The skies above Tian Yuan's realm shimmered with tranquil light. Seven suns glowed faintly in the distance, orbiting around the golden divine tree that anchored the entire divine space. Every leaf shimmered with a faint pulse, as though it carried the heartbeat of creation itself. The newly built divine manor stood proudly on the hill—gleaming white stones carved with runes of purity, veins of gold energy running across the walls. Birds with divine feathers soared through the open air, while celestial beasts grazed in radiant fields below.
Tian Yuan stood quietly before his divine pond, his reflection rippling in the luminous water. Behind him, his seven generals stood in silence. The golden dragon general, Yulong, coiled majestically around a floating peak. Its golden eyes burned with both reverence and pride.
> "My Lord, the intruder you saved still slumbers," Yulong spoke, its voice deep and resonant like thunder over calm water.
"His aura is stable. Yet… the divine seal around him resists even my presence."
Tian Yuan nodded slowly. "Let him rest. The realm itself knows what to do. If he survived the cleansing, then perhaps fate has not finished with him."
He turned toward the horizon, where divine mist rolled endlessly like waves over an infinite ocean. His mind, however, drifted to another world—the mortal realm.
---
A Glimpse of the Mortal Realm
Far beneath the celestial veil, the mortal continent continued to change. His disciples, those who once learned under his humble roof, had grown strong—each leading their own sect, their own following. The land they rebuilt after the war now flourished with life and order.
Lian'er, his first disciple, stood on the balcony of the newly built Celestial Fields Sect. Her robes fluttered in the mountain wind, and her gaze wandered toward the heavens. Behind her, cultivators trained with fierce determination.
> "Master…" she whispered softly, "You said not to rely on you… but still, I hope you're watching."
She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the faint pulse of the divine mark Tian Yuan had left before his ascension. It glowed faintly, like a heartbeat in her soul.
---
Return to the Divine Realm
Back in the divine fields, Tian Yuan's system chimed in, breaking the serene silence.
> [Ding! System Notification]
Realm stability: 99.8%
System Core Consciousness: Awake and slightly confused… wait, why are we working again? Oh right, divine duties!
Tian Yuan's eyebrow twitched. Ever since the system's upgrade, it had developed a personality that was both sarcastic and oddly cheerful.
> "System," he muttered, "you sound… livelier than usual."
[Ding! That's because I'm fully awakened now, host! Version 3.0: Sentient, sarcastic, and slightly lazy. Please don't uninstall me.]
The corners of Tian Yuan's lips lifted faintly. "Uninstall you? You're part of me now."
> [Aww, that's the nicest threat I've ever heard.]
Before he could respond, the divine wind stirred violently. Yulong raised its head abruptly, eyes glowing with divine light.
> "My Lord, something approaches from the far boundary!"
---
The Intruder's Awakening
At the far edge of the realm—beyond the emerald forest and the crystalline lakes—an old formation trembled. The protective mist parted slowly, revealing a man lying on the glowing ground. His robes were torn, soaked with blood and divine essence. His body radiated power—ancient, heavy, and yet… unstable.
His eyes opened—pale gold, filled with pain and confusion.
> "Where… am I?" he rasped.
Immediately, divine runes awakened beneath him. Layers of protective light circled around, scanning every fragment of his being.
> [Ding! Unauthorized entity detected.]
Initiating… cleansing protocol.
Wait… host, his soul signature matches ancient divine lineage!]
Tian Yuan appeared silently, his presence alone bending the divine light around him. His expression was calm, unreadable.
> "You've crossed into my domain," Tian Yuan said softly.
"Few beings can do that."
The injured god looked up, trembling. "I… I didn't mean to. My realm… was destroyed. They came without warning… the Outer Serpents. I barely escaped through the void."
Tian Yuan studied him quietly. His aura was faintly cracked, like glass that had survived an explosion. "Then you've run into my web," he said simply, "but fear not—I do not hunt the wounded."
> "You're… a god?"
"No," Tian Yuan replied, eyes faintly glowing with starlight. "I'm just a farmer who guards his field."
---
The Divine Test
The system's voice rang in his mind again.
> [Ding! Side Quest Unlocked!]
'Shelter the Wandering God.'
Reward: One Divine Formation Upgrade, One Realm Expansion, and maybe a nap for the system.]
Tian Yuan sighed. "You're getting lazier by the day."
> [Correction: I'm delegating, host. Delegation is divine efficiency.]
He waved his hand gently, and roots of light grew from the ground, wrapping the wounded god. Healing runes bloomed across the air like floating petals.
Yulong coiled beside him. "My Lord, are you sure it is wise to harbor him? What if his enemies trace his presence here?"
Tian Yuan's gaze never shifted. "If they can find this place, they deserve to enter. My realm will decide whether they stay."
Yulong bowed. "As you command."
---
Divine Reflection
As the winds calmed, Tian Yuan walked through his realm once more. Every breath of divine energy resonated with harmony. In the fields, divine herbs sparkled like constellations. The five divine beasts grazed peacefully each one once feral, now intelligent and loyal.
A group of humanoid spirits beings that evolved from his animals worked nearby. They cultivated divine crops, harvested fruits of light, and guarded the sacred springs. When he passed, they knelt respectfully.
> "Our Lord blesses the soil again," they murmured.
"May every root grow in His name."
Tian Yuan smiled faintly. Despite all his power, the peace of his fields meant more to him than any throne.
> "I am not a ruler," he thought quietly. "I am a keeper. A farmer. I plant, and the universe grows."
---
Fate Stirring
In the mortal world, the winds shifted. Lian'er felt her mark throb suddenly. Across the realms, other disciples felt the same. Somewhere, threads of destiny began to vibrate—connecting the mortal and divine once more.
At that same moment, in the far corners of the heavens, other gods began to whisper.
> "A new power has emerged."
"A realm unregistered in the divine records."
"Someone is building quietly… beyond sight."
But Tian Yuan, high above, stood beneath his divine tree, unaware—or perhaps deliberately unconcerned. The golden dragon slept nearby, the system hummed lazily, and the air smelled of new life.
> "Even gods need peace," he murmured.
"Let the realms shake. My fields will still bloom."
End of Chapter 74 (The Weight of a Realm)