Bai Qianzhi asked, "Do you want me to be real?"
Ming Zhitian glanced at her again. "Yes, you'll follow me from now on. While I'm not a good person, I'm certainly not the worst."
...
The Undead were driven back to the Demon Realm—
Ming Zhitian, the Immortal Cultivation Divine Emperor, was once again recognized. But he had lost most of his friends and family. What was the point of vanity?
"Disciple Yuan Yi pays respects to the Grandmaster Sect Leader!" Yuan Yi knelt on one knee.
Elder Chang Jiang was still in a weakened state. "Yuan Yi, it's been a long time. I'm old and can't move easily. You may rise on your own."
"Thank you, Grandmaster Sect Leader!" Yuan Yi quickly got up.
Upon learning that Ming Zhitian's family had been lost, Yuan Yi volunteered, "Sect Leader, since the affairs of the Ancient Cultivation Realm are mostly settled, why don't you return to the Mechanism Sect with me to consolidate? It will be your new home."
"The Mechanism Sect?" Ming Zhitian shook his head and took out an object. "This is the Divine Mechanism Token. I have no intention of returning to the Mechanism Sect with you. I'm not familiar with it there and don't wish to get involved."
"But..." Yuan Yi said, "But you are the successor chosen by Grandmaster Sect Leader Chang Jiang!"
"Successor?" Ming Zhitian disagreed. "It could be me, or it could be you."
Yuan Yi shook his head and refused, "This disciple dares not bear such a heavy responsibility. I hope the Sect Leader will find someone else."
Ming Zhitian felt speechless. He didn't know anyone in the Mechanism Sect except Yuan Yi. "I, as the 1,009th successor of the Mechanism Sect, now entrust the Divine Mechanism Token to you and appoint you, Yuan Yi, as the 1,010th Sect Leader of the Mechanism Sect."
"This..." Yuan Yi was instantly stunned.
Ming Zhitian said seriously, "What? Do you not obey the Sect Leader's command?"
Yuan Yi had no choice but to take the Divine Mechanism Token. "Disciple Yuan Yi respectfully obeys the Sect Leader's order."
Ming Zhitian nodded. "Go back."
Before leaving, Yuan Yi gave Ming Zhitian a guiding artifact. "This disciple accepts the acting Sect Leader position. If the Sect Leader ever wishes to visit the Mechanism Sect, this disciple will lead all members of the Mechanism Sect to greet you and await your arrival at any time."
He then turned to Elder Chang Jiang. "Grandmaster Sect Leader, aren't you returning with me?"
Elder Chang Jiang waved his hand, acting like a hands-off manager. "Since Zhitian values your talent and has appointed you to lead the Mechanism Sect, I hope you will bring great prosperity to it in the future. I am old and my movements are inconvenient. I wish to enjoy my twilight years and will not be returning."
...
Ming Zhitian rescued Fei Jiang and Yiyi from the Heavenly Prison of the Immortal Emperor's Mansion. They were indeed capable subordinates chosen by Ming Zhitian, refusing to yield even unto death. Despite their bodies being covered in scars, they believed Ming Zhitian would return one day, and indeed, they waited.
Fei Jiang and Yiyi were responsible for arranging the accommodations for Bai Qianzhi, Hong Suantian Emperor, and the others at the Suohai Pavilion.
For some reason, Ming Zhitian had been feeling restless lately. A phantom figure, or rather, an ethereal form, kept appearing in his mind. She had appeared in his dreams.
"Xingchen..."
Ming Zhitian took out a pair of Immortal Eyes and used the "Divine An Eternal Life Art" to replace his own. His gaze gradually became golden-purple and dazzling, his spirit became powerful, his divine sea was replenished, and his divine sense increased by ten thousand points.
He imprinted all the divine tribulation-level cultivation techniques of the ancient Immortal Emperors into his core, even gaining knowledge of the Gate of Time, which could immunize against all damage.
As dusk deepened, his restlessness grew. Ming Zhitian decided to go out.
He searched the Ten Wastelands, the Demonic Sect, and the Four Seas and Five Pavilions. Even with his Immortal Eyes activated, he found no information about Empress Xingchen.
Ming Zhitian couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. "Everyone died because of me. Xingchen... Madam... even you... are you going to abandon me too?"