The night was pitch-black, layered with heavy clouds. Faint, pristine moonlight chiseled through the overcast sky, falling upon Qi Yuan's crimson robe.
The soundless voice echoed in his ears once more.
Traveling along, Qi Yuan held the game jade slip in his hand and looked at the icon inside.
"I'm busy going to be an actor."
"Why don't you try harder and grow a mouth? Otherwise, I have no idea what you're trying to say!"
The game jade slip remained dead silent.
Yet Qi Yuan could hear that soundless voice, and countless speculations flashed through his mind.
"Who are you?"
"Could it be that you're the Great Void—so void and feeble that you can't even speak?"
"Or are you Hundun, formless and without orifices?"
"What a pity I'm not Nuwa. I can't sculpt you into a clay figure and pinch out your facial features."
Qi Yuan rambled nonsense.
"My name is Qi Yuan. I'll be playing your game in a little while, and when the time comes, I'll see whether you're suffering from kidney deficiency!"
Wrapped in his crimson robe, Qi Yuan's figure descended to the ground at that very moment.
The spiritual energy around his body churned incessantly, heralding the arrival of a Yang God Heavenly Venerable.
"Mochi pays his respects to Heavenly Venerable Motong!"
Since he was acting, Qi Yuan was exceedingly respectful.
His tall, straight figure stood within Jueyue Abyss, bowing slightly forward.
In Jueyue Abyss, the guarding Mythological figures and ordinary Great Venerables lowered their bodies toward Qi Yuan's position upon hearing the news.
From the darkness, a raspy voice rang out.
"Enter."
The sky above Jueyue Abyss cracked open into a gaping hole, and a vast quantity of spiritual energy surged forth from within.
Qi Yuan looked up at that opening and felt as if he were staring into a pair of cold, heartless eyes.
Every expert in the Ultimate Principle Realm possessed their own ultimate principle.
Qi Yuan did not know Motong's ultimate principle.
At this moment, he was extremely cautious, doing his utmost to conceal his aura and maintain Mochi's persona.
Qi Yuan's figure stepped into the opening.
When he re-emerged, he stood in a void above an abyss.
Sapphire-blue clouds drifted about, and several vertical, corroded iron chains spanned the chasm, supporting a colossal boulder.
Upon that boulder sat a throne of white bone, and atop the throne rested an enormous eyeball.
No torso, no limbs—just a solitary eyeball.
This eyeball was the true body of Heavenly Venerable Motong.
For these Yang God Heavenly Venerables—especially those with enemies—their past bodies and present bodies were fused into one unless special circumstances dictated otherwise. If an enemy seized their past body, a Yang God Heavenly Venerable possessed the ability to trace through it back to their true self, which would prove troublesome.
"For your assignment this time, you must guard Duanyue Abyss for a hundred thousand years. As fellow Yang Gods, we should visit each other more often," Motong rasped.
"Naturally!" Qi Yuan nodded.
This space was pitch-black, devoid of any surplus sunlight.
Qi Yuan secretly guessed that perhaps it was because Heavenly Venerable Motong's true form was an eyeball; if there were sunlight, it would be too glaring.
What if he became nearsighted?
Qi Yuan actually really wanted to ask whether Heavenly Venerable Motong needed glasses.
However, recalling that he was currently Heavenly Venerable Mochi—an actor—he held back.
At the same time, Qi Yuan was deeply moved by his own dedication.
To be a good actor and suppress his natural instincts, he had sacrificed far too much.
"I heard... you killed the Guardian from Taihuang Palace?" Heavenly Venerable Motong spoke again. Aside from being raspy, his voice held no discernible emotion.
"I personally arrived at Duanyue Abyss, yet as the Guardian, he didn't even come out to greet me. He deserved death!" Qi Yuan declared forcefully.
"He deserved to die," Heavenly Venerable Motong replied.
It was merely a Guardian from Taihuang Palace. Dead was dead.
"Thank you for your understanding, Heavenly Venerable!" Qi Yuan continued playing his role.
Right then, Qi Yuan suddenly felt prickles across his back, as if countless eyes were staring at him.
Tightening his aura, his eyes remained composed, acting as if he hadn't noticed those gazes at all.
Heavenly Venerable Motong spoke, "In a short while, Jueyue Abyss will host the Moon Star Banquet. Mochi... do you want to storm into Jueyue Abyss with this old man and pull off a grand operation?"
The bloodshot eye studied Qi Yuan, causing a sense of insignificance to well up within him.
It felt as though the eyeball nearby shouldn't be seated upon a bone throne, but rather suspended in the firmament.
"The Heavenly Venerable... wishes to attack Jueyue Abyss?" Qi Yuan showed an appropriate look of shock. "With the Moon Goddess Palace's Creation Treasure, the Youhuang Waning Moon, present, I'm afraid... it will be very difficult."
The Moon Goddess Palace possessed more than one Creation Treasure.
Within the Demonic Abyss, they were guarded by the Creation Treasure Youhuang Waning Moon.
The Youhuang Waning Moon linked all territories belonging to the Moon Goddess Palace in the Demonic Abyss together, placing them within the 'Serene Void Realm.'
This was a divine soul attack specifically targeted at Yang Gods.
Any Heavenly Venerable who stepped into this realm would suffer a specialized conceptual attack.
Heavenly Venerables who had forcefully ascended to the Yang God realm and had flaws in their divine souls would succumb instantly.
Even ordinary Heavenly Venerables with flawless divine souls would be affected by this Creation Treasure, causing fissures to appear in their otherwise perfect souls.
At that point, a strike from the Moon Goddess Palace's Yang God Heavenly Venerable would be fatal.
Every Creation Treasure possessed unique capabilities.
"The Youhuang Waning Moon..." A trace of amusement flashed through Heavenly Venerable Motong's eye. "What this world lacks least is ambitious people.
"Within the Moon Goddess Palace, a Mythological figure has been stuck in the Mythological realm for five hundred thousand years.
"Remaining in the Moon Goddess Palace, she will never step into the Yang God realm in her lifetime. This Venerable promised to help her achieve the Yang God realm, while she... will serve as a guide for this Venerable.
"She holds an insignificant sliver of authority over the Youhuang Waning Moon, but that is enough."
"This... reaching the Yang God realm is as difficult as ascending the heavens..." Qi Yuan continued playing the role of Heavenly Venerable Mochi.
His implication was that the Yang God realm was exceptionally difficult; even if Motong was in the Ultimate Principle Realm, he couldn't simply help a Mythological figure achieve it.
"It is merely a promise. Does this Venerable truly intend to help her reach the Yang God realm?
"A mere Mythological figure daring to collaborate with an Ultimate Principle—no matter how many rules she understands, she is destined to lose," Heavenly Venerable Motong said with supreme confidence.
Constrained by their own understanding, Mythological experts might believe they could sign certain contracts or swear inner demon oaths with a Yang God Heavenly Venerable to forge a cooperative partnership.
Little did they know, in Blue Star terms, the Mythological figure was like a middle school student while the Yang God was an elite professional lawyer drafting a contract.
It was virtually impossible for the student to spot the hidden traps.
There was no equality in such a deal.
Even if that Mythological cultivator suspected Heavenly Venerable Motong might deceive her, she had no choice but to gamble.
After all, the opportunity to step into the Yang God realm was simply too precious.
"Had Moon Goddess Yuanjun not suffered severe injuries and thrown the Moon Goddess Palace into panic, she wouldn't have resolved to cooperate with this Venerable," Heavenly Venerable Motong continued. "This Venerable will conduct a surprise attack to heavily injure Heavenly Venerable Longyue. You... need only obscure the heavenly secrets so no other Yang God Heavenly Venerables learn of what happens here. Before leaving... wipe out all the low-ranking cultivators of the Moon Goddess Palace along the way, and abduct the two Yue Nü."
Heavenly Venerable Motong laid out his entire plan to Qi Yuan.
For this Moon Star Banquet, the primary objective was to catch Heavenly Venerable Longyue off guard and grievously wound him; as for killing him, Motong could not achieve that.
Secondly, wiping out the Moon Goddess Palace's low-ranking cultivators and capturing the two Yue Nü would also count as a solid accomplishment.
Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, feigning deep thought. "Could this... be a trap?"
"What, do you doubt this Venerable?"
"Not at all!" Qi Yuan quickly lowered his head, standing there like a subservient lackey.
He felt more and more that his acting skills were truly improving.
"Are you interested?" Heavenly Venerable Motong asked again.
Qi Yuan pondered for a moment before saying slowly, "It is feasible. However... I still have some matters to attend to back at Duanyue Abyss. May I return right before the Moon Star Banquet begins?"
Heavenly Venerable Motong's pupil grew even more profound. "You may."
"Thank you, Heavenly Venerable. I shall take my leave!" Having said that, Qi Yuan's figure vanished from the open space, seemingly in quite a hurry.
Within the vast abyss, absolute darkness reigned, leaving only Heavenly Venerable Motong seated upon the bone throne.
Suddenly, the pitch-black sky lit up.
Across the firmament, crimson eyeballs emerged one after another!
These eyeballs rolled and shifted.
Seated upon the bone throne, Heavenly Venerable Motong spoke in a raspy voice.
"What was he trying so hard to conceal?"
"He appeared calm, just like an ordinary meeting."
Heavenly Venerable Motong muttered to himself as the previous scene replayed before him.
Just then, the densely packed eyeballs in the night sky spoke in unison.
"This Venerable's ultimate principle is Observing the Minute. Nothing hidden within my sight can ever escape!"
The eyeball on the bone throne glanced sideways, its aura surging to the heavens.
The ultimate principle Heavenly Venerable Motong had comprehended before the Wall of Ultimate Principle was Observing the Minute.
With the ultimate principle of Observing the Minute, the mind was like a clear mirror and the spirit resided in the void.
Suspended high in the heavens, one could perceive the scurrying of ants, the grain of stones, the essence of heaven and earth, and the profound mysteries of the Great Dao.
"Reveal!"
Earlier, on Heavenly Venerable Mochi's body, he had sensed that Mochi was concealing something.
Thus, Observing the Minute was activated.
Immediately, a hint of delight surfaced in the eyeball: "The aura of purple qi!"
He caught sight of the aura of purple qi, the supreme energy of the Immortal Realm.
"He recently came into contact with purple qi!"
"He just arrived in the Sixth Heaven and discovered purple qi. He likely hasn't had the chance to subdue it yet."
"No wonder he was in such a hurry to return."
"Spiritual treasures of heaven and earth belong to the virtuous!"
"The purple qi... is fated to be mine!"
Heavenly Venerable Motong's voice was raspy, and his form dissipated at that very moment.
All the eyeballs in the night sky converged into one.
Turning into an illusory shadow, Heavenly Venerable Motong immediately pursued that aura.
In just a few breaths, he caught sight of the figure in the crimson robe.
"So composed... yet you cannot escape this Venerable's Observing the Minute."
He trailed far behind, keeping his figure completely concealed.
Ahead, Qi Yuan kept traveling, seemingly oblivious.
Crossing Jueyue Abyss, Qi Yuan returned to Duanyue Abyss. With a flutter of his sleeves, he slipped into his palace.
A smile emerged in Heavenly Venerable Motong's pupil, as if everything was well within his grasp. "Being so cautious, are we?"
He was exceptionally patient and lay in wait right there.
Within a rift in the void, an eyeball remained fixed on Qi Yuan.
Time flew by.
Heavenly Venerable Motong remained hidden in the dark.
At present, Heavenly Venerable Mochi made no moves whatsoever.
Yet Motong knew this was merely an act.
It was futile.
Even the finest acting in the world could not deceive his Observing the Minute.
Sure enough, on a dark and windy night, he saw a figure quietly emerge from the palace.
The amusement in Heavenly Venerable Motong's eye deepened. "Trying to lure me away with a past body?"
Naturally, Heavenly Venerable Motong knew Heavenly Venerable Mochi could never detect his presence.
However, Mochi's action was clearly born of sheer instinct and abundant caution.
Heavenly Venerable Motong did not budge, remaining comfortably in hiding.
Those destined for great things had to be patient, and... thick-skinned.
Since he was not a Yang God of the Great Ultimate Principle Realm, saving face held no value to him anyway.
Sure enough, after about an hour, the true body of 'Heavenly Venerable Mochi' seated inside the palace stirred, transforming into a streak of light and vanishing.
A grin spread across Heavenly Venerable Motong's eye. "You finally couldn't hold back. The purple qi... this Venerable will gladly accept it!
"Junior, in this world, aged ginger is always spicier!
"Your cultivation path has been far too smooth—this Venerable will teach you a lesson!"
Concealing his form, Heavenly Venerable Motong tailed after him.
At this moment, Qi Yuan moved furtively, masking his aura like a thief.
"In a moment... I'll give him a fright!"
Heavenly Venerable Motong felt he possessed quite a sense of humor as his giant eyeball followed along.
Once he snatched the purple qi, he naturally couldn't invite Heavenly Venerable Mochi to raid the Moon Goddess Palace anymore, but that was a trivial matter.
After roughly a hundred breaths, Heavenly Venerable Mochi suddenly halted ahead.
Smugness swelled in Heavenly Venerable Motong's heart. He narrowed his eye. "Purple qi... remarkably dense purple qi."
He could barely restrain himself from striking, but decided to wait a little longer.
He was in high spirits.
To him, purple qi was extraordinarily precious and could enhance his strength.
For a Yang God in the Ultimate Principle Realm, short of comprehending a new ultimate principle, there were very few ways to rapidly increase one's power; refining purple qi happened to be one of them.
"This kid discovered purple qi right after arriving at Duanyue Abyss. He truly possesses some fortune. A pity... it will all benefit this Venerable!"
Heavenly Venerable Motong waited for the right moment to strike and seize the purple qi.
"Wait, looking at how cautious he's being, could it be... the treasure isn't just purple qi?"
Heavenly Venerable Motong pondered.
Suddenly, his eyes went wide, and his aura wavered erratically for a split second.
Ahead, he clearly saw an immense cluster of purple qi!
Not only that, but right where the purple qi was surging, a door stood tall!
White jade, ancient, profound, divine!
No words could describe that door!
That aura brimming with wisdom and the ultimate principles of heaven and earth would move and tempt any Yang God Heavenly Venerable.
Even Heavenly Venerable Motong couldn't help leaking his aura.
After all, that was the premier Creation Treasure of the Immortal Realm—the Gate of Ultimate Principle!
Whoever obtained it could become the master of the Nine Heavens!
"You... how did you get here?!" Qi Yuan's eyes widened with profound shock, his voice carrying panic and fury.
Heavenly Venerable Motong grinned and laughed aloud. "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Mochi."
At this moment, killing intent surged in his heart.
Purple qi alone wasn't worth committing murder over, but the Gate of Ultimate Principle was a different story!
Seeing Heavenly Venerable Mochi's panicked and exasperated state, Heavenly Venerable Motong was beside himself with joy.
"Damn it! It's mine, it's all mine!"
As though he had lost all reason, Heavenly Venerable Mochi charged toward the Gate of Ultimate Principle.
Seeing this, Heavenly Venerable Motong did not hesitate for a second. His form moved like a mythological roc, plunging straight into the Gate of Ultimate Principle.
"Boy, this old man will gladly accept the Gate of Ultimate Principle!"
At any other time, he might have exercised caution before entering.
Yet right now, if Heavenly Venerable Mochi entered first and took control of the Gate of Ultimate Principle, that would be disastrous!
Thus, he rushed inside without the slightest hesitation.
Instantly, an exasperated voice echoed from within the Gate of Ultimate Principle.
"The heavens are blind! How dare a villainous scoundrel deceive me!"
Chapter 417