Chapter 485: Meeting the Moon God Sovereign

“So, it seems you don’t know everything after all.”

Seeing the Unsanctified Sovereign’s silence, Qi Yuan shrugged.

“I happen to be short of a mirror for my house. Interested in hanging on my wall?”

Qi Yuan gazed at the Mirror of Myriad Reflections, speaking slowly.

At this moment, the Unsanctified Sovereign, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened them. His own consciousness returned, and his demeanor resumed its usual warmth.

“Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, you must be joking,” the Unsanctified Sovereign replied with a small smile.

“How do you know I’m joking?” Qi Yuan retorted with a faint smirk.

If the Unsanctified Sovereign had agreed, he would have accepted the mirror graciously. If refused, he could simply dismiss it as a jest—classic double-edged humor.

“Thank you for helping with the questions I asked. Consider it a favor I owe to you and the Council of Truth,” Qi Yuan said seriously.

He had always been someone who repaid both kindness and grudges in full.

The Unsanctified Sovereign stood by his side and added with a solemn tone, “Although Taihuang Palace has fled to the Seventh Heaven, the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme must still exercise caution with the Lynia Transformation. This time, it’s possible that even Supremes may fall.”

It was rumored that Taihuang Palace had assured the Sole Hall that this iteration of the Lynia Transformation would claim the life of a Supreme.

However, considering Taihuang Palace’s power alone, it seemed unlikely they could orchestrate such a feat.

Thus, the Council of Truth suspected that the Sole Hall might intervene directly in this Lynia Transformation.

Otherwise, they could not fathom how a Supreme might fall.

The Unsanctified Sovereign shared these speculations with Qi Yuan.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes. “If they descend, all the better. I need to ask them why they’re sheltering Taihuang Palace!”

The Unsanctified Sovereign’s heart jolted at this bold declaration.

He couldn’t help but admire Qi Yuan’s audacity.

To the Council of Truth, even its two Supremes treated the Sole Hall with utmost caution, avoiding unnecessary entanglements. Yet here was the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, boldly talking about confronting them.

“The Yang God Sovereigns of the Sixth Heaven, even Supremes, may never have seen the Heroic Spirits of the Sole Hall. Their strength is unknown. Please proceed with care, Ten Thousand Suns Supreme,” the Unsanctified Sovereign advised.

“A prince and a commoner must face the same law. If they’re strong, does that mean they get to break the rules? Such a thing is absurd,” Qi Yuan said dismissively.

He resolved that once his cultivation reached its peak, he would go to the Seventh Heaven and personally apprehend the criminals of Taihuang Palace.

Seeing Qi Yuan’s determination, the Unsanctified Sovereign wisely chose to drop the topic.

“Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, when the Lynia Transformation begins, we hope that the Council of Truth and Purple Fate Heaven can cooperate to weather the storm together,” the Unsanctified Sovereign said.

“No problem,” Qi Yuan replied casually, showing no particular concern for the matter.

At this moment, the Unsanctified Sovereign seemed to recall something. With a wave of his hand, he produced a small white jade vial and spoke in a low voice, “Ten Thousand Suns Supreme, this is a collection of Black Demon Ancestor’s Blood. I heard you needed it, so I’ve brought it as an offering. Please, accept it.”

The Unsanctified Sovereign made it clear that this gift was a personal gesture and did not represent the Council of Truth.

“Oh? Not bad. What is it you’re after? Go ahead and say it,” Qi Yuan said as he accepted the vial.

He knew full well that there was no such thing as a free lunch. If the Unsanctified Sovereign was giving him the Black Demon Ancestor’s Blood, there had to be a reason.

The thought even crossed his mind: Could this solemn old man have fallen for me?

The Unsanctified Sovereign’s eyes gleamed with joy as he said cautiously, “I’ve heard that not long ago, Saint Wu Ming used Root Demon Blood to push the Purple Fate Ancestor into a Root Demon Tribulation. In the end, it was the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme who helped him overcome it. Is this true?”

The Unsanctified Sovereign looked at Qi Yuan nervously, though his gaze held a faint glimmer of expectation.

“Yes,” Qi Yuan confirmed calmly.

The Unsanctified Sovereign was overjoyed at this answer, though he maintained a composed exterior.

It was true!

The Ten Thousand Suns Supreme could resolve a Root Demon Tribulation!

The Unsanctified Sovereign understood what this meant.

If word spread, the Supreme Truth cultivators and Great Supreme Truth cultivators of the Sixth Heaven would go mad with excitement.

Root Demon Tribulation was the bane of all Truth cultivators, a sword hanging perpetually over their heads. It impeded their progress and could send them plummeting into the abyss with the slightest misstep.

“Within the next ten thousand years, I, too, may face my Root Demon Tribulation. Would the Ten Thousand Suns Supreme be willing to assist me when the time comes?” The Unsanctified Sovereign’s tone was humble, his demeanor deferential.

“My only concern is the timing of your tribulation...” Qi Yuan said, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

The Unsanctified Sovereign misunderstood, thinking that Qi Yuan had limits to how often he could resolve tribulations. He quickly said, “I can delay it—up to five thousand years if necessary!”

“No need to delay. I was just saying that in ten thousand years, the Root Demons might be working as chefs for me,” Qi Yuan quipped casually.

The Unsanctified Sovereign froze.

Root Demons... working as chefs?

This Ten Thousand Suns Supreme truly spoke without restraint!

To others, Root Demons were incomprehensible entities, colossal even on a cosmic scale. They were beings even Supremes could not fathom.

Still, he dared not question Qi Yuan’s words and tentatively asked, “So... no delay, then?”

“The sooner, the better,” Qi Yuan replied.

“Understood!” the Unsanctified Sovereign said, his heart settling at last.

“Farewell,” Qi Yuan said with a wave, glancing deeply at the Council of Truth before vanishing.

Deep within the Council of Truth.

Two voices echoed in the hidden recesses.

“What do you think?”

“I can’t discern him.”

“Do we stand a chance?”

“No chance.”

“With the Gate of Myriad Principles in his hands, he will inevitably see through us one day.”

“Sigh... knowing this, why did he still come to the Council? Could it be... he’s baiting us to act?”

“I can’t discern him... I can’t discern him...”

The murmurs gradually faded into silence.

Time passed.

Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

A terrifying energy surged around him.

“I’ve finally reached the fourteenth layer,” he murmured, glancing at his arm. His gaze carried a sharp edge.

Since returning from the Council of Truth, Qi Yuan had used the Black Demon Ancestor’s Blood provided by the Purple Fate Ancestor and the Unsanctified Sovereign to cultivate the Ancestral Blood Scripture.

Now, the scripture had reached its fourteenth layer.

“No one has ever achieved the fourteenth layer in the Black Demon Abyss.”

Of course, Qi Yuan’s version of the Ancestral Blood Scripture had been optimized, making it vastly different—and far more powerful—than the standard version.

“With the strength of my body now, bolstered by the Ten Thousand Paths Martial God... it should be comparable to an offensive Supreme Treasure,” Qi Yuan mused.

Still, he sighed. “I’m too weak.”

“The Sole Hall’s Heroic Spirits terrify even Supremes. Am I truly their match?”

“And then there’s Sovereign Ming—he’s clearly a ruthless figure!”

“If even they couldn’t win, how could ‘Freedom’ truth possibly survive alongside me?”

These thoughts whirled through Qi Yuan’s mind.

“Luckily... the game is about to begin.”

It didn’t matter whether she was the Moon God Sovereign or not. What mattered was that she was still his master—and his wife.

“Where is she now?” Qi Yuan asked.

Ice Moon’s expression turned complicated.

“She could be in the past... or in the future. But she is not in the present.”

“In the past... or the future?” Qi Yuan’s thoughts churned as he processed this revelation.

The stronger I grow, the more incomprehensible the world becomes, he thought bitterly.

Whether it was Sovereign Ming, who had severed the Sixth Heaven’s future, or his master, who existed outside the present, the mysteries only deepened.

“How can I find her?” he asked.

“It is said that a cultivator at the fifth layer of the Yang God Realm can gather all timelines of existence.

“If you reach the fifth layer, you may traverse time itself—return to the past or visit the future to see her,” Ice Moon said softly.

She studied Qi Yuan for a moment before adding, “Perhaps... you’ve already met her in the past without realizing it.”

Qi Yuan fell silent. Countless memories flashed through his mind, but he could recall nothing concrete about Ruan Yixi’s origins.

However, no matter how hard Qi Yuan searched through his memories, he couldn’t recall anything more about Ruan Yixi.

Perhaps, like a flower quietly blooming along the roadside, her presence had once graced his journey, but he had walked past without stopping to admire it.

“Seems like my strength is still far too inadequate,” Qi Yuan said with a self-deprecating smile.

It was true—he was still at the Purple Mansion stage.

Even against Supremes, he wasn’t entirely confident of victory, let alone against beings from the Sole Hall or other unknown existences.

“Yang God Realm’s fifth layer can unite all timelines. What about the third and fourth layers? What do they represent?” Qi Yuan asked, curious about the greater truths of cultivation.

Ice Moon shook her head gently.

“Such realms are beyond my understanding as a mere Supreme Treasure.

“However, I’ve heard whispers about the fourth layer—it represents chaos and disorder.

“You’ve seen it before.”

“Who?” Qi Yuan asked, a suspicion already forming in his mind.

“Root Demons,” Ice Moon replied solemnly. “Those beings, scattered across countless universes and appearing only during Root Demon Tribulations, are said to embody the grandeur of the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm.”

Her voice carried a deep reverence, tinged with fear.

“To a cultivator at the second layer, the fourth layer is as unattainable as the heavens above. It’s like a mayfly gazing at the vast sky or a frog peering out from a well at the sun and moon.

“Though both are considered Yang God cultivators, they are utterly different kinds of existence.”

Ice Moon’s gaze grew distant, filled with awe and trepidation.

“Root Demons...” Qi Yuan murmured, reflecting on the beings Ice Moon described.

Her explanation aligned with his earlier conjectures about these enigmatic entities.

“You’ve resolved a Root Demon Tribulation before. I don’t know how, but...” Ice Moon paused briefly before continuing. “You should avoid doing so too often.

“Though the fourth layer of the Yang God Realm represents chaos and disorder, that doesn’t mean the Root Demons will remain dormant forever. If one of them were to awaken and notice a small being like you interfering with their affairs...”

Her tone was serious, but there was a faint hint of amusement in her eyes, as if she found the idea both absurd and strangely entertaining.

“Hey, I’m not small!” Qi Yuan protested, indignant.

Purple Fate Ancestor had once been so awestruck that he’d stammered “big, big, big” upon seeing Qi Yuan’s strength. How could anyone call him small?

“Is there anything else you want to know? My knowledge rivals that of the Mirror of Myriad Reflections, but I’ll need to rest soon,” Ice Moon said. A touch of weariness began to show on her frosty, jade-like face.

“How powerful are the Heroic Spirits of the Sole Hall?” Qi Yuan asked, pressing the question that weighed on his mind.

“The Sole Hall...” Ice Moon’s eyes darkened, filled with deep unease. “You’ve been to the Heaven and Earth Secret Land. You should have encountered the Remnant Cloak Soul.”

“Yes,” Qi Yuan confirmed.

“I suspect that in life, the Remnant Cloak Soul was a being of the third layer of the Yang God Realm,” Ice Moon said.

“Furthermore, it bore traces of tainted blood—‘the Blood of Misfortune.’ That blood once attempted to invade the immortal realm but was eradicated by the Sole Hall.”

At the mention of this, Ice Moon’s tone grew heavier, her reverence toward the Sole Hall undeniable.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan’s expression grew serious.

The Sole Hall’s Heroic Spirits weren’t ordinary foes. Even if the Remnant Cloak Soul was merely a remnant of a third-layer Yang God, its power was undeniable.

And if the Blood of Misfortune was even stronger than that...

The Sole Hall’s ability to confront and eradicate such an entity spoke volumes about their terrifying strength.

“From what you’ve said, the Sole Hall is indeed powerful. Right now, I’m no match for them,” Qi Yuan said frankly.

At his current level, he doubted he could even contend with the Remnant Cloak Soul, let alone the forces of the Sole Hall.

“If I were you, I’d enter the Gate of Myriad Principles right away,” Ice Moon suggested.

“That treasure isn’t just the greatest Supreme Treasure in the immortal realm—it’s also considered the purest sanctuary.

“Supremes are said to be as eternal as heaven and earth, their lifespans limitless.

“Yet throughout countless epochs, the number of Supremes who have survived within the Sixth Heaven can be counted on one hand.

“If you stay within the Gate of Myriad Principles, you might achieve immortality,” Ice Moon said with a hint of envy.

“We who tread the Dao seek only freedom, yet in this world, where can one find true freedom?” she lamented.

“To us, the Sixth Heaven is but a cage.

“It’s a cage we cannot escape, for to escape is to die.

“I’ve met beings from beyond this realm—they’ve all said that the outer universes are rife with strife and chaos.

“Compared to them, the Sixth Heaven is a sheltered paradise.

“But the moment our existence is discovered by beings from other universes, war is inevitable.

“Countless epochs ago, the immortal realm’s Sixth Heaven was invaded and conquered by outsiders.

“To be strong is to face catastrophe. To be weak is to invite calamity. Ignorance is a blessing; unawareness brings peace.

“The more powerful one becomes, the more one realizes their insignificance. The more one understands, the more they see the futility of the immortal path,” Ice Moon said, her tone heavy with despair.

Qi Yuan remained calm, quietly processing her words.

What Ice Moon described aligned with the Dark Forest Theory.

If a universe is discovered by a more advanced civilization, conflict is almost inevitable.

In the end, cultivation was a path of both heart and resources.

In many ways, resources and power dictated survival.

And in this world, plunder was the unspoken melody of the immortal Dao.

“Yes, the cultivation world is full of bad actors. I know,” Qi Yuan said with a sigh.

After playing so many games, he had seen enough of these patterns.

Even NPCs were often filled with hostility, let alone cultivators striving for supremacy.

On every world he had visited—be it the Moonwatch Continent, Flowing Wind Realm, Mortal Heart World, or Gongxing Star—the stories were the same.

Wherever people existed, so too did conflict and strife.

The scale might differ, but the essence was unchanged.

“Looks like I’ll need to grow stronger and set the cultivation world straight!”

Qi Yuan suddenly declared with an air of determination.

“Rule number one: No cursing during cultivation!”