The ancient tree was rooted deep within the Heart of the Sun, its sheer size immeasurable. Ji Shu had the means to know its true scale, yet even from the colossal aura emanating from it, he grasped that this tree's vitality far surpassed that of the Four Sacred Beasts. Clearly, it was immensely more powerful than the so-called Nine Palaces Celestial Masters.

Therefore, in approaching this ancient tree, Ji Changkong was filled with profound curiosity. He knew that countless secrets, inscrutable to outsiders, must be hidden within this colossal growth. Like the Four Sacred Beasts, the ancient tree was undoubtedly some form of supreme life form, one whose lifespan likely stretched far beyond normal human comprehension.

The dense, immense foliage of the ancient tree swayed above the crimson earth. Compared to it, the Nine Luminaries Life Tree nearby appeared utterly miniature. Even with only a portion of its form revealed, the ancient tree already seemed staggeringly vast.

It was only when Ji Changkong looked closely that he realized the roots of the Nine Luminaries Life Tree seemed to be plunged into the ancient tree, as if it were growing upon it, drawing sustenance solely from the older entity's immense life force.

Simultaneously, he observed that the strange spatial rifts surrounding the Nine Luminaries Life Tree had begun to gradually seal themselves following the emergence of the ancient tree. The bubbles rising from the earth, capable of forming solar flares, vanished without a trace. Even the Celestial Fire encircling the Nine Luminaries Life Tree slowly dissipated, retreating from the immediate vicinity.

All these marvels confirmed to Ji Changkong that this ancient tree, whose age was unknown, was the catalyst for every change.

"What is it you wish to know? At your current level, you are too insignificant. Even if you learned the truth, it would serve no purpose. Instead, it would only bring you distress and add to your burden. That is not beneficial for you," the ancient tree's soul-thought resonated.

"What is my responsibility?" Ji Changkong pondered for a moment, asking only that single question.

He knew that as a Xuanyuan of the Ji family, on the Five Elements Continent, he bore the responsibility of safeguarding the continent, but there seemed to be other duties as well. He had never managed to glean any information from the Four Sacred Beasts. Now, having finally reached the Heart of the Sun and encountered this being as ancient and powerful as they, he hoped to gain some clarity from it, unwilling to continue existing in such ignorance.

"Your responsibility extends beyond merely guarding the Five Elements Continent! Those four have transferred their power to you, granting you the ability to reshape the world. In the future, a much broader stage awaits you!" the ancient tree's soul-thought echoed. "Everything you wish to know, those four will soon tell you. It is their inherent duty. Only when you break through to the Nine Palaces Celestial Realm will you be able to truly meet them. At that time, you will learn all that you seek!"

Hearing this from the ancient tree, Ji Changkong suddenly recalled the Xuanyuans of previous generations of the Ji family. Each of them had vanished upon reaching the Nine Palaces Celestial Realm. Every Xuanyuan of the Ji line tended to depart the family alone, reaching the peak of the Nine Palaces Celestial Realm before venturing off, never to return, their tracks completely lost.

If the ancient tree said he could meet the Four Sacred Beasts and learn everything he desired upon reaching the Nine Palaces Celestial Realm, did this mean he was destined to walk the very path taken by every preceding Xuanyuan?

"Yes, that is the path," the ancient tree affirmed again with a soul-thought.

Just then, the nine small suns atop the Nine Luminaries Life Tree suddenly emitted a soft radiance. The next moment, Ji Changkong saw the roots of the Nine Luminaries Life Tree pull free from the ancient tree. The Nine Luminaries Life Tree soared towards the sky, slowly making its way towards him.

"This little sapling grew from a seed of my own being. It has gathered the peculiar energy of the Heart of the Sun, enough to allow you to comprehend the true essence of the Solar True Fire and help you break through to the Nine Palaces Celestial Realm! Take it. Use it to temper your true body. It will fill your physical form with the light and heat of the sun, allowing you to undergo a fundamental transformation once more!"

The Nine Luminaries Life Tree floated before Ji Changkong's soul-projection. With a reach of his hand, the tree settled into his palm. Ji Changkong gasped as a sudden, deep connection of shared bloodline surged through him.

"Those dozens of streams of life-force energy you obtained in the Sea of Celestial Fire originated from it. That energy refined your soul, allowing you to perceive the power of flame more directly. If you can utilize this small sapling to temper your physical body, you will advance further and rapidly break through to the Nine Palaces Celestial Realm!"

"However, you must note one thing: as soon as you leave the Sea of Celestial Fire, you must use your own strength to return to your continent!"

"Understood." Although he hadn't uncovered more information, he had at least secured the Nine Luminaries Life Tree. This trip could be considered a success.

He did not tell the ancient tree that he had endured immense hardship to acquire the Nine Luminaries Life Tree not for his own use. He dared not even entertain such a thought, fearing the ancient tree might discern the intent hidden in his heart. Clutching the Nine Luminaries Life Tree, Ji Changkong hesitated no longer. He immediately turned and rushed headlong out of the Sea of Celestial Fire.

The moment he departed, the spatial rifts and rising bubbles behind him reverted to their original state. A new seed flew out from within the towering ancient tree, falling into the crimson soil where the Nine Luminaries Life Tree had just been.

An elderly man, his body entirely covered in bark, manifested on one of the ancient tree’s branches. He watched the direction Ji Changkong had vanished with aged, knowing eyes, murmuring softly, "Knowing fully well that the essence of that tree could instantly propel him to the Nine Palaces Celestial Realm, his decision remained unshaken. He still intends to give the Nine Luminaries Life Tree to another. This child... is truly benevolent." Compared to previous generations, this child is far more compassionate. I hope he can mature and avoid following in the footsteps of those before him.

Ji Changkong, of course, could not hear the sigh from the old man behind him. His current concern was how to transport the Nine Luminaries Life Tree out of the Sun. On the periphery of the Sea of Celestial Fire lay the Eight Great Celestial Apertures. Currently, the peak experts from other continents occupied seven of these apertures. Even if he had never offended these individuals, the sheer allure of the Nine Luminaries Life Tree meant these peak experts of the Eight Trigrams Heaven from other continents would not let him go—especially since he had previously disrupted their plans.

According to the ancient tree, he must rely on his own power to bring the Nine Luminaries Life Tree back to the Five Elements Continent. This meant he would inevitably encounter the masters still lingering in the Celestial Apertures.

Including Aunt Shang Bing, there were seven peak experts of the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm. These seven hailed from other continents, each possessing strength and cultivation equivalent to his own. How could he slip away unnoticed under the observation of seven such powerful figures?

His first thought was to conceal the Nine Luminaries Life Tree, to mask the aura emanating from it. If those experts couldn't sense the tree's presence, their fervor in pursuit would surely diminish, perhaps preventing them from leaving the Celestial Apertures in the first place. With this in mind, within the Sea of Celestial Fire, he began attempting to use his power to conceal the Nine Luminaries Life Tree. Streams of mental energy condensed, forming a barrier around the tree, trying to use spiritual force to obstruct others' soul exploration.

However, he discovered that whenever he did this, the mere slightest release of the Nine Luminaries Life Tree’s aura would cause the entire Sea of Celestial Fire to churn violently. The mental energy he used to cloak the tree was instantly shattered.

The Nine Luminaries Life Tree and the Sea of Celestial Fire seemed linked by some unbreakable bond; no external force could impede the interaction between them. The notion of hiding the Nine Luminaries Life Tree proved entirely unfeasible within the Sea of Celestial Fire.

Since he could not suppress the tree's aura, he knew that relying on his own strength alone, he stood little chance against the seven experts. This left him with only one viable strategy: leave the Sea of Celestial Fire as swiftly as possible, so fast that the seven experts wouldn't have time to react!

He had entered the Sea of Celestial Fire via a Celestial Aperture, meaning he must exit the same way. The moment he carried the Nine Luminaries Life Tree into a Flame Passage, the seven masters would certainly detect him. He would have to plunge into the Celestial Aperture at that exact instant and immediately depart, without the slightest hesitation.

A series of thoughts flashed through his mind, and Ji Changkong silently resolved to pursue the second method. Finally, he neared the region of the Sea of Celestial Fire that encircled the Eight Great Celestial Apertures. He secretly gathered his spiritual energy, cautiously releasing a few wisps of soul-thought, attempting to penetrate the central region near the edge of the Sea of Celestial Fire to investigate the changes there.

The massive explosion originating from the center of the Sea of Celestial Fire must be over. The defense of the Eight Great Celestial Apertures, which had been intensified tenfold, should now be gone. Those inside the Apertures should all be able to emerge now. At this point, if Shang Bingjie had not absorbed the power within her own Aperture, she would surely be facing the relentless entanglement of the other six experts. Perhaps Shang Bingjie had already left her Aperture?

Thinking this, he sent his first thread of soul consciousness toward Shang Bingjie's Celestial Aperture, wanting to first ascertain the situation there.

He had previously destroyed Shang Bingjie's Flame Passage. He needed confirmation that everything was stable on her end. Upon reaching that area with his soul consciousness, he detected no sign of Shang Bingjie’s aura, nor any Flame Passage. It seemed that area was clear of incident. His soul consciousness shifted, flying toward the Flame Passage he had originally used.

"It’s you?" Shang Bingjie’s thought suddenly emanated from that Celestial Aperture. "What are you doing here? Why... why did you only come to save me just now?"

Ji Changkong was greatly alarmed. "You—how are you in my Celestial Aperture?"

"Your Celestial Aperture and mine have merged. The Apertures of the other six have also merged in pairs. This merging might continue with other Apertures later," Shang Bingjie’s soul-thought was chillingly imperious. "Why, why did you save me just then?"

Ji Changkong nearly cried out. He hadn't expected the Celestial Apertures to merge at this critical time, and that the process was apparently ongoing!

How he answered Shang Bingjie now could significantly affect his next move. Ji Changkong immediately became serious. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to lie.

"I... I think I've fallen in love with you!"

[The following is extraneous note content, not part of the polished narrative and therefore excluded as per instruction.]