Maiden Galaxy

Aboard the Great Thousand Heavenly Palace Battleship, Li Shimin donned golden armor, striking an awe-inspiring presence. Pagoda Bearing Heavenly King Li Jing, "Spread Fear To Subdue Enemies" Hou Junji Hou Xihan, "Devil Incarnate" Cheng Yaojin, and the other martial generals of the Lingyan Pavilion flanked her.

Each of them were mighty and imposing.

"Your Majesty." A seemingly noble woman with a long gown and a bare forehead walked to her side.

"Wuji, what is the matter?" Li Liangyi opened her eyes from meditation.

"We have already made contact with Yang Guang and Dongzi. Yang Guang will avoid Su Mian by having other Star Fields fight in her name while she herself returns to Mount Hua. Dongzi will stall Su Mian, not give her any chance to leave." The woman's Star Name was Heavenly Auxiliary Star "Heroic Crowned Talent" Zhangsun Wuji, head of the Lingyan pavilion. Although her martial prowess could not compare to the Pagoda Bearing Heavenly King or the others, she conducted herself for others, and she was loyal and true. Back then, the subjugation against Li Yuan saw her throw herself into the fire for Li Liangyi and nearly lose her Star Name. Consequently, she was held in very high regard by Li Liangyi.

"En."

Li Liangyi saw her hesitate to speak. She gently smiled: "Duoqing, speak your mind."

"Your Majesty, do you truly believe in that Consort Of Bashful Flowers?" Zhangsun Wuji said. "That she spurred Your Majesty on like so, Duoqing fears she has ill intentions."

"She merely wishes to leave behind a feat to her Star Name in the Records of the Grand Historian." Li Liangyi actually disagreed, "Duoqing, have you forgotten how shamefully Yang Yuhuan fell in front of us back then?"

Zhangsun Wuji naturally remembered. She would even still bring this up in discussion from time to time.

Back then, Plump Beauty Of Fire Yang Yuhuan had urged Li Liangyi at pillowside to face the other Star Marquis, demonstrating more than once her abilities to scheme. In the end, Li Liangyi saw through her, and she used her eternal divine might to force Yang Yuhuan into a Starfall right in front of her.

This also made everyone realize "Eternal Divine Warrior" Li Shimin's wise and iron-blooded disposition. Henceforth, no one dared to show off their shrewdness in front of her.

"Duoqing has never understood. Your Majesty, why cling to Yang Yuhuan's Star Name? Is it merely because she is one of Star World's Seven Beauties?" Zhangsun Wuji was perplexed. Although Yang Yuhuan Starfell that time, a century later, a new Yang Yuhuan stepped forth to submit herself to Li Shimin's service.

"Yang Yuhuan and the Heavenly Tang Star Kingdom are connected by fate. Her presence promotes the reputation of the Heavenly Tang Star Kingdom, and who would dare behave impudently in front of Us?" Li Liangyi was quite conceited. A frail beauty needed to rely on the Heavenly Tang's might, and she could exploit the fame of the Seven Beauties to promote herself. Li Shimin fundamentally did not fear any tricks.

"Your Majesty, you must still be on your guard." Zhangsun Wuji wrinkled her brow, "Duoqing always has some ill premonitions."

"Of course. After we face Zhu Yuanzhang, we will break relations with the Central Star Field. However, so long as we kill Zhu Yuanzhang, We do not need to fear Su Mian daring to go against Us." Li Liangyi sneered. Her eyes gazed at the Blacks Clouds Concealing Heaven ghost ships. The next target would be this Xianbei Star Kingdom's Ghost Killing Buddha.

As long as they eliminated her, in Star World, she alone would be supreme.

"Yang Guang, Fu Jian and Li Siye together have the power to destroy Mount Hua. Other than Yue Fei, who does Su Mian have. Hmph, this time, she will not have surmised that we are attacking from two angles at once, leaving her no room to deal with us."

Zhangsun Duoqing said nothing further.

At this moment, they heard Zhu Xi holler.

"Shatuo Star Kingdom – head of the Thirteen Adopted Daughters, "Lord Overseeing All Under Heaven" Li Cunxu has arrived!!"

"Eh?"

This voice made everyone aboard the boat turn their gazes.

"Seventh Star Marquis Li Keyong of the Shatuo Star Kingdom surprisingly did not come. Instead, one of the Adopted Daughters has?" Li Liangyi was pensive. Su Mian's order was extremely urgent, requiring that all Star Marquis come forth. Even she herself mobilized, but the Shatuo Star Kingdom's Li Keyong unexpectedly only dispatched an Adopted Daughter. At such a critical moment, this clearly demonstrated contempt for the imperial family.

"Li Cunxu is also a fierce general. Reportedly, she is stronger than Li Keyong. A nickname like Lord Overseeing All Under Heaven is much more imposing than Li Keyong's ‘Flying Tiger' nickname." Zhangsun Wuji smiled.

"En, We have also heard that this Li Cunxu is a formidable character. Among the Thirteen Daughters, she is the only one who dares to refute Li Keyong."

"Her Innate Skill ‘Under Heaven' is indeed very exceptional." Zhangsun Wuji sighed. Only a few of the best Star Marquis could rein her in when she had such an Innate Skill.

"They say Li Keyong has also received the services of one of the Seven Beauties. However, compared to Your Majesty, this Li Keyong is perhaps indulging in excess and has abandoned herself." Zhangsun Wuji said.

"En, with an adopted daughter like this who eclipses her own radiance, no wonder she hides away and numbs herself." Li Liangyi felt contempt. She gazed at that Void Warship. There were countless black crows perched on it, very imposing looking.

The crows' caws were very grating. Furthermore, the ship's construction and profile appeared very indistinct.

The woman standing on the indistinct ship was expressionless. She was dressed in raven-black armor, and crow feathers decorated her shoulders. A feather cape was also draped over her back. Her gaze was abstruse, like an abyss, able to pull in a person's soul and grind it apart.

Due to her dark clothing, the slender white legs peeking out from under her coat appeared particularly eye-catching. Even Li Liangyi gave her more than a glance.

"Heavenly Xu Star ‘Lord Overseeing All Under Heaven' Li Cunxu Li Yazi greets Your Majesty Mian and Lord Dongzi!"

"The Thirteen Adopted Daughters greet Your Majesty and Lord Dongzi."

The indistinct warship arrived beside Su Mian. Aboard her vessel, Li Cunxu Li Yazi very deferentially cupped her fist in salutations. Behind her were eight identically dressed beautiful young ladies. Their personalities seemed to be printed from a mold, for they were all deferential and orderly in their greetings.

"Why did Flying Tiger Li Keyong not come?" Su Mian sternly inquired.

Li Cunxu knelt and immediately pleaded leniency: "Mother's body is ill and is unable to attend. We ask Your Majesty for forgiveness!"

"We ask Your Majesty for forgiveness!" The Thirteen Adopted Daughters fell to a knee.

"Since she is ill, then she should rest longer. That she is able to dispatch you here, Li Cunxu, also lets This Palace see her sincerity. Please, rise, all of you." Su Mian nodded, not bothering about this.

After a while, Zhu Xi shouted again.

"Heavenly Flower Star Field, head of the Three Thousand Sword Ocean, Star Name ‘Green Lotus Sword Immortal' Li Bai has arrived!!"

Green lotus flowers bloomed in the sky, and they radiated clear light, shining in everyone's eyes.

A white-clothed woman appeared treading upon the green lotuses, and on even more lotuses were more green-clothed cultivators.

"Sister Ziyan, you also came." Su Mian's eyes were aglow.

The Ten Great Sects all had a top-notch Star Name as an overseer. The Three Thousand Sword Ocean was the strongest among the sects, and the Star Name watching over them, Li Bai, was top-notch in both martial arts and literary arts. Her Star Name was very ancient, having lived through the Purple Rose Star Emperor's era. In Star World, she enjoyed quite the prestige. However, Li Bai had already secluded herself back in the Three Thousand Sword Ocean to grasp eternity, practically never revealing her face.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Li Bai saluted her. "Zhu Yuanzhang has killed the Seven Sages, and of them, Du Fu was Ziyan's best friend. If Ziyan did not show concern in subjugating Zhu Yuanzhang, then that would betray the name ‘Immortal Of Poetry.'"

"Good, now that you are present, Li Bai, this Zhu Yuanzhang will not escape so easily." Dong Zhongshu said in satisfaction.

The disciples beside Li Ziyan also saluted. The man and woman at her direct left and right were particularly noteworthy. Su Mian was also familiar with the man, for they were considered to be friends. He was ranked second of the Xuannü Seven Stars, Zhu Xiaoxiang. He had the nickname of "Nobleman Of Soil And Grain."¹

"Long time no see, Su Mian." Zhu Xiaoxiang's face was like the jade ornament on a hat, elegant and graceful. He very much had the leisurely feeling of one watching the world as they rested their back against mountains, rivers, soil, and grain. Among the Xuannü Seven Stars, he was the disciple of Li Bai of the Three Thousand Sword Ocean.

"Long time no see." Su Mian nodded.

"How is Huang Yuheng?" Zhu Xiaoxiang asked about the situation regarding this comrade. He was aware that Huang Yuheng would attend every Literary Excellence Convention, and each time something about Exemplary Writer Han Nianwei was mentioned, his expression would turn sweet. Zhu Xiaoxiang often teased that he was daydreaming.

"He and the Sage Of Writing escaped disaster, but they suffered serious wounds. They are currently recuperating in the Central Star Field and are unable to head out into battle."²

"Wait until he is healed, then let us go hunt together in the Primordial Chaos Star Field. We will be the ones to avenge this grudge." Zhu Xiaoxiang sighed.

Su Mian was not very familiar with the young girl, but she appeared to have profound Star Energy, vaguely containing the power of a Primordial Star Name.

"And this is?"

"Your Servant is ‘Sword Hidden In Misty Rain,' Jiang Yanyu, disciple to Master Ziyan." The girl introduced herself.³

"In the sword competition between the Ten Great Sects a few years ago, Jiang Yanyu displayed impressive skill. She also has the power of a Primordial Star Name." Li Ziyan said: "The Realm of my Innate Skill ‘Green Lotus Sword Poem' has mostly been distributed to these two disciples."

"Very well. Thank you for your troubles, everyone."

"Zhu Yuanzhang has truly offended everyone. Li Bai, friend to Seven Sages Of The Bamboo Grove Du Fu that she slew, has appeared, and Wang Xizhi's Wang Clan has also come to take revenge." Dongzi sighed.

These were exactly the consequences of being stupid and arrogant. Could it be that she harbored such enormous ambition based on the Ten Thousand Sages Hall alone?

Not long after, it was already dusk. The sun sank behind the western mountains, and its warmth was already ebbing. Wang Mang, Qianlong, and Ran Min of the nearby Star Fields did not arrive. The other Star Marquis were more or less present.

Something else noteworthy was that fourth Star Marquis, Son Of Heaven Liu Xiu, did not appear.

"Liu Xiu and Bai qi are locked in battle in some void star space somewhere. For the time being, they are unable to join the battle. This Palace has given up on them." Su Mian said.

"Once Bai Qi's bloodlust is stirred, she will not respect even a Star Marquis. If they do not stop, Your Servant fears catastrophe." Dongzi said.

"Wait until after we have subjugated Zhu Yuanzhang." Su Mian had a massive headache.

"Why has Yang Guang not arrived." Su Mian inquired a bodyguard.

"The Sun And Moon Star Kingdom has many Star Fields. To prevent rebel reinforcements, Your Servant has dispatched her to go subjugate the other Star Fields in the Sun And Moon Star Kingdom." Dongzi flatly replied.

"Hm? Really?" Su Mian wrinkled her brow.

"Now that several great Star Marquis are here to provide assistance, and with Li Bai and Wang Dao also present, what is Your Majesty Mian worried about?" Dongzi disapproved.

Su Mian pondered, but at this critical juncture in time, she did not want to haggle about this.

"If only she can live up to This Palace's expectations, then This Palace can settle the Mount Hua matter with justice."

"Of course."

The time had come. The great Star Marquis and millions of officers gazed at Dream In A Millennium.

"Relay an imperial decree. Have Zhu Yuanzhang surrender, the Sun And Moon Star Kingdom and her other Star Generals leave right now, and This Palace will deem them faithful officials. Otherwise, they will be deemed traitors and will be eradicated together."

"As you command."

A moment later, there was no response, only "Justified Bloodshed Gunfire" Li Rusong Li Xueqing shouted the slogan, "the Bright Moon coexists," making clear their intentions.

The Ten Thousand Sages Hall hovered over the Great Ming Palace, and the sages launched a barrier that covered the city. The voice of seven sages chanting an incantation could be faintly heard.

The entire Star Field suddenly echoed with "expel the ten thousand stars, restore the sun and moon."

A clear and resonant voice brimming with ancient divine might. Even Li Shimin and Liu Hongyu had serious expressions.

The Universe Eternity Spirit Treasure was even stronger than they had thought. No wonder Zhu Yuanzhang was fearless and Su Mian very apprehensive.

"Then let Zhu Yuanzhang Zhu Jiujiu court disaster."

Su Mian wanted the records to reflect this first stroke.

War trumpets sounded.

1. 社稷君子 ↩
2. Huh, so they're not dead. I wonder what happened exactly. ↩
3. Blast from the past! ↩