This fiery sun, as hot as ever, is rarely trodden. Those below the Great Dao lack the strength, and those above it wish to avoid entanglement with karma.
Should any issue arise with the Sun Star, it would bring endless karma, troubling even Saints.
In this regard, the Tai Yin Star is far superior to the Sun. At least the Tai Yin is stable; as long as one is not an enemy of the Tai Yin Star, a visit would cause no trouble.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a layer of法则之力 (law power) materialized around Qing Ling. The Wood Dao shielded heavenly secrets and isolated perception. He descended into the Sun Star, and the boundless, scorching Sun True Fire parted before him, forming a path.
On the Sun Star, there was nothing but golden flames. Qing Ling walked for a long time, reaching the center of the Sun Star, where a majestic divine palace appeared before him.
The Sun Palace.
Qing Ling looked up at the celestial palace but did not enter. He flipped his hand and produced an item, ancient and imposing, stirring the endless Sun True Fire. It was the Chaos Bell, one of the three primordial treasures of creation.
Qing Ling pointed a finger, and after a hum, the Chaos Bell fell silent.
"You mustn't make a sound," Qing Ling sighed. "From now on, you will accompany me for a while."
He placed his right palm on the Chaos Bell, and the half-transformed法则之力 within him surged wildly, pouring into the depths of the Chaos Bell, its immense vitality nourishing the dormant primordial spirit within.
Qing Ling then retrieved over a hundred drops of San Guang Shen Shui (Three Light Divine Water) he had acquired over the years and merged them into his Wood Dao law. Through the Wood Dao, he nurtured the faint primordial spirit.
The faint primordial spirit gradually revived. The Sun Palace shuddered, and a primal fire flew out, merging with the Chaos Bell.
The bell body glowed brightly, illuminating the nine heavens and ten realms.
Qing Ling waved his hand, and the pressure of a Saint suppressed the aura of the Chaos Bell. The current world could not tolerate even a whisper of a disturbance.
"Hum~"
The primordial spirit, nourished by the power of a Saint, finally awoke.
"You..."
Qing Ling smiled, "Tai Yi, it's been a long time."
The primordial spirit fell silent for a long time, and then memories surged like a tide. Boundless flames flowed back, and a three-legged golden crow was reborn in fire. Above the sun, countless golden flames paid homage. The sun pierced the night sky, shining in its zenith.
At this moment, nine suns simultaneously broke through the night across the nine great planes, casting ten thousand rays of golden light, illuminating all realms. The ten suns reappeared, shining throughout the heavens.
Seeing this, Qing Ling quickly pointed at the Chaos Bell. His Wood Dao law drove the Chaos Bell to resonate through the nine heavens and ten realms. A phantom image of the Jian Mu tree stood tall above the sun, proclaiming the Chaos Bell's sovereignty.
In Wa Huang Palace, Nu Wa smiled with satisfaction, remaining silent.
In Yu Xu Palace, Yuan Shi frowned. Qing Ling had completely refined the Chaos Bell, and his strength now rivaled theirs. He was rising rapidly.
On Shou Yang Mountain, Lao Zi's face relaxed. Since Qing Ling had refined the Chaos Bell, it meant its original owner was truly dead.
On Jin Ao Island, in Bi You Palace, Tong Tian showed great interest.
In the Western Pure Land, Zhun Ti and Jie Yin looked on with envy. The East possessed not only three primordial treasures of creation but also terrifying killing weapons like the Zhuxian Four Swords, and chaotic treasures like the Qiankun Ding. It far surpassed the West.
However, the doubts of the five Saints vanished. After all, a congenital supreme treasure, once refined, would not change hands without its owner's death.
As long as the Demon Clan's Eastern Emperor was truly dead, they would be at peace.
Even though he was not a Saint or a Hunyuan, he could still make Saints wary.
On the Sun Star, within the eternal light of fire, a deity emerged, his eyes full of light, illuminating heaven and earth. He possessed unparalleled handsome features and the most majestic masculine beauty, for he was the Sun God, the god at his zenith, Tai Yi.
But at this moment, before Qing Ling, he was merely a distraught god.
Tai Yi awoke, or rather, was reborn. The first person he saw upon opening his eyes was Qing Ling. He whispered, "I have returned?"
Qing Ling smiled and nodded, "Indeed."
"But my elder brother, and Xi He, can they still come back?"
Qing Ling shook his head, "I do not know."
Upon hearing this, a terrifying rage erupted in Tai Yi's golden eyes. But in Qing Ling's view, he was merely a heavily wounded trapped beast. All that had passed was gone with the wind, his family and kin had abandoned him, and he stood alone in heaven and earth.
Tai Yi collapsed in despair, lying on the fiery Sun Star, gazing at the sky in silence. For the first time in two lifetimes, he shed tears.
There was no wild screaming, no frenzied rage, only silent tears shed alone, the tears of the sun, the red sun veiled in dust.
Qing Ling sighed, walked to Tai Yi's side, wiped away his tears, and said softly, "The Sun God should not weep."
Tai Yi suddenly embraced Qing Ling, tears flowing ceaselessly. At this moment, he was not the Eastern Emperor Tai Yi who once made heaven and earth tremble, not the esteemed Eastern Emperor worshipped by millions of demon subjects, not the Eastern Emperor Tai Yi who dared to contend with heaven and earth. He was merely a lost soul, cast aside.
Qing Ling sighed, "Let this be the only time you weep."
The sun grew dim, grieving with the god.
Qing Ling spoke in a gentle tone, "Tai Yi, in my heart, you will always be the Eastern Emperor who stood shoulder to shoulder with the sun and moon. I await your return, and that of Nu Wa, your ten nephews, and your millions of demon subjects."
...
In the Heavenly Court, the sound of the Chaos Bell dispelled the awkwardness of the visitors from the West. Yaoshi and Mile took their seats.
The Queen Mother smiled, "Hearing the bell's chime, it signifies that another Saint has obtained a supreme treasure!"
Kong Xuan rose and bowed, "Kong Xuan thanks you, Queen Mother, on behalf of my master."
The Queen Mother nodded with a smile, "Your master and I have been fellow Daoists for many years. Truly, a great master produces a great disciple."
Kong Xuan bowed his thanks and sat down peacefully.
Haotian finally spoke, "Today, all of you have come to celebrate the Queen Mother's immortal king birthday. Feel free to enjoy yourselves to your heart's content, without regard for the Heavenly Court's rules."
Everyone agreed.
Next, everyone offered congratulations and gifts to the Queen Mother. After this ceremony concluded, several hours had passed.
Then, celestial maids brought forth the Peaches of Immortality. Many present were eating them for the first time, enjoying them immensely, almost depleting the Queen Mother's peach garden.
The Queen Mother sat at the head, her expression unchanged, though her heart bled. They were all venerable ancestors, did they really need to eat peaches with such gluttony?
After all the immortal elders and great beings had feasted on the Peaches of Immortality and drunk the nectar, they were all thoroughly satisfied.
At this point, Haotian, seated at the head, smiled and said, "As you all know, our Heavenly Court is newly established, and we are short-handed. You are all powerful ancestors, each with countless subordinates. Could some of your subordinates come to the Heavenly Court to serve in divine positions? With the blessing of destiny, they might achieve positive results. Are you willing?"
A moment of stillness fell upon the banquet. Ming He's hand, raising a wine goblet, froze. Zhen Yuanzi's sleeve, having just put away a peach, halted mid-motion. Ling Zhu Zi's face, distended from eating a peach, became rigid. Kong Xuan, head tilted as he spoke to Lu Ya, stopped moving. Mile's hand, patting his belly, remained on his stomach...
But it was only for a moment. Then, all the immortals resumed their normal demeanor, sat up straight, and composed their expressions. The once joyous and harmonious immortal banquet transformed into a solemn and dignified conference of strategy. Only Ling Zhu Zi continued to stuff peaches into his mouth, looking at the surrounding immortals with confusion as to why they had stopped eating.