial  decree to Feng Yunqiu. But after discerning his intention, Huang Rong immediately offered a different idea.

She was now dedicating herself to rapidly absorbing the knowledge stored within Nuwa’s data banks. Though she hadn’t yet learned much, she already had a solid understanding of Nuwa’s various techniques.

Feng Yunqiu believed her so-called soul projection art was nothing more than an immersive full-dive experience, like logging into a VR network and controlling a Xuanbird avatar.

But if her consciousness could be «networked» that way, it was naturally possible to go further.

For example—construct a breathtaking celestial palace that existed entirely within the network, forcibly pull Feng Yunqiu into it, and let her believe her soul had been summoned by the Celestial Taiyi to the celestial realm.

Nuwa loved the idea so much she slapped the table in delight and created the Palace of Nuwa on the spot.

Scene modeling? Please—Nuwa, the celestial of tech and data, could do this in her sleep!

Feng Yunqiu, of course, had no idea that—besides the Celestial Taiyi and Lady Nuwa sitting before her—there were three other girls in the real world watching her every move through the screen.

Huang Rong, especially, was closely analyzing every detail of Feng Yunqiu’s reactions.

«Rise,» Xuan Yuan   said, glancing at her.

Feng Yunqiu stood as instructed, keeping her eyes lowered in modesty, but stealing glances at the two celestials before her.

The Celestial Taiyi was as dignified and noble as ever. But Lady Nuwa… seemed slightly different from their last encounter. Her expression was colder now, and compared to the Celestial’s reassuring presence, she radiated an aloof, transcendent air—like one who only ever gazes down upon the mortal realm with distant detachment.

Then she heard Nuwa address Xuan Yuan   with the word «Master», and her expression changed drastically.

«Do you know why your soul was summoned here to my Palace of Nuwa?»

«I do not, Celestial Lady,» Feng Yunqiu replied, bowing even lower—yet inwardly, her thoughts churned in shock.

So Lady Nuwa… was subordinate to the Celestial Taiyi!?

Xuan Yuan   tapped his finger lightly against the table before him and slowly said:

«The mortal emperor’s lifespan draws to an end. Though he has heirs, and the imperial clan is not without capable men, chaos and bloodshed will inevitably erupt across the realm.»

«Add to that the meddling of demonic forces… and all living things will face catastrophe.»

«To say nothing else—for example, the bandit lords of Handong Prefecture have already extended their claws toward Xiang Province. Pei Hongxuan is even now seeking you for this very reason.»

Feng Yunqiu hadn’t imagined the situation was so dire. She straightened and spoke solemnly:

«This humble one beseeches the Celestial to issue his decree—to save the people from suffering.»

But inwardly, she couldn’t help but wonder: So the emperor’s death is imminent?

From what the Celestial said, it sounded as if the Great Zhou had completely lost the Mandate of Heaven.

Xuan Yuan   studied her carefully for a few long seconds—until she began to feel uneasy—before finally speaking again:

«I shall bestow upon you several celestial arts, and the authority to wield certain celestial artifacts. With them, you alone can stand against a thousand armies.»

«However—unless absolutely necessary, you must never use them lightly. Only when the people of Zishan are in mortal peril may you unleash such thunderous might.»

He had initially intended to say «celestial spells,» but after reconsidering, he decided that «artifacts» were more fitting.

After a short pause, he continued:

«You may select ten individuals. In three months’ time, they are to accompany you to the Palace of Zishan. There, they shall receive their own opportunities.»

«…In short, it is time to begin making preparations for what is to come.»

In that moment, Feng Yunqiu’s mind jumped to the ancient legend:

«The celestial brushes my crown, and I receive eternal life.»

But when she heard the Celestial mention «the future,» her curiosity was piqued. She longed to ask more—but seeing that he had no intention to elaborate, she could only suppress her questions.

The Celestial must have foreseen some great calamity ahead…

After pondering a while, she asked,

«May I ask, Celestial… Do these ten individuals need to meet any specific requirements?»

Xuan Yuan   looked at her with a faint smile:

«No requirements. Choose according to your own heart.»

This was a test—to see whether Feng Yunqiu could set aside her identity as a mountain shaman and treat everyone equally, regardless of whether they were mountain folk, city folk, Buddhist, Daoist, civilian, or official.

If she succeeded, she would receive even greater cultivation in the future.

But if she failed…

The Celestial Taiyi wouldn’t hesitate to revoke everything he had given her—and replace her with a new Spirit Maiden.

Feng Yunqiu suddenly felt a mountain of pressure fall upon her shoulders. It was hard to breathe. Yet she also sensed clearly—how she chose would directly influence the Celestial’s judgment of her.

Steadying her thoughts, she remembered something else and asked:

«Celestial, the new city has taken shape. May I request a name for it?»

To this day, the new settlement at Zishan still had no formal name. Many had submitted suggestions, but Pei Xiu rejected them all.

He had even asked Feng Yunqiu for her thoughts, but she’d planned to wait until the Lantern Festival’s grand ceremony and inquire through prayer. Now that she had the Celestial before her, she decided to ask directly.

Xuan Yuan   didn’t ponder too long before answering:

«…Call it Dongzhou City.»

And so, the name of the sacred City, destined to be longed for across the myriad realms, was thus decided.

«Go,» Xuan Yuan   said with a wave of his hand.

Feng Yunqiu felt her body suddenly sucked backward by some irresistible force. The world around her spun rapidly. When her senses returned, her soul had reentered her body.

Dazed, she opened her eyes and squinted. Warm sunlight was falling across her face, making her narrow her eyes instinctively.

I’m… back?

She reached up and touched her cheek.

Just then, a maid arrived and said:

«Spirit Maiden, the Prefect’s son Pei Hongxuan and his younger sister, along with Daoist Xu Xuanzi of the Taiyi Temple, request an audience. They say the matter is urgent.»

«So it’s begun…» Feng Yunqiu whispered.

Her calm demeanor returned. Composed, she rose to her feet. Her robes billowed lightly as she strode out.

She entered the main hall, then turned into a side chamber—where Pei Hongxuan and Xu Xuanzi sat formally. Little Pei Wenyao, however, couldn’t sit still—though seated, she kept glancing about with wide, curious eyes.

The moment she saw Feng Yunqiu appear, Pei Wenyao lit up and exclaimed:

«Spirit Maiden Sis! I came to see you!»

Feng Yunqiu smiled faintly. This little girl, having once accompanied her father in an audience with the Celestial, had become someone special in her eyes.

Recently, every time the Pei siblings came to the new city—no, to Dongzhou City—they often visited the Taiyi Shrine. Feng Yunqiu had met them once or twice and grown somewhat familiar.

Pei Hongxuan and Xu Xuanzi both rose and bowed in greeting. Feng Yunqiu acknowledged them with a nod and sat.

Then she spoke softly:

«Young Lord Pei, Daoist Xu Xuanzi—you’ve come because the bandit lords of Handong Prefecture have turned their sights on Zishan, haven’t you?»

The two exchanged glances, astonished.

How could she know this already?

But before they could speak, Feng Yunqiu added calmly:

«Just moments ago, my soul was summoned to the Celestial’s palace beyond the Nine Heavens. I have received his decree. You need not worry about this matter.»

Thump.

The old Daoist Xu Xuanzi dropped to his knees on the spot.

Pei Hongxuan stared in disbelief.

Wait a minute—you’re the head of a temple, and you kneeled that fast?! That was a full-on sliding kneel!