The core territory of the Moluo Sacred Tower.
Five-colored radiance spilled in all directions, surrounded by countless immortal caves.
Within these caves, figures of Yin Gods sat upright, either in secluded cultivation or refining pills.
The closer a cave was to the core, the stronger the expert dwelling within. Those bordering the central cave were without exception Mythological figures.
These caves clustered together like a colossal honeycomb.
At the very epicenter lay the immortal cave of Heavenly Venerable Mochi.
Qi Yuan looked up and cast a glance at the stars in the firmament.
"Fortunately, the Gate of Ultimate Principle severed all connections. Otherwise... if Heavenly Venerable Mochi had attuned himself to his stellar Venerable Position, everyone in the Moluo Clan would have known he was in battle."
Unlike Yang Gods born of a Great Tribulation, Yang Gods like Heavenly Venerable Mochi, who projected across the heavens and possessed their own Venerable Positions, could channel the full power of their celestial stars into their own bodies when fighting with all their might.
Doing so brought a massive surge in strength.
However, their personal star would blaze with light and heat, an anomaly that any reasonably attentive Yang God Heavenly Venerable would immediately notice.
Furthermore, if a Yang God Heavenly Venerable perished, their starry projection in the heavens would lose its luster and ultimately fade into oblivion.
For that very reason, Qi Yuan had spared a remnant of Heavenly Venerable Mochi's soul.
Stopping before Heavenly Venerable Mochi's immortal cave, Qi Yuan halted his footsteps.
Ahead of him stretched a thin, translucent membrane—the core boundary of the Moluo Sacred Tower.
This membrane was directly linked to the Moluo Sacred Tower's Creation Treasure.
Consequently, no outside Yang God could enter without permission from a Yang God of the Moluo Clan.
"Grandson, hurry on out! I'm popping into your house to grab some quilts and a toothbrush for you!"
Qi Yuan summoned Heavenly Venerable Mochi.
Naturally, he only brought him out a tiny sliver, letting the elder's divine soul make the briefest contact with the membrane.
Having cleared the verification, Qi Yuan swaggered straight into Heavenly Venerable Mochi's immortal cave.
"What a pity. All the best stuff was ruined."
Qi Yuan had no time to mourn the treasures destroyed in the earlier fight; right now, Heavenly Venerable Mochi's private cave awaited him.
"So many treasures! As expected of my white moonlight!"
All manner of dharma artifacts and medicinal pills were laid out before him, each of immense value.
Even a single pill from this collection, if placed in the outer reaches of the Moluo Sacred Tower, would be enough to drive all the cultivators into a frenzied bloodbath.
Yet Qi Yuan cared little for such things.
He relied on his own diligent efforts and brilliant intellect to cultivate, rarely leaning on external crutches like pills.
"Splendid! Dozens of divine arts—that translates into dozens of Stellar Golden Cores!"
Qi Yuan's eyes shone brightly.
What mattered most to him were cultivation arts.
"My white moonlight is truly loaded! Absolutely fantastic!"
"A pity, though. If my white moonlight loved me and willingly offered up everything with an open heart, that would have been even better."
Qi Yuan sighed wistfully.
The Buddha Realm, for instance, had been exceptionally generous, gathering and presenting all its divine arts directly to him.
Still, Qi Yuan understood that a white moonlight was only a white moonlight because it remained unattainable.
If his white moonlight reciprocated his feelings and voluntarily handed over every technique, how could Qi Yuan bring himself to kill them?
Wouldn't he feel guilty during the deed?
"The only minor flaw is that two of these divine arts overlap with the ones given to me by the Buddha Realm."
After looting every art in sight, Qi Yuan turned his gaze toward a corner.
"Heaven-Traversing Jade!"
His eyes lit up once more.
[Heaven-Traversing Jade: capable of piercing dense barriers to ascend to the Nine Heavens.]
Five pieces of Heaven-Traversing Jade settled into Qi Yuan's hands, a gleam of delight surfacing in his eyes.
"I can finally ascend to the Upper Realm."
Working as a laborer in the Black Demon Abyss for ten thousand years might only yield a single piece of Heaven-Traversing Jade, yet here he had obtained five in one breath.
"Still, I can't just ascend right away."
Ascending directly from the Moluo Sacred Tower would place him inside the Demonic Abyss.
A lone cultivator suddenly popping up in the Upper Realm would inevitably draw scrutiny from all sides.
Qi Yuan was smuggling himself in, after all; reckless action was dangerous.
"Fortunately... there's this!"
Qi Yuan's gaze fell upon a written decree, his eyes growing profound.
This decree had been issued to Heavenly Venerable Mochi by the Council of Elders of the Moluo Clan, ordering him to the Upper Realm to stand guard.
Within the Upper Realm's Demonic Abyss, the Moluo Clan was currently waging war against the Moon Goddess Palace.
Nearly twenty Yang Gods of the Moluo Clan were stationed there on guard duty—a force representing roughly a third of the clan's overall strength.
"In a month, I can head up there under the identity of Heavenly Venerable Mochi and keep chumming the waters above."
"Before that, though, I need to do a bit more fishing down here!"
At present, Qi Yuan's identity was exceptionally delicate.
If his movements were exposed, it might provoke that paramount figure in Taihuang Palace to strike and annihilate him.
Right now, he had no idea how terrifying a Yang God in the realm of Great Ultimate Reason truly was, and he lacked the confidence to clash head-on with that entity.
In short, he still needed to keep a low profile.
"An invitation to the Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference?"
Qi Yuan's gaze fell upon a slip of paper, curiosity flitting through his eyes.
A moment later, a massive influx of information flooded into his mind.
"Any Yang God can attend?"
"Can a Purple Mansion cultivator like me join in the fun?"
"Doesn't look like Purple Mansions are explicitly barred!"
Qi Yuan grew quite intrigued by this Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference.
As the name implied, it was a grand gathering where all Yang Gods discussed the Dao.
Yang Gods at the peak of the Great Heavenly Position would sit before the Wall of Ultimate Principle to contemplate their own paths and grasp ultimate principles.
Experts already in the realm of ultimate reason could also use the opportunity to deepen their comprehension and break through to the realm of Great Ultimate Reason.
Of course, that was the ideal outcome.
Achieving such a breakthrough was extraordinarily difficult.
Otherwise, the immortal realm would not have gone countless years without seeing a new expert in the realm of Great Ultimate Reason emerge.
The most recent to do so had been the Buddha Realm's Great Sun Radiant Buddha.
Yet the Great Sun Radiant Buddha had perished almost immediately upon his breakthrough.
This had fostered deep-seated resentment within the Ultimate Principle Society toward Taihuang Palace.
"Why does this Ultimate Principle Society only invite Yang Gods and not Purple Mansions? Do Purple Mansions not deserve to comprehend ultimate principles? Alas, such prejudice!"
Qi Yuan sighed.
Reality hadn't set any rule stating Purple Mansions were forbidden from grasping ultimate principles.
Now that he had an invitation in hand, he decided that if time permitted, he would go join the spectacle and see if he could fathom an ultimate principle or two.
"Right then, back to chumming the waters and catching more fish!"
After finishing his sweep of the cave, Qi Yuan left behind an inflatable doll disguised as Heavenly Venerable Mochi. In the next breath, his figure vanished into thin air.
The fishing had to go on.
With so many white moonlights waiting out there, how could he let them go to waste?
He had only one month left, so he needed to pick up the pace and hurry!
***
Within the Miluo Realm, Qi Yuan was leisurely enjoying a fish.
Jiang Lingsu wore an emerald-green gown, appearing spirited and adorable.
Qi Yuan could not help but sigh with emotion. She had already mastered an invincible allure; why bother switching to the cute and playful style?
At that moment, the hideous old crone appeared. Staring at Qi Yuan with an unpleasant expression, she asked in a raspy voice, "Have you seen Ji Buping?"
Qi Yuan focused solely on eating his fish, paying her no mind whatsoever.
Jiang Lingsu didn't even look up, painstakingly picking out the fish bones.
This dismissive attitude irritated the old crone immensely.
She was a Mythological expert. The moment she accumulated enough merit, she could ascend to the Sixth Heaven and earn the right to project across the heavens.
When that time came, she would become a core figure of the Black Demon Abyss.
Naturally, she had little patience when dealing with someone like Qi Yuan.
A formidable pressure swept outward as she prepared to teach him a lesson.
Qi Yuan, mid-bite, felt utterly exasperated.
Did he have the face of a punching bag?
It wasn't as though he possessed a permanent taunt debuff.
Why did this hideous crone insist on hounding him?
Indeed, this was not the first time she had come seeking information about Ji Buping.
Every single time, Qi Yuan had used the Great Oblivion Heart Scripture to make her temporarily forget about Ji Buping and forget having ever approached him.
Yet the old crone's memory was so poor that she returned every other day without fail.
She was practically behaving like an NPC coming to him daily to hand out quests.
Qi Yuan was a law-abiding citizen who never slaughtered the innocent; he couldn't very well go around murdering people indiscriminately, could he?
"Did nobody ever teach you that before asking someone for help, you ought to use polite words?"
Qi Yuan felt thoroughly disappointed.
Before arriving, he had imagined the immortal realm to have rounder moons, sweeter air, and cultured people everywhere.
In the end, it was all his own wishful thinking.
Female cultivators in the Upper Realm farted just the same.
The air up here wasn't universally sweet and fragrant either.
As for manners... they were frankly mediocre.
"Did nobody ever teach you to show some reverence before a senior stronger than yourself?" the hideous old crone snapped.
"He is my concubine! In this Fifth Heaven, he doesn't need to revere anyone!"
Right then, a purple-robed woman sporting two ox horns atop her head stepped into view, her eyes brimming with a lively smile.
At the sight of her, the old crone's expression shifted drastically. She stumbled backward more than a dozen zhang.
She cast a dark, apprehensive look at the purple-robed woman before sweeping her sleeves and storming off in frustration.
"Little concubine, was big sis handsome or what?" The purple-robed woman rested her hands on her hips, her demeanor bold and carefree.
Qi Yuan glanced at her, looking helpless. "Sister Ox Horn, I am not your concubine!"
"Oh, my mistake! You're not my concubine just yet!"
"Thank you for bailing me out, regardless." Qi Yuan remained polite.
No matter what, it was Sister Ox Horn who had introduced him to the Black Demon Abyss and landed him a job with free room and board.
Driving away the old crone this time could certainly be counted as a favor.
"A minor matter." An irrepressible joy danced across the purple-robed woman's face, hinting that something great had recently come her way. "Want to come to the Sixth Heaven with big sis? As long as you're willing to be my concubine, I'll see to it that you live in luxury. If anyone dares bully you, big sis will back you up!"
After acquiring the Morning Star Jade Blood Beast, her cultivation had surged once more.
Returning to the Black Demon Abyss this time, she planned to push through straight into the Yang God Heavenly Venerable realm.
Her mood was naturally buoyant.
In the past, although she had enjoyed the treatment of a Yang God Heavenly Venerable thanks to her noble bloodline, she had not been a true Yang God.
Now that her breakthrough was imminent, she was thoroughly elated.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan's eyes brightened. "Really?"
A bold plan sprouted in his mind.
"Of course!"
"Do you permit your concubines to have wives?" Qi Yuan asked.
For the sake of the grand plan, he was willing to endure a little humiliation to survive!
The purple-robed woman blinked, then looked at Qi Yuan. "For any other concubine, absolutely not. But you're special, so big sis permits it. Come on, pack your things and head back to the Sixth Heaven with me."
"I have a formidable enemy. Can you help me deal with them? If you can take care of them, what's wrong with becoming your concubine!" Qi Yuan said in a calm voice.
It wasn't as if any rule stated a concubine had to share a bed anyway!
He had his own free will.
If Sister Ox Horn dared step out of line, he would report her for assault on the spot.
"What kind of enemy? Just name them! Big sis guarantees to beat them until they're totally docile!" the purple-robed woman proclaimed with breezy confidence.
"Well, they're just a tiny bit strong." Qi Yuan looked at her, harboring a trace of doubt.
Her strength was probably at the peak of the Mythological realm at most.
Still, since she was so confident, perhaps she was hiding her true power and was actually a supreme powerhouse?
"Why are you dithering like a woman? Just spit out who it is!" she chided impatiently, full of swagger.
"Don't stereotype women!" Qi Yuan snapped back before continuing, "My enemy is... that one from Taihuang Palace."
"Taihuang Palace?" The purple-robed woman froze for a moment, then asked, "Which one? Don't tell me they're a Yang God?"
Taihuang Palace was strong, but her Black Demon Abyss was not afraid of them.
Besides, Taihuang Palace was immense, with countless members.
"Yes, a Yang God."
The purple-robed woman swallowed hard.
That sounded a bit troublesome.
"The strongest one."
The purple-robed woman stared at Qi Yuan, her eyes widening in disbelief. "I didn't peg you for having such guts! How about... I become your concubine instead? Even my ancestors wouldn't dare offend that one! How in the world did they become your arch-nemesis? Did your ancestor happen to be a softshell turtle who flipped onto his back while sunbathing, couldn't roll over, and got roasted to death by the blazing sun?"
Hearing this, Qi Yuan sighed in disappointment. "Alas, it seems you're terrified of them."
The purple-robed woman rolled her eyes. "Who isn't? Was the Great Sun Radiant Buddha fierce or what? Didn't he still end up slaughtered by that entity? Even the Ultimate Principle Society harbors grievances against them, yet they don't dare utter a peep!"
"Looks like I won't be able to be your concubine after all," Qi Yuan muttered downcastly.
The purple-robed woman's expression shifted repeatedly before she finally asked, "Is the grudge between you two really that deep?"
"Very deep." Qi Yuan nodded in earnest.
It was already an irreconcilable feud to the death.
The purple-robed woman looked at him. "I suggest you pick a different enemy."
Though she knew Qi Yuan's bloodline was precious enough to warrant Yang God-level treatment within the Black Demon Abyss, taking on the paramount master of Taihuang Palace as an enemy was an act of madness rivaling the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable!
"Sigh, seems I can't rely on you. I'll just have to rely on my own hard work!" Qi Yuan said earnestly.
Hearing that, the purple-robed woman couldn't help but blurt out, "I'll wait for your good news, then! If you manage to bring that one down, big sis will gladly become your concubine!"
Naturally, she didn't believe a word of it.
After all, Blood Robe merely hailed from a sacred ground in the Second Heaven.
Even though Taihuang Palace was also a sacred ground, it resided in the Sixth Heaven.
While Mount Futu enjoyed considerable fame among the sacred grounds of the Second Heaven, it possessed only a single Yang God in the Heavenly Position Realm!
Forget Taihuang Palace—they didn't even have the qualifications to cross paths with the Moluo Clan.
"Blood Robe, Taihuang Palace sits in the Sixth Heaven. That paramount figure is not someone a mere Yang God from the Second Heaven can challenge!" the purple-robed woman urged.
As for how Qi Yuan had forged a grudge with that entity in the first place, she couldn't even be bothered to ask.
"Right, it's fine." Qi Yuan dropped the subject.
He felt life was simply far too difficult.
By all rights, when lower-realm cultivators ascended, they usually ended up in the First Heaven.
From there, they would work hard, cultivate, advance, and encounter enemies who grew progressively stronger starting from the First Heaven.
Yet here he was, directly facing an arch-nemesis from the Sixth Heaven.
The gap was simply absurd.
"Alas, I really just want to go back to the First Heaven and claim a mountain as king," Qi Yuan lamented.
The purple-robed woman chuckled. Leaning in close to Qi Yuan, she said softly, "Could you spare me a single drop of your blood? I'm honestly exceedingly curious about your bloodline."
"No," Qi Yuan refused, shaking his head.
How could he casually hand over his blood to someone else?
The purple-robed woman was not at all surprised by his refusal.
For a cultivator at this stage, handing their own blood over to another person was nothing short of courting death.
"What a pity. There's no way to tell what bloodline you possess. I suppose only bringing you before our venerable ancestor could uncover it," the purple-robed woman remarked with a sigh.
Chapter 412