[—Returning to the topic of the Hunyuan Shengmie Sect, when you visited them, you learned that the Hunyuan Shengmie Sect wasn't particularly powerful; it could only be considered a barely major sect.]

[There is only one Supreme Elder of the Third Realm: Elder Zhu, and he is rarely in the sect. He is not here at the time of your visit!]

Are you sure that the old man Zhu is Zhu Baowen?

Looking at the Supreme Elder's projected image of Yuan Power, you pondered, "I've seen this Elder Zhu before!"

The sect leader, a late-stage Celestial Being, smiled wryly: "This, this is indeed possible, because Elder Zhu's favorite thing to do is to travel in the lower realms, periodically returning to check if our sect is still intact, and then going to the war zone to crush some Innate Realm cultivators, with the Celestial Beings serving as the credits for their war achievements during this time."

[Under normal circumstances, those with innate or celestial abilities can apply to leave the combat zone after accumulating 200 or 3000 battle merits respectively. Applications are usually approved when the combat situation is not critical.]

[The Conqueror is different. Besides the basic requirement of 50,000 battle merits, a Conqueror must accumulate at least 10,000 more battle merits every hundred years. It's not a one-time achievement: even if you suddenly earn 100,000 battle merits, you still need to accumulate another 10,000 in the next hundred years.]

[But if the pressure isn't too great, and a holy war doesn't break out, the matter can be delayed for several hundred years before being settled all at once.]

The sect leader stated: "It's all the fault of the previous generation of sect leaders. They restricted the freedom of their young, talented disciples, keeping them practically bound to the sect. Even going out for a stroll is extremely difficult; the control is stricter than in a war zone."

"Isn't this a school?"

[Now, in the present day, only Zhu Baowen remains as the sole ruler of the Hunyuan Shengmie Sect. However, due to the control he faced in his youth, no one can stop him now, and he yearns for freedom.]

[This has led to the current state of the Hunyuan Life and Death Sect, where although there is a hegemon, it seems to lack one, and it can only be supported by a group of celestial beings struggling to survive.]

[Old Zhu's past - Understanding.]

In 2996, there were approximately four years remaining before the outbreak of the holy war.

"Oh my god, this is a spoiler?"

"Unfortunately, only I know about this right now..."

[But you weren't in the war zone; instead, you were traveling around. This year, you came to the territory of the Water Spirit Clan, right next to the Human Clan.]

[You present your human identity card. After the two water spirits verify its authenticity, they will grant you passage.]

After the test, you asked them, "Where is Xixi? I'm her friend."

The two beauties were taken aback, then glanced at your ID badge: "It's you!?"

As you enter the Land of Ten Thousand Waters, a friendly water spirit will guide you through a network of crisscrossing rivers and lakes.

[This place has all kinds of lakes: freshwater lakes, saltwater lakes, metallic liquid lakes, and toxic purple lakes.]

[It also has all kinds of rivers: still rivers, glacial rivers, boiling rivers, high-velocity rivers, and rivers suspended in the sky.]

Countless water creatures, large and small, of various shapes, frolic in the lakes and rivers, transforming into jellyfish or other shapes.

[You also saw a lifelike creature, its body indistinguishable from a real person. It had been infused with dyes and other substances, covering its flesh-colored surface, making it look almost identical to a real person!]

[Unfortunately, achieving that level is extremely difficult. Even water spirits at the third realm require repeated training. You're somewhat disappointed, as none of the water spirits you've encountered have seriously practiced this mimicry ability.]

[You enter the ancestral land of the Water Spirit, the most upscale reception center for foreign friends on the outskirts of Taiyi True Lake. After a short while, Xixiqi does not appear, but several of her "cousins" do.]

From the lively voices of "Xi Lala," "Xi Yu Yu," and "Xi Xi Bei," you learn that Xi Xi Qi's grandmother, "Wu Hu Hu," a legendary water queen, truly loves raising children.

Every few decades, a clump of tissue separates from its body, its structure is edited, and then it is discarded into the depths of Taiyi True Lake for further cultivation.

In other words, Xixiqi's "mother generation" has more than fifty water spirits, while its peers so far only include "Xilala" and a dozen or so others.

"Xi Xi is currently in meditation at the 'Source of Ascending Water,'" Xi Lala said. "But we'll come to receive you. We heard you..."

You didn't say anything, it was just simple happiness.

A moment later, another water spirit arrived: "Human Yun Shou, I am Xi Xi Qi's 'mother.' I heard what that child said; she herself caused you to be targeted by the demons. I am very sorry..."

"But it did say what you like."

[XiXi's weeping mother: "I can do it too."]

[You remain silent because you should know that you have never been a minotaur.]

What? Water sprites reproduce asexually, using fission to produce offspring?

[No fathers, all single mothers?]

That's all.

[...]

One month later.

[Through introductions from acquaintances, some more beautiful girls arrived, curious about what the human race's sacred body looked like.]

Two months later.

"Don't come any closer!"

Three months later.

The Water King, whimpering, noticed that his daughters seemed to be playing games with that human. Too lazy to care, he figured it was just relaxing; after all, they wouldn't get wet.

Four months later.

[Woohoo: "I don't understand why you kids get so addicted."]

Five months later.

[...]

Six months later.

Most water spirits get bored after one try and leave, but nearly ten water spirits are still enthusiastic about it.

[Even the Water King, Wuhuhu, consistently receives only mediocre reviews.]

It also reprimanded its six daughters and two granddaughters: "You should focus on spiritual practice. What's so addictive about this?"

"I play games with this human junior every day, but I've never gotten addicted."

Eight months later, Chu Heshang hurriedly came to see you.

"Senior Yun, I heard that those water spirits imprisoned you here and see you as a target for Xingnu!"

You (pulling up your trousers) go to see him: "Don't believe the rumors. Rumors stop with the wise. You don't need to come again."

Chu Heshang didn't believe it. He looked at your pale and exhausted face and asked, "Senior Yun, were you threatened by the higher-ups of the Water Spirit Clan?"

He cautiously transmitted his voice using his Yuan Power: "Even, it could be the Water King?"

"But it's alright, Senior Yun. I'm now the personal disciple of the Golden Supreme, I'll definitely be able to persuade them to release them!"

Yun Shou: "..."

No, has he seen this plot before?

Xi Xiqi did the same thing before, exposing Yun Jiu's sacred body on the spot.

The situation has reversed now, hasn't it?

So it's your turn, Chu Heshang, to rescue Yun Jiu from the oppression of the Water Spirit Clan, is that it?

[If you remain silent, and Chu Heshang shouts like Xi Xiqi, letting the other water spirits know that you've been bullied by the Water King's family of dozens of members for the past few months...]

For the sake of the Water Spirit Clan's reputation, they might not want to continue playing with you!

No, we can't let Chuhe succeed in his plan!