"Fellow Daoist, have you heard about the Little Golden Dragon matter?"

"Is this true or false? Why does it feel like it's intentionally targeting the Little Golden Dragon... We mustn't spread rumors recklessly. The more this matter is spread, the more complex it becomes."

"Is there even a need to spread it? Who doesn't know by now?"

"That Stele and such seem like they were deliberately fabricated by someone else. However, the Little Golden Dragon does possess the bloodline of an Innate God, so that could be true... Alas, we in the Human Domain have finally seen a promising successor capable of shouldering the responsibility, and if he was sent by the Innate Gods, what would become of our Human Domain?"

"Indeed. Let's drink, let's drink. It's really not good to talk about this. Let's just wait and see. Lately, I've had no mood to even earn Spirit Stones."

"Could Wu Wangzi really be a spy from the Heaven Palace? Uh, why are you all looking at me like that? I have a loose tongue. My apologies, I'll drink three cups as a penalty, three cups."

...

"Is Wu Wangzi truly from outside our domain?"

"It's highly probable. Haven't you noticed that despite the rumors spreading for so long, Wu Wangzi hasn't come forward to say anything?"

"That could be because he's in seclusion."

"I do believe in Wu Wangzi; all it would take is for him to step forward and say something."

"Even if his words were insincere?"

"Even if his words were insincere."

"This..."

"As long as Wu Wangzi is of the Human race, and he shares our bloodline, that's enough. He has done so much for the Human Domain, why can't we give him a bit more trust?"

"It's still unclear if there's any other news. Let's just wait and see."

...

"Senior Brother, have you heard? Everyone has been saying that Wu Wangzi seems to be an outsider, and they're calling him a spy. Is there any truth to these rumors?"

"About that, I'm not sure what to make of it. From what I've heard so far, there's definitely something off about Wu Wangzi."

"But some of these claims are too outrageous. Saying Wu Wangzi is the rebellious younger son of the Heavenly Emperor—how can people believe that?"

"Is that what you heard? Why did I hear that Wu Wangzi, although of the Human race, is the reincarnation of some ancient Innate God..."

"Senior Brother, do you think it's possible that Wu Wangzi is as the rumors suggest: a spy sent by the Innate Gods' conspiracy to take over as the Human Emperor and then offer the Dao of Fire to the Heaven Palace?"

"That's unlikely. Junior Sister, you should watch what you say. If our master hears this, we'll both likely be punished. Our master has always spoken very highly of Wu Wangzi."

"Sigh, and I used to admire this Wu Wangzi so much."

...

"Have you heard? In the neighboring market town, a group of cultivators got drunk and started arguing. Dozens of Immortals ended up fighting, and several died."

"Haven't such things been common these days?"

"So, is the Little Golden Dragon's matter still unresolved? Spy or not, can't they just deal with him quickly? It's making everyone so uneasy."

"Fellow Daoist! What you're saying is somewhat inappropriate. If the Little Golden Dragon is a spy, then what does that make you? Are your contributions to the Human Domain even comparable to those of this supposed spy?"

"Hey, old Daoist, how can you speak like that?"

"This is how I speak! You youngsters are so foul-mouthed! Today, I shall punish you on behalf of your master!"

"Afraid of you? I'm not! Let's settle this outside the city!"

...

Someone died.

As Wu Wang listened to Xiao Jian Daoist's account through the Jade Talisman, it felt as if a string in his heart had been gently plucked.

These rumors about him had only started spreading five days ago. Yet, over a hundred cultivators had already died in the ensuing disputes.

In the twilight, Wu Wang sat inside the tent, holding the Jade Talisman, listening to Xiao Jian Daoist's voice.

Xiao Jian Daoist sighed and said, "Wu Wang, you were right. This modus operandi very likely points to the forces of the Heaven Palace."

"Why have so many died?" Wu Wang asked with a frown.

"Often it starts with a disagreement, leading to a dispute," Xiao Jian Daoist's voice carried a trace of fatigue. "Lately, the cultivators' emotions have been clearly agitated. Some support you and can't tolerate any slander against you. Others make sarcastic remarks, calling you a spy, and so on. When these two groups meet, fights easily break out. I have already ordered the inspection immortal envoys from all the pavilions' branches to patrol nonstop, day and night..."

Wu Wang fell silent for a while upon hearing this. His elbow propped on the desk, hands before his nose, fingers interlaced, a faint glimmer of light flickered within his eyes.

He said, "Still no clue who's causing the trouble?"

"We can't find out," cursed Xiao Jian Daoist. "Whoever is behind this, how do they have such great ability! As soon as we find a shred of a clue, before we can even catch up, the person we are about to investigate dies mysteriously. I refuse to believe there isn't an Innate God involved in this! It might even be that Qiong Qi stirring up trouble!"

Wu Wang rubbed his brow, murmuring, "Qiong Qi is a subordinate of the Head Manager. Logically, the Head Manager should have lost his influence by now, but we can't rule out the possibility that he's orchestrating things from the shadows. Have you examined the Divine Souls of those involved?"

"We have. There's nothing unusual, and most were murdered, their deaths disguised as suicides."

"How are the rumors in the Human Domain right now?"

Xiao Jian Daoist suddenly fell silent.

"Tell the Four Seas Pavilion to hurry up with the teleportation Formation," Wu Wang said in a low voice. "If all else fails, I'll have Ming Snake take me back. It'll save a great deal of effort."

Xiao Jian Daoist quickly replied, "Let the Four Seas Pavilion handle it. That way, they can also give an account to His Majesty... At the very least, it shows they took some action."

"The enemy remains hidden. Brother Xiao, please be extremely cautious."

Wu Wang tapped lightly with his finger, and the Jade Talisman returned to his ring.

Inside the tent, all was quiet. Wu Wang sat, lost in thought, a small flame continuously flickering in his chest.

Lin Suqing carried freshly made tea and snacks over. Wu Wang immediately composed himself, perking up. He casually picked up a classic text on Formations and lowered his head, engrossed in reading.

"Young Master, tea is ready."

Wu Wang looked up with a smile, already prepared with teasing remarks to engage Lin Suqing in their usual playful banter.

「Half a day later.」

In the Human Domain, within the Human Emperor Pavilion's hall of deliberations.

The Pavilion Masters of the Human Emperor Pavilion, Four Seas Pavilion, Heavenly Craft Pavilion, and Fire God Pavilion all sat in their principal seats, their expressions grim, their faces unspeakably solemn. Before them, more than a dozen Vice Pavilion Masters, dozens of high-ranking officials, and over ten armored Immortal Soldier generals all bowed their heads in silence. Messengers ran back and forth on both sides, delivering one Jade Talisman after another...

BAM!

The exquisite, jade-inlaid porcelain cup smashed heavily to the ground, instantly shattering into myriad fragments. Liu Baiyi, who had thrown the cup, his face ashen, seized the moment to curse, "A bunch of good-for-nothings!

"Using the full strength of the Human Emperor Pavilion, with all other pavilions assisting, and you still can't even find the source of the rumors! Speak! Speak up!

"Wu Wangzi is a meritorious minister of the Human Domain! The Human Emperor Pavilion lets him suffer such a grievance! Stele and rumors appearing in eight places simultaneously—such blatant instigation—and you tell me you can't find any suspicious individuals! What? Are you also dissatisfied with Wu Wangzi?!"

A middle-aged woman below raised her head, holding a sword in salute, and spoke firmly, "Pavilion Master, please do not humiliate us in this manner. Regarding these rumors, 672 people have already been harmed, the majority of whom died by apparent suicide. We have examined their Divine Souls and even searched through the remnants of their memories, finding not a single clue. Those eight Steles... we've even employed Divination, but still can't deduce their origin. The instigator is deeply hidden, and their methods are ruthless, truly sending shivers down one's spine. Please grant us half a month to investigate. If we cannot capture the true culprit, we will resign from our posts and retire!"

"Half a month?" Liu Baiyi's voice rose. "By then, the matter will have already become an accepted fact in the minds of the common people of the Human Domain! Three days! I will give you three more days! If you can't find out who's behind this, then all of you will kneel before His Majesty with me to apologize!"

The crowd looked troubled, but seeing Liu Baiyi's stern face, they reluctantly agreed. They then quickly dispersed to investigate related matters in various locations.

The entire Human Domain, at this moment, was quite clamorous. And beneath this clamor, dark currents surged, with many experts moving about hurriedly.

In a certain large city, within an inconspicuous courtyard.

Several streaks of Immortal Light shot from the sky, directly smashing through the city's protective Formation and crashing into the courtyard. But as Xiao Jian Daoist, who was leading the group, steadied himself, his pupils trembled.

The smell of blood hung in the air. The remnants of the Barrier in the area were slowly dissipating, revealing over a dozen corpses arranged neatly in a row within the courtyard. Their expressions were serene, their mouths held gentle smiles, and the cause of death for all was self-inflicted throat cutting.

"Damn it!" a female cultivator growled lowly, slamming her Jade Talisman on the ground, her eyes slightly reddened. "We came as soon as we received the information! Only a few of us knew about it. How could this happen?!"

"Hmm?" Xiao Jian Daoist suddenly raised his eyebrows, took a quick step forward to a corpse, pressed down with his fingers, and with a gentle lift, a fading gray wisp of light was bound by his immortal power. "This is... Quick! Inform the head pavilion! It has been confirmed that an Innate God is involved, but the nature of this god's Divine Power is unknown!"

The few accompanying cultivators felt a surge of excitement.

「Two days later.」

In the Northern Wilderness, the territory of the Bear Hugging tribe.

Wu Wang was standing in front of several Steles. Inscribed on them were rows of 'Heavenly Characters' unreadable to anyone else; it was, of course, the 'Star God True Scripture' he had composed on his journey here. He had placed this True Scripture outside the Bear Hugging tribe's territory, stating that only those chosen by the Star God could provide its interpretation.

What if after a while, several charlatans emerge, claiming they can translate the entire True Scripture? Thinking this, Wu Wang couldn't help but be amused.

Previously, he hadn't been in a hurry to arrange this matter. He intended to build momentum first, then define the nature of this affair, taking the opportunity to promote basic literacy education in the Northern Wilderness. But plans don't always keep up with changes.

The rumors about him in the Human Domain were intensifying. Some cultivators had already gone to the Annihilation Sect to make inquiries, and the number of cultivators gathered outside the Annihilation Sect had grown to several thousand, nearly ten thousand. Moreover, the Human Emperor Pavilion was thoroughly investigating the source of the rumors, and it seemed they were onto something...

In any event, Wu Wang had decided to temporarily cut short his vacation and make a trip back to the Human Domain, planning to return within two or three days. He had already arranged with those who accompanied him to the Northern Wilderness that for this trip back, he would only take Ming Snake. The others were to remain, so there was no need for a large entourage or undue alarm.

Before leaving, aside from setting up those Steles he had painstakingly created, Wu Wang made a point of speaking with the tribe's High Priest.

In his youth, armed with the memories of his past life, Wu Wang always harbored a subconscious arrogance, a feeling of 'no offense, but in terms of knowledge, none of you here are my equal.' Now, after spending considerable time in the Great Wilderness, gaining a deeper and broader understanding, he had come to appreciate the wisdom of the elders.

Although his visit to the High Priest didn't yield anything substantial, he was encouraged by the High Priest, who also subtly... recommended several sweet-looking, well-figured young women from the tribe to him. The type that appeared innocent yet were alluringly sensual.

Wu Wang had also wanted to talk with Brother Sleep God, but Sleep God was still in deep slumber, his sweet slumber seeming to grow deeper and more distant, so Wu Wang could only give up on the idea.

Another two days passed, and an Envoy from the Four Seas Pavilion arrived, notifying Wu Wang that the teleportation Formation was ready and he could return to the Human Domain at any time.

A total of four teleportation Formations were prepared, forming two pairs. The departure point was in the southwestern sea region of the Northern Wilderness. Two Formations in the Western Wilderness would serve as transit points, with the final destination set near the Human Emperor Pavilion's main headquarters.

Wu Wang did not delay. Without alerting Lin Suqing and the others, lest he be subjected to a barrage of admonitions and nagging. It was just a quick trip there and back; there was no need for a grand mobilization.

Unfortunately, just as he was about to leave the tribe's lands, the Grand Elder and others, who had been out hunting a Ten-Thousand-Year Ferocious Beast, rushed back, intercepting Wu Wang and Ming Snake just in time.

The Grand Elder's blood-tinged eyebrows were tightly furrowed. His gaze was complex, his expression somber, and there was a faint glimmer of blood in his eyes. "Sect Master, what is this?"

"Just a quick visit to the Human Domain," Wu Wang replied with a casual tone.

The Grand Elder fell silent. The Human Domain experts who returned with the Grand Elder also showed worried expressions. They all recalled the scene above the West Sea and knew what was currently happening in the Human Domain, sensing the stench of conspiracy.

The Grand Elder took a deep breath. He said, "Sect Master, I know I shouldn't say too much, and that the Sect Master has his own decisions to make.

"Yet you must consider carefully—if you return to the Human Domain now, you will very likely face a torrent of criticism from the cultivators.

"Across the Human Domain, even if only one cultivator in a hundred is swayed by these rumors, when such individuals gather, they will constitute an exceedingly terrifying force.

"Many will be swept along, and the mastermind's plot will be fully realized.

"Right now, the best course of action is to temporarily avoid it. Just let them cause a commotion!

"Once they've calmed down, you can then go and reason with them; only then will they be able to listen!"

Having said this, the Grand Elder saw that Wu Wang's lips were always adorned with a warm smile and knew that his advice would not have much effect. This elderly Demonic Cultivator, who favored blood-red robes and even dyed his hair to match, now tilted his head back and sighed.

He said with a bitter smile, "Sect Master, why must you insist on going back now? Once people set their minds on something, they will preemptively place themselves in opposition to you. Whatever you say or do will be wrong in their eyes."

Wu Wang said, "Grand Elder, everything you've said is out of consideration for me. I am well aware of your good intentions.

"But Grand Elder, this matter doesn't just concern me. It also relates to the prestige of the Human Emperor Pavilion, and even the dignity of the Human Emperor.

"True, I could hide in the Northern Wilderness, wait for the storm to pass, and wait for the situation to settle, then emerge presenting myself as the aggrieved party.

"But that would be avoiding battle.

"Many people will pay a price they wouldn't otherwise have had to bear because of my avoidance...

"Grand Elder, this is my affair. I cannot hide."

Wu Wang chuckled.

Beside him, Ming Snake had already, with a knowing gesture, raised a hand and torn open Heaven and Earth. At the far end of the dimensional rift lay an island in the sea, where hundreds of cultivators stood ready in strict formation.

Wu Wang clasped his hands towards the Grand Elder and said, "If the Grand Elder is worried, then come with me. Lin Suqing and the others are in the Northern Wilderness under my mother's care, so I am naturally at ease."

The Grand Elder's gaze gradually stilled, and he laughed. "If the Sect Master commands, I shall naturally follow."

Several experts stepped forward simultaneously, but Wu Wang gestured for them to stop, instructing them to guard their tribal lands well, lest others come to cause trouble. This clearly sounded like a casually fabricated excuse. The few Human Domain experts didn't feel it was right to expose it, so they could only remain in the Northern Wilderness and await news from the Human Domain.

Upon reaching the teleportation Formation, Wu Wang did not say much. He entered the Formation with Ming Snake and the Grand Elder, transferring to the Western Wilderness.

Light and shadows flowed and shifted. The tearing force of traversing Heaven and Earth was negligible; almost in the blink of an eye, they had appeared in the Western Wilderness. Immediately, experts from the Four Seas Pavilion came to greet them and led Wu Wang to another teleportation Formation not more than a few dozen miles away.

—The two large Formations were spaced apart to reduce mutual interference.

However, en route, Wu Wang suddenly called over the person in charge of the Four Seas Pavilion from that area, handing two Jade Talismans to this person, before he, along with Ming Snake and the Grand Elder, broke away from the group.

Ming Snake tore open Heaven and Earth, and the three figures vanished rapidly from the Western Wilderness lands, leaving the group of Four Seas Pavilion experts utterly bewildered.

"Why would Wuwang Palace Lord do this?"

"Moving from the overt to the covert." An old man sighed softly, leaning on his staff. "Evidently, Wuwang Palace Lord suspects that some power within the Human Domain is secretly colluding. Hiding to investigate this matter is indeed a prudent move."

"It's strange, but the moment Wuwang Palace Lord appeared, we all felt a sense of reassurance."

"Perhaps this is the bearing of a future Human Emperor."

The experts chuckled among themselves, then immediately flew towards the respective Formations and dismantled them to prevent a surprise attack by Innate Gods and the loss of the Human Domain's vital treasures.

「Meanwhile.」

Wu Wang, with Ming Snake and the Grand Elder, appeared in a dense forest in the southern part of the Western Wilderness. The two humans and one god conferred for a moment. Wu Wang took out a communication Jade Talisman and contacted Xiao Jian Daoist. After repeated deliberation, they decided their destination would be the coast of the East Sea, the place where that Stele was first discovered.

「An hour later.」

Heaven Palace, within the Head Manager's Temple.

A gray figure appeared in the corner, reporting to the Head Manager that Wu Wangzi had deviated from his route midway during his return to the Human Domain.

"This fellow." The Head Manager chuckled softly and waved his hand slightly. The gray figure dissipated on its own.

He's finally willing to make a move.

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