Grandpa, I think I'm not pure anymore; Father, your child is unfilial.

Though Chen Yi had never met Zhang Kuang’s father or great-grandfather, he could instantly recognize them as descendants of Zhang Bairen’s lineage.

There was no helping it—their faces were far too distinctive, practically carbon copies of each other. Since neither wore a mask, it was impossible not to recognize them.

Watching them mutter among themselves before suddenly exclaiming, "We humbly obey His Majesty’s decree!" and then bolting away, Chen Yi immediately understood.

This wasn’t Wuji sending them to deliver gifts—they had sneaked down on their own and were only recalled after Wuji caught them!

"To think Wuji, with his extreme obsession with cleanliness, would actually dispatch them for a mission… It seems Senior Zhang Bairen’s work is truly impeccable. Not only has he infiltrated the enemy’s ranks, but he’s also earned Wuji’s deep trust!"

"If I hadn’t met Senior Zhang Bairen in person and known these two were deep-cover agents, I might’ve been completely fooled…"

Chen Yi shook his head, watching the Zhang family pair vanish into the distance, ultimately abandoning a bold idea he’d been considering.

Originally, he’d thought of discreetly slipping them some local specialties so they could stay in touch later.

But given Wuji’s extreme vigilance, the risk of exposure was too high—at least a fifty percent chance, if not thirty!

After all, Wuji was a cleanliness fanatic. The Zhang duo had been rolling around in the mortal world’s filth—of course they’d be subjected to a thorough scrubbing upon return.

In such circumstances, even the legendary "Veil of Heaven," which could deceive even a Celestial Emperor, might not be foolproof.

To protect these undercover comrades, it was best not to act recklessly.

And just as he predicted—

The moment the Zhang grandfather and grandson crossed back into the immortal realm, before they could even catch their breath, Wuji seized them and tossed them into the purest Celestial Spring, scrubbing them inside and out…

After three rounds of meticulous inspection, their physical forms were dissolved and reconstructed into pristine immortal bodies before they were officially allowed back into the immortal realm.

"Grandpa… I think I’ve been… defiled…" Zhang Aotian stared at his sparkling, fragrant new body, his expression full of melancholy.

Zhang Qian scratched his head, feeling his newly chiseled chest muscles. "No matter. We still have Little Kuang. The duty of continuing our lineage falls to him now—this single-line inheritance is too fragile!"

Zhang Aotian sighed bitterly. "That kid Kuang… By the time I ascended, he was already grown, yet he never gave me a grandchild before I left. That little rascal is hopelessly infatuated with some woman, showering her with attention and resources while neglecting his own cultivation. The worst part? She doesn’t even care for him—just strings him along like a dog, and the fool enjoys it!"

"If I scold him, he argues back. If I try to discipline him, his mother shields him. Tell me, what am I supposed to do with such a son?"

Hearing this, Zhang Qian’s eyes sharpened. "How did you raise him? Since when has our Zhang family produced such a lovesick fool? No—this isn’t love, this is being a simp!"

"This cannot stand!"

"Look at the ancient immortal clans—don’t they all thrive with abundant offspring? Our Zhang family was already small, and after that great war, only a handful remain. Now that our bloodline’s purity is compromised, Kuang is the only true heir left. We can’t let him keep acting foolish!"

"We’ll start selecting fertile immortal maidens for him now. The moment he ascends, if he doesn’t produce at least eighty great-grandchildren for me, he’ll regret it!"

"Exactly!" Zhang Aotian agreed vehemently. "The responsibility of expanding our lineage rests on Kuang’s shoulders. The main bloodline must not die out!"

"......"

Wuji: "......"

Are you two performing a duet just to mock me?

Blaming me for purifying your bloodline?

True, the bloodline of the Artifact Dao lineage is formidable, and under normal circumstances, it shouldn’t be tampered with. But what choice did I have?

Who knows what filth you picked up in the mortal realm?

Would you rather I didn’t scrub you clean?

"Ah, forget it. Though this trip yielded no results, their loyalty is commendable. No need to involve the Golden Scale Ancient Clan’s princess. Instead, assign them to the Archives Pavilion—there happen to be two sixth-grade librarian vacancies…"

Purple Tenuity Celestial Court.

Celestial Artifice Institute.

Zhang Kuang, currently serving as a second-grade celestial official and head of the institute, was bare-chested, forging a spiritual treasure with fiery enthusiasm when he suddenly shuddered.

"Tsk—"

"A chill while forging—ominous sign in the making…"

"Wait, something’s off. Why did I suddenly think of that old man?"

Clang!

He set down his hammer, a trace of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.

Stepping out of the smithy, he gazed at the azure sky, his vision stretching toward the ancestral lands of the Supreme Artifact Sect.

"Father… You haven’t met misfortune in the immortal realm, have you?"

"Probably not. That shudder felt more like… you cursing me from afar."

"Sigh… When I was young, you always told me to marry more and sire more children. I never understood your worries, stubbornly believing love should be ‘one heart, one life’…"

"It wasn’t until she begged me with tears to let her go that I realized—what damn love? She only wanted my status, my resources. She never loved me…"

"By the time I understood, it was too late. Our Zhang bloodline ended with me in that tribulation lightning. I’ve failed in my filial duty. You’re still spry, old man—how about giving me a little brother?"

Of the three unfilial acts, leaving no heir is the gravest. Zhang Kuang had known glory and despair, but his greatest regret was never wedding his beloved, forever haunted by the one he couldn’t have in youth. Childless to this day, he couldn’t face his ancestors!

Though he now held a high-ranking position as head of the Celestial Artifice Institute, the Zhang family tradition demanded an unbroken lineage. Without descendants, no matter how high his rank, he’d never earn a place in the ancestral hall!

Before the ancestors, he couldn’t even lift his head—relegated to the children’s table at gatherings!

Well, he was clearly a lost cause. But his father was still young—having ascended barely ten thousand years ago, his cultivation couldn’t possibly be so advanced as to hinder procreation.

So, his father could always start over with a new account!

"Sir, the Treasury Department has placed another batch of high-grade orders. Here’s the list for your review."

A celestial official approached, bowing as he presented a jade scroll.

"Tsk tsk, the Treasury must be planning something big. Our monthly quota is secured. Recall all craftsmen on leave—the Celestial Artifice Institute is going all out!"

Zhang Kuang’s eyes gleamed at the high-grade artifacts listed, all melancholy instantly forgotten.

Just now, I had nothing to do and let my mind wander. But now, work calls—why fret about descendants eight generations down the line? I, a Celestial directly appointed by the Heavenly Dao, a second-rank official of the Violet Firmament Immortal Court, the Head of the Celestial Engineering Bureau, wield the authority to approve the construction of heaven and earth, standardize the crafting of immortal artifacts, govern the sun, moon, and mountains, and lead the restoration of calamities!

The well-being of countless billions rests upon my shoulders!

How could I afford to dwell on trivial personal matters?

The greater good is what truly matters!

The power bestowed by the Heavenly Dao, the faith of all living beings, and the weight of this solemn responsibility leave no room for idle thoughts!