C1535 The Struggle for the Throne

Yu Yuan watched the newborn baby boy, sensing his eagerness to leave. The infant required the powers of ice and moonlight for optimal growth. Unfortunately, the Dragon Slaying Stage currently lacked moonlight. Without it, the baby boy's development was incomplete, prompting his instinctive yearning to seek out the nurturing moonlight.

After some thought, Yu Yuan's real body, from within the Cosmos Ring, retrieved moon energy-infused Moon Shards and various crystals containing moon energy, tossing them onto the Dragon Slaying Stage. The items, enveloped by his aura, successfully reached the snowy summit of the stage.

The curled-up baby boy, detecting the longed-for power, immediately grasped a Moon Shard with his plump hands and began to gnaw on it. The shard was swiftly absorbed into his stomach and digested with ease. Yu Yuan observed as flecks of moonlight integrated into the boy's blood, bones, and acupoints, seemingly aiding in the construction of his internal organs. This sight left Yu Yuan in quiet amazement.

He also recognized that keeping the baby boy on the Dragon Slaying Stage indefinitely, away from the true moon, could impede his growth. Yet, the thought of introducing such a unique newborn to the vast Everlands came with too many uncertainties. The moon was now home to formidable figures from various sects, not just the Starmoon Sect. Should the newborn reveal himself on the stage, there was a chance he might resonate with the extraterrestrial moon's core, drawing the attention of the cultivators above.

Considering Han Miaoyuan's pervasive presence and the myriad of uncertainties within the Starmoon Sect, Yu Yuan opted for caution. He decided to temporarily meet the baby's needs with soulstone crystals rich in moon energy.

Once the Wintermaw breach was mended, he planned to entrust both the Wintermaw and the child to the care of the snow bear, allowing it to make its own arrangements. The snow bear, endowed with spiritual wisdom, had accompanied Yu Yuan's first incarnation on explorations of the starry forbidden area millennia ago. With its eternal life and extensive knowledge of the hidden, frigid cosmic seas, the snow bear's understanding surpassed that of many other beings.

It must have a way to find a suitable place for its descendants to grow and prosper in the vastness of space.

"I saw it."

Inside the grass hut, Ji Ningshuang had stepped away from the real bodies of the Lunar Spirit and the Solar Spirit. Observing him place pieces of Moon Shards into the Dragon Slaying Stage, her curiosity was piqued. "That infant carries the bloodlines of ice and moonlight. To me, he bears a striking resemblance to the Moonlit Wanderers."

"Moonlit Wanderers!"

Yu Yuan's expression shifted as he pondered deeply, realizing that the male infant indeed shared a similar essence with the extraterrestrial Moonlit Wanderers.

"He is the snow bear from the Glimmerdrift Nebula, transformed into a new being with his lifeblood and Moon Soul, and with the aid of the Dragon Slaying Stage."

"The Dragon Slaying Stage possesses ice force, yet it lacks moon energy."

"..."

Yu Yuan was forthcoming with Ji Ningshuang, detailing the entire birth process of the infant.

"A new being!"

Ji Ningshuang was astounded, having never imagined that the snow bear, which was neither a cosmic giant beast nor a tenth-level entity like the Dark Deities of the Everlands, could create life with its own lifeblood.

"It defies logic. To my knowledge, only the most powerful beings have the capacity to create life."

"I feel it's still not enough; it's missing a great deal."

Ji Ningshuang murmured thoughtfully.

"I believe the Dire Bear dared to attempt this because, as Mr. Han mentioned, it must have once accompanied a God-King of Boulderdawn to a forbidden area in space and discovered some mysterious substance."

"Having assimilated that mysterious substance, it gained a lengthy lifespan and the confidence to create life."

Ji Ningshuang analyzed earnestly.

Meanwhile, Yu Yuan contemplated the male infant's future. If he wished to perpetuate his lineage, he would need to find someone in the infinite cosmos capable of carrying on his bloodline. Surely, the Moonlit Wanderers would be the ideal candidates?

The Moonlit Wanderers, previously not particularly formidable, had suddenly ascended to the first level thanks to the leader of the Moon Sect.

The snow bear sought the approval of the Moon Sect's leader to find a suitable Moonlit Wanderers female for its offspring. However, this task might not be as straightforward as it seemed.

He might ultimately have to depend on himself.

With this in mind, he inquired, "Do you have any knowledge of the enigmatic leader of the Moon Sect?"

"You mean Lee Sha?"

Ji Ningshuang gave a slight nod, her eyes gleaming with a crystalline brilliance. "Lee Sha is her true name. To conceal her identity, the Starmoon Sect has created numerous aliases for her. They're extremely cautious, fearing that her true identity might be discovered."

"I'm aware of her because many years ago, Lee Sha and I fought alongside each other."

"Her surname is Lee, and her name is Lee Sha..."

Yu Yuan's thoughts stirred, and he instinctively thought of the Lee family from the Silvermoon Empire—Lee Yuchan, Lee Yupan, and Lee Yu.

The Silvermoon Queen, Lee Yupan, shared Lee Sha's lineage, possessing the blood of the Moonlit Wanderers and fused with the extraterrestrial Moonfiend.

Could it be that the most secretive leader of the Moon Sect also bore the Lee surname?

"Exactly. She is also from the Lee family of the Silvermoon Empire. The Starmoon Sect has taken great measures to protect her, using pseudonyms to keep her from the public eye because they are aware of her Moonlit Wanderers heritage."

"Mixed-blood individuals were once shunned and deliberately targeted."

Ji Ningshuang spoke the truth.

"There's more..."

Choosing her words with care, Ji Ningshuang continued, "Rumors have been circulating that Lee Sha achieved divinity through the Path of the Moon, but I beg to differ. In my view, she has merely elevated the Moonlit Wanderers' bloodline to the tenth level, becoming a supreme Otherkin warrior, rather than achieving the so-called divine ascension as we understand it."

"Her junior, Tan Junshan, is still coveting a seat among the gods. Master Gu's seat is on the verge of collapse, and there has been communication between the Starmoon Sect and Tianqi of the Boulderdawn Sect."

"Tan Junshan has his sights set on that divine seat."

She gazed at the swamp ahead, tuning into her surroundings. "Tan Junshan has been here and seems to have a decent rapport with you; I'm aware of that. But what I'm trying to say is, should Lee Sha forge a divine seat through the Path of the Moon, Tan Junshan will likely abandon any further ambitions or desires."

"Lee Sha's ability to rally the Moonlit Wanderers and earn their recognition doesn't hinge on the divine seat of the Everlands."

"She must validate herself with the pinnacle bloodline of the Moonlit Wanderers."

"Only with such proof will the Moonlit Wanderers genuinely accept her and heed her commands and guidance."

"..."

Within the Dragon Slaying Stage, Ji Ningshuang's Lunar Spirit continued to delve into the icy mysteries of the frost wyrm.

Meanwhile, her real body was engaged in a conversation with Yu Yuan, sharing clandestine matters.

"I'm not sure if Lee Sha stepped aside for her junior brother or for some other reason, but it's likely she didn't manage to forge a divine seat. I suspect the Boulderdawn Sect and the Starmoon Sect have misled everyone into believing she did."

"The truth is quite different."

Ji Ningshuang paused, her brows knitting together in thought.

When she resumed, a hint of frost edged her voice, "Before I arrived, Mr. Han mentioned Tan Junshan as one of those coveting this divine seat. The Starmoon Sect is willing to deify Yu Zhu but seems reluctant to allow me to forge my own divine seat, eager instead for Tan Junshan to take the lead."

"You must know why, right?"

Her gaze bore into Yu Yuan.

A sense of unease crept over Yu Yuan as he responded uncertainly, "Why is that?"

"A divine seat is singular, but it can bear multiple sacred ways. The Stardust Blade I've mastered carries not just ice power but also the essence of the stars."

With a soft huff, Ji Ningshuang expressed her disdain.

Realization dawned on Yu Yuan.

The Starmoon Sect, split into the Star Sect and Moon Sect, would face a dilemma if Ji Ningshuang ascended to godhood using Gu Xingkui's shattered divine seat. The divine seat she would craft was bound to be imprinted with both the sacred ways of ice and the stars.

This meant that the current sect master of the Star Sect, Liu Ying, had already severed the path for all future prodigies to ascend to the highest realms before her divine seat could be shattered.

Liu Ying was, after all, the one with the greatest potential to achieve godhood!

Tan Junshan's challenge was a deliberate attempt to thwart her ascension.

As long as her divine seat remained devoid of stars, there was still hope for the Star Sect.

And thus, hope remained for Liu Ying.

"That's why I was overjoyed when you pledged to support my ascension to godhood," Ji Ningshuang said, her lips curving into a smile, her eyes sparkling with joy like shards of ice.

She resembled a little girl who had just won a coveted prize...

"The Starmoon Sect's unwavering decision to ally with the Boulderdawn and the Chamber of Commerce was not only because Lee Sha carries the bloodline of the Moonlit Wanderers, which isn't recognized by the upper sects, but also because I wield the Stardust Blade, and I am simply too strong," Ji Ningshuang declared with pride. "Yet, the Starmoon Sect failed to foresee that you, Yu Yuan, were actually Hong Qi. I never expected that..." A blush tinged her alabaster cheeks.

She had intended to express her gratitude for his unchanged demeanor towards her, even bolder and more resolute than it had been three hundred years ago.

But the words felt too intimate, and she hesitated, altering her statement at the last moment.

"I also didn't anticipate the extent of your influence, that you could sway the decisions of Taishi."

By now, having sent the crystal bottle containing the essence of Wintermaw back to the Solar Spirit of the Sword Sect, she was fully aware of the recent events.

Taishi, from the distant Ionodios, had deliberately slowed the process of stripping Gu Xingkui of his Way of Heaven, allowing him a final breath.

He had carved out more time and space for her.

In that moment, she truly grasped the weight of Yu Yuan's words when he said, "I'll help you."

"Mr. Tan is a decent man, but when it's time to step aside, he must do so," Yu Yuan said, gripping her hand firmly and smiling calmly. "Let's give Mr. Tan a bit more time to be patient, shall we?"

"Where's Liu Ying?" Ji Ningshuang arched an eyebrow inquisitively.

"She's just a young girl; how old can she be? What's there to be so anxious about?" Yu Yuan remarked nonchalantly.

Ji Ningshuang nodded contentedly in response.

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