Ancestor Ziyuan stood outside the sky curtain, his expression exceptionally conflicted.
"Just how is this to be explained?"
He was utterly perplexed.
After all, an astral projection turning into the character for "woman" was simply too absurd.
An astral projection was the very essence of a Yang God.
To inexplicably transform into the character for "woman"—could a Supreme Ultimate Principle really achieve such a thing?
It was unheard of.
"Could there be a Supreme Venerable backing Blood Robe? Who could it be?"
Ancestor Ziyuan pondered deeply.
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
"Could it be... Moon Goddess Yuanjun?"
"Such a move... would indeed fit Moon Goddess Yuanjun!"
"However, wasn't Moon Goddess Yuanjun gravely wounded?"
"Could it be that with the Linya Molt at hand, she showed her hand to announce to the world that her injuries... have healed?"
Ancestor Ziyuan could only convince himself with this explanation.
Blood Robe's relationships in the Sixth Heaven were very simple.
He hailed from the Moluo Clan and was in love with a Yue Nü.
Thus, it was highly likely that he had met Moon Goddess Yuanjun before.
"No wonder that fellow insisted on becoming Dao companions with the Yue Nü back then, and even... probed my thoughts on the Moon Goddess Palace."
At this thought, Ancestor Ziyuan felt the doubts in his heart clear away.
Since Moon Goddess Yuanjun had intervened, Blood Robe was definitely safe.
His mood brightened considerably.
"That wretched brat made me go to Black Demon Mountain to plead for him, causing me to lose all face. Once he gets back, I'll teach him a proper lesson!" Ancestor Ziyuan muttered under his breath.
Suddenly, he sensed something, and a look of delight surfaced in his eyes.
In that instant, his figure vanished.
When he reappeared, he stood outside the teleportation array.
The surrounding space froze momentarily. Ancestor Ziyuan looked at Qi Yuan in his blood-red robe, his gaze steady.
"You brat certainly have good luck, managing to return alive."
His words carried an irrepressible joy.
"Sigh, old man, the outside world is far too dangerous," Qi Yuan said with lingering fear. "Out there, there's just too much male gaze, not to mention slandering creeps. It's truly impossible to guard against!"
Remembering Heavenly Venerable Shenxue's look made Qi Yuan furious.
It was outright harassment!
"The Sixth Heaven has never been a land of fortune; it is fraught with perilous danger. Have you seen it for yourself now?" Ancestor Ziyuan said solemnly. "Will you still be so reckless and gallivant about as you please in the future?"
"Old man, why are you victim-blaming me? Just because I dress skimpy doesn't give them the right to hit me with the male gaze!"
"Hmph! I am merely telling you that a gentleman does not stand beneath a collapsing wall. Right now, the Linya Molt is imminent, and great waves will surge across the sacred lands. You should wander less and cultivate properly. Enhance your strength so you have more means of self-preservation!" Ancestor Ziyuan urged earnestly.
Qi Yuan nodded. "What you say makes sense, but... I need to make one trip outside. Heavenly Venerable Yuehua has agreed, granting permission for me to marry the Yue Nü into Ziyuan Heaven!"
Hearing this, Ancestor Ziyuan's expression stiffened.
He became even more certain of his guess.
As expected, the one backing Blood Robe was Moon Goddess Yuanjun.
"When?" Ancestor Ziyuan asked.
"How about I pick an auspicious day?" Qi Yuan pondered.
"This time, I shall accompany you to the Moon Goddess Palace!" Ancestor Ziyuan said calmly.
Since there was danger, he would go along.
Unless the Banner Lord of Guiyu Heaven personally took action, no one could harm him.
Even if it were the Banner Lord, at most he could only injure him.
Moreover, Guiyu Heaven had no idea what Blood Robe represented, so they would never deploy the kind of lineup used against Hei Jian to deal with him.
Thinking of something, Qi Yuan asked, "Will... the Black Demon Abyss try to stop this?"
Although Qi Yuan didn't like to rack his brains, he was by no means stupid.
With the Linya Molt approaching, the foremost of the Five Demons of Ziyuan Heaven marrying a Yue Nü of the Moon Goddess Palace would inevitably invite speculation behind the scenes.
Was the Black Demon Abyss about to ally with the Moon Goddess Palace?
Certain factions within the Black Demon Abyss, such as Yinhun Heaven—which was currently at war with the Moon Goddess Palace—might even try to prevent it.
Ancestor Ziyuan's expression remained tranquil. "This matter... is the business of my Ziyuan Heaven. No one else... has any say!"
Not long ago, he had gone to Black Demon Mountain to seek an audience with his master to save Blood Robe, only to be given the cold shoulder.
He was utterly disappointed in that master of his.
Over all these years, had he, Ancestor Ziyuan, ever wronged the Black Demon Abyss?
For the sake of the Black Demon Abyss, he had entered curious lands seven times, waged war against foreign races, and recovered the Black Demon Ancestral Blood to place in the ancestral grounds.
To pave Hei Jian's path, he had also depleted his own vitality four times to refine grand pills.
Not to mention all the other sacrifices.
Yet, when he sought an audience to beg his master to lend Blood Robe a hand, his master wouldn't even deign to see him.
A fire of indignation burned in his chest.
"This won't cause you to offend other people, will it?" Qi Yuan asked tactfully, showing his high emotional intelligence. "I've long heard that you and the Black Demon Abyss Lord don't get along."
The discord between Ancestor Ziyuan and the Black Demon Abyss Lord was no secret among the upper echelons.
The rumors circulating were a mix of wild gossip and bizarre trivia.
In any case, they were utterly preposterous.
For instance, one wild tale claimed the Black Demon Abyss Lord harbored a penchant for men, took a fancy to his disciple Ancestor Ziyuan, and wished to consummate their bond right in the streets, but the Ancestor refused.
Another bit of gossip claimed Ancestor Ziyuan had fallen for his own master's wife, coveted her for years, and drugged her, only to wake up and realize he had bedded the wrong person—sleeping with the Black Demon Abyss Lord instead.
Ancestor Ziyuan's expression turned complicated as long-dormant memories surfaced. "It is merely a case of differing paths making it impossible to plan together. Such matters are trivial. If I cannot even make decisions regarding your wedding, then there is no point in staying in the Black Demon Abyss anyway. Not to mention..."
A smile appeared in Ancestor Ziyuan's eyes.
"Didn't you preach freedom of marriage? What does your grand wedding have to do with them? If they pry, they need not step foot in my Ziyuan Heaven!"
Ancestor Ziyuan had made up his mind.
In the past, he had been too soft, conceding at every turn.
As a result, whenever hardship or loss arose in the Black Demon Abyss, he was the one sent forward, while none of the benefits ever reached him.
This recent plea to the Black Demon Abyss Lord had snapped the final thread in his heart.
He had extinguished all past sentiments.
From now on, they would have nothing to do with each other until death!
At worst, he would become a second Moluo Clan!
"You're right, old man!" Qi Yuan nodded earnestly. Recalling something, he asked, "Old man, do you have any Black Demon Ancestral Blood? I'm in dire need of it!"
After cultivating the Ancestral Blood Art to the eleventh level, Qi Yuan had been busy attending the Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference, leaving the technique stalled.
He was very attentive to practicing the Ancestral Blood Art.
After all, this art could boost his cultivation as a Myriad Dao Martial God.
Presently, in terms of the Myriad Dao Martial God alone, he was comparable to an Ultimate Principle.
With the Linya Molt approaching, he needed to raise his strength on all fronts.
Offensive Creation Treasures, Supreme Ultimate Principles, the Ancestral Blood Art—all had to be put on the agenda.
"Heh, you brat are in luck. It just so happens I have some on hand; you're getting a bargain."
With a wave of Ancestor Ziyuan's hand, a bottle of Black Demon Ancestral Blood landed in Qi Yuan's grasp.
In truth, his heart ached considerably.
Black Demon Ancestral Blood was an extraordinary rarity even to him.
He couldn't bear to use even a single drop on himself.
Of course, at his current stage, he didn't dare cultivate it further anyway; if he progressed any more and triggered the Root Demon Tribulation, he might not be able to protect himself.
Taking the Black Demon Ancestral Blood, Qi Yuan said happily, "You're a pretty good old fellow. When you die, how about I introduce you to a job?"
"Get lost!" Ancestor Ziyuan barked.
Yet, remembering something, Ancestor Ziyuan added with a trace of worry in his voice, "Do you have an enmity with Taihuang Palace?"
"Yeah, what about it?" Qi Yuan did not hide it.
Since Horn Sister knew about it, it was only natural that Ancestor Ziyuan knew as well.
"I just received word that the Linya Molt will be presided over by Taihuang Palace—and this is no false rumor. The news has already been confirmed by several Supreme Venerables."
Ancestor Ziyuan's voice was heavy.
The implications behind this were terrifying.
"That's a bit troublesome." Qi Yuan's expression turned serious as well.
"Hmph, presiding over the Linya Molt is a lethal weapon, especially against Great Ultimate Principles like us. If we refuse to enter the game, they can even stir the Astral Realm to induce our Root Demon Tribulations to erupt." Mentioning this, Ancestor Ziyuan looked grim.
In past Linya Molts, Great Ultimate Principles who refused to enter the game would also face the descent of the Root Demon Tribulation.
However, in the past, it was presided over by the Unique Hall.
The Unique Hall resided in the Seventh Heaven, understood little of the Sixth Heaven's affairs, and could not arbitrarily trigger the Root Demon Tribulations of other Great Ultimate Principles.
Those Great Ultimate Principles also had plenty of methods to evade it.
As long as they navigated the rules flawlessly, even the Unique Hall could do nothing to them.
In short, by Blue Star's understanding, the Unique Hall operated under the "rule of law," running the Linya Molt according to rules like an intelligent AI.
Now, switching to Taihuang Palace meant it had shifted to the "rule of man."
The rule of man could follow the law, but it could also loosen or tighten restrictions, fabricate its own regulations, or give green lights.
If targeted by Taihuang Palace, one would be struck hard by their supreme authority.
This was why the Moon Goddess Palace was currently in an unfavorable situation.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan merely sensed Taihuang Palace's might, but felt no fear.
Back on the Arch Star, he had even entered the Root Demon Sea; a trifling Root Demon Tribulation held no terror for him.
"Therefore, after marrying the Yue Nü, do not become too deeply entangled with the Moon Goddess Palace. During this period, it's best if you don't step into the Yang God Realm. If you don't enter the Yang God Realm, the Linya Molt is far removed from you," Ancestor Ziyuan said.
The Linya Molt was only aimed at Yang Gods.
As long as Blood Robe did not become a Yang God, he would remain safe.
"Rest assured, I'm far from becoming a Yang God!" Qi Yuan was merely at the Purple Mansion Realm; he truly was far from a Yang God.
Then, pondering something, Qi Yuan asked, "My grand wedding with the Yue Nü won't drag you down, will it? For example, Taihuang Palace hitting you with a Root Demon Tribulation or something?"
"Hmph, Taihuang Palace wouldn't bother over such a small matter. Even if they preside over the Linya Molt, they must abide by the rules on the surface. If they fail to comply, would the other Supreme Venerables agree to let them act with utter impunity? As long as you didn't kill that lord's father or jump in his face, nothing will happen! Besides, I, Ancestor Ziyuan, am no pushover!"
Ancestor Ziyuan declared with overbearing confidence.
Every Great Ultimate Principle possessed their own pride.
While the master of Taihuang Palace indeed possessed the strength to slay him, he was no soft persimmon to be kneaded at will.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan's mind was put at ease.
Fortunately, he had never met that person's father—he had merely wiped out his Three Thousand Realms and destroyed his three thousand past bodies.
No big deal.
"You brat, hurry back. When you disappeared, Ziyuan Daxue blamed herself immensely, saying she shouldn't have brought out the Black Cloud Blood Steed or sworn to the heavens, or you wouldn't have met with such calamity!"
With a wave of his sleeve, Ancestor Ziyuan vanished.
"Horn Sister would actually grieve for me?"
Qi Yuan found it strange and decided to go take a look.
About half an hour later.
Qi Yuan stared speechlessly at Horn Sister, who was weeping profusely while eating hotpot.
She opened her mouth, and mushrooms tumbled from her lips straight into the hotpot.
Indeed, the ingredients came directly from her mouth.
"Oh, Blood Robe! Big sister knew you'd be fine. You're still alive! Here, have a mushroom!"
***
**Chapter 450: The Path of the Yin God, Faces of Sentient Beings, War Begins**
"Didn't the old man say you were racked with guilt and steeped in gloom?"
Qi Yuan kept his distance from Horn Sister, worried that if he got too close, the mushrooms tumbling from her mouth might fly into his.
"That's right! Can't you see I'm washing my face with tears?" Ziyuan Daxue looked quite pleased to see Qi Yuan.
"Do tears sprout from your mouth in your family?" Qi Yuan was rendered speechless.
Ziyuan Daxue was indeed "weeping profusely," but the tears streamed from her mouth.
To an ordinary person, it would look like drool.
In truth, however, it was tears.
"Did anyone decree that tears can only flow from the eyes?" Ziyuan Daxue mused.
This stumped Qi Yuan again.
He felt the phrase was awfully familiar, as if he had said it before.
He suspected Ziyuan Daxue was plagiarizing him, but he had no proof.
"Do you want some mushrooms? Freshly made, very tender!" Ziyuan Daxue picked up a mushroom and moved to offer it to Qi Yuan.
"Stay back. I don't eat mouth-mushrooms, nor do I eat imported ones," Qi Yuan refused.
"Are you disgusted by me?" Ziyuan Daxue's eyes widened.
"Heh, you figured it out?"
"You... sigh, you simply have no idea what a blessing it is to find a self-reliant woman who produces and consumes her own goods," Ziyuan Daxue lamented.
"I'd be better off finding a tree—at least it can photosynthesize!"
Hearing this, Ziyuan Daxue fell into deep thought.
Recalling something, she asked slowly, "To survive an assassination attempt by Yang Gods of Guiyu Heaven is truly extraordinary. I almost had to attend your funeral feast."
In Ziyuan Daxue's eyes, Blood Robe was merely a Yin God; facing a lethal strike from Yang Gods, there should have been no chance of survival.
"This time, Guiyu Heaven targeted not only Hei Jian, but also you. It seems... they are dead set on declaring war on our Black Demon Abyss!" Mentioning this, Ziyuan Daxue showed some concern.
With the arrival of the Linya Molt, the situation in the Sixth Heaven grew increasingly intricate and volatile.
"War?"
Hearing this, Qi Yuan's eyes lit up.
His Human Sovereign Banner was still lacking fertilizer!
And what fertilizer was of the finest quality? Naturally, the Ten Thousand Soul Banners and Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banners of Guiyu Heaven—especially the one wielded by the Banner Lord.
"Yes," Ziyuan Daxue nodded. "With Hei Jian and you attacked, if our Black Demon Abyss doesn't respond, wouldn't we be looked down upon?"
Qi Yuan nodded. "Sigh, looks like I showed too much high emotional intelligence earlier."
When meeting Ancestor Ziyuan, Qi Yuan had been tactful and hadn't dwelt on Guiyu Heaven's ambush.
After all, the Banner Lord of Guiyu Heaven was among the second tier of Great Ultimate Principles, wielding immense power.
Ancestor Ziyuan couldn't beat him. If Qi Yuan had brought it up, what if the filial old man went straight to seek revenge on his behalf?
Sometimes, ignorance truly was bliss.
"War will likely break out soon. Do you want to take to the battlefield?" Ziyuan Daxue asked. "The military merits should be quite generous."
"I can consider it," Qi Yuan agreed.
He didn't care about military merits; his focus was on his Human Sovereign Banner.
He was certainly no match for the genuine Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner right now.
However, if he absorbed the branch banners of those disciples, steadily devouring and nurturing them under his care, things would be different. How would the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul Banner dare rebel?
He was the orthodox line.
Right now, he was very poor and truly lacked an offensive Creation Treasure.
Although the old man Ancestor Ziyuan was very filial, he was clearly broke and couldn't produce an offensive Creation Treasure to pay respect to him.
"When the time comes, team up with me! Big sister and Ziyuan Xiaolu will avenge you!" Ziyuan Daxue said casually, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "It seems I shouldn't step into the Yang God Realm anytime soon. With my current strength, I can easily cover you on the battlefield!"
As she spoke, Ziyuan Daxue patted her ample chest, compressing an indescribable curve into an exaggerated arc. What should have been a rather alluring sight was instantly robbed of all desire when combined with the mushrooms spewing furiously from her mouth.
"What, you dare not look at me? Afraid you'll fall in love?" Ziyuan Daxue's eyes curved with a triumphant smile. She sat sprawling, the fair white skin of her thighs peeking beneath her skirt in boundless splendor.
"No, I just don't want to hit you with the male gaze!" Qi Yuan replied. Even if Horn Sister didn't mind, Qi Yuan possessed high emotional intelligence.
After all, one more glance constituted harassment.
If he entertained improper thoughts, it would be even worse—he might get publicly canceled online or even tossed in the slammer.
Returning to his cave abode, Qi Yuan opened the formations once more.
The display of the Exquisite Jade Tide activated.
A graceful silhouette appeared in Qi Yuan's view.
Jin Li wore a vibrant tangerine palace gown. While it contrasted slightly with her aloof countenance, it lent her an air of warmth, passion, and generosity.
The gown was tailored with exquisite precision, accentuating her alluring curves.
The slightly open collar revealed fair, delicate skin like white jade, inviting caresses.
Beneath her cold, pretty visage, a hint of charm lingered between her brows.
In the past, Jin Li had dressed in rather muted colors; only after reuniting with Qi Yuan had her wardrobe gained a touch of brightness.
"I have good news: Heavenly Venerable Yuehua has agreed. You won't have to give up your status as a Yue Nü. Once we pick an auspicious day, I can come marry you. What time do you think is suitable?" Qi Yuan looked at Jin Li's breathtaking face, a radiant smile on his lips.
Hearing this, pleasant surprise welled in Jin Li's beautiful eyes. "I will follow my lord's arrangement."
"It seems I need to find a good day," Qi Yuan pondered.
When they were married in the game last time, almost no friends or family had attended.
This time, he could invite many friends.
Qi Yuan even wondered whether he should hold supplementary weddings for Ning Tao and Canary on the Stellar Golden Core.
Still, it was merely a passing thought.
He had brought it up before, but Ning Tao and Canary had rejected the idea.
"Any time suits me," Jin Li murmured softly, appearing somewhat reserved.
Qi Yuan looked at Jin Li, his gaze placid.
Whenever he chatted with Jin Li remotely, she always carried a trace of modesty, appearing somewhat restrained; yet whenever they met in person, she was extraordinarily passionate.
Back when they met at the Moon Goddess Palace, she had nearly pinned Qi Yuan down.
Because they weren't yet married, they hadn't crossed the final line, but Jin Li had been remarkably proactive. Despite her usually cold demeanor, her alluring contrast had nearly broken Qi Yuan's composure.
Indeed, when meeting in private, she had a tiny streak of lust—though it was mostly born of endless eras of longing and affection.
This was perfectly normal; Qi Yuan liked indulgence as well.
Since wine and lust harmed the body, Qi Yuan never drank wine.
Now, seeing Jin Li's dignified appearance, Qi Yuan couldn't resist saying, "Can I see your legs?"
A blush instantly climbed onto her cheeks. Biting her lower lip, she reached down and slowly gathered her skirt upward.
Beneath the intricate gown, delicate jade-like feet and slender, porcelain calves were unveiled, exuding boundless allure...
"Do you like it?" A spring pool rippled in Jin Li's eyes, shimmering alongside her trembling voice.
"Blue Star folk don't lie to Immortal Realm folk. I love it."
"Next time... I shall greet you like this..."
"If you do that, I'm definitely not sleepy anymore."
***
The Human Sovereign Banner fluttered.
Qi Yuan fell into deep thought.
"All living beings in the world have two sides, or rather, they are complex."
"Once, he was an ordinary cultivator, a prodigy of his realm. Aside from the minor habit of picking his feet, he was nearly flawless—the very hope of his small world.
Yet one day, the cultivators of Guiyu Heaven descended and decimated that small world.
He turned from a prodigy into a ferocious soul envoy. But after my righteous reformation, he transformed into a fine ghost who warms old ladies' bedquilts!"
Qi Yuan was composing the Qi Yuan Scripture, seeking to step onto the path of the Yin God.
During the Ultimate Principle Dao Discussion Conference, he had already gained some insights.
"The path of the Yin God lies in the spirit. To become a god, one must see through all things in the world, and even... master a craft. For instance... world creation?
That way, even if I grow old and get laid off by a sweatshop, I can still find a new job to support myself."
"However, before that, I must understand human nature, comprehend all things... and perceive what lies within every person's heart."
As the saying went, making a million a month wasn't as good as a steady job paying three thousand, and neither was as good as mastering a trade.
To become a god, one needed technical expertise.
To create a world, one had to understand the many faces of sentient beings.
Take Jin Li: to outsiders, she was aloof as a chrysanthemum, frosty and unapproachable. Yet toward Qi Yuan, she was fiery as a blaze, wanting to consume him and melt him into her very body.
This aspect was also a face among the myriad forms of life.
"Therefore... the forthcoming Qi Yuan Scripture can draw upon the insights I gained in the Mortal Heart Realm: All sentient beings are me!"
With this thought, Qi Yuan's mind opened up with sudden clarity.
He felt as though he could see his path toward the Yin God.
About half a month passed.
Qi Yuan ceased composing the Qi Yuan Scripture.
"It can be considered... more than half complete. Now I just wait to enter the game."
Cultivating in reality was too slow; Qi Yuan still preferred cultivating inside the game.
He sent his consciousness into the game jade slip.
A look of mild surprise crossed his face.
"It's only been half a month, yet it has loaded so much?
A full four-fifths?"
Qi Yuan was thrilled and excited.
As his strength grew, the game's loading speed had begun to slow down.
Sometimes waiting several months would only load a tiny sliver. These past ten-odd days were worth more than half a year of ordinary progress.
"Not bad, not bad at all. It seems... it won't be long. I wonder what genre and style this next game will be?"
Qi Yuan mused.
Over the past dozen days, he had not only composed the Qi Yuan Scripture, but also consumed the Black Demon Ancestral Blood given by Ancestor Ziyuan to cultivate the Ancestral Blood Art, breaking through to the twelfth level.
Now, his strength had surged once more.
Apart from Great Ultimate Principles, he dared to clash head-on with anyone.
If he could obtain an offensive Creation Treasure, he would dare to hand out escort flyers right in front of Taihuang Palace's gates.
"Senior Brother Blood Robe, a great battle is about to begin! Come quickly!"
Right at this moment, Ziyuan Xiaolu's well-behaved voice called out.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan remained completely unhurried.
He knew that the Black Demon Abyss and Guiyu Heaven had declared war.
These two colossal behemoths, having clashed repeatedly, had finally entered open warfare.
This would likely raise the curtain on the Linya Molt.
"War has broken out?" Qi Yuan's figure appeared, coming to a halt beside Ziyuan Xiaolu.
On Ziyuan Xiaolu's pink horns, a bow was tied to one side, while a mushroom hung from the other, giving her a rather peculiar look.
"Yes, war has broken out, but..." Ziyuan Xiaolu hesitated. "It is not an all-out war!"
When Guiyu Heaven attacked Blood Robe and Hei Jian, it meant reconciliation between the two factions was impossible.
War was inevitable.
"Not an all-out war?"
"Right. Our Black Demon Abyss has nine divisions in total, but only five... support going to war!" Mentioning this, Ziyuan Xiaolu looked deeply indignant.
Chapter 452