Maiden Galaxy

The All Things Garden's four seasons scene quietly withered under the woman's frown. As far as the eye could see, the countless trees wilted, an incomparably spectacular sight. In the blink of an eye, the thriving garden was deathly silent. As if feeling that her mood had been ruined, Li Shimin faintly sighed.

All things sprouted, thousands of flowerbuds blossomed row after row, like the waterfall above the nine heavens pouring down.

The world withered and thrived, and even the heavenly law of reincarnation lived and died under her gaze.

Yang Guang was stunned. "Elder Sister Li Shimin, you already cultivated Buddhism's Withering And Thriving True Qi to a level of oneness with Star Energy."

"You misspoke just now. Among Star Marquis, I am ranked number two, having already surpassed Liu Xiu and Liu Che." Li Shimin sat on a stone bench and gently bit into the brilliant red fruit in her hand.

The Tyrant could not care less: "At any rate, those two Liu's are quite loathsome. Even if not them, could it be that Elder Sister Liangyi does not wish to surpass the number one Star Marquis, the Ancestral Dragon?"

"What is the point of bothering about these with an absent Star Marquis." Li Shimin was very unconcerned.

Upon mention of this, the Golden Age Tyrant was filled with displeasure. "The Central Star Field truly has a problem. When even that Ying Zheng has scaled Maiden Mountain, when her Star Name no longer exists, her seat as the number one Star Marquis is still left to her. How can they do this."

"Because she is the Ancestral Dragon. Her Star Name's feats are too great." Li Shimin continued to eat. The woman very elegantly chewed on the succulent fruit flesh between her teeth, its fragrance permeating the area.

"From My perspective, you are the strongest Star Marquis, Elder Sister Liangyi. Hmph, why do we bend our knee to anyone else. We need only destroy Daoism, promote Buddhism, and even the Central Star Field can overthrow her. It is time to make Elder Sister the ruler of Star World.

"Eternal Divine Warrior" Li Liangyi propped up her cheek and looked at the naive Yang Guang.

This little sister always had so many wild ideas, even devising some star canal, but Yang Guang only cared about the results, never the consequences these results could bring. Daoism already became the progenitor of the Hundred Schools. Destroying Mount Hua, the foundation of Daoism, indeed could drastically decrease Daoism's influence for a millennium. This was very beneficial to the other schools.

But she was aware that the Central Star Field valued Confucianism very highly, even circulating rumors of banning the Hundred Schools and revering only Confucianism. By destroying Daoism, this would instead give the Central Star Field's Confucianism even freer reign.

Yang Guang said: "So what, Elder Sister. If we can destroy Daoism and obtain Mount Hua, we can obtain significant contributions. And because of it, Buddhism will thrive for a century. We will have the confidence to face Confucianism."

"Of the Five Moons, only Western Moon Mount Hua remains. I originally prepared to use the competition to eradicate them, but I did not expect a Purple Rose Star Name to ruin My plan. Now that the arrow is nocked, we have no choice but to shoot. Elder Sister, if you hesitate, let alone fruit, I fear we will not obtain even a leaf."

"Dongzi wants to use us to eradicate Mount Hua. Then we will use her. Everyone will use each other. This is all to kill Mount Hua, anyways, what do you have against this."

Li Shimin faintly smiled: "Of course we must destroy the root of Daoism. But right now, I have something else to attend to."

"What is that? Do you need My assistance?"

"The Literary Excellence Convention is about to begin. ‘Peerless Star Hero' Su Shi has hopes to seize the Hundred Sages Simultaneously Shout. At the previous convention, she was the most outstanding and nearly won. This time, she presumably will win."

"Then could she not become a sage." Yang Guang muttered.

If one could draw the Hundred Sages Simultaneously Shout at the Literary Excellence Convention, they could obtain the Star Energy and ambitions of previous sages. That power was something even Star Marquis feared, for it was sufficient to allow a Star General to reach Heaven in a single bound and stand out from all the rest.

"The Central Star Field has the Seven Sages Of The Bamboo Grove. They may have the intent to become sages and may not be the Central's people, but that Peerless Star Hero Su Wanyang is Dream In A Millennium's close friend. If she becomes a sage, then the Central Star Field will be like a tiger that grew wings and persist for another hundred years."

Hearing these words, Yang Guang felt grim.

This moment was when the Central Star Field was at its weakest in a thousand years. Another sage would indeed be very troublesome, and if she had the Hundred Sages Simultaneously Shout, then she would be even more prestigious.

"There is nothing we can do, we are unable to participate in the Literary Excellence Convention." Yang Guang shook her head.

The Literary Excellence Convention was an activity of the spiritual power Star Generals. Only those with astonishing literary talents had the qualifications, at least.

"Does Elder Sister's Heavenly Tang Star Kingdom not have many formidable spiritual power Star Generals? What about those ‘Four Heroes Of The Heavenly Tang,' make them participate."

"Of course, I have already arranged for a significant gift in this Literary Excellence Convention. Since Dongzi wants to exploit you to destroy Mount Hua…En, then you may as well take a mile and raise a request with her." Li Shimin hinted her meaning.

Yang Guang was very excited. She loved this expression of Elder Sister Liangyi's the most. This showed that someone was out of luck.

"What request does Elder Sister want me to raise?"

"The Central Star Field still retains a ‘Star Marquis Seal' for the Ancestral Dragon. Make Dongzi devise a way to borrow the bit of Purple Rose Qi on that seal."

Yang Guang was a bit confused. Purple Rose Qi could only be cultivated by Purple Rose Star Names. Other peple were unable to use them at all, and Star Marquis like themselves had their own Star Marquis Seals. The smidgen of Purple Rose Qi of other seals were completely useless.

"Only Purple Rose Qi can thwart Su Shi's aspirations." Li Shimin was pensive.

"Can it be that you have an expert spiritual power Purple Rose Star Name to send out for the Literary Excellence Convention? Impossible, don't tell me it is that ‘Ten Complete Elders' who wrote tens of thousands of poems without leaving behind so much as a single character? Does a trash Star Marquis like her want to disturb the convention?"

"Of course everything has a purpose."

Li Liangyi bit into the apple, savoring its flavor that seeped into her soul.

…

Mount Hua, southern peak. Thunderclouds rolled, and a chilling wind gusted.

A strange scene appeared.

Sun Yingmeng walked down the summit, watching the heavy black clouds, thunderclaps, and sparks mix with cold wind. Li Milu, Xiao Mohe, Mi Fu, and Jiang Kui had already gathered at the southern peak.

"Sister Jiang Kui, I heard that your Sequel to the Treatise on Calligraphy is nearly finished. You must be finished with preparations to set out for the Literary Excellence Convention. Hee-hee, congratulations beforehand." Sun Yingmeng spotted Jiang Kui and sweetly greeted her.

Jiang Kui warmly thanked her.

"And what's going on here?" Sun Yingmeng glanced at the phenomenon in the sky. This was somewhat odd at Mount Hua's Star Leyline.

"Ancestral Master Chen Tuan said it is time for Primordial Spirit Seventh Division. Junior Brother is preparing to complete them all." Jiang Kui said.

"Primordial Spirit Seventh Division?" Sun Yingmeng was flabbergasted: "He wants all Seven Divisions at once?" She was aware of the Earthly Immortals' Primordial Spirit Realms. Once a Primordial Spirit underwent seven divisions of "Five Elements and Yin and Yang," it would arrive at its peak. In the end, the Primordial Spirit would be condensed, purified, and become indestructible and free of the Five Elements and Yin and Yang.

To a cultivator, each of the seven Primordial Spirit Seven Divisions would be an experience in suffering, extremely arduous. The slightest carelessness could damage the Primordial Spirit, even destroy it.

To break through all seven at once, this was the first time that Sun Yingmeng had ever heard of a cultivator pass through them.

Xiao Mohe disapproved. At the moment, cultivator Realms were not very useful to Chen Mo, but to be able to promote the Realm of his Primordial Spirit was generally a good thing. Furthermore, Chen Mo's body currently had both the Black Turtle and White Tiger's spirits. "Tribulation of seven divisions" fundamentally was unable to harm him. 

"Cultivators will need to be at least Universe Origin Realm in order to participate in the Literary Excellence Convention, so Junior Brother wanted to prepare this."

Sun Yingmeng twitched her mouth, "Momo is out to play with you again, Elder Sister Jiang Kui?"

"Hee, if you're jealous, you can come, too." Mi Fu teased.

"This Girl still needs to look after Xiaoxiao and that Yang Su." Sun Yingmeng shook her head. Besides, those at the Literary Excellence Convention love Star Generals who are experts in writing, poetry and the like most. She felt that going was tedious.

"How is Li Xiao?"

"She is fine. After this competition, she will be able to break through to Heavenly Star." Sun Yingmeng was very happy. It was more challenging for a Single Character Earthly Star to enter Heavenly Star compared to Double Character Earthly Stars. This type of bottleneck could make a Star General go mad.

"That's good."

"Senior Sister Xiaoxiao's efforts were not in vain for this competition." Jiang Kui consoled.

"Yes." Sun Yingmeng felt happy for her friend. She, too, would have to strive even harder.

"Right, I have a question. What is the Star Name of that Xiu woman with Momo?" Sun Yingmeng asked inquisitively.¹

The others were not clear.

Her Star Name was shrouded in mystery. The Star General was unwilling to say, and they could not ask so easily either.

"I find her personality great, I want to recognize her as an Elder Sister." Sun Yingmeng was eager, but for some reason, she always had a feeling of insignificance whenever she saw the woman, unable to utter a single word.

"She is unfathomable…Bore wonders how His Highness came to be acquainted with her." Xiao Mohe recalled back in Yu Juluo's Yixia Star Field, the woman needed only a glance to calm Yang Su's Noble True Spirit. Perhaps she was on the level of a Star Marquis, and it was perhaps because of her that she was able to so easily persuade Yang Su.

"Ai, then This Girl shall leave it be for now." Sun Yingmeng did not want to make the acquaintance of an Elder Sister too powerful.

"Speaking of, that Central Star Field's Li Star General has stood guard at Mount Hua all this time. Will that girl bearing a Purple Rose Star Name bring trouble." Xiao Mohe gazed at a far-off mountain range.

"She will be fine. Little Junior Sister has not done anything outrageous. She is only a Purple Rose Star Name. Only Purple Rose Star Names that cultivate their Purple Rose Qi to Xuannü Realm are worthy of vigilance."

Xiao Mohe shook her head.

In that contest, the Red Fragrant Child used Purple Rose Qi to instantly kill a Heavenly Star. Very clearly, this was not something the average Star General could accomplish. The Central Star Field was very afraid of the Zhao of Song Star Name that once summoned the Heavenly Books of the Xuannü of the Nine Heavens. Xiao Mohe feared she would bring Mount Hua trouble.

…

Li was standing quietly on Mount Hua's western peak, looking down on the boundless fairyland like a ten thousand year old pine tree.

Ever since Mount Hua won, Li clearly sensed that Mount Hua was filled with vitality. The originally lethargic Daoist qi once again shone with vigor. Many cultivators and Star Names had also come to attempt Mount Hua's trial and become a disciple.

Li was not very concerned with all of this. Her gaze was focused solely on one place.

Liu Houxiu came to the western peak. When Li saw her, she showed a bit of etiquette.

Li had heard of Chen Mo's Star Mansion Palace matter and was not very surprised Liu Houxiu would be at Mount Hua.

"Yellow Robe Coronation ‘Ninefold Dragon Edict' Zhao Kuangyin.² How are you prepared to deal with her?" Liu Houxiu softly asked.

Li was taken aback, having not expected to be so open.

Liu Houxiu gently shook her head: "Little Sister Su Mian could not possibly be unaware of Yellow Robe Coronation's Purple Rose Star Name. The Central Star Field has always suppressed information on the Zhao of Song Star Name who initiated the Star Duels, and ‘Ninefold Dragon Edict' is Zhao of Song's ancestor. What do you plan to do?"

"Her Majesty has her own arrangements. Your Servant has not authority to pry." Li answered: "However, Her Majesty has made prior arrangements that Your Servant will keep her safe, so as to avoid suffering a heinous plot."

"From Xiu's perspective, Zhao Kuangyin's Star Name can allow a man to take control. This can dispel worries of the Star Duels."

"Oh? Who does Your Highness feel can control Ninefold Dragon Edict?" Li asked.

Liu Houxiu looked to the sky. The thunderclouds scattered, and light streamed in.

An indomitable man emerged from the tribulation.

1. Their jaws would probably drop if they knew the truth. ↩
2. 九重龍詔 趙匡胤 ↩