Five years later.
In the Primordial Star Domain, the Starlight Dao Sect opened its gates to the world, with countless stars shining.
The gate, standing in the void, was boundless and magnificent, carved with mysterious Dao patterns that exuded the power of ancient ages.
The gate slowly opened, as if opening the world's gate to the thirty-six heavens. Within was a vast and boundless realm, immortal energy swirling, and a thousand auspicious lights shining.
The cultivators of the Desolate Ancient Star Domain lineage, their bodies flowing with divine light, filed out in orderly procession to solemnly welcome Zhi Meng and Gu Qing's return.
In addition, many disciples and elders also wanted to witness the peerless elegance of the two.
They were dying to know what this so-called legendary figure, hailed as the strongest Heavenly Star Divine Body in history, truly looked like.
And there was Zhi Meng.
This was a Profound God Realm powerhouse.
If this hadn't actually happened right before their eyes, they would never have dared to believe that someone could prove the Dao and attain a Profound God Realm Dao Fruit in just a few centuries after ascension.
To know, a few centuries wasn't even enough time for them to make a long journey.
You Kui had also arrived.
High above the void, all laws shrouded him, like a deity looking down.
He wanted to see, just what kind of divine being Zhi Meng was, who was hailed as a peerless prodigy alongside Jiang Yu.
Whether she was qualified to be Gu Qing's master.
He too possessed a Heavenly Star Divine Body and also hailed from the Desolate Ancient Star Domain. He could be said to dream of taking Gu Qing as a disciple and having him inherit his mantle.
Buzz!
"They're here."
A vast starry path suddenly appeared in the distance.
A man and a woman, peerlessly elegant, seemed to be the center of the world, stealing all the colors of the world.
Their divine faces were as if carefully carved by the hands of the heavens, perfect and flawless.
Of course, appearance wasn't important.
Aura was the foundation of a person.
"So powerful."
Their hair danced as they moved. Every gesture and movement exuded a noble and transcendent aura, revealing an invincible might from within.
Everyone held their breath, feeling an invincible pressure wash over them, making it somewhat suffocating.
"The strongest Heavenly Star Divine Body in history truly lives up to its reputation, and the peerless prodigies are unparalleled through the ages."
"Our Desolate Ancient Star Domain lineage is destined for great prosperity."
You Kui secretly marveled, his heart burning with passion.
He looked at Gu Qing, then at Zhi Meng, and felt he had a chance.
From the aura Zhi Meng displayed, it was indeed very strong, but it didn't have that unfathomable depth that Jiang Yu possessed, and it was still within his ability to handle.
Before Jiang Yu appeared, he, the strongest Profound God, was by no means a fraud.
But the two had just arrived at the Starlight Dao Sect; it wasn't time to snatch disciples. The priority was to give them a proper welcome first.
"Greetings, Patriarch."
Gu Qing bowed in salute.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the other cultivators of the Desolate Ancient Star Domain lineage, feeling puzzled.
Why were there so few of them?
Only three Celestial God Realm peak-level experts and over ten Celestial God Realm cultivators.
And from their auras, they were very weak.
As for the disciples, their cultivation levels were similarly mediocre.
Was their middle force this weak?
Or perhaps not everyone had arrived?
That shouldn't be; Patriarch You Kui was already here.
"No need for formalities."
You Kui raised his hand, a gentle force lifting Gu Qing up.
"Patriarch, where is Jiang Yu?"
Zhi Meng asked.
Such a grand occasion would be meaningless without Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu had to be there.
She was also going to publicly humiliate Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu was only fit to be a concubine for her disciple, a wet nurse to take care of her daughter.
"The Peak Master of Purple Lotus Peak is in closed-door cultivation."
You Kui replied with a faint smile.
"Peak Master? What Peak Master?"
Zhi Meng's eyelids twitched, and a sudden ominous premonition arose.
"Jiang Yu's Dao name is Purple Lotus. After proving the Dao to the Profound God Realm, she became a Peak Master."
"You didn't know?"
You Kui asked in surprise.
In his view, the three of them ascended together, so their relationship should be very good.
No, if their relationship was good, Jiang Yu wouldn't have asked him to conceal his strength.
So, what exactly was the relationship between these two?
"What... what?"
Zhi Meng was struck as if by lightning.
Proven the Profound God Realm?
And also a Peak Master?
"Impossible, absolutely impossible."
Zhi Meng roared, her voice like thunder, her blue hair flying. In the clear sky, a boundless chaotic sea of thunder instantly manifested.
"Jiang Yu, get out here for me."
Zhi Meng's exotic blue eyes contained raging fury.
Her aura fully erupted, Chaos Giving Birth to Sun and Moon, as she commanded the boundless chaotic sea of thunder.
"Hiss."
Everyone's faces turned pale, intimidated by Zhi Meng's violent aura, feeling as if their souls were about to explode, and a great fear rose in their hearts.
If even a single bolt of that terrifying thunder sea were to strike them, they would surely die in an instant, their souls annihilated.
Their minds went blank. The three of them ascended together, weren't they supposed to be like-minded friends?
Why did they seem like enemies?
The thunder sea that Zhi Meng suddenly manifested also alarmed the entire Starlight Dao Sect.
Countless powerhouses extended their divine senses to investigate.
When they saw Zhi Meng's Chaos Sun and Moon phenomenon commanding the boundless sea of thunder, their pupils constricted.
You Kui had long spread the news that Zhi Meng possessed the Yin-Yang Chaos Physique and primarily cultivated the Taiyin-Taiyang Chaos Record.
But he never mentioned she also cultivated such a terrifying Thunder Dao.
The Profound God Realm Patriarchs looked at the chaotic sea of thunder, their hearts trembling.
It was too powerful. Thunder was extremely firm and yang, unparalleled in slaughter. Perhaps Zhi Meng's thunder could even slay a Profound God.
"What is the matter?"
Jiang Yu's voice echoed out.
Before the words faded, Jiang Yu had already appeared in the void. The Purple Lotus phenomenon stretched across the sky, exuding the resonance of the Great Dao, like a sovereign deity commanding the heavens and earth.
Seeing the Purple Lotus phenomenon, everyone couldn't help but be shocked, their hearts trembling.
Under the envelopment of the Purple Lotus phenomenon, they felt like ants in Jiang Yu's world.
This was absolutely no illusion.
It was because Jiang Yu's Purple Lotus phenomenon truly commanded the laws of all things in heaven and earth.
And in her domain, she could erase them with a single thought.
The peerless prodigies from the lower realms were simply terrifying to this extent.
Even when looking across the vast Immortal Realm, they were a unique existence.
The powerhouses of the Starlight Dao Sect looked at the two with expressions of admiration.
"You truly deserve to die."
Seeing that Jiang Yu was truly at the fourth level of the Profound God Realm, Zhi Meng's mentality exploded.
She couldn't accept this cruel fact.
In order to become stronger, she had searched everywhere for opportunities, even going so far as to feign harmony with those so-called heavenly prodigies.
She had been hunted down by Profound God Realm cultivators, fleeing for her life in a sorry state, almost losing her life.
If not for Gu Qing giving her the Heavenly Thunder Pearl.
If not for her fearlessly forcing a fusion with the Heavenly Thunder Pearl.
She would never have been able to prove the Dao to the Profound God Realm.
But after paying such a heavy price, why was she still surpassed by Jiang Yu?
What on earth had Jiang Yu done?
She had done nothing, suffered no hardships, and yet she had cultivated to the Profound God Realm right here in the Starlight Dao Sect.
How could she be so lucky?
Zhi Meng refused to accept it.
Things shouldn't be this way.
Things should have been that Jiang Yu would accomplish nothing, scrambling around in a pathetic and humble search for resources.
She should have been mocked and ridiculed by Zhi Meng, reduced to a concubine for her own disciple, and then ordered around like a maidservant, forced to help raise her daughter.
That was how it was supposed to be.
"Die."
Zhi Meng launched a ferocious attack, as hundreds of millions of thunderbolts Jiang Yu.
So what if her cultivation level was a whole realm higher?
She, Zhi Meng, had condensed numerous Great Dao Dao Fruits, possessed unparalleled combat strength, and refused to believe she couldn't defeat Jiang Yu.
The thought was good, but reality was cruel.
All it took was for Jiang Yu to flick her wide sleeve. Space contracted, gathering the endless thunderbolts, and the universe shifted, moving all the attacks right back at her.
"Star Shift?"
Zhi Meng was dumbfounded. How could her terrifying divine ability be so easily shifted away?
Could the gap of a single realm in the Profound God Realm really be an insurmountable chasm?
The surrounding experts watched in astonishment. Seriously, was their Star Shift divine ability really that powerful?
You Kui smiled without a word.
He had long since experienced Jiang Yu's stellar divine abilities; they could be described as the Great Dao in its simplest form.
Even an ordinary divine ability, in Jiang Yu's hands, could unleash the power of a Great Dao divine ability, perfect and flawless.
"Master, the first three levels are the early stage, and the latter three are the mid-stage. The gap between them is like a chasm."
"Jiang Yu's temporary lead means nothing. With your talent, Master, you will soon surpass her and suppress her."
Gu Qing spoke up to comfort her.
He was truly afraid Zhi Meng's Dao heart would collapse and she would do something even more reckless.
"You are right, disciple."
Zhi Meng took a deep breath, her gaze sharp as lightning, her demeanor arrogant. "Jiang Yu, a momentary victory or defeat means nothing. The one who laughs last is the real winner. We'll just see about that."
With that, Zhi Meng left with Gu Qing.
Entering the cave dwelling You Kui had long since arranged for them, she activated the formation arrays.
Zhi Meng's expression cracked, her nose stinging.
This was just too damn bullying.
She had worked so hard, pushing herself to the brink of death countless times to surpass Jiang Yu, breaking through the shackles of life again and again, transcending her own limits.
And yet, she was still no match for Jiang Yu.
When would she ever be able to surpass Jiang Yu?
"Waaaah!"
Zhi Meng suddenly threw her arms around Gu Qing, muffling her sobs as she quietly cried.
Gu Qing was at a loss for what to do.
He had never imagined that his formidable master, a woman like a soaring eagle, would actually cry.
It seemed his master had truly been bullied terribly.
Thinking about it, Zhi Meng had endured so much hardship, chasing Jiang Yu for thousands of years, yet still couldn't catch up to the slacker Jiang Yu. Anyone would feel unbalanced in her shoes.
"Go ahead and cry. It's not that you're not good enough; it's that Jiang Yu was born standing at the peak," Gu Qing thought to himself, holding his soft master in his arms.
Zhi Meng cried for a good while before she realized—she wasn't supposed to be crying!
Not in front of her disciple.
She had lost her composure.
Zhi Meng's face burned as she buried her head in Gu Qing's chest, too embarrassed to come out. "Disciple, Jiang Yu is just too powerful. Your master won't be able to catch up to her anytime soon."
"It's all my fault for being useless. I can't capture her for you to be your concubine."
Gu Qing's mind was filled with question marks.
Capture Jiang Yu as a concubine?
You really dare to say anything.
Gu Qing couldn't help but admire Zhi Meng's audacity.
"Disciple, your master has a plan..."
"No, don't say it. I don't want to hear it."
Gu Qing cut her off. He didn't need to hear it to know Zhi Meng was up to no good.
Besides, Jiang Yu was probably secretly watching.
That scheming woman, Jiang Yu, was probably having a good laugh seeing Zhi Meng lose her cool.
"No, you have to let me finish first."
Zhi Meng looked up, her expression serious. "You are so handsome and outstanding, you're sure to be able to seduce her. Once she falls in love, she'll surely be distracted from her cultivation. We, master and disciple, can work from the inside and out, and then your master will have the situation firmly in hand."
'Working from the inside and out'? More like 'wolves plotting together'.
"No." Gu Qing refused flatly.
Jiang Yu's Dao heart was unshakable; every action was a calculated move. If she could be won over, he would have done it long ago.
"My good disciple, you don't want your master to be suppressed by Jiang Yu forever, do you?"
A thousand camels stampeded through Gu Qing's mind.
After a moment of thought, he suggested in a low voice, "Master, think about it. Why has Jiang Yu always been so tolerant of you, never losing her temper with you?"
"Why?" Zhi Meng was stunned. Gu Qing's reminder made her realize it was strange too.
Although Jiang Yu was as serene as a chrysanthemum, uncompetitive and gentle, she had always directly killed anyone who provoked her.
And yet, she, who had always been at odds with Jiang Yu, why had Jiang Yu always tolerated her?
The more Zhi Meng thought about it, the more wrong it felt.
"I guess... she must like you," Gu Qing said softly.
"What?"
"You insolent disciple! How can you speak such nonsense? I am a woman, how could I... how could I..."
Zhi Meng was furious, her face red, and she trailed off, unable to continue.
"Master, you could cultivate the Yin-Yang Reversal Secret Art."
"They say a childhood sweetheart can't beat a love from above, but mortal enemies can become lovers."
"If you take action, Master, you'll have it in the bag and can thoroughly take down that hateful Jiang Yu."
"You two are true love, Master."
Gu Qing finished in one breath, then ran off without a trace.
He had to go find Jiang Yu to upgrade his communication jade. If she didn't upgrade it for him...
He... he would just hug her thigh and not let go.
"You insolent disciple!"
Zhi Meng's face turned red with rage, and she was hopping mad.
"Even if you're unwilling, you don't have to humiliate your master like this," Zhi Meng gritted her teeth.
She would absolutely never reverse her gender, nor could she have the slightest bit of feeling for Jiang Yu.
She wished Jiang Yu would just die.
Gu Qing's actions made her furious.
Zhi Meng just couldn't understand. Jiang Yu was so beautiful and outstanding, why wouldn't Gu Qing just go along with it?
"Sigh, this is so frustrating."
Zhi Meng's face was full of sorrow, her eyes filled with helplessness, her heart defeated.
She had chased Jiang Yu for thousands of years and still couldn't catch up. She was truly tired.
And her only beloved disciple was unwilling to help her. The road ahead seemed so difficult.
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