The Great Sun Has Vanished? Root Demon Tribulation!

The hearts and minds of countless cultivators and Yang Gods were on edge. Involuntarily, their eyes turned toward that Great Sun in the Astral Realm, as well as the ten suns suspended aloft. They had no way of knowing what was transpiring within the Gate of Ultimate Principle. Only through the stellar projections could they divine the outcome of this battle. Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan stood in the void, flanked and guarded by a host of Yang Gods. Sweeping his gaze in all directions, he said coldly, "This Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable is far too arrogant. He has no inkling of how terrifying a Supreme Venerable truly is. This time... the foremost Creation Treasure of the immortal realm shall belong to my Taihuang Palace!" Hearing his voice, the nearby experts reacted in varying ways. Some were weighed down with worry, while others were lost in complex contemplations. Within the Ultimate Principle Society: "Had we known earlier that he possessed the Gate of Ultimate Principle, we should have lent a hand. Now... that gate has fallen right into the Great Sun's hands." "With the Great Sun's might, combined with the Gate of Ultimate Principle, the Sixth Heaven will... Sigh. This Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable was quite foolish. He delusionally thought he could gamble a little to win big, oblivious to the fact that before an existence as mighty as a Supreme Venerable, all schemes are useless." As Supreme Venerables themselves, the two of them naturally knew how terrifyingly powerful a Supreme Venerable was. It could be said that a Supreme Venerable was stronger than ordinary Great Ultimate Principles could even imagine. The two Supreme Venerables fell into deep contemplation, pondering how things would stand once the Great Sun emerged. In Biluo Heaven: An old man clad in a coir raincoat looked like nothing more than an ordinary little elder. "It seems that the victor this time... will be the Only." In White Dragon Abyss: The White Dragon Abyss Lord wore a conflicted expression. "No wonder he was unwilling to sire a child with me. It turns out... he possessed the Gate of Ultimate Principle." As she spoke, she looked toward the stars in the Astral Realm, a look of anticipation in her eyes. All these Yang God Heavenly Venerables were convinced that a titanic battle was raging inside the Gate of Ultimate Principle. And the victor would be the Great Sun. However, their judgment was completely mistaken. Inside the Gate of Ultimate Principle, all was deathly silent; no battle was taking place whatsoever. Or rather... the two kings never met. Vast and boundless, the starry sky was magnificent. Gazing into the distance, stars resembled pearls strung along ribbons of color, like an inverted Milky Way hanging in the void. Dazzling and immense. Qi Yuan stood amidst this vast cosmos with a conflicted expression. He shouted into the boundless universe, "Great Sun, your daddy's calling you home for dinner!" Even in the vacuum, Qi Yuan's voice still propagated, traversing a million li in an instant. Yet the sound produced no echo; in this boundless universe, it could not stir even the slightest ripple. Qi Yuan shrugged. "Sure enough, the universe is just too big. Who knows where that Great Sun was teleported to." Qi Yuan knew there was a genuine gap in strength between himself and the Great Sun. In a head-on clash, he would most likely lose. Thus, he had put his clever brain to work and outsmarted him. He had never planned to face the Great Sun head-on. Instead, he had set a trap, making it look as though he had been pushed to his absolute limit by Taihuang Palace's oppression, taking out the Gate of Ultimate Principle in desperation to force a one-for-one trade with the Great Sun. Yet the moment the Great Sun stepped through the Gate of Ultimate Principle, Qi Yuan had simply dropped the gate randomly into the universe where his Stellar Golden Cores resided. Then, he promptly retrieved it. So in truth, when the Great Sun pushed open the door, what he stepped into was not the inside of the Gate of Ultimate Principle at all, but an endless universe. The universe was vast, far larger than even the Sixth Heaven. Exiled within it, the Great Sun was severed from the Sixth Heaven. "Powerful beings from the Sixth Heaven will instantly perish upon stepping into another universe." Qi Yuan muttered to himself. This was information he had gathered in the Sixth Heaven. Beings from the Sixth Heaven could not travel to other universes via curious lands without perishing on the spot. Furthermore, beings from other universes who entered the Sixth Heaven through curious lands could never return to their original universe, or they too would perish. "Still... I have a sneaking suspicion that the Great Sun won't die that easily." Through his arrangements back in the Sixth Heaven, his Divine Infants in the Buddha Realm transmitted a message at this moment: the Great Sun's stellar projection remained intact. "Could it be that this universe isn't real, or is there another reason?" "Or perhaps... this universe is unowned?" Qi Yuan could not help speculating. Precisely because it was ownerless, the Great Sun Supreme Venerable had not perished immediately upon entering. At that moment, space flickered. Ning Tao in a black dress and Canary in an orange-yellow dress appeared, both petite, delicate, and charmingly lovely. Without a shred of hesitation, a soft, supple body crashed right into Qi Yuan's embrace, latching onto him like a koala. Kisses rained down as the young maiden's tender lips claimed his without restraint. "I missed you so much!" Canary's eyes overflowed with intense longing and affection as she boldly poured out her feelings. Qi Yuan slipped one arm under the young maiden's thighs and supported her perky backside with the other, a wave of gentleness surfacing in his eyes. In contrast to Canary's bold passion, Ning Tao appeared far cooler and more reserved. The black dress accentuated the sickly, pale translucence of Ning Tao's skin, making her look like luminous white jade. Standing with her somewhat slender frame, a smile broke across her aloof and detached face. "Wherever the light of the Stellar Golden Cores reaches, no trace of the Great Sun has been found. He shouldn't be in our region." "Looks like he was teleported to some void elsewhere," Qi Yuan mused. The cosmos was unfathomably vast; even a Yang God Heavenly Venerable might spend an entire lifetime without ever reaching its ends. "If only I could have dropped him straight into a black hole. I wonder if a black hole could finish him off!" Qi Yuan pondered. As he spoke, he reached out with one hand and took hold of Ning Tao's chilly little hand. Ning Tao did not pull away, though her expression was rather solemn. "Husband, once you return, one day there is a hundred years here. If he remains here... his strength might advance very quickly. In fact, without the restrictions of the Immortal Dao Will, he might take to it like a fish to water." Hearing this, Qi Yuan showed no concern. "Cultivation isn't that easy to advance. This cosmos isn't even suitable for cultivators from the Sixth Heaven to practice in." When crafting his ultra-magnificent plan, he had already accounted for potential accidents. This universe was very strange and practically devoid of immortal spiritual energy. To put it plainly, it was worse off even than the mortal lower realms beneath the Sixth Heaven. For the Great Sun to merely preserve his cultivation here would already be an achievement; advancing his strength was out of the question. To suppose the Great Sun would suddenly stumble upon some miraculous encounter in this universe, pick up supreme treasures, and soar in strength? If one speculated along those lines, they might as well pack it up and quit. One might as well speculate that back in the Sixth Heaven, the Great Sun had a fortuitous encounter, picked up a supreme treasure, suddenly attained enlightenment, and turned out to be the reincarnation of a Dao Ancestor. "Even so, you must be careful. As vast as the universe is, there's still a one-in-a-billion chance you might run into him," Qi Yuan said. "If you do encounter him, flee to the Sixth Heaven immediately." Even with odds of one in a billion, caution was necessary. "Hmph. Husband, you underestimate me. Your servant has also been working hard to grow stronger," Ning Tao remarked calmly. With a wave of her pale hand, a terrifying power swept out in an instant. The surrounding stars trembled at once. Qi Yuan felt space and time around them lock in place for a fleeting breath. "A Great Ultimate Principle?" Qi Yuan blinked, somewhat surprised. The power Ning Tao had just displayed, even if not quite a full Great Ultimate Principle, was exceedingly close to one. She said proudly, "By refining Stellar Golden Cores every day, though my growth hasn't been as massive as yours, husband, it's still rather frightening. Should that Great Sun dare show his face here, lend me your Stellar Golden Cores, and I'll make sure he never leaves alive!" Each time she refined a Stellar Golden Core for Qi Yuan, his power increased by a notch, and as the alchemist, Ning Tao's strength grew in tandem. Moreover, in this universe, Qi Yuan's golden cores were actual stars, unlike the stellar projections in the Sixth Heaven. The might of these Stellar Golden Cores was all the more terrifying. While Ning Tao spoke with domineering confidence, Canary snuggled against Qi Yuan like a gentle bird, clinging to him without missing a single breath. Right then, Ning Tao's delicate brow furrowed. "Husband, you carry the scent of another woman." Canary paused her movements, curling up in Qi Yuan's arms, and twitched her little jade nose. "Smells pretty sweet, too." "It's Jin Li," Qi Yuan answered without hiding anything. Back on the Arch Star, Ning Tao and Canary had already known about Jin Li's existence. "So it's Little Sister Jin Li." "So it's Big Sister Jin Li." Canary and Ning Tao spoke simultaneously, their forms of address completely different. Tugging at the corner of her robe, Ning Tao glanced at the distant stars. A trace of reluctance lingered deep in her eyes, yet she said resolutely, "Husband, head back quickly. Though the Great Sun is gone, Taihuang Palace's threat remains." Qi Yuan nodded and scooped Ning Tao up with one arm as well. A momentary panic flashed across Ning Tao's face. After all, the persona she maintained leaned toward the mature and dignified elder sister archetype. What dignified lady gets scooped up and cradled like a baby doll? Once her husband left, Canary would surely mock her endlessly. Qi Yuan planted a kiss on both Ning Tao's and Canary's cheeks, not wasting time on pretense. "I'm heading back." In that very instant, his figure vanished from sight. In the lonely universe, only the two petite figures of Ning Tao and Canary remained. "Hmph! See how much you lost out on by acting so reserved? I kissed Husband thirteen thousand times more than you did today!" Canary said smugly, flaunting her accomplishment. "Hmph. If you refined golden cores as fast as you kiss, Husband would already be invincible under the heavens!" "You're just jealous! Being so possessively minded will ruin your health! Acting so aloof and icy all the time, yet when you're in bed you're even more proact—" "You!" ... In the Sixth Heaven: Countless pairs of eyes were fixed outside Tiankun Curious Land. Jin Li was strung tight with tension, a faint undercurrent of worry in her eyes. Fortunately, the Moon Mark showed no sign that Qi Yuan had suffered severe injury, which was a blessing. Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan kept his eyes closed, though his interior was nowhere near as calm as his exterior suggested. Although the Great Sun's stellar projection was still present, the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable's stellar projection remained as well, which meant the Great Sun Supreme Venerable had not yet slain him. This could not help but sow doubt in his heart. The other Supreme Venerables and Yang God Heavenly Venerables harbored similar thoughts. By all reason, such a battle should have concluded swiftly. Just then, a sudden ripple stirred through space, and a languid voice drifted out: "Oh dear, wherever did Heavenly Venerable Great Sun go? How did he manage to lose me while following right behind?" Qi Yuan's figure emerged. Standing in the void with hands spread wide, an innocent look covered his face. "The Great Sun has gone missing! Don't blame me for human trafficking!" In that instant, every Yang God Heavenly Venerable across the Sixth Heaven watching the scene couldn't help rubbing their eyes, scarcely believing what was before them. "You... you actually came out?!" Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan could not believe his eyes either. The Great Sun Supreme Venerable and the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable had vanished together, yet the one who emerged was the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable. How could they not be shocked? A sense of absurdity swept over them, accompanied by a sudden surge of crisis. "This..." The White Dragon Abyss Lord's expression was particularly conflicted. Over these past few days, the emotional upheaval she had experienced surpassed everything in her past life combined. Blood Robe was the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable, had comprehended two Supreme Ultimate Principles, possessed the Gate of Ultimate Principle, and had even... made the Great Sun vanish into thin air. Which of these feats, taken alone, wouldn't shake the heavens to their core? Yet they had all occurred to a single person, and in such a short span of time. As things stood, the temperature in White Dragon Abyss had risen, devoid of any chilly air—she had sucked in sharp breaths until there was none left. Within the Ultimate Principle Society, the two Supreme Venerables were shaken to their core. The incomparably powerful Great Sun Supreme Venerable—the man vaguely regarded as the foremost expert of the Sixth Heaven—had entered the Gate of Ultimate Principle and vanished without a trace. The looks they directed toward Qi Yuan shifted from their earlier pity to deep wariness. For the first time, they truly took Qi Yuan seriously, no longer treating him as a mere junior. "Where have you hidden the Supreme Venerable?!" Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan roared in fury, though fear dominated his heart. "No idea. Maybe he came down with senile dementia and wandered off. Don't blame me, I'm not taking the fall!" Qi Yuan shifted the blame with frantic gusto. "You..." Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan's face turned utterly unsightly. At this point, Qi Yuan's expression chilled. "Didn't you say earlier that you wanted me to go to Taihuang Palace in person, kneel, and plead guilty? I'll be going to Taihuang Palace shortly, but... not to plead guilty. I'm going to hold you to account!" Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan's face paled, and the Yin Gods and Yang Gods behind him only now realized the gravity of the situation. Without the Great Sun, the Taihuang Palace of today... might truly be teetering in the storm. A wave of lingering terror seized Zhenyuan, but then, recalling something, his expression hardened once more with resolve. "Taihuang Palace is not a place you can come and go as you please!" Though he uttered harsh words, the urge to retreat had already taken root. Just then, Qi Yuan's expression shifted slightly as if sensing something. He shot Heavenly Venerable Zhenyuan a glance, his gaze laced with killing intent. "In one day's time, I will flatten Taihuang Palace!" The moment the words left his mouth, his figure vanished into thin air. This harsh declaration shook many Yang Gods. It seemed the Great Sun Supreme Venerable had truly been trapped somewhere by the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable, unable to break free for the time being. Yet even so, Taihuang Palace's foundation was frighteningly formidable. How dared this Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable? Could he still possess some hidden trump card? And yet, before absolute power, would those trump cards be of any use? After all, as long as one did not enter that mysterious Gate of Ultimate Principle, how could anyone without even a single person possessing a Great Ultimate Principle Engraving clash against Taihuang Palace on their home turf in the Sixth Heaven? All living beings were astounded. Yet having been shocked again and again, they grew numb and accustomed to it. Meanwhile, Ziyuan Heaven had devolved into complete chaos. Originally, though Ancestor Ziyuan was at a disadvantage in his battle against Sheng Wuming, his life was not in immediate danger. Who could have foreseen that Sheng Wuming would suddenly deploy Root Demon Blood, instantly triggering Ancestor Ziyuan's Root Demon Tribulation? The Root Demon Tribulation was what the cultivators of this realm feared above all else, especially the Ultimate Principle Yang Gods. Unless an Ultimate Principle Realm Yang God encountered the Linya Molt, it was nearly impossible for them to die. Yet among those Ultimate Principle Yang Gods who did perish, nearly two-thirds met their end under the Root Demon Tribulation. Hence, while some Yang God Heavenly Venerables in the Sixth Heaven forged bravely ahead, many who knew their limits chose to stagnate. Ancestor Ziyuan, for instance, had not advanced his cultivation realm for countless years specifically to delay the arrival of the Root Demon Tribulation. For he knew that once the Root Demon Tribulation descended, he would surely die. It could be said that apart from Yang Gods who had mastered a Supreme Ultimate Principle, all other Great Ultimate Principles—including second-tier Great Ultimate Principles like the White Dragon Abyss Lord—regarded the Root Demon Tribulation like a venomous scorpion. The Root Demon Tribulation hung like a blade over their heads, preventing these Great Ultimate Principles from daring to make progress. If one could pass through the Root Demon Tribulation unscathed, their strength could grow continuously, potentially even approaching that of a Supreme Venerable. Right now, Ancestor Ziyuan was trapped within the Root Demon Tribulation. The moment Sheng Wuming saw the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable emerge from Tiankun Curious Land, he fled without the slightest hesitation. Pacing anxiously, Ziyuan Tan wore a tense expression. "The Old Ancestor... he's trapped in the Root Demon Tribulation..." As one of the few Ultimate Principles in Ziyuan Heaven, he naturally knew the Old Ancestor could not endure another Root Demon Tribulation. If the Old Ancestor fell, Ziyuan Heaven would plummet to the Fifth Heaven, facing the danger of total destruction. The other Yang Gods, as well as Ziyuan Daxue and the rest, were equally fraught with worry. The Old Ancestor was the pillar holding up Ziyuan Heaven. At that moment, in the void, one half of Ancestor Ziyuan's body was withered, while the other half remained ruddy. The Root Demon Tribulation was eating away at his body and devouring his divine soul. His eyes grew clouded and muddled, clarity returning only in brief flickers. "Alas, this is my tribulation. There is no need for sorrow," Ancestor Ziyuan spoke, his voice filled with boundless desolation. He could already sense that his death was drawing near. He would not hold out for much longer. "The only silver lining is that Blood Robe actually walked out from the Gate of Ultimate Principle." Recalling this, a smile touched the corners of Ancestor Ziyuan's lips. "To witness this before dying makes this life worthwhile!" Yet Ancestor Ziyuan felt somewhat helpless; if that fellow Blood Robe saw him in such a miserable state, he would probably mock him. Hearing his words, the Yang Gods and prodigies of Ziyuan Heaven were all overcome with sorrow. Just then, a calm voice drifted over: "Why so sorrowful? I thought you were throwing a funeral banquet! I almost brought over speakers to play music for you! If you don't like speakers and prefer an organic touch, I can summon my Divine Infant marching band." Seeing the newcomer, the Yang Gods and prodigies present were shaken. "Blood Robe!" Ancestor Ziyuan looked at Blood Robe as well, squeezing out a desolate smile. "You fellow, your mouth is as loose as ever. Not even in death can I get some peace and quiet." "Die? What die?" Qi Yuan looked at Ancestor Ziyuan, utterly baffled. "You're doing fine, why would you die? With me watching your back, how could you possibly die!" At these words, Ancestor Ziyuan froze. Then he sighed. "This Root Demon Tribulation... I fear this old man cannot endure it." The Root Demon Tribulation and the Linya Molt were the two great tribulations of this realm's cultivators. "Minor issue. I know medicine; I can cure you," Qi Yuan said lazily. Unlike the tension and grief of the others, he appeared completely calm. "You're suffering from... kidney deficiency, which is why you can't resist the Root Demon Tribulation." With these words, much of the sorrow gripping the crowd's hearts was instantly dispelled. Ancestor Ziyuan glared at Qi Yuan. "You scoundrel, won't you leave this old man even a shred of face before I die? I have ten thousand kidneys! Strong as an ox!" "Old folks should accept their age. If your kidneys are shot, they're shot," Qi Yuan yawned. He naturally knew nothing of medicine. Even when diagnosing an illness, claiming the kidneys were weak did the trick. "Come, let me step into your Root Demon Tribulation and treat your kidneys." Saying so, Qi Yuan made his way toward Ancestor Ziyuan. A glint of gratification welled in Ancestor Ziyuan's eyes. "Brat, no one can help with my Root Demon Tribulation, but I appreciate the sentiment." Thinking of something, he said with solemn earnestness, "Before condensing a Great Ultimate Principle Engraving, you must never go to Taihuang Palace. Though no one knows where you tricked the Great Sun off to, that Great Sun in the Astral Realm remains and can still unleash terrifying power." "It's just a Root Demon Tribulation. What's the big deal? I've even seen the Root Demon Sea. Old man, keep your eyes wide open and watch how I cover for you!" Qi Yuan wasted no more words. Under the watchful eyes of all the Yang Gods and prodigies, he plunged headfirst into the Root Demon Tribulation. "Senior Brother Blood Robe!" "Blood Robe!" "He actually entered the Root Demon Tribulation!" "Is he courting death?!" Ancestor Ziyuan was stunned as well, never imagining Qi Yuan would plunge into the Root Demon Tribulation so decisively without any preparation. "Brat, get out of there quickly! The Root Demon Tribulation is no child's play, it involves—" Ancestor Ziyuan's voice trailed off mid-sentence, his eyes going wide in disbelief. Within the Root Demon Tribulation, countless colors and lines intertwined. The entire world resembled a giant ball of yarn. The lines protruding from the yarn ball were like tentacles, wrapping Ancestor Ziyuan in a miasma of evil, greed, and slaughter, constantly devouring his body and divine soul. The Root Demon Tribulation was no place for bystanders. Anyone who entered would be corroded by the Root Demons and driven mad. Yet the moment Qi Yuan stepped into the Root Demon Tribulation, where was any of the fierce, bared-teeth savagery those terrifying Root Demons had displayed before? Before Qi Yuan, they were like docile threads of yarn; not a single Root Demon made trouble for him. This sight truly dumbfounded Ancestor Ziyuan. "Brat, how... how did you do this? Are these Root Demons your relatives or something?" He was utterly mystified. Blood Robe was clearly the bloodline source of the Black Demon Abyss. The Black Demon Abyss bloodline had nothing whatsoever to do with Root Demons. Otherwise, how could Ancestor Ziyuan have suffered the agony of the Root Demon Tribulation? "They aren't my relatives. It's just... they look a bit like my origin divine ability," Qi Yuan remarked. The Virtual Realm Sovereign's Inner Demon Summons surged to life. At once, the aura around Qi Yuan grew eerie and bizarre. Greed, lust, gluttony... all manner of negative auras emanated from him. How similar this was to the aura of the Human Sovereign Hall Emissary outside Tiankun Curious Land back then. Yet now, within the Root Demon Tribulation, Ancestor Ziyuan suddenly realized that this aura... actually shared similarities with the Root Demons. "This is... an origin divine ability?" Ancestor Ziyuan was bewildered by the term. What an obscure concept. An origin divine ability from a Purple Mansion cultivator? "Devour... for me!" The blood-red longsword slashed out. The Devouring Primordial Physique Qi Yuan had obtained from the Mother of Inedia also came into play at this moment. In an instant, a gaping, bloody maw suddenly grew upon the blood-red longsword. This bloody maw was sinister and grotesque, horrifying to behold, and at this moment... it was rapidly devouring the Root Demons. The exceptionally horrifying Root Demons didn't even attempt to dodge the bloody maw; rather, it was as if... they were delighted to be swallowed. The terrifying Root Demon Tribulation, the dense mass of Root Demons, were swiftly slurped down like rice noodles under this sword—or rather, under this bloody maw. At this moment, Ancestor Ziyuan could hardly believe his eyes. Yet the disappearance of the Root Demons was undeniable. The aura emanating from his body steadily improved. The earlier withering decay and decrepitude reversed in this very breath. He stared at Qi Yuan in shock. "If you told me right now... that you were the father of the Immortal Dao Will, I'd believe it!" Not a single thing that happened with Blood Robe was normal. As a Great Ultimate Principle who had lived for tens of millions of years, what strange things hadn't he seen? Yet he had never seen anyone as bizarre as Qi Yuan. With the Root Demons now eradicated, Qi Yuan sheathed his sword. The blood-red blade had grown even more eerie, marked with several new striations that resembled Root Demons. "See that? Brilliant medical skills, aren't they? Your kidney deficiency has been cured!" Qi Yuan beamed with self-satisfaction as the blood-red longsword dissolved back into his body.