My Golden Core is a Star, do you call this cultivating?

Qi Yuan was slightly surprised, but his gaze quickly cleared.

"Is that so?"

After overcoming the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, he was nearly omniscient and omnipotent.

With just a slight perception, he understood the cause and effect of the matter.

Of course, this ability was limited to ordinary cosmic regions.

In places like the Forbidden Land, where "Return to Nothingness" reigned, this ability was greatly restricted.

Thus, for Qi Yuan, finding Wu Shi in the Forbidden Land was still somewhat difficult.

"It seems this game mission still has some level of difficulty," Qi Yuan thought to himself.

The mission's content was simple: protect the Forbidden Land and prevent it from being consumed by "Return to Nothingness."

For the current Qi Yuan, it was challenging.

However, compared to San Sheng, Qi Yuan had a bachelor's degree, a brilliant mind, and was particularly skilled at making plans.

The advantage was his.

Completing the game mission was not an insurmountable problem.

At this moment, Qi Yuan looked at Feng Ye and said calmly, "I'm planning to host a banquet, a small gathering. Go and invite Hei Tian."

Qi Yuan was a man of rules.

Moreover, he was clever and wise, never killing innocents indiscriminately.

Thus, inviting Hei Tian was necessary.

On the other side.

Feng Ye entered the area where Hei Tian resided. When Hei Tian heard Feng Ye's message, his eyes showed surprise.

"What? Brother Qi Yuan is inviting me to meet?"

For many years, he had not seen Qi Yuan.

His friend, the Devouring Star Divine Lord, had also whispered in his ear that Qi Yuan might have caught wind of something and was afraid to meet him.

Hei Tian naturally believed his judgment of character was sound, but he couldn't help being influenced by the Devouring Star Divine Lord's constant reminders.

Moreover, Qi Yuan had been in seclusion all this time.

A sliver of doubt had crept into his heart.

However, none of that mattered now. He had already distanced himself from Qi Yuan to avoid implicating him.

Now, Qi Yuan had emerged from seclusion and invited him.

He felt a pang of guilt.

Perhaps he shouldn't have entertained such thoughts.

"I..." Hei Tian hesitated.

He didn't want to drag Qi Yuan into his troubles again.

"His Highness said you must attend this gathering!" Feng Ye emphasized.

Hei Tian hesitated for a moment, then finally shook his head: "I'll go."

With a heavy heart, Hei Tian arrived at Qi Yuan's cave abode.

He felt a mix of melancholy and gratitude.

However, he understood that after this gathering, he would have to sever ties with Qi Yuan and explain the stakes clearly.

Otherwise, even if Qi Yuan was the son of Pillar Tian Kai, offending that person would likely cost him his life.

After all, Pillar Tian Kai had many offspring.

He wouldn't particularly favor one over the others.

"Brother Hei Tian, long time no see. Have you eaten?"

At that moment, Qi Yuan walked out, draped in a robe adorned with characters, looking noble and dignified.

He opened with a question about whether Hei Tian had eaten.

Hei Tian was momentarily stunned.

You invited me to a gathering and now you're asking if I've eaten?

If I say I have, are you going to kick me out?

"Not yet," Hei Tian forced a smile.

Since the Devouring Star Divine Lord had left to seek a breakthrough, his residence had been deserted for a long time, with almost no visitors.

The True Gods he had once befriended and helped now avoided him like the plague.

"Perfect, I've had the kitchen prepare a feast. You'll definitely enjoy it and eat to your heart's content," Qi Yuan said casually.

Hei Tian smiled, though his smile was strained.

The ever-observant Qi Yuan noticed this and quickly added, "Don't worry, the food is absolutely lavish. It's not pre-made dishes or some cheap takeout. You helped me a lot back then, so inviting you to a meal has to be something respectable, like braised chicken or pork trotter rice."

Although Hei Tian didn't fully understand Qi Yuan's words, he laughed heartily: "It's been three thousand years, yet Brother Qi Yuan remains as spirited as ever."

He felt a sense of nostalgia.

Now, on the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the only one who treated him this way was Qi Yuan.

Along with the Devouring Star Divine Lord, who was still outside.

Qi Yuan nodded and got straight to the point: "In ancient times, people often hosted banquets to mediate disputes. Today, I've invited you here to play the role of a mediator, to resolve your issues and, in the process, repay the favor I owe you."

This was his goal.

Hei Tian was momentarily stunned: "A mediator?"

He somewhat understood Qi Yuan's meaning.

But... being a mediator was not something just anyone could do.

After all, he was the trigger for that person who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

To interfere would be to block their path, incurring a grudge.

Even Pillar Tian Kai couldn't mediate this.

On the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the only one qualified to mediate was likely the Divine Emperor.

"Brother Qi Yuan, that person... has an extraordinary background. You must not offend them," Hei Tian quickly warned.

He feared Qi Yuan didn't understand the gravity of the situation.

That person hailed from the Yang Realm.

"How could I? I live by the principle of not offending others unless provoked. I'm lawful good, never causing trouble recklessly. Right, Hei Tan?"

Qi Yuan called out to the screen behind him.

Hei Tian was puzzled. From behind the screen, a Dao God clad in black robes slowly emerged.

This Dao God's eyes still carried a look of lingering fear, as if he had been deeply shaken.

When Hei Tian saw this person, he was utterly confused.

Wasn't this that Dao God?

Why was he here?

And in such a state?

Moreover, what did Qi Yuan just call him?

Hei Tan?

His mind was in turmoil, unsure of what was happening.

At this moment, Qi Yuan spoke: "Hei Tan, you should recognize this person. He's the Hei Tian Divine Lord you wanted to use to bypass the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations."

Hearing this, Hei Tian confirmed that this was indeed that person.

The "Hei Tan" Dao God quickly nodded: "Yes, Senior."

Little did he know, while he was in seclusion preparing to face the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations, a vast and boundless force had suddenly abducted him.

As a Dao God, he had no ability to resist.

At first, he thought it was the Divine Emperor who had acted.

But later, he realized how wrong he was.

This mysterious powerhouse was even more terrifying than the Divine Emperor, who had overcome the Three Calamities and Three Tribulations.

To be abducted from the Mountain of Ten Thousand Gods, the Divine Emperor's territory, without the Divine Emperor even noticing—this was undoubtedly a peerless powerhouse.

Perhaps even stronger than the Divine Emperor.

Such a terrifying powerhouse had targeted him.

His life and death were entirely in Qi Yuan's hands.

"You both understand the purpose of this gathering, right?" Qi Yuan glanced at the two, his voice calm.

Hei Tian and "Hei Tan" both felt a chill, though their emotions were completely different.

"Sigh, the Yin Realm, Yang Realm, and Rebirth realm... you two are practically counterparts. If we stretch it, you could even be considered brothers.

I can't stand to see brothers turn against each other.

Hei Tan, how about this: if I can write a poem within seven steps that moves you to tears, you'll leave Hei Tian alone. What do you think?" Qi Yuan looked at "Hei Tan," his voice steady.

He was preparing to plagiarize again.

"Hei Tan" could only nod.

If he refused, he would likely be the one used to help Hei Tian bypass the calamities.

Now, whatever Qi Yuan said, he had to listen and comply.

Beside him, Hei Tian's face was filled with shock that refused to fade.

He even wondered if he was on the verge of death, hallucinating.

But he was a Divine Lord. How could that be?

"Alright, I'll start walking."

"Step one!"

Qi Yuan began moving, reciting the plagiarized poem with great emotion.

He even used a broadcasting tone, mixed with a bit of electronic and bubble sounds.

"Boiling beans to make soup, filtering the beans...

...

Born from the same root, why rush to harm each other?"

As Qi Yuan took his steps, he finished reciting the poem.

Qi Yuan was about to speak and gauge "Hei Tan's" reaction when he realized his seven steps had taken him straight into the Forbidden Land.

He hurried back.

"Oops, I didn't realize my steps were so big. But you heard the poem, right?" Qi Yuan returned to the banquet, feeling relieved.

Thankfully, he was a cultivator. Otherwise, such large steps would have been disastrous, possibly tearing his pants and embarrassing him.

"I heard it," Hei Tan replied, feeling utterly bewildered, as if ten thousand monsters were running amok in his head.

Qi Yuan's actions were beyond his comprehension.

"How was the poem? Did it move you to tears?" Qi Yuan asked.

The poem was well-written.

With his heartfelt recitation, it could easily win a top-three prize in an elementary school recitation contest.

Moving Hei Tan should have been a breeze.

"I... was deeply moved," Hei Tan dared not move.

Faced with the choice between breakthrough and death, he chose to play along.

"I'm sorry," he directly apologized to Qi Yuan, even squeezing out "tears of emotion."

If Hei Tian weren't present, he might have even kowtowed to Qi Yuan.

As for the dignity and face of a Dao God...

What were those?

He wasn't some ascetic cultivator.

His unique physique and extraordinary background had allowed him to reach Dao God with little effort, relying on divine treasures.

"Don't! I hate it when people apologize to me!"

At this moment, Qi Yuan shuddered with disgust.

If some random man or woman apologized to him, it would be utterly terrifying.