After the time travel, my cheat program disappeared.

“You are very strong…” Standing on the martial arts stage of “Starry Sky Square”, Xing Jiu looked at the girl in front of him sincerely.

Although... the girl's forehead seemed to gleam in the sunlight.

Although... the girl was so frail that it seemed a gust of wind could easily knock her down.

But Xingjiu must admit—

The girl in front of her was the second most talented girl she had ever witnessed.

even--

Her talent may even surpass that of her younger sister, who is blessed with the fortune of the "Ziwei Star Lord".

Second only to the teacher's words.

Xingjiu had never met Yun Susu, who was rumored to have attained enlightenment overnight and risen to prominence overnight. In her eyes, the most terrifyingly talented girl in the world was Shiyan.

The speed at which Master Shiyan's cultivation level increased was simply beyond her comprehension.

Because it was so exaggerated, Xingjiu wasn't even affected.

I just deeply felt... the insurmountable gap between myself and Master Shiyan.

The girl in front of him... clearly had the confidence to challenge Shi Yan.

Her talent and cultivation are second only to Master Shiyan.

Xingjiu isn't the kind of girl who likes to praise people, nor is she the kind of girl who is good at being polite. What she says is all true.

In front of her, Ming Zhongqing simply clenched his fists, his smile bitter.

Everyone was amazed and horrified... marveling at their own terrifying talent.

But... only Ming Zhongqing himself knew in his heart that the strength he displayed was only because his hidden master's words were even stronger.

His own [Defying Fate - "A Formidable Rival."] allows him to possess the potential to approach that of his master.

but--

It's just potential.

I misinterpreted the "Blazing Sun Burning Heaven Scripture" in such a distorted way, abandoning so many things, and in the end... I only came close.

It's simply impossible to cross.

He could only watch her back from afar.

Even... if you relax even slightly, you'll be left far behind by her.

"It's just something stolen." Looking at the girl in front of him, Ming Zhongqing gave an ugly smile.

"Being able to steal the power of the sun and moon is also a skill." Xingjiu was unaware of the matter of the "rival".

But she could see the seemingly inseparable connection between the girl in front of her and the blazing sun overhead.

She is the embodiment of the sun.

Knowing that the girl had misunderstood him, Ming Zhongqing had no intention of explaining.

She remained silent.

There's no need to expose something like a "formidable rival" or someone who "defies fate."

It might even expose Shi Yan's true colors and cause him trouble.

This kind of thing... I'll just ask Shi Yan myself.

But... Shi Yan never asked herself why she was able to keep up with Shi Yan's pace time and time again because of her "defying fate".

It was as if, in her eyes, it was perfectly natural for her to be able to keep up with her pace.

However... Ming Zhongqing believed he knew the truth in his heart.

I am ultimately just a "thief" who has only gotten to where I am today by following in Shi Yan's footsteps.

But she never imagined that what her "formidable rival" ultimately gave her was only the potential and opportunity to get closer to Shi Yan.

Today, I am honored to stand on the semi-final stage of the "Enlightenment Conference".

It's because she had already given up everything in order to get closer to Shi Yan, just a little bit closer.

She had neither the physique nor the lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The girl standing on "Starry Sky Square" was as frail as a willow swaying in the breeze, a beautiful flower reflecting the moon... moon... sun.

Looking at Ming Zhongqing's head, which seemed to be shining brightly.

It's really hard to separate her from the sun.

soon--

The referee from the "Star Celestial Division" had already announced the start of the competition.

The tense situation on the scene was about to erupt.

Even though the girl in front of me looked so frail that she seemed like she might suddenly die on stage at any moment.

Even though... she and Master Shiyan had an inexplicable connection.

but--

Once Xingjiu steps onto this training ground, he will show absolutely no mercy.

Once the girl enters battle mode, she seems like a completely different person, showing none of her usual shyness or weakness.

Before the sun even rises, the starlight has already obscured its blazing heat.

Hundreds of millions of stars lit up the "Starry Sky Plaza".

The dazzling starlight obscured the sun.

The dazzling starlight engulfed Ming Zhongqing, the array was strange and unpredictable... With a wave of her hand, the girl seemed to have created billions of stars.

Amidst the dazzling starlight, Xing Jiu hovered in mid-air, looking down at Ming Zhongqing.

"This is my territory—"

"My elder sister said... the biggest difference between cultivators in the Tribulation Transcending Realm and those in the Enlightenment Realm lies in their domains."

"Cultivators at the Enlightenment Realm hold the rules in their hands."

"In their domain, rules that are advantageous to them are amplified to an unlimited extent."

"They are the 'heaven' in that realm."

The girl in front of me is not an enemy in the true sense.

on the contrary--

They are all standing here for the same goal.

That is to become the person who can stand in front of Master Yan on the final stage of the "Enlightenment Tournament".

Xingjiu didn't mind giving Ming Zhongqing a proper explanation.

"Although I am unable to create a domain entirely of my own like a cultivator at the Enlightenment Realm..."

"but--"

"Within my domain, I am also the master."

The girl's tone was disdainful.

"In this realm, there is only starlight, no sun..."

"Ming-meimei...you've already lost."

Based on Xingjiu's observations of Ming Zhongqing's previous matches, Xingjiu was able to sense the seemingly inseparable connection between Ming Zhongqing and Taiyang.

Ming Zhongqing was in poor health.

Therefore, it's unlikely that her body can hold much spiritual energy.

Previously, she could summon the Sunfire Bird without spending any money, purely because of her cultivation technique and the connection between her and the sun.

Now... I've already cut that thread.

Ming Zhongqing's sister... is bound to lose.

Listening to the girl's words, Ming Zhongqing simply looked around as if he were curious about what kind of "domain" the girl was talking about.

A dazzling array of stars greets the eye.

At that moment... she really felt as if she were strolling through a galaxy.

Those dazzling stars are within reach, but... there is no sun.

“You’re right.” Ming Zhongqing nodded gently.

"My 'Blazing Sun Heaven-Burning Scripture' and the Blazing Fire of the Sun are indeed too dependent on the sun..."

“But…” Looking at the girl in front of him, Ming Zhongqing suddenly broke into a wide smile, “Sister Xingjiu might not know one thing—”

"Hmm?" A sense of extreme foreboding suddenly arose in Xingjiu's heart.

"That is……"

“Those stars are essentially no different from the sun.” Ming Zhongqing reached out his hand toward the starlight.

To be honest... she was also very uneasy.

When her teacher explained these things to her, she always felt confused.

What star is like the sun? They are all "fixed stars".

But they are so far, far away from us.

How far is it...? Even light might take tens of thousands of years to travel there.

The starry sky in one's eyes is nothing more than the silhouettes left by those stars in the night sky.

at this time--

It may well be teeming with life there, or... it may have already been completely empty.

"I hope what Master said is true..."

As he prayed, Ming Zhongqing grasped the starlight.