Chapter 390: An Alternative Meeting with Jin Li, Ten Suns in the Sky, Only Now I...

Chapter 390: An Unorthodox Rendezvous with Jinli; Ten Suns Ablaze, I am the True Sun!

Above the ninefold heavens.

The sky was littered with stars, solemn and profound.

Each projected celestial body represented a terrifying deity.

The radiance of the sun shone bright and dazzling.

Among the myriad stars of the heavens, it might not be the most powerful, but it was absolutely the most eye-catching.

Yet, right at this moment, suddenly.

The astral realm convulsed.

Every single projected star trembled at this instant.

Countless mythical beings felt a sudden intuition and looked up toward the astral realm.

"Has a Heavenly Venerable raised their divine throne?"

"How truly enviable!"

"When will this old man ever achieve such a feat!"

These mythical beings all served a Heavenly Venerable and had been granted the qualification to reflect upon the heavens, possessing stars of their own, which was why they felt the disturbance.

And at this moment, within the abyss, in unknown lands, within the Sky-Hanging Sea... across the sixfold heavens, within the sacred lands.

Not a few Yang Spirit Heavenly Venerables raised their heads, faces betraying expressions of surprise.

"A new seat of honor has appeared?"

"I wonder who is raising their divine throne."

"The seats of honor are becoming fewer and fewer."

The Yang Spirits reflected upon the heavens, quite unlike the mythical beings.

They required a definitive seat of honor.

Generally, this seat was either obtained through a stroke of serendipity, or through an exchange of benefits, or... by brute force.

Plundering by brute force was, generally speaking, exceedingly rare.

The disparity between a Yang Spirit with a seat of honor and one without was akin to two Yang Spirits of the identical realm, where one possessed a supreme treasure of creation while the other did not.

The gap was simply too vast.

To possess the strength for brute-force plundering meant one could obtain a seat of honor without resorting to it.

Yet in the very next breath, a Yang Spirit Heavenly Venerable narrowed his eyes, astonishment surfacing within them.

"The great sun... the solar deity... this fellow Daoist must have lost his mind, daring to usurp the seat of the one in the sixth heaven!"

Quite a few Yang Spirits paying attention to the astral realm burst into astonished laughter, or were struck with horror.

For so many years, they had never seen a fellow Daoist dare to plunder a seat of honor by force.

Now, they finally saw one, and as it turned out... it was a monumental one!

The one in the sixth heaven sat enthroned within the Taihuang Palace, an absolute powerhouse among the Yang Spirits of the sixth heaven.

For a Yang Spirit who had not even raised a divine throne to fatuously presume to challenge them was truly... seeking death!

"Haha, I originally thought it was some ancient powerhouse, but I didn't expect... he is quite ordinary, his courage is just a bit too vast!" a blue-robed Yang Spirit spoke, looking at the tiny sun that had newly appeared in the astral realm.

That star was also of the Great Sun seat of honor.

However, compared to the great sun of the Taihuang Palace, it was unavoidably a bit too small.

"A mere farce!"

"A joke!"

"If the one from the Taihuang Palace strikes, no matter which fold of heaven he hides in, there will absolutely be no chance of survival."

That blue-robed Yang Spirit looked upon it as though enjoying a spectacle; now that he knew the other party's background, he was preparing to resume his secluded cultivation.

Suddenly, he looked up at the astral realm once more, a look of bewilderment emerging in his eyes.

"Two... great suns." The blue-robed Yang Spirit was astonished, "He has some ability, but not much.

With this kind of strength, he could probably easily obtain a seat of honor, yet he chooses to provoke the one in the Taihuang Palace, truly overestimating himself..."

Yet in the very next breath, another sun was reflected within his eyes.

Every word he had just intended to speak was swallowed back down into his stomach.

"Three great sun stars, how is that possible!"

Not all projected stars possessed the qualification to obtain a seat of honor.

For instance, the projected stars of mythical powerhouses could not.

An ordinary Yang Spirit Heavenly Venerable, through a stroke of luck, could only amass a single projected star carrying a seat of honor in their entire lifetime.

These three... what did this mean?

Yet following this, his expression changed drastically.

Among the star-filled sky, one great sun after another rose in succession.

It was precisely like the magnificent vista of 'a solitary plume of smoke rises straight in the desert, the setting sun hangs round over the long river,' except this was the cosmic version.

Round after round of suns ascended, each one grander than the last!

Across the dark yet luminous astral realm, accompanied by the rising of the great suns, wave after wave of brilliant light flashed through.

Four!

Five!

...

Until... ten!

Among the stars of the heavens, there abruptly appeared ten additional stars possessing the Great Sun seat of honor.

These ten Great Sun seats of honor represented ten suns!

"There cannot be two suns in the sky, the war for the seat of honor... has begun!" The blue-robed Yang Spirit gritted his teeth.

If before he still looked down somewhat upon that Yang Spirit who plundered the Great Sun seat of honor.

Now, he felt that he himself was simply too old, having lost his grand ambitions.

A Yang Spirit capable of condensing ten projected stars carrying the Great Sun seat of honor had been exceedingly rare from the dawn of creation until now.

And as for such Yang Spirits, which one of them had not... stepped into the ninefold heavenly realm?

Now, this mysterious Yang Spirit had abruptly launched an assault on the Great Sun seat of honor, declaring war.

This sixth heaven... would no longer be peaceful.

The Taihuang Palace... would have its hands full.

But immediately after, he froze slightly.

There can only be one sun in the sky, but what if this mysterious Yang God... should win?

Wouldn't that mean... there are ten suns in the heavens?

At the same moment, within the Taihuang Palace.

That mythical old man wiped his sweat, gazing at the sun in the sky: "My old eyes are failing me—how did ten suns appear up there?"

The other mythics also stared at the celestial stars, their expressions shaken.

One old man, his heart trembling, could not help but say: "This is a Heavenly Venerable... challenging the throne of the Great Sun of Taihuang Palace!"

The rest of the mythics felt a chill in their hearts.

Such a momentous event had only been read in records; when had they ever witnessed it in truth?

"Ten suns in the sky... what the hell... no throne?" one mythic muttered in disbelief.

His own Heavenly Venerable, well... compared to these ten suns, was a waste, yet still held a throne.

And now... this...

"Ahem, Taihuang Palace is a bit hot; I think I'll go back to cool off!" one mythical old man said, and with that, he scurried away.

The other mythical old men, seeing this, also rose one after another.

"Oh dear, my Heavenly Venerable's granddaughter is about to give birth to her 1,786th child—I must go see!"

These mythical experts knew full well what was at stake.

If it had been before, with the Moon Goddess Palace's mistress injured, the Heavenly Venerables behind them might have dared to step in.

But now, a fierce challenger was vying for the throne of Taihuang Palace's master.

A struggle for the throne—no quarter given, no truce—this was far more violent than the conflict between Taihuang Palace and Moon Goddess Palace.

Now, Taihuang Palace would surely slow its assault on Moon Goddess Palace to deal with this "Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable"!

If they went to trouble Moon Goddess Palace now, wouldn't that be walking to their deaths?

One by one, these mythical experts departed.

The golden-robed man watched this scene, his face dark as thunder.

"Ah... why is it so hot!"

He furiously overturned the table!

He cared not that someone challenged the throne of Taihuang Palace's master; what he cared about was that his... achievements were gone!

Across the myriad heavens, in every world, at this very moment, all living beings saw ten extra suns above their heads.

They knew not what had happened, but they knew something terrifying was afoot.

At that time, in the Canglan Realm, Qi Yuan's expression was relaxed.

"Ten suns in the sky—ten against one, a crushing victory.

I am younger than that Taihuang Palace master—victory.

I am more handsome than that Taihuang Palace master—victory!

I have a fine blood-red robe that he does not—victory!"

Qi Yuan, using the comparison method favored by Blue Star, immediately reached a conclusion.

"Thus, I am the true sun; counterfeit sun, when will you fall?"

Now, with ten suns in the sky, Qi Yuan had formally declared war on Taihuang Palace.

Originally, he had planned to gather more stars—at least a trillion golden cores before ascending.

Otherwise, the myriad heavens had too many stars, all unfamiliar, and he had social anxiety.

But now, to find the Liufeng Realm, he had to advance ahead of schedule.

"Alas, the myriad heavens are too cold—cold not only between people, but also in climate, chilling the Jimei Palace, chilling the Jishuai's manhood.

Thankfully I have come, bringing ten suns with me; this world shall no longer be cold!"

Qi Yuan longed to give a speech.

But alas, the number of golden cores was still too few; otherwise, he would have arranged his words with golden cores in the sky.

Then, all living beings across the myriad heavens would see Qi Yuan's slogan.

"One more regret: there is no black hole sun. All suns look the same—a loss of biodiversity. The world is always monotonous—too boring."

Qi Yuan let his thoughts wander.

Imagine a world without a sun.

Like *The Wandering Earth*—ice and snow, a blanket of frost; the people there must be sorely in need of a sun.

*The Wandering Earth*'s setting is very similar to Blue Star. If Qi Yuan gave their Earth a sun, out of half-fellow-countryman sentiment, he would certainly give them no ordinary sun, but a black hole sun.

The people of *The Wandering Earth* would surely be moved and sing together: "Thank you, because of you, we have warmth in all seasons."

Shaking off these thoughts, Qi Yuan said softly to the canary: "Mm, move the sun golden core a little toward that star—it's too dim, not bright enough."

Within the stellar golden core, Ning Tao opened her eyes, a hint of resentment in her expression, yet she nodded lightly: "Alright."

The stellar golden core in the sky, at that moment, drifted through the star realm, heading toward that dim and ordinary star.

Moon Goddess Palace, the front battlefield, the Abyss of Demons.

The Yang God Heavenly Venerable sat in a mysterious place, gazing at the ten stars in the star realm, a joyful smile in her eyes.

"This is truly... a heaven-sent joy!"

The Moon Goddess Primordial had been injured some time ago—this could not be hidden.

Though she did not know why the Moon Goddess Primordial had left Moon Goddess Palace, the injury was real.

Once this news spread, Taihuang Palace would surely seize the chance to ally with other forces and attack Moon Goddess Palace.

But now, suddenly, a Heavenly Venerable sought to forcibly seize a throne!

And it was the throne of the Great Sun of Taihuang Palace!

Taihuang Palace was instantly mired in quicksand.

For Moon Goddess Palace, this was an immense stroke of luck.

With Taihuang Palace trapped, the wavering factions would certainly not get involved.

The pressure on Moon Goddess Palace lessened.

But just then, the Yang God Heavenly Venerable's expression shifted slightly: "These ten suns... seem to be heading toward the star realm where Moon Goddess Palace lies."

Then, a thought struck her: "Could it be a friend of the Moon Goddess Primordial?

No—all holders of the Great Sun throne are enemies!"

The thrones of the Great Sun and the Moon Goddess Primordial were in conflict, hostile to each other.

For either to reach a higher level, they must become dao partners.

But one side was destined to be the sacrifice, to elevate the other.

Thus, the Great Sun and the Moon Goddess Primordial were locked in an endless struggle.

The expression of the Sun God Heavenly Venerable grew complex: "If he achieves the Great Sun Throne, he will become an even more terrifying enemy of the Moon Goddess Palace. Alas..."

A thousand strands of vexation tangled in her heart; she cast aside such melancholy, refusing to dwell on it.

At that moment, the Abyss was pitch-black yet deep crimson, the deep crimson turning bright.

Mist filled the air.

In the elegant room, a thick scent of blood lingered, mingled with a faint fragrance.

The woman brushed aside her dark hair, revealing a white robe stained with blood—simple and unadorned, with no intricate decorations, save for the Linglong Yuxi hanging from her sash.

She shed her garments, the bloodied white robe falling to the floor, and began to bathe.

Above the water, her shoulders were like white porcelain, her crescent-shaped collarbones naturally alluring, beaded with droplets; beneath the surface, as if from the warmth, her jade-like skin flushed pink.

She held the Linglong Yuxi in her hands, a flicker of loss passing through her eyes.

She could not recall how many years it had been since the Linglong Yuxi last shone.

Every time she returned from slaying enemies, she would bathe and stare blankly at the Linglong Yuxi.

It seemed she was waiting, as in days past, for the Linglong Yuxi to glow once more.

Just then, the communication jade slip lit up.

It was a message from her senior sister.

"Back from killing again?"

"Yes."

"Alas, after all these years, you are still the same.

To gather enough merits to request the Moon Goddess Primordial Lord's intervention—how could it be so simple?"

"More than halfway there. Soon." The girl clutched the Linglong Yuxi tightly, her expression resolute and stubborn.

Once, as an empress, she had loved a life free from strife. If not for him helping her, pushing her forward, she would have perished long ago.

But after returning to the Moon Goddess Palace, she changed. She knew she could no longer remain as she was.

Only by growing stronger, only by accumulating merits, could she beseech the Moon Goddess Primordial Lord to act once—to see him again beneath the ancient Qichun tree by July Lake, where they once shared the falling snow.

"You are so consumed by merits, falling behind the other Moon Maidens. It's dangerous, do you understand?"

"Yes."

"You are too stubborn. I won't try to persuade you anymore.

But... the Moon Goddess Primordial Lord was injured some time ago. So even if you have enough merits, it may be difficult to move her to act!"

The cold-faced woman frowned, her gaze piercing through the skylight and the formations, toward the lone moon in the sky.

Pale moonlight spilled down like snow in the night. The woman reached out and caught the moonlight in her hand.

"I understand."

"Alas, at least the Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable has appeared. Otherwise, our Moon Goddess Palace would be... far too difficult."

The Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable—the woman knew of him, a mysterious strong one who had just emerged.

And then, suddenly, she felt a stirring. She looked up at the stars of the heavens, toward her own star that reflected the cosmos.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, for she... saw ten suns.

At that moment, a voice came through the communication jade slip.

"See that? The Ten Suns Heavenly Venerable's stellar projection has entered our Moon Goddess Palace's domain. It seems very close to you."

The woman stared blankly at the star-filled sky. Perhaps because the ten round suns were approaching her own star's projection, she felt a warmth.

The light of her star seemed to brighten a little.

"I see it." She looked at her fair, slender palm, where the light of the ten great suns fell, warm and gentle as rain.

"It didn't stop. It's heading toward our Moon Goddess Palace's star realm. It seems there really is a cooperation with the Moon Goddess Primordial Lord."

Above the starry heavens, the ten suns drifted out of the girl's sight, moving elsewhere.

But the sunlight they had inadvertently cast still lingered in her hands, cupped by her palms.

For some reason—perhaps the cool breeze, or perhaps that fleeting sunlight—she suddenly recalled the second message that Qi Yuan had once brought her through the bridal red armor.

"As if seeing you..."

At the same time, joy flickered in Qi Yuan's eyes, mingled with loss.

"Do not linger. She cannot yet... be too close to me."

"I have not yet... ascended!"

(Chapter End)