At the same time Chu Yuan made his move, Ji Xuanyuan’s Divine Phoenix Carriage was already hidden nearby.
As soon as they landed, Ji Xuanyuan asked, “City Lord Fang, is there a robbery occurring ahead?”
Fang Henian whispered, “Precisely! And Master Chu Yuan has already stepped out. Perhaps he is—wait?”
Before he could finish his sentence, he immediately perceived that the evil cultivators were falling one after another.
Ji Xuanyuan asked in confusion, “What happened?”
With her current Divine Sense, she could not yet perceive things from such a great distance.
Fang Henian hesitated. “Uh… to answer Your Highness, those evil cultivators were all killed instantly. Which powerhouse made a move?”
He was secretly amazed. Based on his perception, there was someone at the Essence Accumulation Realm among those evil cultivators. With such a lineup, even a cultivator of the same rank would find it troublesome. To have his subordinates killed so easily and force that hook-nosed cultivator to flee for his life?
This was a powerhouse at the peak of the Essence Accumulation Realm at the very least.
Upon learning the situation, Ji Xuanyuan was also curious. Before the two could think further, they saw a black-robed figure step out from the void.
***
Zhao Gongming pleaded, “Senior, I am Zhao Gongming. I wonder if you could save my fourth sister?”
‘What? Zhao Gongming?’
Chu Yuan was secretly shocked. ‘Isn’t this the God of Wealth from the *Investiture of the Gods*???’
‘No, no, no! It might just be someone with the same name.’
Right now, saving the person was more important!
Thinking of this, Chu Yuan crouched down and raised his hand to condense a gentle sphere of spiritual energy, slowly infusing it into the fourth sister’s body.
A moment later, the girl coughed softly and opened her eyes in a daze. “Brother?”
“Sister!”
Tears welled up in Zhao Gongming’s eyes. The second and third sisters, no longer restrained by the evil cultivators, also stumbled over and hugged their fourth sister tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
After a long while, Zhao Gongming knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily to the black-robed man before him. “The grace of Senior saving our lives is something I will never forget! May I ask for Senior’s great name, so that I may repay you in the future!”
Chu Yuan waved his hand. “There is no need. It was just a small effort! May I ask what the relationship between you and these three is?”
Zhao Gongming replied with a smile, “These are my three sisters: Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao!”
Chu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.
‘Holy crap? The Sanxiao Goddesses? What is going on?’
‘The God of Wealth and the Sanxiao Goddesses? These are all formidable figures from the *Investiture of the Gods*!’
According to Chu Yuan’s memory, the God of Wealth was so powerful that he could leave the Chan Sect helpless, even forcing the Deputy Sect Leader, Randeng Daoren, to avoid his sharp edge. As for the Sanxiao Goddesses, their Nine Bends Heaven-Confusing Array could capture the Twelve Golden Immortals, destroying thousands of years of their cultivation in an instant.
‘But why would they appear here in the Realm of True Emotions? And why is their cultivation so low?’
He scanned them with his Divine Sense.
Zhao Gongming had extraordinary bones, and his body was faintly surrounded by purple Qi. He was clearly an Innate Dao Body.
Yunxiao was steady and reserved, with a clear spiritual platform—she was a rare Mysterious Ice Spiritual Root.
Although Qiongxiao was taciturn, a sharp light occasionally flashed in her eyes; she should possess a Heart of Wisdom.
Even the youngest, Bixiao, was not simple…
Chu Yuan was secretly astonished. ‘With this kind of talent… there can be no mistake! It must be them!!!’
‘I remember that in the legends, it was never mentioned where the God of Wealth and his sisters came from before they attained immortality. Could it be that they haven’t joined the Jie Sect yet???’
With this thought in mind, Chu Yuan spoke tentatively, “May I ask… where are you all from?”
Zhao Gongming was stunned for a moment, but he still answered honestly, “To answer Senior, we are from Qingshi Town outside Chengtang Guan. We have been farmers for generations and accumulated some wealth. Our ancestors were considered local landlords, but we are just a small family, not worth mentioning.”
‘Outside Chengtang Guan???’
Chu Yuan continued to ask, “Is there anyone in your family who practices cultivation?”
Zhao Gongming nodded. “Our family has some heritage. The cultivation levels of us four siblings are all thanks to the excellent guidance of our mother, who was in the military.”
As he spoke, he was very puzzled. “Senior, I wonder why you are asking this?”
Hearing this, Chu Yuan fell into deep thought. ‘No matter what, these four siblings are definitely not ordinary people. I must find a way to make friends with them! I might need them in the future. But how can I befriend them? Saving their lives is not enough…’
‘Oh, right!’
Chu Yuan’s eyes darted around, and he then said, “To tell you the truth, you and I share a fate from a past life. Today, I calculated that you would definitely face a tribulation, so I rushed here to help!”
“Huh? A fate from a past life?”
Zhao Gongming was stunned. Yunxiao and Qiongxiao looked at each other in surprise. Even Bixiao, who was in a daze, opened her eyes and looked at this strangely speaking black-robed man in confusion.
In his doubt, Zhao Gongming was the first to ask, “Senior, what do you mean by this?”
Chu Yuan did not explain. Thinking of the story of Rulai Buddha giving a pagoda to Li Jing, he waved his hand, and three streaks of golden light flew out from his Black Ring.
The first streak turned into twenty-four round golden beads, which were worn around Zhao Gongming’s neck.
The second streak turned into an Array Disk and appeared in Yunxiao’s arms.
The third streak turned into a pair of golden scissors and landed in Qiongxiao’s hand.
Just by sensing the aura emanating from within, the siblings knew that these were no ordinary treasures. In response, Zhao Gongming and his sisters were even more confused. “Senior???”
Chu Yuan smiled and replied, “Child, the one around your neck is the Sea-Settling Divine Pearl String, which can manifest heaven and earth and suppress fate. As for the other two, they are the Nine Bends Heaven-Confusing Array and the Golden Dragon Scissors, which can protect your path in cultivation.”
Zhao Gongming’s heart pounded. “Senior, this—this is too precious! We were already saved by you, how can we accept your treasures!”
Chu Yuan shook his head and said, “My mind is made up. Just consider these treasures as something I am lending to you for the time being. If we have a chance to meet again in the future, I will have to trouble you for help!”
Zhao Gongming and his sisters were overwhelmed by the favor. “Benefactor, what are you saying! Not only did you save us, but you also lent us such treasures? This is like giving us a second life! If there are any orders in the future, we will go through fire and water without hesitation! These treasures are too precious; you should take them back!”
Chu Yuan waved his hand. “Brother Gongming, stop hesitating! I have already said that the treasures are only lent to you. When our fate ends, I will naturally take them back. I do not wish to repeat myself a third time.”
Seeing that the black-robed man seemed about to get angry, Zhao Gongming struggled for a moment before finally nodding. “This… alright! Then we will thank Senior for the kindness of lending these treasures!”
In response, the youngest, Bixiao, puffed out her cheeks and looked at Chu Yuan piteously. “Senior, my brother and sisters all have treasures… what about me???”
Chu Yuan’s mouth twitched. ‘This little girl… is really not polite.’
Zhao Gongming quickly scolded her, “Fourth Sister!!!”
“It’s fine!”
Although Chu Yuan felt a bit of a sting in his heart for the treasures he had given away, his determination was firm when he thought of the future achievements of these siblings.
‘God of Wealth! Sanxiao Goddesses! If we don’t owe each other anything, how can we remember each other in the future? Anyway, the System has given me many treasures. You have to give a little to get a lot. Moreover, I am only “lending” them; I can take them back when necessary.’
Chu Yuan had a premonition that meeting these four today was definitely a great opportunity that could not be missed.
To this end, he summoned a small Jade Talisman from the Black Ring and handed it over. “This talisman can protect your life three times. Keep it safe.”
Bixiao’s eyes lit up. She took it with both hands and smiled sweetly. “Thank you, big brother!”
Chu Yuan sighed inwardly. ‘Although this Jade Talisman is not as precious as the first three treasures, it is still a good item produced by the System…’
Zhao Gongming’s expression turned solemn, and he cupped his fists in a deep bow. “Rest assured, Benefactor! We will not fail your trust. Once we succeed in our cultivation, we will certainly repay you! May I ask who the Benefactor is?”
He suddenly stopped, not knowing how to address the black-robed man in front of him. Master? Benefactor? Senior?
Chu Yuan waved his hand as he walked away. “There is no need to ask for my name. With these treasures as tokens, if we are destined, we will meet again.”
With that, his figure flashed and disappeared into the morning mist of the rising sun.
Zhao Gongming stood dazed on the spot, holding the twenty-four golden pearls around his neck.
Yunxiao whispered, “Brother… who on earth was that Senior?”
Zhao Gongming shook his head and said after a long time, “Perhaps… we really do share a fate from a past life!”
After saying that, he bowed deeply again in the direction where Chu Yuan had disappeared. The three Sanxiao sisters also followed suit.
Not long after, the second sister supported her brother as he stood up. The four siblings leaned on each other and walked step by step toward the giant city in the distance.
But before they had walked ten miles, they were stopped.
A middle-aged man at the lead introduced himself, “I am Fang Henian, the City Lord of Xuanji City! By order of Her Highness the Crown Prince, I invite you four young friends to come and have a talk!”
Zhao Gongming was stunned. “Her Highness the Crown Prince? The First Princess???”