Heavenly Venerable Yuehua's attitude had completely reversed, haughty at first and humble now.
Qi Yuan blinked. "That works too?"
Previously, before he comprehended the Supreme Ultimate Principles and had only just arrived at the Black Demon Abyss, he had worried about being unable to protect Jin Li.
Now, however, things were different. He had acquired the ability to protect himself—enough to keep Jin Li by his side.
"Naturally, it works!" Heavenly Venerable Yuehua said with a soft smile.
Rules could always be changed.
"Whenever you have time, you may bring Jin Li back to the Black Demon Abyss," Heavenly Venerable Yuehua offered, her manner genial.
This made Qi Yuan feel all the more that strength truly was everything.
Although all men were supposedly created equal, if he had just been a nobody in love with Jin Li who wished to marry a Yue Nü, the Moon Goddess Palace would have taught him that a toad could never taste swan meat.
Yet now, the tables had turned.
"All right. I'll pick an auspicious day to bring Jin Li over," Qi Yuan said happily.
Fortunately, he had already prepared their marriage certificate.
When the time came, he would just need to paste Jin Li's portrait onto it.
The only fly in the ointment was that no one could move the Civil Affairs Bureau up to the Sixth Heaven for him.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist," Heavenly Venerable Yuehua said in good spirits.
Just then, a thought struck Qi Yuan, and he asked, "Would it be possible for me to meet Moon Goddess Yuanjun?"
He wanted to see Moon Goddess Yuanjun to get to the bottom of what had happened to his master.
Hearing this, Heavenly Venerable Yuehua's cheerful demeanor gave way to a trace of solemn concern. "I am afraid you will not be able to see her, Fellow Daoist. It has been quite some time since even this old woman last saw Moon Goddess Yuanjun."
"Oh? What happened to her?"
"Moon Goddess Yuanjun suffered severe injuries and has been in secluded cultivation to nurse her wounds. Where she is currently located, even this old woman does not know."
The news of Moon Goddess Yuanjun suffering severe injuries was already rumored throughout the Sixth Heaven; it was hardly a secret.
And now, not even Heavenly Venerable Yuehua knew where she was recuperating.
Qi Yuan frowned. "A Great Ultimate Principle like her... can be injured?"
Ancestor Ziyuan had once said that Great Ultimate Principles were exceedingly hard to kill, or even wound.
Those of the same tier could not even scratch them without an offensive Creation Treasure.
How could someone with a Supreme Ultimate Principle suddenly be grievously wounded?
"This old woman does not know the full details either. I only know that Moon Goddess Yuanjun ventured into a wondrous land, fell into an ambush, and was gravely injured."
Heavenly Venerable Yuehua was genuinely ignorant of the specifics.
"A wondrous land?" Hearing this, Qi Yuan found it plausible.
In wondrous lands, anything could happen.
Some unknown wondrous lands were even connected to other universes, potentially housing powerhouses from other worlds—exceedingly dangerous.
Recalling something, Qi Yuan asked, "Can we travel to other worlds through a wondrous land?"
Heavenly Venerable Yuehua's expression turned grim. "No. Once you step through, your body will perish and your Dao will be extinguished."
"Then have beings from other worlds crossed into the Sixth Heaven via wondrous lands?" Qi Yuan asked again.
"Yes, but... most are weaklings," Heavenly Venerable Yuehua answered.
"Can those people... return to their own worlds?"
"No. Once they step into the Sixth Heaven, returning would bring them the same fate as us," Heavenly Venerable Yuehua patiently explained.
Such information counted as confidential, but not particularly precious.
Regarding the expanse beyond the Sixth Heaven and other worlds, Great Ultimate Principle experts had conducted numerous explorations and studies.
*It feels strange. Could it be an incompatible game operating system?* Qi Yuan pondered.
Like how a character from a Symbian game package couldn't be rendered on an Android system.
"Game system?" Heavenly Venerable Yuehua paused, thoroughly bewildered.
"Nothing," Qi Yuan said, too lazy to explain.
After a long conversation with Heavenly Venerable Yuehua, Qi Yuan gained a deeper understanding of the Great Ultimate Principle Realm.
...
The Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference drew slowly to a close.
The sacred grounds and factions departed one after another.
Every Great Ultimate Principle who had participated was laden with anxiety.
After all, the matter of the Linya Molt was far too monumental.
Particularly with Taihuang Palace presiding—this information needed to be verified with their clan ancestors.
If true, the heavens themselves would come crashing down.
All the Yang Gods sensed the looming storm.
Only the young disciples and prodigies remained carefree.
"Big Brother Hei Jian and those old fogies are all gone. Woohoo!" Ziyuan Daxue rested her hands on her hips, looking utterly smug.
Because of the Linya Molt, Hei Jian, the Third Ancestor, and the other Yang Gods had already returned to the Black Demon Abyss ahead of time to confer about the matter.
These young disciples and prodigies traveled much slower than Yang Gods, so they were being escorted back by a single Yang God.
Qi Yuan looked at Ziyuan Daxue, then at her mouth, wearing an expression of genuine admiration. "Your... brain is pretty abstract."
Ziyuan Daxue puffed up with pride. "Big Sis is smart, aren't I? I knew you'd plant mushrooms in my mouth, so I planted some myself ahead of time to crowd out your mushrooms' living space!"
As Ziyuan Daxue spoke, mushrooms sputtered out of her mouth from time to time like projectiles from an ink blaster.
To prevent Qi Yuan from planting mushrooms in her mouth, she had chosen to plant them herself.
Qi Yuan was speechless and chose not to dwell on the matter.
Then Ziyuan Daxue whispered, "Now that the Linya Molt is imminent, tell me... should I suppress my cultivation and not step into the Yang God Realm?"
If she did not become a Yang God, she wouldn't be dragged into the game, helpless to control her own fate.
"That's up to you." Qi Yuan couldn't be bothered to judge, nor did he like to dictate others' lives.
Unless they were his enemies.
"Forget it, I can't do that. After all, I enjoy the offerings and privileges of Ziyuan Heaven. How can I covet life and fear death when danger strikes?" Ziyuan Daxue did possess a sense of responsibility after all.
"Not bad," Qi Yuan praised.
Such conduct from Ziyuan Daxue was genuinely rare.
Then, a stray thought crossed his mind.
Society had developed too fast.
The moral standards of the Immortal Realm were going downhill.
Once upon a time, on television shows, the female antagonist would bring a bunch of experts to break off an engagement, embarrassing the male lead's parents and driving him to cry out, *Never look down on a young man who is poor!*
Sure, emotions dialed to eleven.
Yet that female antagonist, placed in modern society, would be considered a saint!
Other than having low emotional intelligence, she even brought compensatory medicinal pills.
Unlike now... no matter how degenerate morals became, as long as one didn't break the law, they were deemed a wonderful person.
It felt rather like: *I'm an arch-demon, but if Blue Star's morals drop five hundred times over, when I reemerge, I'll be considered a sage!*
"A pity we missed this Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference," Bing Jian sighed from nearby.
For this conference, they had gone as spectators to experience the Wall of Ultimate Principle up close, unlike those watching the live stream.
They had touched a wisp of the wall's aura and gained many insights, which would allow them to walk faster and farther than others when stepping into the Yang God Realm in the future.
Yet they were not Yang Gods, so they had not truly engaged with the Wall of Ultimate Principle.
As for the next conference, who knew when it would open?
Presumably, it would take many eras.
"Thank goodness Big Brother Hei Jian comprehended a Supreme Ultimate Principle. Otherwise, with this Linya Molt, our Black Demon Abyss would be in grave danger," one prodigy sighed.
"Do you think Heavenly Venerable Mochi might return to our Black Demon Abyss?"
Another prodigy's eyes lit up with hope.
The Moluo Clan originally shared the same roots as the Black Demon Abyss.
"That's probably wishful thinking. Back when the Moluo Clan wanted to return to the Sixth Heaven, we gave them the cold shoulder. Now we're begging them to come, and they probably couldn't care less."
These prodigies were well-informed.
Heavenly Venerable Mochi had comprehended two Supreme Ultimate Principles; every sacred ground had extended invitations, only to be turned down.
Heavenly Venerable Mochi had rejected the Black Demon Abyss as well.
This surprised many Black Demon Abyss prodigies and left a sour taste in their mouths.
It felt like a poor relative who once groveled to curry favor had suddenly struck it rich and refused to acknowledge them.
"Hmph. However strong Mochi is, how could he compare to Big Brother Hei Jian? Having Big Brother Hei Jian is enough for our Black Demon Abyss!" one prodigy scoffed.
"We don't just have Hei Jian; we also have Blood Robe!" Ziyuan Daxue declared loudly and proudly.
Blood Robe represented Ziyuan Heaven and was the only prodigy among the younger generation of the Black Demon Abyss who had a chance of challenging Hei Jian.
Seeing this, the other prodigies chimed in with chuckles. "Right, we still have Blood Robe."
Of course, they were merely paying lip service, unconvinced in their hearts.
After all, Hei Jian had genuinely comprehended a Supreme Ultimate Principle. What about Blood Robe?
He was still merely a Yin God!
If Qi Yuan knew what they were thinking, he would have self-righteously corrected them.
He wasn't a Yin God—he was a Purple Mansion.
The discussion wound down.
The flying vessel continued cruising across the firmament.
Mushrooms popped from Ziyuan Daxue's mouth. "This vessel flies too slowly. It's boring. Blood Robe, want a ride on my Black Cloud Blood Steed?"
Qi Yuan blinked. "You have a Black Cloud Blood Steed?"
A Black Cloud Blood Steed was the cultivation world's souped-up street racer bike.
"Hehe, didn't my cousin die? Leaving his Black Cloud Blood Steed sitting around was a waste, so I sneaked it out. Want Big Sis to take you on a thrilling flight?" Ziyuan Daxue asked smugly.
"No thanks, I'm a coward," Qi Yuan refused. He had no desire to plunge to his death.
"What's there to fear? I swear to the heavens, when I ride the Black Cloud Blood Steed, I will be absolutely steady and cautious, and I will definitely not speed!" Ziyuan Daxue raised her hand. "If I break this oath, may lightning strike me down!"
Qi Yuan's nose grew slightly longer.
Ziyuan Daxue was lying.
"Spare me, please."
Qi Yuan rejected her flatly.
Right at that moment, a sudden roar echoed from the thunderous heights of the nine heavens.
Massive, roiling bolts of purple lightning detonated, crashing directly into their vessel.
The steadily flying vessel violently rocked and swayed, and the cultivators aboard instantly caught the scent of peril.
"Huh?" Ziyuan Daxue's eyes went wide with a guilty look. "No way... could this Black Cloud Blood Steed be cursed?"
Lightning had struck the sky right after her oath.
"It's fine! Thunder from beyond the heavens frequently falls in this region. It's nothing serious," Bing Jian shouted, calming the crowd.
Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, sensing that this lightning was rather bizarre.
Just then, the Yang God Heavenly Venerable stepped forward and reached out a hand, grasping outward.
The lightning filling this heavenly domain was drawn straight into his palm.
Boundless lightning appeared like mere thunder serpents in the Yang God Heavenly Venerable's grasp.
"A minor issue, pay it no mind," the Yang God Heavenly Venerable said with a chuckle, having easily resolved it. But just as he was about to speak further, his face abruptly contorted, and he roared in fury, "Insolent curs, how dare you!"
The firmament suddenly surged with towering blood-red mist.
Every prodigy caught the pungent stench of murderous intent.
"The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner?"
The prodigies were horrified.
High above in the sky, a gargantuan Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner fluttered, blotting out the heavens.
The entire earth below was dyed blood-red.
The Yang God Heavenly Venerable was frantic as well, thrusting out a giant hand to intercept the banner.
Yet in a flash, the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner shook.
In an instant, the flying vessel shattered into splinters, and the Yang God Heavenly Venerable was knocked backward.
Spiritual energy went berserk between heaven and earth.
Countless roars and explosions rang out.
"Watch out!"
"Danger!"
"Erect defensive barriers quickly!"
Screams, furious shouts, and various Dao arts intersected in turmoil.
Chaos reigned between heaven and earth as the flying vessel disintegrated.
A full three breaths passed before clarity finally returned to the world.
The countless roars and flashes of light vanished.
The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner was nowhere to be seen.
All the prodigies were now sheltered inside the sleeve of the Yang God Heavenly Venerable, feeling a potent sense of crisis.
A pair of eyes looked down into the sleeve, the elder's expression exceedingly grim. "Blood Robe... is gone."
"What?"
The prodigies, who had been meditating to recover immortal spiritual energy, were shocked to the core.
Blood Robe had actually vanished!
The emergence of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner meant that Guiyu Heaven had launched a sudden strike against the Black Demon Abyss.
Now that Blood Robe was gone, his fate would likely be tragic.
"The Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner... is an offensive Creation Treasure. Although what appeared just now was merely a branch banner, it still possesses some of the main banner's traits and might, capable of displacing a cultivator into a wondrous land. Guiyu Heaven has a limited number of branch banners; once used, they are gone forever. Yet to deal with Blood Robe, they actually expended one..."
The Yang God Heavenly Venerable looked terribly grim.
Having a prodigy abducted right under his nose filled him with self-reproach and humiliated fury.
Suddenly, another thought hit him, and anxiety surged across his face. "Since Guiyu Heaven dared to move against Blood Robe, they might... target Hei Jian as well!"
His expression warped in shock.
The Linya Molt had not even begun, yet the Sixth Heaven was already this turbulent. If full chaos erupted, the consequences were obvious.
He had to report this to the ancestors immediately.
The Black Demon Abyss.
Thick, ominous clouds hung overhead.
Suddenly, a roar of fury resounded.
Ancestor Ziyuan materialized, landing at the base of a towering peak with frantic urgency.
"Disciple Ziyuan... begs an audience with Master!"
He was beside himself with anxiety.
He had just received word that Guiyu Heaven had ambushed Blood Robe and used a branch banner of the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner to banish him into a wondrous land.
Roughly one breath passed.
A black-robed old man appeared, his face likewise marked by urgency. "Old Sixth, Guiyu Heaven struck against Hei Jian and sucked him into a wondrous land. Master is currently busy deducing Hei Jian's whereabouts and has no time to see you."
This black-robed elder was the Fourth Elder of the Black Demon Abyss.
"Fourth Brother, Blood Robe was also ambushed by Guiyu Heaven and his whereabouts are unknown! Could Master deduce Blood Robe's location for me? I will go rescue him myself!" Ancestor Ziyuan pleaded anxiously.
As he spoke, he produced Black Demon Ancestral Blood and tried to press it into Fourth Elder's hands.
Fourth Elder shook his head.
"Hei Jian is tied to the future of the Black Demon Abyss. Master will not waste his energy on other matters. In this affair, Great Ultimate Principles made the move; Master cannot afford the slightest distraction. Old fellow, please return."
Fourth Elder politely refused.
His appearance here represented their master's will.
Clearly, Master had anticipated Ancestor Ziyuan's arrival and sent him in advance to block him.
Ancestor Ziyuan's complexion shifted repeatedly. "Just one breath! Only one breath!"
With Master's strength and the Creation Treasure he commanded, a single breath would likely suffice to deduce Blood Robe's whereabouts and which perilous land he had ended up in.
Fourth Elder shook his head. "Every breath wasted adds to the danger facing Hei Jian."
He stood beneath the peak, barring Ancestor Ziyuan's path like an immovable mountain.
Hearing this, Ancestor Ziyuan's expression turned bleak.
Indeed, he had no right to demand anything of Master.
"This old man... understands."
Ancestor Ziyuan looked crestfallen, resembling an ordinary old man stripped of all aura of a Great Ultimate Principle powerhouse.
"I can only hope Blood Robe... survives this!"
Blood Robe still carried the defensive treasures he had given him.
If the assassins sent by Guiyu Heaven were not strong enough, he might still have a chance to escape.
Now, he could only rely on destiny.
Chapter 449