My Golden Core is a Star, do you call this cultivating?

"Devil Eye?"
In the sky, the Mixed-Blood Sect’s ancestor, Shenxue Celestial Sovereign, glared at Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign with eyes filled with rage, his aura terrifying.

Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign was a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God from the Molo Clan.
Although Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was also a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God and deeply wary of Devil Eye, he didn’t back down.

“I demand an explanation! Why did you slaughter my granddaughter without reason!”
Shenxue Celestial Sovereign’s killing intent was palpable.

Being a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God, he had his own pride, and he needed an explanation for this matter.

“How is it without reason? Your granddaughter was an eyesore. I was in a bad mood, so I killed her.”
Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign’s tone was calm but shameless.

At this moment, many Yang Gods and Mythic Realm cultivators had noticed the commotion in the area and were hiding nearby, eager to watch the spectacle.

“You…”
Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was enraged, his fury burning fiercely.

He was a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God, and he wouldn’t easily be intimidated by Devil Eye.

“Don’t you know that I have many eyes? Your granddaughter may not have bothered many people, but most people only have two eyes. I, however, have a hundred billion. Something that bothers others slightly becomes a huge issue for me.”

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign seethed. “If you don’t give me a proper explanation, this won’t end between us and the Molo Clan!”

“An explanation? I just gave you one,” Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign replied indifferently.

Nearby, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but feel a twinge of admiration.
His own sharp tongue wasn’t even half as good as his god-child's.

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign's gaze flickered with intense killing intent.
“When the Supreme Truth Debate Gathering is over, I will challenge you to a battle in the Heavens Beyond Heaven!”

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign directly issued a challenge.

Upon hearing this, the surrounding Yang Gods and Mythic Realm cultivators were visibly shaken.

“He actually issued a challenge!”

“Shenxue Celestial Sovereign is truly furious!”

“This is going to be interesting!”

“Shenxue Celestial Sovereign has guts!”

“They're both Supreme Truth Realm. If Shenxue backs down now, how will he maintain his standing?”

“Even if he loses, it’s only a matter of losing face. It’s not like the Molo Clan can gang up on him and kill him.”

It was well known that the Molo Clan was a powerful force.
Compared to the Mixed-Blood Sect, the Molo Clan was much stronger, even possessing a Creation Artifact.
Despite this, Shenxue Celestial Sovereign’s challenge intrigued many.
Backing down now would lead to ridicule, but a loss would only cost him some pride.
The Molo Clan couldn’t threaten Shenxue’s life.

Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign remained calm, responding nonchalantly, “Very well.”

The Heavens Beyond Heaven was a special place for duels.
Yang God battles frequently took place there.

The other Yang Gods were excited. After all, there was finally some entertainment.
Battles in the Heavens Beyond Heaven were rare.
The last time a Yang God had fallen was when a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God from Black Abyss killed one from Ghost Emperor Heaven.

Unfortunately, that duel ended too quickly for most to witness.

Now that two Supreme Truth Realm experts were about to fight, no one wanted to miss it.

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign’s expression darkened.
He looked at Devil Eye and said, “You may leave now, but do you plan to protect those ants below?”

He couldn’t deal with Devil Eye, but he could still vent his anger on those below.

In the cultivation world, there were only three types of people: ants, fellow cultivators, and seniors.

Qi Yuan heard this and was outraged. “Do you not follow any laws? This has nothing to do with me! Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign is the one who killed your granddaughter. I don’t even know him! It’s not like I called him here, so why are you involving me?”

Qi Yuan’s irritation was palpable.
This Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was not only morally corrupt but also lawless.

“What do a few dead ants have to do with you?”
Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was surprised that Qi Yuan dared to talk back. He sneered coldly.

Turning back to Devil Eye, Shenxue added, “If you don’t leave, I will attack them now!”

Shenxue was issuing a warning.
If the two Supreme Truth Realm Yang Gods fought, Devil Eye would struggle to protect the people below.

“You’re being unreasonable! We should settle this rationally!”
Qi Yuan was growing more dissatisfied.
Reason was the highest principle in his mind.

“Reason? Ha! What a joke.”
Shenxue Celestial Sovereign's tone was filled with disdain. His terrifying aura spread as he prepared to attack Qi Yuan.

At that moment, Qi Yuan’s mind stirred.
For some reason, facing Shenxue Celestial Sovereign reminded him of dealing with Bullhorn Lady, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

If he were only Qi Yi right now, would reason and the law still protect him?
His head was starting to hurt from thinking too much.

Just then, a voice chuckled.
“Shenxue, you can’t kill this one.”

A new figure appeared, another Supreme Truth Realm Yang God, with a refined appearance and a smile on his face.

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign looked at the newcomer with apprehension.
“Why are you, from the Buddhist Nation, involving yourself in this? Aren’t you supposed to be enemies with the Molo Clan?”

The new arrival was a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God from the Buddhist Nation.

But clearly, he hadn’t recognized Qi Yuan.

“This has nothing to do with the Buddhist Nation. I’m merely reminding you that the person before you is a prodigy from Black Abyss.”

“Black Abyss?”

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign’s expression shifted.

If this were just the Molo Clan, he would have been willing to fight.
But Black Abyss… now he was worried.

After all, even a random Supreme Truth Realm expert from Black Abyss could easily kill him.

“So what if it’s Black Abyss? Does that mean my granddaughter's death is meaningless?”
Shenxue Celestial Sovereign glared at Qi Yuan. “Take him to my Mixed-Blood Sect. If Black Abyss doesn’t give me a proper explanation, they won’t get him back!”

Though he spoke fiercely, there was already a hint of retreat in his words.

He wouldn’t kill anyone but demanded Black Abyss deal with the situation.

“The person before you is none other than Blood Robe, the beloved prodigy of Ziyuan Heaven. Are you sure you want to take him?”
The Buddhist monk’s smile was laced with amusement.

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign’s expression changed drastically.
“He’s Blood Robe?”

His face grew dark as his mood fluctuated.
If it were another prodigy from Black Abyss, he would have dared to take them.
But Blood Robe…

Recently, Blood Robe had killed a prodigy from Ghost Emperor Heaven.
When a Yang God from Ghost Emperor Heaven went to Black Abyss to demand reparations, the Supreme Truth Realm expert from Ziyuan Heaven had killed him outright.

The entire Sixth Heaven had been shaken by that event.
Even Shenxue Celestial Sovereign had witnessed the spectacle in the starry skies and had been deeply shocked.

Ziyuan Ancestor had killed a Yang God in a fit of rage over Blood Robe!

And now the person in front of him was that Blood Robe?
Shenxue Celestial Sovereign suddenly found himself in an impossible situation.

If this had been any other prodigy from Black Abyss, he would have taken them.
But this… he couldn’t touch Blood Robe.

He feared that if he took Blood Robe, Ziyuan Ancestor would descend and slaughter him shortly afterward.

He wasn’t afraid of the Molo Clan, but he was terrified of Supreme Truth Realm experts.

They could kill him with ease.

Shenxue hesitated, clearly conflicted.

He truly couldn’t take Blood Robe.

“Whether I’m Blood Robe or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that I had nothing to do with your granddaughter’s death.
I don’t know Devil Eye, and I certainly didn’t ask him to kill her. I’m innocent, got it?”
Qi Yuan shouted at Shenxue.

Shenxue’s mouth twitched as his face contorted with frustration.

If he hadn’t known this was Blood Robe, he might have believed the story.

But who didn’t know that the Molo Clan was Black Abyss’s lackey?
If Blood Robe had asked the Molo Clan’s Supreme Truth Realm expert for help, could that expert have refused?

“Perhaps... I was mistaken.” Shenxue Celestial Sovereign forced a smile, his face contorted with frustration.

“You were definitely wrong! I don’t even know Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign, today’s the first time we’ve met!” Qi Yuan continued earnestly.

Shenxue’s face shifted repeatedly. He wanted to point out that when he arrived, Blood Robe had claimed not to know Devil Eye but still called him by name.

“So this whole matter really has nothing to do with me. Although, yes, your granddaughter did threaten to capture me and take me to the Mixed-Blood Sect to drain my blood, I’ve been reasonable and never harbored any killing intent toward her. Her death has absolutely nothing to do with me.” Qi Yuan spoke in a serious tone, his expression as innocent as a pure-hearted lotus.

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign’s face turned all sorts of colors, his voice grating as he struggled to respond:
“It was my mistake.”

The surrounding Yang Gods couldn't help but laugh at the spectacle.
If Blood Robe hadn’t explained, Shenxue might have been able to keep his dignity. But with every explanation, it felt like Blood Robe was slapping Shenxue in the face.

“Now that you know it was a misunderstanding, shouldn’t you apologize and offer compensation? After all, your granddaughter tried to kidnap me and drain my blood. Even though she didn’t succeed, that’s still attempted kidnapping.”
Qi Yuan extended his hand, expecting compensation.

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign’s face twisted into an expression worse than grief.
He glared at Qi Yuan, then ground his teeth, flinging a storage bag into Qi Yuan’s hand.

“Here’s your compensation.”

With that, Shenxue turned and left without looking back, clearly too embarrassed to remain any longer.

The surrounding Yang Gods reacted with a mix of amusement and sympathy. Some chuckled, while others sighed at the situation.

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign, a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God, a force to be reckoned with in the Sixth Heaven, had challenged Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign for his granddaughter. Yet, he dared not lay a finger on Blood Robe, an Yin God. Such was the frustrating reality of power hierarchies.

Despite his lofty status as a Supreme Truth Realm Yang God, Shenxue had no choice but to swallow his pride.

Devil Eye Celestial Sovereign’s form faded from view, and the other Yang Gods who had been spectating disappeared as well.

Wind Spirit Celestial Sovereign descended, landing gently and bowing to Qi Yuan:
“Greetings, Daoist friend.”

Despite his status as a Yang God, he addressed Blood Robe, a junior, with utmost respect.
Wind Spirit hadn’t anticipated that this incident would attract the famous prodigy of Black Abyss.

Facing Blood Robe, he dared not show any disrespect.

Qi Yuan looked at Wind Spirit Celestial Sovereign and said coolly:
“This is my sister, and I wish to discuss some matters with her and Yu Mengxian. Is that acceptable?”

Wind Spirit Celestial Sovereign’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected that Qi Yi, whom he had thought of as an ordinary person, had such a powerful connection.

“Of course,” Wind Spirit replied tactfully, quickly leaving to give Qi Yuan, Qi Yi, and Yu Mengxian space.

Once Wind Spirit Celestial Sovereign departed, Qi Yuan turned to the two women and said calmly:
“Now that I’m Blood Robe of Black Abyss, please don’t reveal my identity to anyone.”

“Understood,” Yu Mengxian quickly nodded.

Qi Yi also nodded, though both of them were puzzled by this sudden revelation.

“Good, everything’s settled now.” Qi Yuan spread his hands. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he asked,
“By the way, do you know how to get back to Gongxing? I can’t remember if I left the lights on. I hope I didn’t waste too much electricity.”

Yu Mengxian was briefly stunned, then replied,
“The path to Gongxing… it no longer exists. Since I left, I haven’t been able to return to Gongxing.”

“Gone?” Qi Yuan was visibly disappointed.

How could Gongxing just disappear?

“It vanished, replaced by emptiness,” Yu Mengxian confirmed with a puzzled expression.

“When I was still on Gongxing, Zero-One entrusted me with something to give you.”
As Yu Mengxian spoke, she retrieved an item that looked like a storage chip.

“From Zero-One?” Qi Yuan’s eyes brightened as he took the chip.

His consciousness linked with it, and immediately, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind:

“Master, if you’re hearing this message, I, Zero-One, am unsure where I am or when we might meet again.
I imagine you still have questions about Gongxing, questions that have remained unanswered.
Gongxing… is but a dream, an illusion, a mere fantasy, a projection of the thoughts of a supreme being.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, though his thoughts were racing.

He recalled seeing that woman in the Genmo Sea.
If Gongxing was indeed a manifestation of that woman’s thoughts, it made sense.

Yet, this realization also deepened Qi Yuan’s understanding of that woman’s immense power.
At the same time, it hinted at the existence of something beyond the Supreme Truth Realm—a realm beyond imagination.

“All things in the world are but illusions.
On Gongxing, the myriad paths culminate in Zero-One, while the ultimate truth… is survival.
To survive is to transform illusion into reality.”

Zero-One’s voice cut off abruptly.

Qi Yuan stood there, pondering those words deeply.

The myriad paths end in Zero-One, and the ultimate truth is survival?

Was Gongxing merely a place for a supreme being to transcend, to ascend from the Supreme Truth Realm to the third layer of Yang God?
Survival? Procreation?
It seemed as though all life, no matter how short, pursued survival and left behind offspring to prove its existence.

And was cultivation, too, not a quest for survival, freedom, or immortality?

As Qi Yuan mulled this over, his thoughts began to strain, and he felt the urge to eat a Blood Essence Comprehension Pill.

Perhaps, if he pondered these concepts further, he could comprehend a Supreme Truth from them.

After all, Zero-One was a robot, surely more knowledgeable and faster at processing information than him.

However, Qi Yuan quickly snuffed out these thoughts.
He couldn’t afford to dwell too much on these matters now.

With the Supreme Truth Wall approaching, if he used up his mental energy now, what would happen when the time came?
“Ah, life is truly better when you remain blissfully ignorant,” Qi Yuan sighed, choosing to abandon the deeper thoughts.

…

Three days later.

In the Mixed-Blood Sect, an unexpected visitor arrived.

Shenxue Celestial Sovereign squinted at the Yang God before him, his gaze flickering.

“Is this true?”

“It’s true.” Da Le Celestial Sovereign replied with a cheerful grin. “Interested in getting your revenge?”

This time, the Banner Lord had issued orders to recruit more Yang God powers.

“But… isn't it impossible to gather too many Yang Gods in the Sixth Heaven?”
Shenxue Celestial Sovereign was confused.

The visitor had come offering help in killing Blood Robe and proposing that the Mixed-Blood Sect join Ghost Emperor Heaven.

Shenxue was tempted.

After all, until now, he had no way of joining one of the Sixth Heaven’s major forces.

“You think the Banner Lord would lie to you?”
Da Le Celestial Sovereign said dismissively.

Hearing this, Shenxue Celestial Sovereign hesitated for a long moment before finally nodding:
“Alright.”

After all, the visitor had already made everything clear.

If he refused, he would risk offending Ghost Emperor Heaven.
Joining a major power in the Sixth Heaven gave him a greater sense of security.

For some reason, he sensed that the Sixth Heaven was teeming with hidden dangers, as though something major was about to unfold.