When he was wandering spiritually among the Seven Stars, he had already encountered those Heavenly Masters from the Northern Barbarians looking for trouble. All along, he hadn't taken a liking to the Heavenly Masters from that side, and after returning from the Heavenly Mountains, he disliked them even more. He instinctively assumed that all Heavenly Masters from the Northern Barbarians were invaders intent on causing chaos in the Central Lands.

Now, while cultivating on the moon, just as he was settling into his rhythm, he had unexpectedly drawn the attention of these Heavenly Masters from the Northern Barbarians. Seeing the clear ill-intent in their demeanor, Ji Changkong not only felt no fear but was secretly rather excited. He had been searching for a way to vent the indignation brewing within him, and now someone had conveniently delivered themselves to his doorstep.

A group of five, all at the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, vaguely encircled Ji Changkong, each one eager to seize the method by which he gathered the light of the bright moon into his divine soul.

Upon hearing Ji Changkong utter those boastful words with excitement, the five Heavenly Masters from the Northern Barbarians found it utterly incredible. Each of them scrutinized him curiously, subtly releasing the power of their divine souls, ready to react at any moment.

“Friend, are you quite alright?” one of the Heavenly Masters from the Northern Barbarians asked kindly. “We only wish to know your method for gathering the essence of the moon. As long as you share your method with us, we certainly won't trouble you. There’s no need to lose your life over this, don’t you think?” “I actually do want to lose my life over this matter...” Ji Changkong sneered, “If you have the strength for it!”

A strange gleam flashed within his divine soul, and the body Ji Changkong had condensed purely from soul power suddenly moved.

In just an instant, he slipped out of the encirclement of the Northern Barbarian Heavenly Masters. Before the five could even react, Ji Changkong took the offensive, unleashing streams of incredibly minute soul-lights abruptly.

Having reached the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, he possessed a deeper understanding of the various soul skills within the Star Cloud Soul Refining Art. Now, he could condense his soul-lights even more finely; with just a flicker of thought, the soul-lights would erupt instantly.

Like a giant porcupine, the soul-lights shot out as sharp spikes, so fine they were difficult for a divine soul to discern, yet they suddenly burst forth from him, sweeping toward the stunned Northern Barbarian Heavenly Masters.

The five Northern Barbarian Heavenly Masters, who had assumed Ji Changkong was still trapped within their ring, were just preparing to utter some harsh threats when they suddenly detected threads of extremely fine soul-lights assaulting them.

It wasn't until those soul-lights were nearly touching their divine souls that the Heavenly Masters from the Northern Barbarians realized the terrifying power contained within those seemingly minuscule soul-lights.

These Northern Barbarian Heavenly Masters were instantly aghast. Without further thought, they swiftly shifted their divine souls, using every ounce of their strength to evade the soul-light assault.

Three of the five Northern Barbarian Heavenly Masters, being slightly farther from the attack range of the soul-lights, reacted swiftly and managed to drift their divine souls away just in time, thus blocking the wave of strikes.

However, the remaining two had their entire focus centered on how to heavily injure and detain Ji Changkong, paying no attention to their immediate surroundings. They were caught completely off guard and their divine souls were struck by the power of the soul-lights, sustaining severe damage immediately.

Ji Changkong clearly wasn't going to let those two off the hook. The body he had materialized from his soul instantly moved toward the two wounded divine souls, and the secret technique of the Star Cloud Soul Refining Art, "Command," was immediately employed.

The Command soul skill was exceedingly vicious. It could seize control of an opponent’s divine soul when it was weak, filling it entirely with one's own powerful soul thought, forcing the victim's soul to act entirely according to one's will.

As soon as the Command soul skill was unleashed, the two previously injured divine souls instantly lost their consciousness. Under the effect of the skill, these two souls suddenly floated toward the other three divine souls and immediately began to savagely attack them. “You! What are you doing?” “Are you mad?” “What gives?”

The three souls being attacked had no idea that the other two were now under the control of Ji Changkong's Command skill. Suddenly assaulted, the three cried out in shock, utterly baffled.

Unfortunately, the two controlled by the Command skill paid no heed to the pleas of the other three. Their divine souls were completely filled with Ji Changkong’s intent, and they could only act according to his will, continuing to pursue and harass the trio, completely unconcerned that their own divine souls might sustain heavy damage or even perish as a result. They exerted all the spiritual power of their souls, desperately chasing the other three in a frenzied manner. A being without independent consciousness, once it no longer feared death, becomes terrifyingly formidable.

With the two controlled souls relentlessly pursuing them, the three were not only unable to gain the upper hand but were driven into a sorry state, constantly having to dodge and weave.

This was because the three realized that the two pursuing them had extremely unstable divine souls—they seemed to be on the verge of self-detonation!

If a divine soul detonated, any other souls within a certain radius would suffer incredibly malicious harm. If one happened to be near the epicenter of the explosion, and the detonator’s realm wasn't low, the affected soul might not escape death.

It was precisely the extreme instability of the two souls' power that terrified the three, causing them to desperately evade proximity to the two, fearing they might be caught in the blast radius of a self-detonation.

Evidently, under such circumstances, the three had no time to worry about Ji Changkong. Their initial intention to capture or heavily wound him had long been cast aside.

Yet, amidst this intense crisis, while they neglected Ji Changkong, he was constantly watching the trio. The body materialized from his soul followed their erratic movements, deploying his divine soul’s spiritual power to gather the ubiquitous essence of the bright moon, forming dense clouds of lunar splendor.

The cloud-like clusters of lunar power would accelerate the cultivation of any who practiced within them, making progress exponentially faster than elsewhere.

Had the situation been different, the three might have gladly cultivated within those dense clouds of lunar splendor to allow their divine souls to absorb the lunar essence more quickly and break through their own constraints to reach the next realm, Spiritual Wandering in the Sun.

However, in this current predicament, they detested seeing clusters of rich lunar clouds appearing near them, because areas where the lunar essence was concentrated would slow the movement speed of their divine souls! Against their will, numerous clouds saturated with lunar light rapidly appeared in this region. Pursued by the two controlled souls, they were forced to plunge into these clouds, and their speed drastically reduced.

As the originator of this situation, Ji Changkong, however, was completely unaffected by these clusters; his speed within them was unimpeded. He leisurely followed the three from behind, secretly using the two controlled souls to continue harassing them. Occasionally, he would unleash soul-lights, subtly striking at the three one or two times, compelling them to evade with even greater panic.

The unpredictable attacks of the soul-lights made the three even more flustered. Although they focused entirely on evasion, the influence of the cloud clusters meant they couldn't completely dodge the soul-light strikes Ji Changkong secretly deployed. They would often be hit once or twice by these faint attacks.

This placed even greater pressure on the trio. They were relentlessly hounded by their pursuers from behind, and soul-light attacks frequently erupted from within the cloud clusters. In this state, the three suffered mental exhaustion, and their soul power was rapidly depleted. They knew this couldn't go on, but for a time, they couldn't devise a better escape from this disaster, leaving them only to flee and hide continuously. “Friend, we were just joking with you earlier, please don't be so aggressive, alright?”

“Yes, I truly meant no harm toward you. Why must you fixate on us? Besides, we have no deep enmity. If you are dissatisfied, perhaps we can offer a sincere apology?” “Exactly, our meeting here is fate. There is no need for fighting and killing, don't you agree?”

By this point, the three had clearly realized that Ji Changkong was secretly orchestrating everything. Knowing it would be difficult to stand against Ji Changkong while the two controlled souls were present, they immediately softened their stance, hoping to de-escalate the situation and avoid any further conflict.

“Heh heh, how can that be? I find you quite interesting. Since I’ve made the trip to the moon, I must find some entertainment, otherwise, wouldn't it be too boring?” Ji Changkong quipped, but his movements never ceased. The hidden soul-light attacks were quietly launched again, forcing the three to evade even more desperately. Boom! Several dozen soul-lights suddenly erupted, blasting directly into one of the divine souls.

The soul that had been constantly dodging immediately suffered a severe blow; its essence became incredibly weak. Seizing this opportunity, Ji Changkong deployed his Command soul skill once more, smoothly taking control of this soul as well.

With this, the battle shifted to three divine souls pursuing two. The two Northern Barbarian Heavenly Masters who were desperately dodging suddenly found themselves in an even more wretched state. “Friend, don't push too far; even a cornered dog will jump the wall!” one of the souls, seeing the space for evasion shrinking, couldn't help but threaten with false bravado.

“Oh! You can jump walls, can you?” Ji Changkong responded maliciously. “Excellent, then I’d like to see just how you jump that wall!”

Ji Changkong not only showed no mercy but increased the severity of his attacks, constantly directing the three controlled souls to chase the remaining two. He himself wasn't idle, beginning to gather his spiritual power to condense more soul-lights, preparing for the next round of attacks. “You!” That man's divine soul trembled violently. Whether he was driven mad by Ji Changkong or not, he suddenly charged directly toward the position where Ji Changkong was located. “Heh heh, come then! I want to see how you jump this wall!” Ji Changkong sneered, utterly fearless of the rapid approach, watching him coldly.

Soon, the man’s divine soul charged near. He unleashed all his spiritual power, and just as he was about to reach Ji Changkong, his soul suddenly became chaotic and disorderly, accompanied by sharp popping sounds emanating from within his spirit. “Ji Changkong, watch out!”

Suddenly, a startled cry from a divine soul echoed from afar, and a graceful figure swept through at extreme speed. With a wave of her hand, an incredibly marvelous soul fluctuation erupted, forming a barrier a short distance in front of Ji Changkong.

The divine soul charging directly at Ji Changkong suddenly slammed into an invisible barrier and was violently repelled.

A dazzling, brilliant light burst forth. The divine soul intent on closing in on Ji Changkong instantly exploded, its form and spirit utterly annihilated.

Simultaneously, the other constantly pursued divine soul was finally caught up by the three controlled souls. The four divine souls exploded together, shattering the clusters of lunar splendor clouds.

In just this short span, all five malevolent divine souls had exploded and vanished, leaving not a trace in this world. The energy from their complete annihilation quickly dissipated, and no trace of their aura could be detected anymore.

The five Northern Barbarian Heavenly Masters, who had intended to rely on Ji Changkong to elevate their own realms, were now utterly wiped out. Not only did they fail to obtain what they sought, but they paid with their lives.

As these five perished so swiftly, Ji Changkong felt neither joy nor sorrow; his emotions remained unchanged by their deaths. Instead, he frowned slightly, hovering there, watching the graceful figure slowly approach, and asked, “Who are you? How did you know my identity?”

“Ji Changkong, shouldn't you be thanking me? I just saved you a great deal of trouble. Without me, that fellow would have detonated his divine soul right beside you, and you would have suffered a major loss!” The figure of the newcomer flickered, gradually shifting from blurred to clear. “Why should I thank you?” Ji Changkong was surprised. “Without you, I could have easily avoided it. Your arrival actually robbed me of some fun.”

The graceful figure possessed exquisite curves and a perfect figure, but her facial features were utterly ordinary, showing no trace of distinction. Even the eyes and ears on her face seemed slightly indistinct...

Looking at this girl whose body was splendid but whose face was common, Ji Changkong knew she was likely deliberately concealing her true appearance. Otherwise, the features of her ears and eyes should not have been so vague. Paying attention to the girl, Ji Changkong suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. He asked in surprise, “Have I... have I seen you somewhere before? Why, why does your aura feel so familiar? Wait, let me think carefully!”

The girl smiled sweetly at him. “Think carefully, Ji Changkong. If you can't guess who I am, I will absolutely start a massive row with you!” Ji Changkong was unmoved by her words. He released his divine soul power to carefully scrutinize the aura emanating from the girl. After a while, Ji Changkong started in shock, pointing at her. “Yu Ziling!”

“Heh heh, you passed the test.” Yu Ziling let out a light, somewhat excited laugh. “I truly didn't expect you to have broken through to the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm already, able to spiritually wander the moon just like me. Back when I first met you on Qingyan Mountain, your realm was quite low; you were running for your life, chased by that Old Mother Wushan in the Great Marsh of Cloud Dreams…” “Old Mother Wushan has long been dead; I killed her myself. Even her master, Rakshasa Guifan, became a soul beneath my blade,” Ji Changkong replied with a smile.

Hearing Yu Ziling mention those past events, Ji Changkong felt a touch of sentimentality. Back then, his realm was extremely low, while Yu Ziling had already cultivated to the Six Harmonies Heaven Realm. Together with her, they ventured through the Great Marsh of Cloud Dreams. It was also during that time that he saw Zhongli Jingyi and Zhongli Hui again. In the Great Marsh, he and Yu Ziling fought against Old Mother Wushan several times, and he only managed to drive her out with the aid of the Tian Yuan Winged Dragon’s power.

Afterward, he befriended envoys from the Southern Yi, and on Qingyan Mountain, he was saved by Bai Canghai…

Later, he met Yu Ziling again, but due to differing definitions of good and evil, some unpleasantness occurred between them, and he hadn't seen her since.

Years later, meeting Yu Ziling on the moon, who had also cultivated to the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, filled him with pleasant surprise, viewing it as a wondrous twist of fate. He knew that Yu Ziling deliberately concealed her true appearance when she was on the Five Elements Continent, and he noticed she still hid her real face here on the moon.

Yu Ziling’s background was mysterious, and with her appearance obscured, Ji Changkong was even more uncertain of her true identity. After gaining the support of the Duan and Xiao families, he had once utilized their intelligence networks to probe into Yu Ziling’s background. Unfortunately, lacking her true face, he could only search using the name "Yu Ziling." Ultimately, he found nothing based on those three words... “...So it’s you. It’s been a long time, Yu Ziling. How have you been all these years?” Having confirmed her identity, Ji Changkong smiled and asked like an old friend.

“...Not very well,” Yu Ziling sighed bitterly, venting her frustration. “I’ve been pressured by my family to cultivate, leaving no chance to go out and have fun. Now I can only use spiritual wandering on the moon to sneak out for a look around. On the Five Elements Continent, my true body is still watched by my family and forbidden to leave. It’s truly stifling.”

Yu Ziling was about the same age as him and was now also at the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm. A family capable of cultivating such a young expert must not be underestimated. Ji Changkong was very curious about Yu Ziling’s origins.

“Congratulations, you’ve reached the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm now. All those years of forced, arduous cultivation have clearly yielded the expected rewards,” Ji Changkong said with a smile. “The family capable of nurturing a genius like you must be extraordinary. Yu Ziling, where do you come from?”

“A small place, not worth mentioning,” Yu Ziling clearly preferred not to elaborate, smiling at him. “How can that compare to you? It’s only been this short while, and you, who were so useless back then, have actually broken through to the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm. Ah, comparison truly kills people! I have cultivated since childhood, dedicating so much effort and time, and I’ve only just broken through to the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm now. But you only started cultivating elemental energy at seventeen—that's quite disheartening…” “Uh, I’ve always been lucky,” Ji Changkong laughed, then asked, “Yu Ziling, even if you hadn't intervened just now, I would have been fine, but I must still thank you for stepping in.” “It’s nothing; we’re friends, don’t be so formal,” Yu Ziling said casually, smiling brightly. “It seems you’ve only just broken through to the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, haven’t you?” “Correct,” Ji Changkong admitted frankly.

“To be able to toy with those fellows so easily right after breaking through to the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, you are truly formidable now. I might not even be your match now…” Yu Ziling praised. “However, you haven't been on the Moon long, so you probably aren't very familiar with it yet. I think I need to take you around a bit.”

“What’s there to look around at?” Ji Changkong asked in surprise. “Isn’t it just like the Big Dipper Star Domain? Everyone cultivates separately, leaving each other alone, while being careful to avoid attacks from ill-intentioned people. Is that all?”

“Heh heh, although the Sun and Moon are similar to the Big Dipper Star Domain, there are differences. Come on, I’ll show you around. I’ll let you see what parts of the Moon are different from the Big Dipper Star Domain, and I’ll show you the marvelous aspects of this new world, heh heh. I guarantee you’ll be surprised.” Yu Ziling, carefree and smiling, led the way. “Go on, follow me. Ah, since I met you before and recognized your aura, it’s you. Nobody here who hasn’t met you would recognize you as Ji Xuanyuan of the Ji Family, so you don't need to worry about anything.”

“I have nothing to worry about. Even if others discovered my true identity, it wouldn't matter much. I believe that with my strength, I can safely return to my true body from the Moon,” Ji Changkong smiled calmly.

Although he had only just reached the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, relying on the marvelous nature of the Star Cloud Soul Refining Art, Ji Changkong was confident he could retreat safely even if surrounded by many masters. Therefore, he was not afraid of his identity being exposed.

“Oh! You’ve gotten quite impressive, even your speech has changed from before,” Yu Ziling teased him a few times, then her expression turned serious. “The Moon is different from the Big Dipper Star Domain, so don't speak so definitively…” As she said this, Yu Ziling’s speed abruptly increased, her divine soul flashing like lightning across the moon.

In the past, Ji Changkong certainly wouldn't have been able to keep up with Yu Ziling’s pace... But now, it was effortless.

The spirits of the two traveled rapidly, discussing past events. Ji Changkong, having been through so much, though still not entirely aligned with Yu Ziling's views on good and evil, was no longer vehemently resistant. After all, he too had taken many lives over the years, and with his own hands stained with blood, he could hardly find fault with some of Yu Ziling's past actions.

With that knot untied, the two conversed with great pleasure. Yu Ziling was intensely curious about everything that had happened to Ji Changkong over the years, pressing him repeatedly for details. Ji Changkong omitted what needed to be hidden, sharing only what was permissible for others to know, which left Yu Ziling astonished and utterly absorbed in the narrative.

However, when Ji Changkong inquired about her life, she always deflected, claiming there was nothing much to tell, stating only that she had been in secluded cultivation at home all these years, never causing trouble outside. Ji Changkong didn't press the matter.

On the far side of the moon lay a landscape riddled with craters and chasms, many bottomless, hiding countless unknown dangers.

In a low-lying area shrouded in a faint white mist, dark green water flowed slowly. Within these streams, tiny, glittering points of light were visible. As Ji Changkong and Yu Ziling's spirits approached, he immediately sensed that these light spots held an intensely concentrated Moon Essence power, much like the Star Essence he had discovered on the Big Dipper stars.

"Water!" Ji Changkong exclaimed, sounding quite surprised. "Indeed, Yun'er is quite different from the Big Dipper Star Domain. At least, I never encountered flowing water there."

"Of course!" Yu Ziling declared proudly. "Though this moon isn't as vibrant as the Five Elements Continent, it still has its interesting spots. It's not as desolate as the Big Dipper Star Domain. If this place weren't somewhat engaging, I wouldn't have focused so hard on cultivation just to get a chance to play around here."

Saying this, Yu Ziling shrugged helplessly. "You know I was imprisoned by my family, unable to escape, so I had to find enjoyment this way. When my family told me about the interesting places on the moon, I focused solely on cultivation..."

Ji Changkong let out a dry laugh and nodded. "So that's how it was. Haha, it seems your family cared for you quite deeply..."

"Don't mention them; thinking of them makes me want to curse!" Yu Ziling said resentfully, then turned slightly excited toward Ji Changkong. "This is the far side of the moon. Some places here are very fascinating, and since we rarely see the far side from the Five Elements Continent, we wouldn't know what’s here or even guess."

"The far side of the moon..." Ji Changkong surveyed their surroundings and asked, "Besides the flowing water, what else is interesting? Why can't I see anything?"

"In a hurry?" Yu Ziling scoffed. "Just follow me, and I’ll naturally lead you to places that will interest you."

"Then I shall trouble you."

Exchanging words, the two continued forward. After a short while, Ji Changkong’s spirit jolted, and he cried out, "Ahead, ahead! There are many spirits gathered!"

As a practitioner of the Bagua Heaven Realm, his spiritual perception was exceptionally keen. Within a certain radius here, he could quickly detect the soul fluctuations of others and pinpoint the location of nearby spirits.

Just ahead, he sensed at least twenty life forces that were not weak—a considerable number that caused a slight start in Ji Changkong’s heart. He knew handling a few spirits at his own level was not difficult, but there were over twenty formidable spirits ahead. He wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could handle that many Bagua Heaven Masters' spirits.

"If they are hostile, the two of us should steer clear. Honestly, we... we are no match for them," Ji Changkong stopped moving.

"You’re still as cautious as you were back then," Yu Ziling chuckled. "Even having reached the Bagua Heaven Realm, you’re still the same."

"If I weren't this cautious, I would have died countless times," Ji Changkong stated gravely. "I am serious with you; there are too many of them, and we shouldn't provoke them. Let’s not get any closer."

"What’s there to fear?" Yu Ziling smiled. "That’s a marketplace. Those people come from all directions. You don't need to worry about them ganging up on you, so come along with me without apprehension."

Saying this, Yu Ziling giggled, seemingly teasing him for being overly cautious, and took the lead, approaching the direction without haste.

Hearing Yu Ziling’s explanation, Ji Changkong’s curiosity was instantly piqued. He had never imagined there would be a marketplace on the moon, especially a place where everyone arrived as mere spirits. This greatly exceeded his expectations, so he hesitated no longer and quickly followed Yu Ziling’s pace.

About twenty hazy figures stood upon a barren hill perhaps thirty meters high. The small, grayish-brown hill wasn't large, its summit only about the size of a small courtyard, and those twenty or so figures were gathered there, seemingly discussing something.

As soon as Yu Ziling stood firm, one of the figures approached and asked, "You, girl, found yourself a helper?"

This was also a Bagua Heaven Master. Like most Heavenly Masters walking the moon, his figure was blurred, intentionally concealing his true appearance. Generally, those who could reach the moon for cultivation were experts who had reached the Bagua Heaven Realm. These Heavenly Masters already possessed profound spiritual realms and could use soul power to manifest form; they could, if they wished, reveal their true looks using their spiritual energy.

However, most did not. Bagua Heaven Masters who came to the moon often concealed their true identities to avoid unnecessary trouble.

This approaching figure had a vague appearance and was of average height. He seemed to recognize Yu Ziling and, after exchanging a few words, openly used his soul power to scrutinize Ji Changkong.

Threads of soul energy, like wisps of silk, fell upon Ji Changkong. This soul power, without malice, traveled over him once, and soon the person withdrew his soul threads, nodding slowly. "Not bad. One more person means one more measure of certainty."

"He might not participate. I only brought him along to see things," Yu Ziling stated her own opinion only after the person had given his assessment.

"Not participating?" The figure was clearly stunned and looked at Ji Changkong strangely. "Such a good opportunity, and you truly won't go? You should know, Bagua Heaven Masters are limited in number. We finally gathered twenty-three people; we have a great chance this time. As long as we can enter the Demon Moon territory, we can reap rewards, obtaining some extraordinarily rare treasures. Are you really not joining?"

Ji Changkong, full of confusion, glanced back at Yu Ziling and asked, "What's the situation?"

"On the far side of the moon, you can enter the moon's interior through certain locations. Inside the moon is a place called the Lunar Core. It is an incredibly wondrous place, not only growing plants never seen on the Five Elements Continent but also possessing the purest Lunar Springs, including uniquely strange stones—like Moon Core Stones, which are only found in the Lunar Core."

"Unlike the Big Dipper Star Domain, this place might not just have plants and rare treasures, but also other creatures." The Demon Moon is a creature unique to the Lunar Core. Demon Moons are very powerful; even Bagua Heaven Masters find them hard to deal with. The Lunar Core is their territory, and obtaining anything there requires constantly fighting off Demon Moon attacks. Entering the Lunar Core alone means certain death upon encountering one. Therefore, everyone chooses to enter in groups—more people mean more strength, ensuring they at least have a chance to fight back if they meet a Demon Moon."

Yu Ziling quickly explained the situation, then smiled and added, "Originally, I was heading in your direction to invite those who once besieged you to join this endeavor. I didn't expect to run into you in that place..."

"The Lunar Core. That does sound like an interesting place." Ji Changkong’s curiosity was instantly aroused. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "May I participate?"

"Of course!" the figure quickly answered. "Any Bagua Heaven Master cultivating here can join us in the Lunar Core. Our goal is simply to jointly deal with the Demon Moons there. In the Lunar Core, we do not interfere with each other; whatever you gain is yours. How about it, interested?"

"Alright." Ji Changkong nodded, thinking that since he had come all this way, he naturally had to understand everything about this place, otherwise, he would surely regret it.

Yu Ziling seemed somewhat surprised that he agreed so quickly, but she didn't say much, just smiled mischievously and then said to the figure, "You all are lucky now. With this fellow joining, your safety is greatly assured. Remember, whatever good things you find in the Lunar Core, whoever gets it, keeps it—don't start having any wicked ideas..." Yu Ziling implied pointedly.

"Naturally, we adhere to the rules; we won't mess around," the figure replied proudly, then looked at Ji Changkong with inquiry. "Is he... is he very strong?"

"Hehe, you'll know in time. I’m not worried about him. If you harbor any bad intentions in the Lunar Core, hehe, the one who suffers in the end will only be yourselves. Don't say I didn't warn you beforehand," Yu Ziling laughed. The figure nodded lightly, repeatedly saying, "We are very rule-abiding."

Some people discussing nearby also noticed the activity here and gathered around. The person who had approached earlier quickly explained to the group that this was the newcomer Yu Ziling had brought, and then everyone said to Ji Changkong, "Since you are joining us, you must be assigned a designation. Well, you are the twenty-fourth person. Following the numerical order, we’ll call you 'Twenty-Four.' I am the initiator, you can call me 'One.' We always identify each other by numbers; it’s more convenient this way."

Including Ji Changkong, there were twenty-three people in total. None of them wished to expose their real identities, but since they needed to cooperate to enter the Lunar Core, mutual identification was necessary. A simple, easily remembered naming system was essential. The numerical designation felt awkward, but since none of them stood on ceremony, they unanimously approved it.

"And you, what is your number?" Ji Changkong asked Yu Ziling with a smile.

"Seventeen," Yu Ziling giggled. "When we get to the Lunar Core, remember to stick close to me." Ji Changkong nodded lightly, saying nothing more.

The initiator didn't rush off but waited here. After some more time, three more people arrived together. They seemed familiar with the procedures and quickly reached an agreement with the initiator. Behind Ji Changkong, the numbers Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, and Twenty-Seven were added.

These three newcomers clearly belonged to some Heavenly Master Sect or family; their auras were very similar, and they were quietly communicating with each other via spirit, keeping some distance from the main group.

The initiator waited a while longer. During this time, through Yu Ziling, Ji Changkong learned more about the Lunar Core...

As the name suggests, the Lunar Core is located at the center of the moon, accessible only through certain distinctive spots on the far side. Due to its unique location, the Lunar Core not only harbors Demon Moons but also has plants, flowers, Lunar Springs, and strange stones. Most of the plants, stones, and Lunar Springs in the Lunar Core contain extremely potent Star Essence, which can significantly speed up the progress of spirits cultivating on the moon.

Furthermore, the Lunar Core is rumored to hold rare treasures that can be used to temper Divine Weapons. Some people have even obtained complete Divine Weapons there. It is said that Divine Weapons in the Lunar Core are nurtured by the very essence of the moon. Heavenly Masters like those of the Moon Essence Sect, if they could acquire a Lunar Core Divine Weapon, would see their power skyrocket, gaining unimaginable benefits.

Since the Lunar Core contains rare treasures that draw cultivators despite the threat of Demon Moons, there might be other small groups exploring it. In the Lunar Core, one must face not only the threat of Demon Moons but sometimes other complications as well...

When Yu Ziling reached this point, she paused briefly. Seeing that Ji Changkong’s expression remained unchanged and he only nodded slightly, she didn't elaborate further.

She understood that after years of tempering, the Ji Changkong of today was not the one from before. With just a hint, he would grasp everything without needing lengthy explanations.

"The passage should be opening soon. Alright, we won't wait any longer; let's set off," the initiator suddenly transmitted a powerful mental message. His blurry figure flickered, and he flew off in one direction. "Everyone follow me, especially the newcomers. I will guide you through the safest passage into the Lunar Core. Don't worry; following us will at least guarantee you enter the Lunar Core safely..."

The initiator explained as he gradually increased his speed. Everyone followed behind him, proceeding steadily. However, at a gesture from Yu Ziling, Ji Changkong stayed with her at the very back.

A: Only a few days left. I sincerely ask for your monthly votes. I hope everyone will cast them for me. Thank you. [Ti: Dear 3Z readers, the current chapter has reached the final page of this book]