Though Zhou Miaoshan had made significant progress over this period, compared to him and Meng Gang, she was still worlds apart. On this Sun, Zhou Miaoshan remained firmly among the weaker entities, merely possessing enough ability now to defend herself against minor threats.

If he were to venture to the Heart of the Sun, he absolutely could not bring Zhou Miaoshan along. Yet, because of Zhou Qiangwei, he couldn't simply ignore her plight. This left him in a bit of a predicament.

How to handle Zhou Miaoshan had become quite a thorny issue. Ji Changkong pondered deeply and concluded that the best course of action now was to send her away from the Sun. Once outside its direct influence, given her current cultivation level, Zhou Miaoshan should possess sufficient spiritual power to safely return to the Five Elements Continent.

Therefore, before having a serious talk with Meng Gang, he proactively discussed the matter with Zhou Miaoshan.

To his surprise, Zhou Miaoshan showed no desire to remain on the Sun for arduous training; it seemed her only wish was to return to the Five Elements Continent to see her daughter. The moment she heard Ji Changkong intended to send her away from the Sun, Zhou Miaoshan readily agreed, without the slightest hesitation.

Her decision brought a wave of relief to Ji Changkong. He notified Meng Gang, and the two of them escorted Zhou Miaoshan together, leading her away from the savage slaughter that defined life upon the Sun, ensuring her safe departure from its harsh reality.

“Thank you. I truly don’t know how I can ever repay you. Returning to the Five Elements Continent this time, I doubt I will come back until I have enough confidence. Perhaps... perhaps I will never see you again in this lifetime. You are the second man in my life. Though, though not truly a man, may I know... know who you are? Even just a name would suffice.”

Before leaving, Zhou Miaoshan gazed at him intently, murmuring softly.

Meng Gang also suddenly became interested, adopting an expression that suggested he was eager to see how Ji Changkong would reply.

“There’s nothing to say. You should return quickly. If fate allows in the future and you come to the Sun again, you can find me by using the designation ‘▲Twenty-Four’,” Ji Changkong said calmly.

What a joke! If she knew his true identity, how would he ever face her when he returned to the Five Elements Continent? And how would he explain things to Zhou Qiangwei?

Zhou Miaoshan’s expression fell, and she nodded silently, saying no more. It seemed she was somewhat disappointed, disappointed that Ji Changkong wouldn't even give her a name.

Under the watchful eyes of Ji Changkong and Meng Gang, Zhou Miaoshan finally departed alone, receding gradually toward the direction of the Five Elements Continent. There were no powerful Celestial Master auras nearby, and few dared to engage in conflict in the vast expanse of the star field. Ji Changkong knew Zhou Miaoshan should not encounter any further mishaps.

“You really are ruthless,” Meng Gang commented with feeling. “You wouldn't even give her a name.”

“If she knew who I am, it would be extremely awkward for both her and me when we meet in the Five Elements Continent in the future. That wouldn't be a pleasant experience for either of us. It’s not that I’m heartless; it truly cannot be!” Ji Changkong sighed softly, filled with wistfulness.

Meng Gang didn't press further and turned back to look at the surging, blazing Sun, his fighting spirit ignited.

“Meng Gang, we should part ways now,” Ji Changkong suddenly stated.

Meng Gang, who was just preparing to continue their rampage across the Sun with Ji Changkong, froze abruptly and asked curiously, “What? Are you planning to return to the Five Elements Continent too?”

“No.” Ji Changkong shook his head. “I will remain on the Sun. I must obtain something; otherwise, I will not leave!”

“Since we are staying on the Sun, why separate?” At this, Meng Gang frowned. “Are you finding me a burden? Do you think I can’t help you anymore?”

“Don’t misunderstand,” Ji Changkong explained. “I am going to the Heart of the Sun. I intend to retrieve the Nine Luminaries Life Tree there, something no one has obtained for a thousand years. This journey is fraught with peril where death is more likely than life. I don’t want you to risk accompanying me.”

“The Nine Luminaries Life Tree!” Meng Gang exclaimed in shock. “Are you insane, kid? Why on earth would you think of taking the Nine Luminaries Life Tree? Do you know what that tree signifies? Do you know how many masters from the surrounding great continents have perished trying to obtain it over the centuries?”

“I know,” Ji Changkong replied calmly.

“Then why must you go? Over the years, the Nine Luminaries Life Tree has also been called the ‘Tree of Death.’ Almost every Celestial Master who has set their sights on obtaining it has met a terrible end!” Meng Gang sounded genuinely anxious. “Brother, I know your cultivation is profound now, and your spiritual power ranks among the very top on the Sun, but you must understand that before you, there were several monstrous figures at the peak of the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm whose strength was no less than yours, yet they all met tragic deaths attempting to take the Nine Luminaries Life Tree!”

“I know,” Ji Changkong replied with a single sentence again.

Meng Gang couldn’t help but be stunned. He stared at Ji Changkong for a long time before sighing, “It seems your mind is made up. Anything I say won’t matter.”

Hesitating for a moment, Meng Gang continued, “Brother, I can only accompany you as far as the location of the Heavenly Fire. Once we reach that point, everything will depend on you. My divine soul cannot withstand the power of the Heavenly Fire; I know my limits. I can only go that far.”

Ji Changkong appeared somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected that Meng Gang, knowing the extreme danger of the journey, would still be willing to accompany him. He was aware of Meng Gang’s cultivation and understood that reaching the location of the Heavenly Fire marked Meng Gang’s absolute limit. Although Meng Gang’s divine soul was extraordinary, it was far from being perfected and could not endure the intensity of the Heavenly Fire. As Meng Gang stated, he could only travel up to the point where the Heavenly Fire resided in the Heart of the Sun.

The fact that Meng Gang had this intention proved that he regarded Ji Changkong as a true friend.

“There’s no need. I can enter alone. I know the Heart of the Sun is different from the Heart of the Moon. Entering the Heart of the Sun doesn’t require an entrance; one only needs to be cautious,” Ji Changkong shook his head, declining.

Entering the Heart of the Sun from the outer periphery of the Sun would expose them to numerous dangers: solar flares and various scorching heat waves and fierce winds. The closer they got to the core, the higher the frequency and the stronger the force of the eruptions. One careless mistake, one hit by any of these perils, and they would be utterly annihilated, leaving no escape even for the strongest spiritual power or the mightiest divine soul.

If Meng Gang accompanied him, he might be wiped out by those dangers before they even reached the Heart of the Sun and saw the Heavenly Fire.

“Brother, do you look down on me?” Meng Gang snorted coldly and demanded, “Though my strength is inferior to yours, I, Meng Gang, am not one to cling to life fearfully. If one lacks the courage to take risks in life, one is destined to be mediocre! My aptitude on the Hailan Continent was average. The achievements I possess today were earned through successive baptisms of life and death!”

“Very well, since you insist, then we will enter the Heart of the Sun together,” Ji Changkong conceded with resignation, nodding his agreement.

“That’s more like it! When I first arrived on the Sun, I never expected everything to go smoothly. If we didn't encounter any danger, I’d actually be quite disappointed. Ha! I am also very curious about the Heart of the Sun. Legend has it that the peak experts of the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm cultivate in the center closest to the Sun’s core. Only those who can navigate the external dangers to enter the Heart of the Sun are the true powerhouses of this celestial body. The people we hunted on the Sun's surface were actually just common figures. Haha, I really want to see just how powerful those fellows cultivating inside the Sun truly are!”

Meng Gang grew excited and laughed heartily, seemingly deliberately ignoring the inherent dangers of entering the Heart of the Sun from this location.

The mouth of the cavern was immensely huge, waves of rolling heat emanating from it. The surrounding rock walls were all vermillion, and the surging air currents felt like scalding hot oil; contact would immediately weaken the divine soul.

This cavern seemed bottomless, its opening larger than the area of a small nation. Waves of oppressive heat rushed out, forcing Meng Gang to gather his spiritual power more intensively to resist the terrifying searing force of those heat currents. Within the glowing red cavern ahead, fierce hurricanes formed constantly, swirling erratically without any discernible pattern.

Fingernail-sized solar flares sometimes hid within those winds, darting about at incredible speeds, capable of erupting with earth-shattering power at any moment. That power was sufficient to disintegrate the divine soul of a Nine Palaces Celestial Master into wisps of smoke, comparable to the total energy released by a volcanic eruption.

Above the vast cavern, the rocks, already burning red, occasionally dropped from above, influenced by some unknown force.

These incandescent stones descended faster and faster, the power imbued within them growing stronger. If one’s divine soul were hit by these falling stones, the result would be more terrifying than an attack from dozens of masters combined—likely instant death.

Chaotic hurricanes, lurking solar flares, stones falling at any moment, and bursts of fervent flame erupting intermittently...

On the path leading to the Heart of the Sun lay too many perils, beyond the imagination of ordinary beings. Many Celestial Masters who considered themselves capable might rule supreme on the Moon, but upon attempting to enter the Moon's Heart, they would become a hundred times more cautious. There were constant rumors of arrogant individuals from the Sun's surface being killed by these natural disasters en route to the Heart of the Sun.

Those who were destroyed by these calamities were said to have suffered ‘Heaven’s Punishment,’ a retribution from the Sun upon those individuals.

“Meng Gang, are you really going? If you retreat now, there’s still a chance. Otherwise, once we enter, turning back will be just as perilous!” Ji Changkong watched the path ahead with a grim expression.

Within the massive cavern ahead, various natural dangers manifested chaotically and without order, each possessing lethal power. Meng Gang’s face was not particularly cheerful, but he showed no intention of backing down now. “Damn it! Life or death is written in the stars; let’s go!”

Ji Changkong grinned, “Very well, then let us go meet the true peak experts of the Sun! Let’s see if the Heart of the Sun can stop the two of us!”

With that declaration, Ji Changkong plunged headfirst into the immense cavern riddled with peril, without a moment’s hesitation.