Within the spatial-temporal passage.
“This time, we owe it all to Brother Huocheng. If not for your presence, the two Saints of the Mo Clan wouldn’t have yielded so easily,” Dongbo Xueying said.
“I merely made an appearance—didn’t even fight,” Venerable Huocheng laughed heartily. “But Dongbo, your strength is impressive. You managed to hold your own against Saint Ye. Once word of this battle spreads, the mighty figures of the Divine Realm and the Abyss will surely be shocked. Perhaps my master will revise the Cosmic Deities Ranking yet again.”
Dongbo Xueying smiled faintly.
The Primordial Master’s revisions to the Cosmic Deities Ranking were unpredictable—sometimes immediate, sometimes delayed for ages due to seclusion or other matters.
“Rankings are trivial,” Dongbo Xueying remarked. “For me, the most important thing is transcendence.”
“Counting the years, it’s been over a million since your birth,” Venerable Huocheng said. “With your talent and comprehension, Dongbo, it’s about time you transcended.”
“My master said the same,” Dongbo Xueying shook his head. “If all goes smoothly, enlightenment might strike in a flash. But right now, I’m missing that final step.”
Venerable Huocheng nodded. “Rushing won’t help. But judging from your recent battle, your accumulated insights are profound, and your spearplay is among the finest even among the mighty.”
Dongbo Xueying chuckled.
Privately, he took pride in the five secret techniques he had created—each formidable, standing at the pinnacle below the Venerable level.
“You’ve comprehended all nine divine hearts, your foundation is solid, and your insight is exceptional,” Venerable Huocheng continued. “Everything is in place. Breakthroughs come when they will. I advise you to travel more—experience different things. New stimuli might just spark that final revelation.”
“Agreed,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “I’ve been thinking the same.”
“Hahaha! Then let me congratulate you in advance. Once you transcend, we brothers can remain brothers for eternity,” Venerable Huocheng laughed before glancing into the distance. “Blackmist Sea is near. I think I’ll skip visiting this time. Seeing Patriarch Redflame might only deepen his discomfort.”
Dongbo Xueying paused, then nodded.
Though he had reclaimed the Solar Star Core, Patriarch Redflame still carried guilt and regret in his heart.
—
After parting with Venerable Huocheng, Dongbo Xueying descended upon the Blackmist Sea’s Imperial Manor.
Within the estate, Yu Jingqiu, Dongbo Yu, and Patriarch Redflame awaited him.
“Father, you’re back so soon. How did it go?” Dongbo Yu asked eagerly, while Yu Jingqiu smiled warmly. Patriarch Redflame’s expression was more complicated.
Dongbo Xueying grinned and tossed the Solar Star Core to Patriarch Redflame.
Only upon seeing the core did the Patriarch exhale in relief. Had it not been reclaimed, how would Dongbo Xueying return it to Lord Lianjun? The thought of Dongbo Xueying being forced into dire straits because of him was unbearable.
“Xueying,” Patriarch Redflame stepped forward and placed the Solar Star Core back into Dongbo Xueying’s hands. “You keep it.”
“This…” Dongbo Xueying was taken aback.
“Carrying this thing makes me uneasy,” the Patriarch shook his head. “You retrieved it once, but what if it’s stolen again? Must you fight for it every time?”
“Saint Bamboo wouldn’t dare try again,” Dongbo Xueying assured.
“What if another mighty one does?” Patriarch Redflame refused. “Through karma, I sensed one of Saint Bamboo’s avatars perishing. The scale of this battle will spread swiftly across the Divine Realm and Abyss. Soon, everyone will know I possess this Solar Star Core.”
Dongbo Xueying nodded slightly.
The battle’s tremors had engulfed the entire Bamboo Continent, witnessed by Saint Bamboo’s countless subordinates. Word would spread like wildfire. Even the Spacetime Temple could observe such a clash—no barrier could conceal such a vast conflict.
“So, I’m no longer fit to carry it—nor do I wish to,” Patriarch Redflame sighed. “This was a mistake from the start. I shamelessly sought your aid for my cultivation, burdening you. Most would’ve refused outright, but you risked everything to help me.”
“Then, when trouble arose, you fought for me again.”
“What if it’s stolen once more? The next thief might be a Venerable. I can’t cultivate in peace like this.” He met Dongbo Xueying’s gaze. “You understand.”
“I do,” Dongbo Xueying acknowledged.
“Good. Cultivation doesn’t require the Solar Star. I’ll explore other ruins instead,” the Patriarch declared. “Xueying, I’ll take my leave now. No need to see me off.”
“Wait,” Dongbo Xueying interjected. “Patriarch, didn’t you lose a spatial treasure and weapons to Saint Bamboo?”
The Patriarch paused, then nodded.
His first death had been his Solar Star avatar—the one carrying most of his treasures.
With a wave, Dongbo Xueying summoned floating artifacts, including an exotic wooden staff, the Patriarch’s most famed weapon.
“These, I won’t refuse,” the Patriarch grinned, reclaiming his blood-forged armaments.
—
Patriarch Redflame departed swiftly, unburdened at last.
The Solar Star Core had become a weight too heavy to bear.
As predicted, mere hours after Dongbo Xueying’s return, rumors of the battle began circulating. Mighty ones could easily replay the clash through temporal observation.
“Dongbo Xueying stormed Bamboo Continent in fury, shattering its guardian formation in a single strike. Saint Bamboo couldn’t even escape—slain on the spot!”
“Saint Bamboo claims Dongbo Xueying wields a True Divinity artifact. Otherwise, escape would’ve been possible.”
“A one-on-one execution of Saint Bamboo?”
“But Saint Bamboo was near-Venerable tier!”
“Dongbo Xueying also clashed with Saint Ye—neither gained the upper hand.”
The news spread like wildfire, especially among veteran Four-Pillar Heaven Gods and mighty figures. Even Venerables and Sovereigns took note, recognizing the significance of Dongbo Xueying’s feat.
—
In the Divine Realm.
Amidst a chain of floating mountains, the tallest peak hosted a lone figure seated cross-legged atop a boulder.
Clad in tatters, barefoot, with unkempt hair, he resembled a beggar—until his eyes opened. Their gentle yet boundless majesty left no doubt: this was a ruler of heaven and earth.
He was Qing Jun.
A Venerable who rivaled Sovereigns.
“My junior brother’s strength surges ever onward,” Qing Jun mused. “As expected of one who shattered the Three-Heavens cultivation record. Apart from the deceased, only the Island Lord and I remain from those who broke it before. I wonder how far he’ll go.”
“Now, after a million years, transcendence should be near.”
To him, this was inevitable. With Dongbo Xueying’s insight and lack of karmic entanglements, transcendence ought to come effortlessly.
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