Shadow replied, "This is far too absurd. I would rather believe that the Great Daoist Brush Master came from a high-tier civilization." "That doesn't matter," Sheng Gujin replied. "Whether he's from a high-tier civilization or the real world, all those do not matter at all. He's currently under some restrictions, after all." "That man's become much more cautious. His aura is completely concealed. Unless he reveals himself, we won't be able to find him," said the Shadow. Sheng Gujin looked up at the deep void beyond the hall. "He's about to show up." "There's still one thing I don't understand... what is his true agenda?" After a pause, Sheng Gujin replied, "I think he's trapped in his own game. He wants to break free. But how does one break out of their own trap?" "I can't figure it out." Sheng Gujin shook her head and smiled faintly. "I'm too stupid for that." Shadow was speechless "Issue a bounty," Sheng Gujin said all of a sudden. Shadow frowned. "You're putting a bounty on him?" Sheng Gujin's tone was firm. "Put a bounty on Ye Guan." "Whoever kills Ye Guan shall receive twenty Ancestral Spiritual Veins and five divine items comparable to a Civilization Ancestral Realm expert." Shadow was left speechless once more. Sheng Gujin added, "Send an envoy to the Brahma Heaven Kingdom. Demand that they hand him over. If not... let them bear the consequences." Shadow was momentarily stumped. Offending the Brahma Heaven Kingdom? That was no trivial matter. However, Shadow decided not to question her orders; she simply bowed deeply and left. "Boil me another bowl of noodles." Sheng Gujin commanded. "Yes, Holy Lord." A voice echoed in reply. "Understood, Ruler Sui." Meanwhile, Ye Guan was instantly dumbfounded upon arriving in the Brahma Heaven Kingdom. The Brahma Heaven Kingdom was vast beyond comprehension. It was made up of 3,620 domains, and each domain was several times larger than the Guanxuan Universe. What was even more shocking was that every single domain lord was a Civilization Ancestor Realm elite. Although they weren't the strongest in the Main Universe, they were definitely at the top. 3,620 domains meant there were 3,620 Domain Lords, and that was just the surface-level strength of the Brahma Heaven Kingdom. When they finally reached the capital, Brahma Heaven City, Ye Guan was awestruck once more. Brahma Heaven City was not so much a city as it was a domain, and it was a massive one at that. Through his conversations with Xuan Ru, Ye Guan came to understand that within the Main Universe, domains were classified by size into the following: Provincial Domains, Continent Domains, and Starry Domains. The Brahma Heaven City was not just a Starry Domain—it was the largest Starry Domain in the entire Main Universe. Ye Guan tried to compare it to his Guanxuan Universe, and the scene of tossing a stone into the boundless sea popped up in his head. The Guanxuan Universe was so small. It was laughably small compared to the Brahma Heaven Kingdom! Even though he was mentally prepared, the reality still struck him hard. The gap was simply too great. Thankfully, he was prepared. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to digest the scene before him. Xuan Ru stared at him, feeling curious. Ye Guan was composed despite the grandeur. He is indeed no ordinary figure; he is clearly someone who has seen the world, Xuan Ru. Soon, he led Ye Guan down the bustling streets to a magnificent palace in the distance. A young man greeted them at the entrance. "Ah Qiu, go inform the Master." "Senior Brother, Master has already left." Xuan Ru frowned. "He left?" Ah Qiu nodded. "He left some instructions. You're in charge of everything now." Xuan Ru fell silent. He hadn't expected his master to take a step back. Without overthinking it, he smiled as he turned to Ye Guan and said, "Brother Ye, come with me." Ye Guan nodded and followed suit. They sat down inside a side hall, and a servant brought them tea, pouring a cup for them both. A refreshing fragrance filled the hall, making them feel as if even their souls were being cleansed. "Brother Ye, I just received news that Holy King Hall has issued a bounty for you. The reward is enormous. They've also sent diplomats to pressure our kingdom to hand you over. Tell me—what happened between you and Lady Sheng Gujin?" Ye Guan chuckled. "Nothing serious. Just some arguments here and there." Ye Guan held the cup to his lips as he took a sip of tea. "Brother Ru, I'm a straightforward man. I don't play games. Why don't we be honest with each other?" "I like that. Shall I begin, or will you?" Xuan Ru said with a smile "I'll go first! The reason Brahma Heaven Kingdom is treating me so well is obviously not because of my strength. It's because you want to break the game laid by Lady Sheng Gujin." Xuan Ru nodded. "That's right." "And your master handed this task to you as a test. This matter is extremely important to you, isn't it?" Once again, Xuan Ru nodded. Ye Guan leaned forward. "But right now, you're unsure. Not because you're incapable, but because you simply don't know enough. You don't know anything about Sheng Gujin's goals or my goals. "You don't even know what this 'game' is really about. Naturally, you don't know how to make your move." Xuan Ru looked at Ye Guan. "In your opinion, what should I do?" Ye Guan smiled. "Simple. Lower your guard. If you're suspicious of me, we can't cooperate. And real cooperation needs trust. Don't you think so?" "Brother Ye, I have to keep my guard up. I can't be sure if there's something more to this or not. Furthermore, I'm not even sure if you're sincere, or everything is just another act." Ye Guan placed his cup down. "Cooperation, at its core, is about mutual profits. Tell me, what are you after?" "And what can you offer me, Brother Ye?" "The Breaking Wall Scripture!" Xuan Ru was dumbfounded. "I'm not joking." Ye Guan said with a straight face. "Brother Ye, do you understand what that scripture is worth?" Ye Guan nodded. "Yes, and I'm really not joking." "Please, tell me more." "Let's think about this from another angle. With regards to Sheng Gujin's grand game, what is her final goal? She's not playing for fun. It's for profit. And for someone of her level, there are only two profits that matter." "The Breaking Wall Scripture!" Xuan Ru exclaimed. Xuan Ru looked at him, clearly hesitating. "What about the other?" "Unifying the Main Universe." Ye Guan replied. Xuan Ru shook his head. "She can't do that." "What if she has the entire Breaking Wall Scripture?" "If she has the entire scripture, she would be able to unify the Main Universe, wouldn't she?" Ye Guan said with a smile. Xuan Ru didn't reply, as Transcendent Ones definitely had that kind of power. "This entire situation is your master's test for you. If it's a test, then that means you have yet to fulfill your master's expectations." Xuan Ru smiled faintly. "Brother Ye, feel free to speak your mind." "Brother Ru, you're the one who chose to bring me back here. I'm sure of it." "The reason you're trying to win me over is that Lady Sheng Gujin had made a series of calculated moves against me. Hence, you wanted to do the opposite—go against her strategy, form allies with her target, and use that to disrupt her plans. "But we can't just disrupt her plans for the sake of it. We need to understand the game she's playing here? Only once we see the full picture can we find a way to obtain the greatest possible profit from it. "If we can walk away with the lion's share of the profits, so what if she ends up being the winner? Does it really matter when most of the profits are in our hands?" Xuan Ru glanced at Ye Guan. "So you're saying that I should not worry about the game but about the profits instead." "Exactly." Ye Guan nodded. "Represent yourself and the Brahma Heaven Kingdom. Profit is what ultimately matters." "But what if Sheng Gujin's scheme ends up harming the Brahma Heaven Kingdom?" "Brother Ru, no offense, but you're already a pawn." Ye Guan stood up. He walked up to the window and gazed at the vast, empty hall. "Brother Ru, with regards to your master giving you this task? On the surface, it looks like he is testing you. But in truth, it's a misdirection—for Sheng Gujin and everyone else. "Believe me, your master and the kingdom's ruler are already part of this game. And they're not dealing with a nobody like me..." Xuan Ru narrowed his eyes. "You mean, they're fighting the players?" Ye Guan nodded. "Back in the Sea of Life, Sheng Gujin obtained a piece of the Breaking Wall Scripture. She fought someone named the Great Daoist Brush Master. Ever heard of him?" Xuan Ru nodded. "My master mentioned him once." Ye Guan smiled. "Your master and the Brahma Heaven King are likely playing this game against him. As for the two of us? We're just pawns. That's why they have been ignoring us." Xuan Ru's expression darkened. "So, you have two choices here—play along on the surface but deceive them, and the rest of the world. When the game is over, there are only two possible results— they win and pat you on the back; they'll say a few kind words, but nothing will change. "They still won't take you seriously and will keep treating you as a child. The next possible outcome is their defeat. And you? You'll go down with them. You'll be buried with the board and the pieces..." "What can I do then?" "What you can do is step out of their shadows and forge your own path. To receive your master's true acknowledgement, you must surpass him." After a long silence, Xuan Ru shook his head. "Brother Ye, I can't and won't do that. I will report everything you said to my master and the king. Until then, you must stay here."' The divine senses of over a dozen mysterious elites abruptly locked onto Ye Guan.