"That explosive?"
"Though this venerable one has also tasted the flavor of a master, the fourth tier of the Yang God realm has never..."
"This newcomer... has quite the nerve."
At the mention of the fourth tier of the Yang God realm, awe colored the expressions of every member of the Myriad Changes Society.
Nearly all of them were Realm Lords.
There were even quite a few Heaven-Opening Realm Lords among them.
Yet even at the Heaven-Opening realm, where one was merely a single step from the fourth tier of the Yang God realm, the gulf remained colossal.
One could say that while the Myriad Changes Society had no shortage of Heaven-Opening Realm Lords, the odds of any breaking through to that higher realm were less than one in a hundred.
"This newcomer clearly possesses some ability."
"He joined both the 'Spirit Awakening' and 'Time Machine' research projects. The fellow is quite infatuated."
"That is becoming Dao companions with someone of the fourth tier of the Yang God realm. If it were me, I'd be devoted too."
Generally speaking, beings at their realm rarely had Dao companions of comparable strength. Even if they did, their attachments were shallow—occasional dalliances at most.
"A pity that both 'Spirit Awakening' and 'Time Machine' rank among the top ten in difficulty. Over so many cosmic epochs, there has been virtually no progress."
"Joining those two research projects is somewhat foolish. A waste of time."
"Our lifespans are limitless and unending. What does wasting a little time matter?"
***
A gentle breeze wafted across the water. Canary swung her calves, splashing water that glided past her jade-like, slender feet. Her translucent toes were delicate and pristine.
Her gaze fell upon the plump, voluptuous silhouette shimmering through the mist. Looking down at herself, a faint blush crept onto her pretty face. "Damn it, she's so seductive even this miss wants to take a bite, to say nothing of Qi Yuan!"
What she referred to, naturally, was the difference between herself and Jiang Lingsu.
"Hmph," Ning Tao snorted coldly, draped in a black lace dress. Her exquisite face bore an aloof elegance that brooked no profanation. "Don't sell yourself short. Doesn't your... husband like it very much as well?"
A thread of displeasure lingered in her tone.
Canary was also part of herself, yet here she was, lacking confidence.
In Ning Tao's eyes, she was the one who matched her husband best.
As for Jiang Lingsu... nothing more than a brainless bimbo with a huge chest.
Jin Li? A pure maiden on the surface, frigid and dignified, but in reality... more proactive and lustful than anyone, a complete contradiction.
She, Ning Tao, was the true head wife.
Of course, in truth, when it came to being proactive and possessive, she far exceeded the other two.
Back then, she had clearly agreed with Canary to teach Qi Yuan a lesson.
Yet the moment Qi Yuan returned, she had thrown herself into it more eagerly than anyone, peeling off her clothes before two sentences were even spoken.
It was as though only when their bodies were pressed tightly together did Qi Yuan belong entirely to her alone.
Canary's cheeks flushed pink, and she muttered under her breath, "Shameless."
Ning Tao didn't care in the slightest.
Just then, Jiang Lingsu stepped gracefully out from the mist, a look of perplexity on her face. "Sister Ning Tao, today is Realm Lord Biluo's grand ceremony. Should we... really not call Senior Brother?"
Some time ago, an invitation had arrived in Ziyuan Heaven and eventually found its way into Ning Tao's hands.
That Supreme Venerable of Biluo Heaven had broken the restriction preventing anyone in the Immortal Realm's Sixth Heaven from stepping into the third tier of the Yang God realm, becoming the Immortal Realm's very first Realm Lord.
When word broke, shockwaves rippled across the Sixth Heaven.
Countless great powers were stirred.
For over all these years, this was the first time someone in the Sixth Heaven had attained the third tier of the Yang God realm.
Even someone of staggering brilliance like the master of Taihuang Palace, or an ancient, enigmatic existence like Supreme Venerable Dragon Turtle, had failed to shatter the boundary and ascend to the third tier.
Yet Supreme Venerable Biluo had succeeded.
Among the remaining Supreme Venerables and those in the second tier of the Yang God realm, there was not a single soul who wasn't burning with curiosity about how he had broken that limit.
This Realm Lord Assembly had captured the attention of nearly every Yang God.
The shock it caused far exceeded even Supreme Venerable Wanri's annihilation of Taihuang Palace.
Presently, Realm Lord Biluo was already regarded as the undisputed foremost figure of the Sixth Heaven.
Thus, upon seeing Biluo's invitation, Jiang Lingsu couldn't help but worry for her senior brother.
If he did not attend, would he offend that Realm Lord and invite trouble?
Ning Tao's expression remained cool. "Husband is in seclusion. Unless it is an urgent matter of utmost importance, he must not be disturbed."
Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu still felt a twinge of anxiety.
Beside them, Canary chimed in, "Sister Lingsu, don't worry. Husband is the strongest—invincible! No one can hurt him."
Canary had always believed blindly in Qi Yuan with unreserved trust.
No matter what, Qi Yuan was the mightiest, like a heavenly god descended to the mortal realm. All she had to do was cling to him like a little follower.
Ning Tao stood aloof, rolling her eyes inwardly at Canary in exasperation.
*Why are you calling her sister?*
Right then, a profound, enigmatic aura drifted over.
Delight welled in the eyes of all three women.
"Husband!"
"Qi Yuan!"
"Senior Brother!"
No sooner had their voices fallen than a colossal pulling force swept over them, drawing all three into Qi Yuan's embrace.
"Well? How is my newly learned art?" Qi Yuan showed off.
After obtaining the Devouring True Scripture, it had taken him just a single day to grasp the basics. Over the days that followed, he had finally cultivated it to great accomplishment.
Beyond great accomplishment, further progress grew far more arduous, with headway nearly grinding to a halt. That was why Qi Yuan had emerged from seclusion.
"Very impressive," Ning Tao was the first to speak.
Canary felt that peculiar suction, as though she were about to merge into Qi Yuan's body, her eyes brimming with longing. "Why don't you just eat me?"
Qi Yuan tapped Canary's jade-like foot with his toe. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm a law-abiding citizen."
Turning to Jiang Lingsu, Qi Yuan asked, "Supreme Venerable Biluo became a Realm Lord and is hosting a Realm Lord Assembly?"
"Yes." Jiang Lingsu nodded, offering no further opinion.
Though her heart yearned to ease her senior brother's worries, back when they first met, she could play the wealthy patroness, gifting cultivation arts and spirit stones to assist him. Now, her cultivation was too low and her horizons too limited; speaking out of turn would only cause trouble.
"Silly girl, say whatever you like. We're family," Qi Yuan said with a smile.
He naturally understood his junior sister's worries.
In his view, such anxiety was completely unwarranted.
As the saying went, all men were created equal.
Moreover, every living being was a unique, irreplaceable individual.
Who knew what brilliant sparks of inspiration they might produce?
Take True Monarch Dazhi, for instance. Although he had only just broken through to the Purple Mansion realm, Qi Yuan felt he gained tremendously every time they conversed.
True Monarch Dazhi's clever brain was of immense use.
Warmth filled Jiang Lingsu's heart. After a moment's thought, she viewed things from Qi Yuan's perspective and spoke earnestly: "Word has it that Realm Lord Biluo requested immortal veins as congratulatory gifts. For one thing, our Divine Light Sect only has spirit veins, not immortal veins. For another, Senior Brother isn't familiar with Realm Lord Biluo... If you aren't close, it's better not to send any gifts."
"Right, don't send any! We barely have enough good things in our own home!" Canary chimed in stingily.
"You're both right. I'm not familiar with this Realm Lord Biluo, so forget the gift."
He couldn't be bothered to send gifts anyway.
Now that his Devouring True Scripture had reached great accomplishment, it was time to return to that vast universe and resume devouring stars.
"Right. Once Jin Li returns, let her know that Qi Jianjun is back," Qi Yuan said to Ning Tao.
At present, Jin Li was at Moon Goddess Palace handling family affairs.
As for that fisherwoman Qi Jianjun, she had finally returned from angling. It was high time she went to see her mother, Jin Li.
After sharing some tender moments with the three women and exchanging affectionate liberties, Qi Yuan's figure materialized in that vast expanse of the cosmos.
"They say men decline after thirty, but that's obviously a rumor. I'm already over a hundred years old—retirement age—yet I'm still as energetic as a high schooler or an athlete.
"With the pride of men on Blue Star, if they couldn't go five times a night after thirty, wouldn't they die of shame?"
Qi Yuan muttered to himself, gazing at the radiant stars ahead.
"All of these... will become my Golden Cores."
A surge of heroic pride welled within him.
At that moment, he circulated the Devouring True Scripture.
In an instant, the devouring rules inherent to all his Stellar Golden Cores surged dramatically. Qi Yuan had originally bestowed the rule of devouring upon his Stellar Golden Cores, but under the empowerment of the Devouring True Scripture, the devouring speed accelerated even further.
"At least fifty percent faster... and... it's still climbing."
Amid Qi Yuan's soft murmurs, stars fell into his grasp one after another, like ripe fruit tumbling from branches into a basket.
Within Qi Yuan's body, the number of Stellar Golden Cores grew steadily, and his strength climbed alongside them.
"What is the ultimate end of the Golden Core Dao?"
"To devour every star in this universe?"
Qi Yuan pondered.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as a thought struck him.
"This... why does it resemble Heitian?"
Heitian devoured everything to become the sole Heitian.
And his Stellar Golden Cores were devouring all stellar bodies to cultivate Stellar Golden Cores.
"Could this also be a path to the fourth tier of the Yang God realm?"
"Once they finish devouring all the stars, will my Stellar Golden Cores enter the final stage of the fourth tier and become a curious treasure?"
Qi Yuan mulled over the thought.
If his Stellar Golden Cores stepped into the fourth tier of the Yang God realm, his true spirit would never be annihilated, and he would possess combat power on par with the fourth tier.
"Could it be... that this is my true path of the Yang God?"
"No, that's not strong enough. Facing a Dao Lord, I'd still be unable to win. If I can't even kill a Dao Lord, it doesn't deserve to be called a Yang God."
"So, I still have to step into the fifth tier myself?"
"Stellar Golden Cores at the fourth tier, while my true self reaches the fifth, advancing in tandem?"
After considering it, Qi Yuan shook his head.
Once he became a Dao Lord, the space he occupied would enter the Cycle.
For Jin Li, Ning Tao, Canary, Jiang Lingsu, and countless other living beings, that wouldn't necessarily be a good thing.
Qi Yuan certainly didn't want to see those lovely people trapped in a repetitive, dull existence.
"The path of the Yang God is far too arduous. But the Golden Core Dao is something I can definitely explore further."
***
The Realm Lord Assembly drew to a close.
Realm Lord Biluo sat upon the grand dais, his demeanor reserved. Yet merely sitting there, he radiated endless pressure, like an absolute hegemon of this world.
A flattering smile spread across the face of the Second Society Master of the Ultimate Principle Society. "All gods bow their heads. This is how we cultivators ought to be."
Nearly every prominent figure in the Immortal Realm had attended the recent assembly. When Realm Lord Biluo appeared, the mere sliver of pressure he let slip was enough to shake the attending Yang Gods of the second tier to their cores.
Such combat strength was truly peerless.
"However, Supreme Venerable Wanri, Moon Goddess Yuanjun, and Ziyuan Heaven... none of them sent representatives," the Second Society Master mentioned, seemingly offhand.
Supreme Venerable Dragon Turtle's heart tightened.
Yet Realm Lord Biluo merely smiled like a gentle breeze. "Hosting the Realm Lord Assembly was solely to gather immortal veins. Whether others show respect or not... is of no consequence. In this world, what matters most is... strength."
In the past, he had been exceedingly wary of Supreme Venerable Wanri, viewing him as a rival. But after stepping into the third tier of the Yang God realm, he realized just how vast heaven and earth truly were.
As for Supreme Venerable Wanri, he no longer regarded him as a rival at all.
He simply wasn't worthy.
Supreme Venerable Dragon Turtle let out a breath of relief. "Now that ninety thousand immortal veins have been gathered, within a few days we will be able to enter the Universal Void Realm."
Hearing this, Realm Lord Biluo's expression brightened. "I must trouble Fellow Daoist."
He too was immensely curious and expectant regarding the Universal Void Realm.
"It is nothing; all of this is for the Immortal Realm," Supreme Venerable Dragon Turtle replied. "Now, it is also time Realm Lord Biluo learned the precautions for entering the Universal Void Realm."
"Please enlighten me, Fellow Daoist."
At the mention of the Universal Void Realm, Dragon Turtle's expression turned grave.
"The Universal Void Realm was created—or perhaps discovered—by multiple Dao Lords. Because of that, there are many formidable Realm Lords within it!"
Back when he first entered the Universal Void Realm, he stood there like a mere minion.
When those Realm Lords stripped off their garments before him to enter the Cosmic Spirit Sea, he hadn't dared to be impudent, keeping his head bowed and eyes closed.
After all, he was merely at the second tier of the Yang God realm. Though he possessed combat power comparable to a weak Rule Realm, he was not a true Realm Lord.
If he caught an extra glimpse of some naked Realm Lord and provoked their wrath, his true spirit would be extinguished on the spot.
He wouldn't even have a place to weep.
"Within the Universal Void Realm, Realm Lord Biluo must conduct yourself with utmost caution. Never look around recklessly. Any random old monster in there is someone beyond our ability to face," Supreme Venerable Dragon Turtle warned solemnly.
Entering the Universal Void Realm offered immense fortune, but it also held infinite peril.
The last time Dragon Turtle entered, he had nearly died inside.
Fortunately, a kind-hearted female Realm Lord had stepped in to help, allowing him to escape from the clutches of a terrifying Realm Lord.
Realm Lord Biluo's gaze grew serious as well. "Indeed, keeping a low profile is essential."
Only after becoming a Realm Lord did he realize just how much further he had to go on his cultivation path.
Various cosmic rules, first-grade rules, the Myriad Things stage, the Heaven-Opening stage—these were all things he could barely grasp or reach.
"Please prepare for three days, Realm Lord Biluo. In three days, you shall enter the Universal Void Realm with this old man."
"Very well," Realm Lord Biluo replied.
***
Meanwhile, within the vast cosmos.
Qi Yuan stood upon a planet, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
"What on earth is this?"
"Creatures I created through Heaven-Opening?"
"Though... why do they look so slapped-together?"
Back then, Qi Yuan had planted seeds in this universe to enact Heaven-Opening and genesis.
Now, his efforts had finally borne modest fruit, giving rise to some exceedingly primitive lifeforms.
Well, simpler and cruder even than paramecia, resembling nothing more than a stray mosaic pixel.
"Regardless, it still counts as a success." As Qi Yuan spoke, countless time rules swirled in his hand and descended upon the planet.
He accelerated the planet's flow of time so these organisms could rapidly reproduce and evolve.
"Strange, though. What did I open the heavens for?"
"To raise pets?"
Qi Yuan suddenly paused.
At the Heaven-Opening realm, one could open the heavens, initiate genesis, and create living beings.
Yet what was the purpose of creating life? Merely to indulge in the thrill of playing Creator?
"Whatever the case, the more beasts of burden, the better."
"I should speed up the flow of time on the other planets too. Once the population grows, if I bring them all back to Blue Star, sheer numbers will let them vote me in as the Star Governor of Blue Star."
"That would really be smoking green smoke from my ancestral graves—a blazing stroke of family glory."
This time, Qi Yuan was thinking far ahead with grand, elevated ambition, no longer limited to his past notions of merely sending them to work in electronics factories to earn money.
Chapter 574