"The depths of the Sun Star are not a place anyone can venture into. Ordinary people are sent to their deaths. Those who survive are one in ten thousand, naturally extraordinary. As long as one can reach the center of the sun and be nourished by the Heart of the Sun, their cultivation will naturally advance by leaps and bounds," the Queen said.
After a moment of contemplation, Mo Qi slowly said, "I finally understand why the Galactic Heavenly Emperor chose to select personnel through trials for negotiations. So, he brought us here for a sacrifice."
The Queen shook her head, "Don't flatter yourself. I've never met the Galactic Heavenly Emperor, so how could we have reached such a tacit understanding?"
With tears welling up, Mo Qi smiled, "You haven't, but the Saintess of Light and the Heavenly Emperor must have met."
The Queen chuckled and patted his head, "Silly son, don't be so presumptuous. It's not what you think at all."
Mo Qi looked into her eyes, "You set up so many obstacles, preventing us from seeing the Queen. At first, I thought you didn't want to cooperate. Now it seems you simply didn't want to see me, and instead wanted to send me for sacrifice."
The Queen could no longer suppress her emotions. She turned her back and quietly wiped away her tears.
Mo Qi looked at her retreating figure, "Mother, let me go. As you said, everyone is just buying time. Whether it's a little longer or a little shorter, it doesn't really make a difference. I actually think it would be a joyous thing if my shorter time could be exchanged for others to last longer."
"I'm going too," Ye Qingqing said.
"You are not allowed to go," Mo Qi and the Queen said simultaneously, glaring at her.
Ye Qingqing said somewhat guiltily, "Why?"
"Because your aptitude is too mediocre. Going there would be sending yourself to your death," Mo Qi said.
"Isn't it just buying time to live, like you said?" Ye Qingqing retorted.
This?
"No, I might come back if I go, but you will be sent to your death. So, you are not allowed to go," Mo Qi stated decisively.
"If you can come back, then I can come back," Ye Qingqing said, unwilling to back down.
Mo Qi was speechless.
The Queen said dejectedly, "You two siblings, are you trying to anger me to death?"
As she spoke, the Queen swayed and began to fall to the ground.
Mo Qi quickly stepped forward and narrowly caught her.
Turning around, Mo Qi looked sternly at Qingqing, "Qingqing, you're tens of thousands of years old, why are you still so willful?"
Qingqing muttered to herself, aren't you the same?
But she had to pout, "Alright, alright, I won't go. I won't go."
The Queen was slightly relieved, sighed, looked at Mo Qi, then at Qingqing, tears welling up in her eyes, "Meeting you here feels like a lifetime ago. I never thought our family would be reunited."
"Mother, my father is..." Mo Qi began.
The Queen immediately interrupted, "I know where he is, but with his current cultivation, it would be very difficult for us to reunite. Moreover, the great tribulation is imminent, and we can't even look out for each other. Perhaps being separated by the ends of the earth is the best choice."
Mo Qi thought for a moment and said to the Queen, "Mother, those who came with me have little talent and mediocre aptitude. Don't let them go in. It would be sending them to their deaths."
"That's not for you to decide. After all, they were all examined by the Galactic Heavenly Emperor," the Queen said.
"No, some were examined, but the others came with me purely for travel," Mo Qi said with some urgency.
"Let all those who were examined go in."
"Even though they were examined, no one told them they were coming for a sacrifice. If you force them in, isn't that too unfair to them?"
"Didn't you not know either?" the Queen looked at Mo Qi intently.
"Who told you your son is so outstanding? I am the chosen one."
The Queen sighed, "Then let you go in first. Even if your sacrifice is successful, you won't last long. The Golden River World's stars will come continuously. By then, they probably still won't be spared. Ultimately, no one can be spared."
Mo Qi pondered for a moment and finally nodded, "It can only be this way."
A moment later, Mo Qi walked out. People gathered around him with concern.
Mo Qi looked relaxed, "It's been resolved."
"Resolved?" Qin Xiao looked incredulous, "You resolved the Queen?"
Mo Qi was exasperated, "No, I mean, the problem has been solved. The Queen has agreed to cooperate with us."
"Ah, that simple?" Ji Zhuo found it hard to believe.
Qin Xiao suddenly thought of something and said, "Ye Qingqing is the princess here, and they asked you to go in alone. Did you go in to acknowledge your relatives?"
With such simple logic, it was impossible to hide it, so Mo Qi could only nod, "Yes, the Queen is my mother."
However, the fact that the Queen was not the Saintess of Light was something that absolutely could not be revealed now, otherwise, he didn't know what consequences it would bring to the Light World.
"Oh," everyone said as if they suddenly understood, "Then it's simple."
"How did she agree to unite with us?" Shui Han asked.
"My daughter-in-law, how can you be so incompetent? Upon meeting your mother-in-law, the first thing you think of is official business. Don't you think there's something more important?" Mo Qi said with a smile.
The others smiled and remained silent. Shui Han blushed, then said seriously, "The great tribulation is imminent, and the world is in a crisis of survival. Personal matters should be put aside for now."
Mo Qi coughed dryly, "Actually, the method of cooperation was already decided by the Queen and the Heavenly Emperor. It's that each of us will enter a trial ground one after another to improve ourselves. After improving our cultivation, we can deal with the Golden River World."
The people cheered, "This is an unexpected gain, to actually have a chance to train!"
However, Shui Han heard a flaw in his words, "Since it's training, why not go in together? Why must it be one after another?"
Mo Qi coughed dryly again, "Because that place is very narrow, only large enough for one person's space."
Shui Han was skeptical and stared intently at him, trying to find a flaw in his eyes. Mo Qi averted his gaze and looked at Qin Xiao, "You still have many questions in your heart, don't you? About my identity, go ask my mother, and you'll know I'm not lying to you."
"What does it matter if you lied to me or not? Are you still the same deeply affectionate, devoted, and refined Xinghe as before? You are now glib-tongued and flirtatious everywhere. How can I believe that you are him?" Qin Xiao roared in anger.
Then, with red eyes, she rushed out of the house.
Afterward, everyone's gaze fell on Mo Qi, all with a questioning and accusatory look, including Xue Ying.
Mo Qi lowered his head, "I was indeed wrong. I will be careful in the future."
"Hmph!" everyone snorted in response.
On the other side, the battle between Hongjun and Gui Xianren had long ended, resulting in both of them being injured.
As for Gonggong and Qin Di, it ended with Qin Di's death.
Gonggong occupied the River Right World and did not stop, immediately beginning the invasion of the River World.
Gonggong, known as the God of Water, had reached the pinnacle of controlling water, so he appeared to be in his element here.
Many islands in the River World were quickly brought under his control.
The River God and the River Emperor joined forces, rallying the Merfolk and many island worlds not yet occupied by Gonggong, to resist him. The two sides fell into a stalemate for a time.
Meanwhile, after suffering a setback at the Cloud Climbing Ladder, Xiao Ling was deeply troubled. Returning to the Iron Tree World, he began to attack the Red Leaf Kingdom to vent his anger.
Zhu Yan was also particularly distressed at this time.
Since Mo Qi left, she often thought about going home, day and night.
But the soul contract's deterrent power was too strong, and she dared not disobey.
However, staying in this place that did not belong to her day after day was unbearable. She could not calm down, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles, and time dragged on like years.
Therefore, she often inadvertently erupted in anger at people, losing her temper easily, even killing a few guards over trivial arguments.
Sun Qian also saw her inner torment and said to her, "If you don't want to stay here, then go back. When she returns, I will tell her to let you go."
Zhu Yan looked at her bulging belly and couldn't help but smile, "You can live peacefully in this kind of widowhood. If I were you, I would have been unable to bear it long ago."
Sun Qian smiled, "If love can last for a long time, what need is there for constant togetherness? If you marry someone who cares about the world, you must be prepared to care about the world yourself."
Zhu Yan fell silent for a moment, sighed, and said, "When he left, he told me to guard the entire kingdom and guard you. If I leave without permission, I will explode and die. Therefore, I dare not leave."