As soon as these words were spoken, the gazes of the Ultimate Principles of Moon Goddess Palace deepened.
Was a mere Yue Nü truly worth Heavenly Venerable Yuehua escorting her in person?
At this moment, they all understood: Heavenly Venerable Yuehua's escort was merely an excuse, and forging a deeper connection with Black Demon Abyss was the real purpose.
This surprised Ancestor Ziyuan somewhat as well.
He glanced at Qi Yuan with tangled thoughts.
*Could it be that this Blood Robe is Moon Goddess Yuanjun's illegitimate son?*
Otherwise, why would Moon Goddess Yuanjun dote on Blood Robe so much?
Soon enough, however, his suspicion was shattered.
Once their deliberations concluded, Qi Yuan stepped forward. "Heavenly Venerable Yuehua, might this junior meet Moon Goddess Yuanjun?"
Qi Yuan was still unwilling to let go of finding the whereabouts of his master, Ruan Yixi.
Heavenly Venerable Yuehua's gaze flickered, and she said softly, "The Supreme Venerable is still in secluded cultivation and cannot receive visitors."
Hearing this, Qi Yuan was somewhat disappointed.
He looked deeply at the Moon Goddess Hall, and when his gaze fell upon Jin Li's snow-white face, a smile returned to his expression.
...
Half a day later.
Ziyuan Heaven.
Ancestor Ziyuan looked at Qi Yuan with a bizarre expression. "What is your relationship with Moon Goddess Yuanjun?"
"Huh? No relationship at all. I've never even met her," Qi Yuan answered truthfully.
"Along the way, Heavenly Venerable Yuehua was a bit excessively... amiable toward you." Ancestor Ziyuan wore a look of utter perplexity.
Over this half-day, he, Blood Robe, Heavenly Venerable Yuehua, and Jin Li had taken a flying boat toward Ziyuan Heaven.
Heavenly Venerable Yuehua's attitude toward Blood Robe had not resembled treating a junior in the slightest; she had treated him almost like an equal.
"All people are equal. Shouldn't she be amiable toward me?" Qi Yuan couldn't help but say.
"Hmph, she is a Great Ultimate Principle in possession of an offensive Creation Treasure," Ancestor Ziyuan said.
There was another sentence he left unsaid.
Heavenly Venerable Yuehua respected Blood Robe more than she respected him.
Clearly, he was the fellow Great Ultimate Principle here!
"Aren't you a Great Ultimate Principle as well? You're quite amiable to me, too," Qi Yuan remarked.
Ancestor Ziyuan was taken aback for a second before snapping, "Can that be the same thing?"
Just then, the flying boat's curtains parted, and Heavenly Venerable Yuehua walked out with Jin Li.
Dressed in a long white dress, Jin Li was cold and aloof, looking every bit like an immortal fairy from the Moon Palace.
Heavenly Venerable Yuehua looked up toward the Astral Realm and suddenly sighed with emotion. "The Linya Molt is about to begin. Black Demon Abyss will likely be thrown into turbulence. I hope it won't affect... the two of you."
Her eyes settled on Qi Yuan and Jin Li.
"Don't worry. With me here, no one will harm Jin Li."
Cheesy romantic lines and domineering CEO declarations were things Qi Yuan was rather adept at.
After all, such lines depended heavily on who delivered them.
If a goblin said them, listeners would probably find it greasy and cringeworthy. But coming from an exceptionally handsome man like Qi Yuan—sorry, it was just charming and witty.
As Qi Yuan spoke, he took hold of Jin Li's cool little hand.
Jin Li stood quietly, merely gazing at Qi Yuan.
Traveling aboard the flying boat and transferring through teleportation arrays, the group finally arrived at Ziyuan Heaven.
Of course, had Jin Li not been with them, a journey between Great Ultimate Principles would never have taken so long.
Right after reaching Ziyuan Heaven, just as Heavenly Venerable Yuehua was about to speak, she suddenly raised her head to look toward the Astral Realm in the sky.
Ancestor Ziyuan immediately looked toward the Astral Realm as well.
Within Ziyuan Heaven, countless Yang Gods and cultivators seemed to sense something, casting their eyes up toward the Astral Realm.
At this moment, starlight in the Astral Realm surged as vast as an ocean, pouring down upon all the heavens.
The stellar projections seemed caught within a river of stars, swirling into a vortex.
"The Linya Molt... is finally about to begin," Heavenly Venerable Yuehua sighed.
"The surging starlight is the harbinger of the All Heavens Inspection," Ancestor Ziyuan said, his eyes glinting.
Before the Linya Molt commenced, the heavens had to be inspected so that no Yang God Heavenly Venerable across the Six Heavens of the Immortal Realm had any place left to hide, leaving them no choice but to enter the Linya Molt board.
"Once the All Heavens Inspection concludes, this venerable one will return to Moon Goddess Palace," Heavenly Venerable Yuehua said with an indifferent countenance, glancing an extra time at Qi Yuan.
After all, Heavenly Venerable Yuehua was likely the only person in Moon Goddess Palace who knew Qi Yuan was Heavenly Venerable Mochi.
Now that Taihuang Palace was conducting the All Heavens Inspection, the truth that Blood Robe was Heavenly Venerable Mochi would inevitably be exposed.
She needed to lend Blood Robe some support.
"Sigh. I wonder how many unknown old monsters will emerge during this All Heavens Inspection," Ancestor Ziyuan lamented.
At that moment, Heavenly Venerable Yuehua waved her hand. "This is a Creation Treasure, the All Heavens Map of State. Wherever moonlight falls, it records. During this All Heavens Inspection, we can see for ourselves just how many hidden Yang Gods—or rather, Great Ultimate Principles—there are across these Six Heavens."
The All Heavens Map of State was an auxiliary Creation Treasure, essentially a miniature map of the Six Heavens.
The map possessed numerous functions, one of which was that when the heavens were inspected and starlight splashed across every realm, the light would be reflected upon the All Heavens Map of State.
Cultivators nearby would then clearly know where Yang God Heavenly Venerables lay dormant.
Ancestor Ziyuan stroked his beard. "Since we have nothing else to do, we might as well see how many Yang Gods are lurking within these Six Heavens."
Jin Li looked worriedly at Qi Yuan, the meaning in her eyes unmistakable.
Qi Yuan smiled, gripping Jin Li's hand even tighter as he transmitted his voice:
"Don't worry. I have a plan."
Jin Li calmed down slightly.
She recalled how, during her moment of peril in the past, Qi Yuan had dispatched the Robe Division Imperial Guard to rescue her from danger.
Back then, they had been separated by different times and spaces; now that they stood together, what was there to fear?
At least this time, she could stand by Qi Yuan's side and face it together.
Rather than watching helplessly as in the past.
Of course, Jin Li also knew that as she was now, she remained far too weak.
Even so, this time she would unwaveringly stand by Qi Yuan's side.
Heavenly Venerable Yuehua extended her hand and tossed the All Heavens Map of State into the sky.
The sky above Ziyuan Heaven shifted at that very moment.
The All Heavens Map of State blanketed the firmament, drawing the attention of countless cultivators.
Just then, a Yang God Heavenly Venerable called out, "This is the All Heavens Map of State from Moon Goddess Palace. Do not panic, everyone!"
His voice echoed in all directions. Only upon hearing this did the cultivators of Ziyuan Heaven let out a sigh of relief.
Ancestor Ziyuan glanced at Qi Yuan with an amiable smile. "Hurry and take Jin Li to meet your junior martial brothers and sisters. They have been eagerly looking forward to seeing Yue Nü Jin Li."
"Alright."
Qi Yuan nodded and flew toward a grand hall with Yue Nü Jin Li.
In this grand hall gathered many prodigies from Ziyuan Heaven, and even prodigies from various other places across Black Demon Abyss.
Seeing Qi Yuan and Yue Nü Jin Li arrive, these prodigies stood up one after another to salute.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Blood Robe! Greetings, Her Highness Yue Nü!"
At this moment, the young cultivators of Ziyuan Heaven all looked curiously at Jin Li, while their gazes toward Qi Yuan were filled with awe and admiration.
"Mhm. Why are so many of you gathered together today? Is there some joyous occasion? And... Bing Jian, you rascal, instead of properly incubating your egg, what did you come to our Ziyuan Heaven for?" Qi Yuan said casually as he led Jin Li along.
"We heard Her Highness Yue Nü is marrying Senior Brother Blood Robe. We were curious... so we came to have a look," Bing Jian said.
Blood Robe marrying Yue Nü was a matter that had caused quite a stir throughout Black Demon Abyss.
A sensation, even.
After all, that a Yue Nü could not marry was an iron rule of Moon Goddess Palace.
Yet this rule had actually been bent for Blood Robe. What was more, Yue Nü Jin Li was marrying Blood Robe while retaining her status as Yue Nü. How could that not astonish everyone?
"No wonder your cultivation grows so slowly. You have far too much curiosity," Qi Yuan couldn't help but remark.
Bing Jian chuckled and looked up at the All Heavens Map of State in the firmament. "We hit the jackpot this time! Not only do we get to see Her Highness Yue Nü, but we also get to witness the All Heavens Map of State!"
"Exactly. We can also see just how many Yang Gods lie dormant in these Six Heavens of ours."
The other prodigies were deeply intrigued as well.
Ziyuan Xiaolu was clearly uninterested in such things. Her gaze was somewhat complicated, and she finally turned to An Xunlu beside her. "Do you see that? Senior Brother Blood Robe is marrying Yue Nü Jin Li! The number one prodigy of Black Demon Abyss can only be Senior Brother Blood Robe!"
"Hmph, look at you getting all excited! It's not like he's marrying you!" An Xunlu shot back immediately.
"You!" Ziyuan Xiaolu glared furiously at An Xunlu, racking her brain for words to retort.
At that moment, a sudden commotion broke out among the prodigies present.
"Look, light is appearing! The All Heavens Inspection has begun!"
"That location is the First Heaven!"
"The inspection starts from the First Heaven!"
At this moment, everyone's attention shifted to the All Heavens Map of State.
A burst of radiance flared within the Astral Realm above the sky.
The entirety of the Six Heavens seemed to illuminate, leaving no trace of night for the time being.
Points of light manifested one after another across the All Heavens Map of State.
Down in the First Heaven, countless cultivators beheld pillar upon pillar of starlight soaring skyward from distant territories, brilliantly dazzling and captivating all who saw them.
"Anyone who didn't know better would think Berlin's flak guns opened fire," Qi Yuan muttered under his breath.
Within the First Heaven, all cultivators who witnessed that vast starlight bowed reverently toward it from afar.
For each beam represented a Yang God Heavenly Venerable!
"The First Heaven actually has so many Yang Gods!"
"Among the Six Heavens, aside from the Sixth Heaven, the First Heaven possesses the greatest strength!"
"The First Heaven has the highest number of Yang Gods among all Six Heavens."
"Judging by how the starlight flows like streams, most of them are Heavenly Position Realm Yang Gods!"
"Wait, many are like rivers! Who would have thought... so many Ultimate Principles were hiding in the First Heaven?"
Qi Yuan also watched the All Heavens Map of State, his gaze calm.
"The Immortal Dao's flourishing state truly encompasses so many Yang Gods."
Qi Yuan felt a touch of awe.
Yet upon reflection, with so many stars in the Astral Realm projecting onto all the heavens, having this many Yang Gods was only natural.
At this moment, the top of the All Heavens Map of State was covered in brightness, catching the attention of many onlookers.
"Starlight like a lake... The First Heaven even holds Great Ultimate Principles!"
"Not just one—there are seven of them!"
"They certainly hid deeply!"
"Wait, they aren't Great Ultimate Principles, but bizarre creatures possessing Great Ultimate Principle combat strength!"
"Like that Human Sovereign Hall Emissary?"
At this moment, as Taihuang Palace inspected all the heavens, Yang Gods from the various sacred lands gazed down upon the lower realms.
Within Taihuang Palace, a complicated emotion flickered in Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan's eyes. "This venerable one seems to see many old friends."
Beside him, Heavenly Venerable Tairi resembled a blazing sun. "The powerhouses of this world far outnumber what one would imagine."
"Which is why this Linya Molt will be all the livelier," Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan said, a look of surprise crossing his face. "That Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable didn't hide in the First Heaven. That is truly unexpected."
Beyond ferreting out all Yang Gods, this All Heavens Inspection was meant to uncover that Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable who had dared to provoke Taihuang Palace.
According to Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan's deduction, Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable ought to have hidden in the First Heaven.
After all, among the Six Heavens, the First Heaven was the vastest and the easiest in which to lie low.
Yet when the heavens were inspected and the First Heaven's starlight surged into the sky, it did not resonate with the stars belonging to Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable.
This meant that Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable was not in the First Heaven.
"No matter. Whichever heaven he hides in, he is dead without a doubt!"
"It has begun! The Second Heaven is being inspected!"
Meanwhile, in the grand hall of Ziyuan Heaven, Ziyuan Daxue's gaze landed upon Qi Yuan.
"Blood Robe, why did you suddenly change into a different set of clothes?"
When Blood Robe appeared earlier, he wore blood-red robes; now they had turned black.
The others also glanced at Qi Yuan, slightly stunned.
Some thought Ziyuan Daxue possessed an exceptionally sharp eye for detail.
"I suspect you need to see an eye doctor. I didn't change clothes; I merely dyed my robes black," Qi Yuan said flatly.
Hearing this, everyone was left somewhat speechless.
Everyone else is watching the All Heavens Map of State, and you're here dyeing your clothes?
Then again, considering this was Blood Robe, everything made complete sense.
"Why dye them for no reason?" Ziyuan Daxue asked, puzzled.
"I'm not telling," Qi Yuan said, not wanting to answer.
He had reasoned that if he dyed his blood robe black, wouldn't it block out the starlight when the heavens were inspected?
Thinking this way, he truly was a genius.
Ziyuan Daxue yawned and said no more.
Everyone's focus returned to the All Heavens Map of State.
Bing Jian appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was growing impatient.
After all, he was soon going to blind everyone with his dazzling brilliance.
"The Second Heaven has so few Yang Gods?"
"The Third Heaven doesn't even have as many Ultimate Principles as the First Heaven?"
"The Fourth Heaven doesn't have a single Great Ultimate Principle? How pathetic!"
"Whoa, the Fifth Heaven still has real power! The Buddha Realm actually gained four more Yang God Heavenly Venerables!"
"Wait, that's not right. Didn't they only gain one more Lord Buddha? How could..."
"Something's wrong! Look at the Moluo Clan—there isn't even a single wisp of starlight!"
"What?!"
At this moment, within the Moluo Clan, countless Yin Gods blinked their eyes in confusion.
"What's going on?"
"Where are the Heavenly Venerables?"
"Why is our Moluo Clan completely silent?"
The cultivators of the Moluo Clan were utterly dumbfounded.
Their Moluo Clan had several dozen Yang God Heavenly Venerables.
Yet right now... not a single wisp of starlight appeared.
How could they not be shocked?
Meanwhile, a Yin God named Mu Lan witnessed this scene, and his previously anxiety-ridden eyes finally lit up with wild delight.
"Hahaha! He finally left! He's finally gone!"
"That terrifying person has finally left!"
During this recent period, Mu Lan had been living in perpetual terror.
For he had discovered that all the Yang Gods of the Moluo Clan were actually being played by a single person!
Knowing this secret, he had constantly walked on eggshells, living in terror.
Now that those Yang Gods had vanished, how could he not rejoice?
Meanwhile, up in the Sixth Heaven, the Great Ultimate Principles of Taihuang Palace wore astonished expressions.
"The Yang Gods of the Moluo Clan have actually cleared out! Where did they go?"
"Bizarre!"
"Their stars are clearly still there!"
Heavenly Venerable Tairi wore an odd expression. "I am very curious as to where Heavenly Venerable Mochi, who comprehended two Supreme Ultimate Principles, is right now."
Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan narrowed his eyes, his expression complicated. "It seems the Moluo Clan has grand designs for this Linya Molt. Yet no matter what they scheme, they cannot escape Taihuang Palace's sight!"
"That Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable isn't in the Fifth Heaven either. It seems he fled to the Sixth Heaven. His courage... is quite formidable!"
"Wherever the great sun shines, nothing can hide. Rest assured, his days are numbered!"
As Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan spoke, reverence surfaced in his gaze.
Because the All Heavens Inspection... had begun inspecting the Sixth Heaven.
At the same time, Heavenly Venerable Yuehua gave Qi Yuan a deeply meaningful look.
In truth, she was also curious where all those Yang God Heavenly Venerables of the Moluo Clan had gone.
"Look! Starlight like an ocean—that's a Supreme Venerable!"
"That's the Supreme Venerable of Biluo Heaven!"
Upon the All Heavens Map of State, starlight spread like an ocean, profound and boundless.
When they raised their heads and looked toward Biluo Heaven's direction, they likewise saw that ocean-like starlight.
"Another ocean of starlight... That's a curious land!"
"Could this be..."
"Two Supreme Venerables! As expected, the Ultimate Principle Society has two Supreme Venerables!"
As the inspection swept across the Sixth Heaven, more and more Yang Gods grew excited, their nerves pulled taut.
For the top-tier combat power of the Sixth Heaven was simply overwhelming.
One could even say that Ultimate Principles, so rarely seen in the lower realms, were practically ubiquitous in the Sixth Heaven.
Meanwhile, several Yang God Heavenly Venerables began paying close attention to the number of Yang Gods in each major power across the Sixth Heaven.
After all, once the Linya Molt began, the various factions would immediately clash; they had to determine whether their rivals were hiding trump cards.
"Shenluo Heaven actually gained another Great Ultimate Principle! How deeply hidden!"
"The Ultimate Principles in White Dragon Abyss increased by seven? What happened?"
"Moon Goddess Palace has quite a few fewer Yang Gods..."
Cries of astonishment and whispered discussions intermingled.
At the same time, without needing the All Heavens Map of State, the cultivators of Ziyuan Heaven could directly see countless beams of starlight erupting into the sky, boundless, terrifying, and majestic.
The entire Sixth Heaven shone as bright as day at this moment.
Bing Jian's nerves were particularly taut right now.
Because... the All Heavens Inspection... was about to reach Ziyuan Heaven!
At that moment, Bing Jian smoothed his hair with a hand and secretly struck a dashing pose.
After all, any moment now, he was going to shine with handsome brilliance!
"It's here!"
Within Ziyuan Heaven, the prodigies' hearts tightened immediately.
After all, they too were curious about how many Yang Gods were in Ziyuan Heaven.
Had someone secretly become a Yang God without anyone knowing?
Meanwhile, Qi Yuan was also a little nervous.
*If the starlight isn't too big, my black robes should be able to cover it. It'll be fine,*
he thought carefully to himself.
As a mere Purple Mansion cultivator, even if he possessed Great Ultimate Principle combat power, how much starlight could he possibly have?
Ancestor Ziyuan stroked his beard. "The number of Yang Gods in our Ziyuan Heaven remains the same as before. If there is one extra, it's merely this fellow Bing Jian."
Of course, Bing Jian was not from Ziyuan Heaven.
Bing Jian's little scheme and disguise naturally could not escape the eyes of a Great Ultimate Principle.
The moment Ancestor Ziyuan's words fell, a beam of starlight violently surged skyward within Ziyuan Heaven.
The lake-like starlight emanating from Ancestor Ziyuan was exceptionally radiant and thick.
And the starlight from Heavenly Venerable Yuehua was conspicuously far thicker than Ancestor Ziyuan's.
"Our Ziyuan Heaven doesn't have many Yang God Heavenly Venerables, so there is no need to pa—"
As he spoke, he abruptly halted mid-sentence.
At that very moment, his gaze snapped toward the area where Bing Jian stood.
Heavenly Venerable Yuehua also whipped her head around to look.
Throughout the Sixth Heaven, numerous Yang Gods sensed something and turned their attention to Ziyuan Heaven one after another.
A beam of starlight erupted from Bing Jian like a stream, shooting into the sky.
Bing Jian felt lightheaded with glee, just preparing to bask in everyone's flattering gazes.
Suddenly, he shut his eyes tight.
"Holy crap, who the hell cast an illumination spell?! My eyes are blinded!"
In an instant, he felt an incandescent, dazzling brilliance—endless scintillating radiance erupting skyward right beside him.
Even though he was a Yang God, at this moment he couldn't help but squeeze his eyes shut.
When he opened his eyes again, he was entirely dumbfounded.
Not far ahead, Blood Robe's black robes seemed riddled with holes.
Endless, boundless starlight was continuously shooting into the sky!
This sight... was somewhat wrong!
Even a Supreme Venerable's starlight was nowhere near as magnificent and vast as what was before his eyes.
It was as if over a thousand Yang Gods were crammed together, constantly bursting with light.
This wasn't the starlight of a single Yang God!
Was this... thousands of beams?!
Such brilliance defied description.
Trembling, Bing Jian blinked his eyes in disbelief.
"Blood Robe, did you hide thousands of light bulbs inside your clothes?!"
Chapter 476