Maiden Galaxy

"No matter the time, any place is home?"

At the center of Yanhuang City, there was an enormous jade sculpture of a gorgeous woman. Due to its "palace water" construction, her closed eyes were serene, and she appeared pure and transcendent. Just a glance left people feeling very reverent. The sculpture was vivid, each detail about to come to life; it gave off an extremely peaceful feeling.

Under the sculpture were eight characters.

No matter the time, any place is home.

Chen Mo looked at this sculpture that was at the center of Yanhuang City. It could be said to be the most flourishing area, what with its hundred zhang height and its enormous grandeur. The statue seemed like a kind mother protecting Yanhuang City; clearly, this was not here for decoration.

"What is this supposed to mean?" Chen Mo could not make sense of it.

Ganjiang and Moye were also unsure.

"I hear that this is the appellation the Primordial Star Names had for my mother." A voice suddenly answered Chen Mo's question.¹

Chen Mo's group turned around. A young lady in a purple skirt smiled: "Do not feel that this is unpresentable."

"Su Mian." Chen Mo's heart warmed. He could not help but walk over and hug her.

Ganjiang and Moye glanced at each other. Mo Huang's face had a crafty expression.

"This is my Auntie Qinghan." Chen Mo introduced: "These two are…"

"Ganjiang and Moye." Su Mian smiled.

"We greet Your Majesty." Ganjiang and Moye followed etiquette.

Chen Qinghan was unmoved. Her slight nod was considered her etiquette.

"You know each other?"

"Of course. The founder of the School Of Craftsmen, ‘Ou Yezi,' was previously one of the Seven Sages Of The Bamboo Grove. She casted Star Weapons for the Central Star Field, and This Palace was certainly very fond of Senior Ruoli." Su Mian smiled.

Chen Mo reflected that it was obvious that, as the master of Central, Su Mian would be familiar with Ou Yezi of the School Of Craftsmen. Also, Auntie and the Central Star Field had an entangled relationship.

"Chen Qingzhi, This Palace trusts you have been well since last we met. This Palace never expected you were Chen Mo's aunt. My Central Star Field has not suffered your lone charge in vain." Su Mian stared at Chen Qinghan, her attitude very friendly.

Back then, Chen Qinghan invaded the Central Star Field in the middle of Ou Yezi's desertion. Every Star Marquis had come to the Central Star Field to protect it, which could be described as a gathering of important officials and generals. It was in such a precarious position that Chen Qingzhi left behind the fame of Magnificent Army Avoids The White Robe, dragging the Central Star Field's reputation to the ground.

Yet Dream In A Millennium very magnanimously did not take it to heart at all.

Chen Qinghan replied after a long silence: "Since Your Majesty is friends with my Mo'er, then Your Servant has something that cannot be concealed from you."

"Back then when Your Servant charged the Central Star Field, it was said that Your Servant was obstructed by the Eight Pillars Kingdom, Lingyan Pavilion, and the Thirteen Heroes. In truth, Your Servant did not sweep them away." Chen Qinghan paused: "They deliberately let Your Servant go. That is why Qinghan was able to move so easily."

Chen Mo's brows rose. This was the first time he was hearing about such a thing.

Su Mian seemed to have expected this. She calmly smiled: "Those Star Generals harbor ulterior motives, so they did not fight with their full strength. No matter what, Qinghan, you still left the achievement of charging through an entire army. This Palace cannot help but be impressed."

Chen Qinghan said nothing more.

"Su Mian, you said just now that ‘No Matter The Time, Any Place Is Home' is your mother's appellation? Don't tell me?" Chen Mo looked at this holy sculpture.

Su Mian grunted, "This is the statue my father commissioned the School Of Craftsmen to sculpt in memory of my mother. A piece of Great Master Ou Yezi's power is contained within."

Chen Mo could hear a bit of sorrow from her tone. He apologized: "I'm sorry, I made you recall something sad."

Su Mian shook her head. She looked at this statue, her gaze filled with boundless warmth and loss. "Not long after mother gave birth to me, she returned to Maiden Mountain because of the curse of Star Names. I do not remember her at all. It was only from bits and pieces of my father's words that I understood her to be an exceptionally gentle person. There is nothing to be sad about. If someone was said, then that could only be my father…"

Chen Mo was silent.

"We had better find a quiet place to chat." Su Mian smiled.

…

Bai Tang Restaurant.

The Central Star Field's largest restaurant, it was directly under Central's authority. Practically every top-notch Star Name that came to the Central Star Field would stay here. Chen Mo discovered that this Bai Tang Restaurant had a hotel-like design. Its aesthetics were also along modern lines. In Star World, the Bai Tang Restaurant was very popular.

After Chen Mo entered the restaurant, he immediately spotted Qin QIong Qin Niyan, Zhu Xiaoxiang, and other Star Generals and cultivators.

This Feng and Shan Sacrifice had assembled the first-rate Star Names and cultivators of Star World. No one was willing to miss this.

After entering a booth, a waittress brought over some wine.

"Will you confront Xiang Yu in this Feng and Shan Sacrifice?" Chen Mo recalled Zhongli Mo's matters and had a small headache.

"Yes. This palace heard that Xiang Yu visited Mount Hua. The situation is alright?" Su Mian asked.

"Mount Hua did not have much trouble." Chen Mo was now worried about how to resolve the conflict between Xiang Yu and Su Mian. THe two women appeared to already be unable to coexist.

"How so?"

"Is there any possibility you and Xiang YU could turn hostility into friendship?" Chen Mo asked.

Su Mian pursed her lips tightly: "This Xiang Yu Star Name is reportedly the one from the previous era, the very same that suppressed the Ancestral Dragon together with my father and was later sealed by him. And now, someone has by some method released her. She loathes my father to the bone and wishes to destroy the Central regime. Besides, she already killed so many Star Marquis. I'm afraid that there is no way for reconciliation now."

Chen Mo wrinkled his brow. Things were a bit thorny.

"Do you really care so much about Xiang Yu?" Su Mian smiled.

"I really can't hide anything from you. King Of Extinguished Ashes Zhongli Mo, of Xiang Yu's Five Elements Heavenly Kings, signed a contract with me. She is considered my wife, and she must work for Xiang Yu."

Su Mian's brows slightly rose. Her expression was ruminating: "Oh, then when the time comes for Xiang Yu to kill me, Chen Mo, will you help her, or will you help Me?"

Su Mian was different from a Star General. She did not have a Star Name's destiny, and thus the two were even more easily drawn to one another. They could be considered the apex of Star Warriors, and they felt even more close due to their statuses. Su Mian felt about him a similar way. To call themselves confidantes was not an exaggeration. Chen Mo did not want either Su Mian or Xiang Yu to suffer harm.

"If a conflict arises, Your Servant will rescue Zhongli Mo when the time comes." Chen Qinghan clamly drank her tea. "If Xiang Yu dies, Zhongli Mo will no longer have a target to pledge her loyalty to. You will not need to come to blows."

"That is one solution. Xiang Yu is stubborn about overthrowing the Central Star Field. This Palace feels she resents that her own Star Name has lived for too long a time." Su Mian agreed.

"However, does Your Majesty actually have a way to face Xiang Yu?" Mo Huang was unconvinced: "She has killed so many Star Marquis."

"This Feng and Shan Sacrifice will lead to the era of ten thousand stars." Su Mian was filled with confidence.

Chen Mo did not interrupt any further. Based on his current strength, rescuing Zhongli Mo should not be a problem.

"Right, this is for you." Dream In A Millennium and Chen Mo chatted another while when Su Mian remembered her objective. She took out a stone. This stone was wrapped in starlight; it was one of the Northern Dipper Seven Star Stones.

Chen Qinghan's eyes widened.

"This is the Epsilon Ursae Majoris Stone. Sister Houxiu gave it to me. Your weapon just so happens to need it." Su Mian faintly grinned.

Chen Mo was unable to refuse. In truth, he had originally come to the Central Star Field to find a chance to speak with Liu Houxiu about the stones. "Right now, I'm only missing the Delta Stone." Chen Mo thought. There was no way to hide this.

"This Palace actually is not very concerned with the Delta Ursae Majoris Stone, but Dongzi feels that it is the Central Star Field's authority. It is guarded personally by the Four Lords Of The Warring States. I am unable to give it to you." Su Mian said apologetically.

"However…" The girl's tone shifted: "However, this Delta Ursae Majoris Stone is clearly significant to Chen Mo. This Palace has a solution."

"What is that?"

"On the day of the Feng and Shan Sacrifice, go challenge the Four Lords Of The Warring States. If you can defeat them This Palace believes you will be able to turn their views."

The Four Lords Of The Warring States. Chen Mo recalled they were four famous political activists during the Warring States Period. Each became famous for their pursuit of wisdom, and they were split between the Lord Xinling, Wei Wuji; the Lord Chunshen, Huang Xie; the Lord Mengchang, Tian Wen, and the Lord Pingyuan, Zhao Sheng. Although they were variously praised or disparaged as the Four Lords Of the Warring States, there was something undeniable about them, and that was that they had taken in and cared for thousands of guests during their time. Their domestic policy was to protect their power to face political opponents, and their foreign policy was to interfere with the politics of enemy states. In terms a military struggle, they were critical figures of the Warring States Period.

The Star Names of these four were more distant than a super first-rate Star Name.

"No problem. I wanted to meet the Four Lords Of The Warring States anyways." Chen Mo was eager to try.

This astounded the girls. The maid who was currently pouring tea nearly spilled it.

"Young Master, why not let's be a bit quieter." Mo Huang hesitantly said. Her implication was that it would be better to not confront the Four Lords.

Auntie Chen Qinghan also furrowed her brow: "Mo'er, do not be overconfident. The Four Lords Of The Warring States are not simple characters."

"If the only way to obtain the Delta Ursae Majoris Stone is by defeating the Four Lords, I'm willing to try." Chen Mo calmly answered.

Su Mian broke into a smile: "Chen Mo, you are so bold, even I am a bit moved. Very well, This Palace will help make the arrangements for you."

"If God Of Slaughter Bai Qi knew a man would dare challenge her, she would likely be flabbergasted."

"The God Of Slaughter?" Chen Mo blinked. "Bai Qi is one of the Four Lords?"

"Of course. She is their leader."

"Eh?" Chen Mo restrained the shock in her heart. If his history was correct, Bai Qi should have been part of the Four Greatest Generals Of The Warring States; she was completely unrelated to the Four Lords. In truth, Chen Mo was incorrect. Bai Qi had been conferred as one of Central's Twin Stars. Later, she felt that the name of "Lord Of The Warring States" was much more sophisticated and thus immediately decided to join in. This was not related to history at all.

In truth, the Central Star Field's Four Lords not only were extremely cultured, their martial prowess was also not to be trifled with. Besides "God Of Slaughter" Bai Qi, there were also "Sword Hidden In The Box" Jian Shu, "Lord Xinling" Wei Wuji, and "Stern Lord" Chu Liji.

Not only was Bai Qi the leader of the Four Lords Of The Warring States, she was also the top name on the Star Duels List. She had cultivated alongside the Ancestral Dragon and decided to remain in Star World rather than go to Maiden Mountain. Her power had already surpassed all of the Star Marquis. To say she was number one was an understatement.

Any cultivator, and even some first-rate Star Names, would quake in fear upon hearing the name God Of Slaughter Bai Qi.

"Bai Qi has done whatever she pleased in Star World for centuries. Back then, other than Father, even This Palace was unable to handle her. Are you certain you want to challenge her?" Su Mian seriously asked.

"Of course." Chen Mo was very resolute.

The black and white twins stuck out their tongues. Her Majesty was making quite a big bet.

1. So it's confirmed that Fang Moujia is, in fact, Su Mian's mother. ↩