The Eternal Venerable didn't know about the matters between the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction, but he wasn't curious about the conversation between Xia Yi and Ya Li.
With Ya Li's cultivation level, it would actually be strange if she hadn't absorbed faith power.
"In the eyes of the common people, we are lofty and exalted. But in the Divine Realm's eyes, we're nothing more than beggars kneeling for scraps—just for a bit of faith power. Isn't that pathetic?" the Eternal Venerable said.
"The Sea God takes seventy percent, then the Haotian Venerable and Sea Dragon Venerable each take ten percent. That only leaves ten percent, of which seventy percent gets siphoned off to the Divine Realm. In the end, we're only left with three percent—and that's just three percent of the elves' faith power. And you're saying that's not pathetic?" Xia Yi and the others were speechless. Were all the Venerables of the Tianxuan Continent this mentally resilient?
Or had they just gotten used to it?
Facing the strange looks from Xia Yi and the others, the Eternal Venerable wasn't angry and simply said, "I've already promised all I can. If you want to stay, stay. If not, then leave."
"There's one more thing I want to know. How long until the Sea Dragon Venerable and the Haotian Venerable ascend to godhood?" Xia Yi asked after thinking about it. Leaving wasn't an option.
Begging on their knees for just three percent of the faith power? Also out of the question. Leng Yaozhu had given Xia Yi and Ya Li the task of taking everything.
"Logically, they should have completed their godhood inheritance several years ago. But for some reason, they've been stuck at the last step," the Eternal Venerable replied, clearly puzzled. It wasn't like they were forming a god position themselves—they were simply inheriting one. The Sea Dragon Venerable and Haotian Venerable were chosen by the Sea God himself and had prepared for years. In theory, inheriting a mere third-rank god position shouldn't be difficult at all.
Yet they were stuck at the final step and couldn't ascend.
"Weren't you the one who passed the god positions to them? Even you don't know what's going on?" Xia Yi became even more curious.
"I told you, after I lost my god position, I couldn't leave the Eternal Forest. How would I know what's happening with them?" the Eternal Venerable said with a bitter smile.
"So based on what you're saying, they could have ascended long ago but just don't want to?" Xia Yi asked again.
"At present, that seems to be the most likely explanation," the Eternal Venerable said, still puzzled. He couldn't understand why, with the opportunity for godhood right in front of them, the Sea Dragon Venerable and the Haotian Venerable were doing nothing.
"Maybe they're hiding something. Xia Yi, stay here in the Eternal Forest with Yuanen and Xinglan. I'll go meet them and find out what they're up to," Ya Li said, turning to Xia Yi. "I have a feeling they're keeping secrets."
"Will it be dangerous?" Xia Yi asked, slightly worried.
"I'm going alone. Unless a second-rank god shows up, no one can stop me if I want to leave. If I brought Yuanen and Xinglan, they'd just hold me back," Ya Li said confidently.
In truth, bringing Xia Yi would be the safest option. With him present, if they encountered an unsolvable problem, they could just summon powerful soul beasts for help.
But Ya Li didn't feel safe leaving Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan alone in the Eternal Forest.
She wasn't naïve enough to fully trust the Eternal Venerable and the elf race after just one meeting.
"Take this," Xia Yi said. As he spoke, his right hand suddenly surged with a layer of blue-green light. It was filled with a powerful life aura, and when it appeared, the surrounding air instantly filled with vibrant life energy.
In the next moment, a fully green, crystal-like glove—like it was carved from jade—appeared on Xia Yi's hand.
It radiated an extremely pure energy. In terms of richness and purity of life force, it could even rival the Gold of Living Beings.
"Is that a divine artifact? And a life-attribute one at that." Even the Eternal Venerable's eyes lit up. The intense vitality made even his advanced cultivation and physique feel rejuvenated and comfortable.
One had to understand—he had once reached god-level cultivation. If he could feel a reaction, that meant the glove Xia Yi was wearing was definitely a divine-level artifact.
The green glow shimmered like ripe emerald fruit. Wearing it made Xia Yi feel incredibly refreshed.
"Life's Praise," Ya Li's pupils shrank. As a former head of the Sea God's Pavilion, she clearly recognized the artifact.
Life's Praise—a legacy artifact of Yu Guanzhi's family, a high-ranking general of the Sun-Moon Federation's military. Forged in ancient times by a powerful figure from the purest life crystals.
It was said that over a ton of life crystals was used to forge it, and only the core essence was refined. It had immense compatibility with all beings and was an exceptional support-type divine artifact, especially helpful for soul master cultivation. Anything it touched—creature or object—would feel a deep sense of connection.
In the past, with Life's Praise in hand, even an ordinary person could safely walk through the Star Dou Great Forest—as long as they didn't encounter an intelligent 100,000-year soul beast. Regular ones would consider the holder a friend.
"Xier traded it from Yu Guanzhi for three sets of four-word battle armor. It's not very useful to me, so I might as well give it to you," Xia Yi said, removing Life's Praise and handing it to Ya Li.
Divine artifacts also had tiers, and Life's Praise was among the most basic ones.
It wasn't particularly useful in Xia Yi's hands.
Mu Xi had exchanged it for Xia Yi to enhance the Hammer of Creation—with the goal of elevating both hammers to divine status.
Still, it was a divine artifact.
And a gift from Mu Xi.
So Xia Yi had been reluctant to melt it down and had kept it instead.
Now, he just handed it over to Ya Li.
Only in her hands could Life's Praise reach its full potential.
Worst case, he'd just go home and apologize properly to Mu Xi.
With her personality, she probably wouldn't get mad… right?
"In that case, I won't be polite," Ya Li said cheerfully, taking Life's Praise and immediately wearing it on her fair, delicate right hand without hesitation.
A gift from her man—why should she be polite?
Especially when it was Life's Praise, a divine artifact that matched her perfectly.
With this and her Sky Piercing Spear, she could retreat safely even from a second-rank god.
"Alright, I'm off. You, Yuanen, and Xinglan just wait for me here," she said. Under the Eternal Venerable's astonished gaze, Ya Li turned Xia Yi's head, planted a kiss on his right cheek, and vanished.
"One divine artifact for a kiss… not a bad trade," Xia Yi murmured, touching his cheek with a goofy smile.
"What's going on between you two?" the Eternal Venerable asked, looking between Xia Yi and the blushing Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan.
"She's one of my wives. What's wrong with her kissing me?" Xia Yi replied matter-of-factly.
"One of your wives?" The Eternal Venerable clearly didn't believe it. "She'd be into you? I bet she's just playing around."
Was this a joke? Ya Li's strength was near godhood.
To reach her level, you needed more than talent—you needed luck and opportunities too.
Even if Xia Yi was talented, there were countless geniuses in the world. How many could actually reach Ya Li's level?
Besides, Xia Yi, Yuanen Yehui, and Ye Xinglan looked like they were in their early twenties. Ya Li, though she appeared the same age and radiated a refined beauty, had the grace and maturity only an experienced woman could possess.
The Eternal Venerable had seen countless people in his time as the Tianxuan Continent's plane lord.
Women like Ya Li—so lofty and powerful—if they were choosing a husband, would naturally choose someone with matching strength, status, and age.
Only lonely housewives looking for excitement would pick someone like Xia Yi—a sweet, innocent pretty boy—for fun.
They'd never take it seriously.
And based on Xia Yi's tone, he had more than one wife?
The Eternal Venerable couldn't help but glance at Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan.
"Our personal matters are none of your concern. Our love runs deep and true," Xia Yi said, giving the Venerable a sidelong glance and grinning. "Besides, even if I am being used, I don't mind."
The Eternal Venerable's eyelid twitched violently. Was he worried Xia Yi would get played?
No! He was worried Xia Yi would lose his artifact, okay?
Sure, based on Ya Li's looks and strength, Xia Yi didn't seem to be at a loss.
But that was if Xia Yi didn't give up anything.
Now, if Ya Li just walked away after taking Life's Praise, wouldn't Xia Yi be the one losing big?
"Senior, they are truly husband and wife," Yuanen Yehui and Ye Xinglan quickly stepped in to clarify when they saw the Venerable still doubtful.
"Forget it, your personal business has nothing to do with me," the Eternal Venerable said, shaking his head. "I've already asked the elves to prepare a place for you. I'll have someone take you there