Chapter 615: Who Asked You to Be Weak?

Dongbo Xueying closed his eyes.

His ears caught the faint echoes of a distant roar, the sound waves barely reaching him. Yet, Dongbo Xueying could still trace the origin of the sound—a colossal creature soaring leisurely through the void, emitting occasional bellows. Judging by its position, it seemed to be gliding through the Void Black Mud Layer.

“It’s time to return,” Dongbo Xueying opened his eyes with a smile. “Who would have thought I’d hear the roar of a creature from the Sun Abyss? Quite a stroke of luck.”

With that, he turned and departed.

—

**Surface of the Sun Star.**

Chihuo the Ancient bid farewell to Dongbo Xueying.

“Leaving so soon?” Chihuo asked.

Dongbo Xueying chuckled. “To you, ten thousand years is but a fleeting moment. But for me, it’s been quite a stretch. Besides, cultivating deep within the Sun Star requires constant attention to heal the damage. I plan to return to Blackmist Sea and meditate on my recent insights.”

Chihuo nodded. “Even I must divert energy to resist the flames in the Sunstone Layer, making it hard to focus entirely on cultivation. I often retreat to the surface for contemplation. Balance is key.”

Dongbo Xueying agreed. “No need to see me off further.”

With a wave of his hand, a Starfield Ark materialized beside him. Stepping aboard, he vanished through the folds of spacetime.

Watching him leave, Chihuo smiled, then sighed in relief after sensing through karma: “The Bamboo Sage is still in his lair. Good. Xueying’s request for Star Lord Lianjun to refine the Sunstar Corestone was kept secret, and he was cautious even with me. The Bamboo Sage couldn’t possibly know.”

Turning back, Chihuo retreated to his wooden hut on the Sun Star’s surface, ready to reflect on his gains over the past millennia.

—

**A dimly lit hall.**

Seated on his throne, the Bamboo Sage examined a piece of black metal in his hand. His eyelids lifted slightly as he cast a cold glance toward the Sun Star, a smirk playing on his lips. “Dongbo Xueying has returned? As expected. His cultivation span is short—how long could he endure the Sun Star? Breaking through to transcendence must be his priority.”

“No rush. In a few days, I’ll quietly eliminate Chihuo the Ancient, and the Sunstar Corestone will be mine. Another grand harvest awaits.” His eyes gleamed with greed.

—

**Blackmist Sea.**

Back at the Divine Emperor’s estate, Dongbo Xueying didn’t immediately resume cultivation. Instead, he spent time with his wife, Jingqiu, and their son, Dongbo Yu. The family gathered, discussing everything from mundane matters to the profound mysteries of cultivation.

On this particular day, Dongbo Yu stood up excitedly. “Father, I’ve created a new sword technique.”

Seated nearby, Dongbo Xueying and Yu Jingqiu sipped tea, watching with pride. Over the past seven hundred thousand years since establishing his estate, Dongbo Xueying’s insights had deepened far beyond his days emerging from Three-Headed Divine Mountain. Though his son’s techniques still seemed naive and flawed, he offered encouragement before gently guiding him.

The sword technique dazzled—a brilliant flash of light piercing through chaos, like a radiant rainbow.

“What do you think, Father?” Dongbo Yu asked eagerly.

“Emerging from chaos, elusive and unpredictable—well done,” Dongbo Xueying praised. “But the power is lacking. The condensation of chaos into a singularity requires finesse. Observe.”

He raised his right hand and lightly tapped the air.

*Thud!*

The void collapsed where his finger touched, concentric ripples surging inward until they coalesced into a dark singularity—a “polar point.” In an instant, it erupted into a blinding streak of light, tearing through the sky before dissipating in the distance.

Dongbo Yu’s eyes sparkled with inspiration.

“The ripples…” Yu Jingqiu murmured, her own cultivation having reached the level of mastering seven top-tier divine hearts. She recognized the profundity in her husband’s technique.

“It incorporates part of the Sunwave’s essence,” Dongbo Xueying explained.

During his thirteen thousand years within the Sun Star, while primarily studying its operational laws, the relentless assault of Sunwaves had granted him unexpected insights. Perhaps their undulating patterns bore resemblance to the intricate tubes within the black feather, or perhaps he simply had an affinity for such concepts. Regardless, the gains were substantial.

Yet Dongbo Xueying dared not delve too deeply. Though reaching the “Creation Realm” made forging one’s own path difficult, and mastering Sunwaves alone wouldn’t necessarily lead to a new Dao, he heeded the warnings of the Destruction Corps’ commander and his master’s repeated advice—avoid obsessing over power.

“Sunwaves?” Yu Jingqiu gasped. “The third layer of the Sun Star?”

Dongbo Xueying nodded. “Indeed.”

“Later, you must spar with me. I want to witness the might of Sunwaves firsthand,” she insisted.

“Me too!” Dongbo Yu chimed in.

Dongbo Xueying smiled in agreement—until his expression suddenly darkened.

*Boom!*

A figure burst into the estate—Chihuo the Ancient, his face etched with panic. “Xueying! You must help me this time!”

“I know,” Dongbo Xueying replied, his voice icy. “The audacity!”

—

**Surface of the Sun Star.**

Chihuo the Ancient stormed out of his hut, glaring at the gaunt, black-robed man before him. The man’s dark skin bore intricate patterns, and his lips curled into a mocking grin. “Chihuo, I’ve come to visit you again.”

“What do you want?” Chihuo demanded, though inwardly, he trembled. Surely no one knew about the Sunstar Corestone.

“Your Sunstar Corestone, of course,” the Bamboo Sage sneered. “Will you hand it over willingly, or must I kill you for it?”

“You—!” Chihuo’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How did you—?”

“Save your breath. I’ve no time to waste.” The Bamboo Sage’s tone was indifferent. Through karma, he could sense Dongbo Xueying and others’ locations. Even if Dongbo rushed here, it would take far too long—more than enough time to kill Chihuo ten times over. Ranked fifty-third on the Cosmic Deva Demonic Ranking, the Bamboo Sage stood near the level of a Venerable, surpassing even Golden Firmament the Ancient.

*Whoosh.*

A figure materialized beside them—a cold-faced youth in black robes.

“Bamboo Sage.”

“Oh?” The Bamboo Sage glanced at the projection, unimpressed. “Divine Emperor Dongbo. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Aren’t you crossing the line?” Dongbo Xueying’s voice simmered with suppressed fury, helpless to intervene physically.

“Crossing the line? The strong prey on the weak—such is the law of the cosmos,” the Bamboo Sage retorted, feigning innocence.

Dongbo Xueying’s expression darkened. This man had no regard for his authority. “That Sunstar Corestone belongs to me. I lent it to Chihuo. Are you stealing from *me* now?”

“Stealing from you?” The Bamboo Sage scoffed. “And what if I am? Divine Emperor Dongbo, we’re of equal strength. Don’t flatter yourself.”

Chihuo snarled, “You robbed me once, and now you dare again?”

“I rob whom I please. Blame your weakness,” the Bamboo Sage taunted softly.

Chihuo’s face flushed with rage.

“Ordinary mighty ones may fear you, Dongbo Xueying, but to me, you’re nothing—a mere four-heavens Skygod with a few tricks,” the Bamboo Sage jeered. “Enough chatter. Chihuo, since you won’t surrender it, I’ll send you on your way.”

“You—!” Chihuo trembled with fury and despair, knowing escape was impossible. Against the Bamboo Sage, he stood no chance.

“Bamboo Sage,” Dongbo Xueying interjected coldly. “We overlooked your past transgression. But this time, you *must* stand down.”

By his agreement, if he failed to restore the tattered scroll’s array, the Sunstar Corestone would be returned to Star Lord Lianjun. If stolen now, how could he fulfill his promise?

“Stand down?” The Bamboo Sage’s hand shot out.

His palm expanded like a celestial curtain, fingers morphing into five towering black bamboos exuding malevolent energy. Chihuo roared, transforming into a blazing violet streak—a torrent of scorching flames. Yet the Bamboo Sage’s grasp was unyielding, his frigid bamboos impervious to the heat.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The clash was brutal.

No matter how Chihuo struggled, he was like a beast trapped in a cage. Each exchange left him wounded, his fiery form resilient but steadily weakening.

“Ha ha ha…” The Bamboo Sage smirked at Dongbo Xueying’s helpless projection.

With a final, anguished cry—”Bamboo Sage!”—Chihuo’s incarnation was extinguished.

Retrieving the Sunstar Corestone from the remnants, the Bamboo Sage grinned. “Another one? How delightful.” He turned to Dongbo Xueying’s projection, laughing. “I’ve killed him, Divine Emperor Dongbo. What will you do about it? Ha ha ha!”

Dongbo Xueying’s eyes burned with murderous intent. “You’re digging your own grave.”

*Whoosh.*

His projection dissipated.

“Angry, are we?” The Bamboo Sage chuckled. “What can you do, when we’re equals?” With a step, he vanished into the void.

The Sun Star continued its eternal dance, radiating light and heat, indifferent to the strife below.