"Dragon-Qilin!"
Lina the Spirit Fox called out, and the Dragon-Qilin, realizing the urgency, quickly shook his body and revealed his true form, transforming into a giant beast. Lynn Ling and Serena Yunxiang leapt onto the Dragon-Qilin's back. Crystal Blaze hurriedly said, "They're in my Sun-Herder Clan's Sun Temple. Head that way—the tallest and grandest temple is the one!"
The Dragon-Qilin immediately surged forward, racing toward the site of the next Sun Warden selection.
When they arrived at the Sun Temple, they saw the doors marked with the emblem of the three-legged bird, the bird set within a sun motif. Two giant Sun-Herders stood on either side of the entrance, each leaning on a ceremonial axe, blocking their way. These were adult members of the Sun-Herder Clan, towering and imposing. Their axes crossed in the center, barring passage.
"Outsiders, halt!"
The two Sun-Herders wore stern expressions and intoned, "This is the sacred temple—no outsiders may trespass!"
Lina the Spirit Fox hopped down and said, "It was your Sun Warden who sent us! Go notify your clan chief—something major is happening!"
"Wait here!"
One of the Sun-Herders immediately turned and pushed open the temple doors, entering the hall. After a moment, he reemerged and said courteously, "The clan chief invites you in to observe the ceremony."
They entered the temple and immediately felt dwarfed by their surroundings. Giants of the Sun-Herder Clan filled the hall, their towering forms so immense that the newcomers barely reached their ankles as they walked among them.
But the vision was fleeting, vanishing in a blink.
Lina looked across to where the old Sun-Herder clan chief and several white-haired elders were watching the trials below. Feeling a stir in her heart, she flew straight over.
One elder said, "A pure yang body is hard to find. In the past, we had Crystal Blaze, who held out for ten years. If we can't find another pure yang body, I'm afraid tonight will be the day the Sunwell falls."
The elders all looked worried. Without a pure yang body, it's impossible to withstand the terrifying, overwhelming power of the Solar Ark. Even if someone forced control, they'd soon be burned to death!
"Pure yang bodies are truly rare."
The old clan chief sighed, "If we can't find one, I'll take command of the Solar Ark myself and fight those otherworldly demon gods to the death!"
His constitution wasn't a pure yang body, but his cultivation was deep enough to last a while longer.
Below, one youth after another tried to ignite the Sun Furnace, but all failed, leaving the elders grim-faced.
Lynn Ling and the others arrived at the old clan chief's position. He raised a slab of green stone from beneath their feet, lifting them and the Dragon-Qilin up to witness the ceremony.
"Chief, the Human Emperor Qin is helping you relight the sun. If the sun ignites, he might be burned to ashes!"
Lynn Ling hurriedly said, "Chief, please go help the Human Emperor!"
She was clever enough to realize that no other identity would persuade the Sun-Herder chief, so she directly invoked Qin Mu's Human Emperor title.
The old chief shook his head. "He can't possibly ignite the sun. That sun is already extinguished—it would take a pure-yang fire god to relight it. Don't worry; not only can young Qin not ignite it, he can't even get close. It's far too hot, even as an extinguished sun. Its power is extraordinary. Watch."
He raised his hand, his arm long as a flying bridge, pointing steadily downward. "For our Sun-Herder selection, only those born pure-yang can use their blood and true fire to ignite the Sun Furnace. The Sun Furnace is just an ordinary treasure—if it's this hard to light, igniting the sun is even more impossible."
Lynn Ling retorted, "The Human Emperor Qin has a divine eye. Maybe he really can..."
The old chief cut her off. "We've tried many divine eyes and divine blood over the years to ignite the sun, but every attempt has failed. Enough—just observe the ceremony."
Lynn Ling grew angry. "We're here to help you relight the sun, pouring our hearts into it, and you refuse to help. Aren't you afraid the Sun-Herders will break our hearts?"
The old chief fixed her with a serious look. "It's not that our Sun-Herder Clan is heartless. We must choose the next Sun Warden. Once the sun sets, darkness will invade, and that's when the Sun Warden's soul returns to the Solar Ark—she can't hold out any longer. Without a Sun Warden, our clan can't resist the evil gods. The Moon-Herders are extinct—if we fall too, and the demon gods seize the Great Ruins, do you think the world outside can withstand them? Choosing the next Sun Warden is critical!"
Lynn Ling and the others arrived at the old clan chief's position. He raised a slab of green stone from beneath their feet, lifting them and the Dragon-Qilin up to witness the ceremony.
Lynn Ling was stunned.
Lynn Ling hurriedly said, "Chief, please go help the Human Emperor!"
She was clever enough to realize that no other identity would persuade the Sun-Herder chief, so she directly invoked Qin Mu's Human Emperor title.
The old chief shook his head. "He can't possibly ignite the sun. That sun is already extinguished—it would take a pure-yang fire god to relight it. Don't worry; not only can young Qin not ignite it, he can't even get close. It's far too hot, even as an extinguished sun. Its power is extraordinary. Watch."
He raised his hand, his arm long as a flying bridge, pointing steadily downward. "For our Sun-Herder selection, only those born pure-yang can use their blood and true fire to ignite the Sun Furnace. The Sun Furnace is just an ordinary treasure—if it's this hard to light, igniting the sun is even more impossible."
Lynn Ling retorted, "The Human Emperor Qin has a divine eye. Maybe he really can..."
The old chief cut her off. "We've tried many divine eyes and divine blood over the years to ignite the sun, but every attempt has failed. Enough—just observe the ceremony."
Lynn Ling grew angry. "We're here to help you relight the sun, pouring our hearts into it, and you refuse to help. Aren't you afraid the Sun-Herders will break our hearts?"
The old chief fixed her with a serious look. "It's not that our Sun-Herder Clan is heartless. We must choose the next Sun Warden. Once the sun sets, darkness will invade, and that's when the Sun Warden's soul returns to the Solar Ark—she can't hold out any longer. Without a Sun Warden, our clan can't resist the evil gods. The Moon-Herders are extinct—if we fall too, and the demon gods seize the Great Ruins, do you think the world outside can withstand them? Choosing the next Sun Warden is critical!"
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Lynn Ling was stunned.
Serena Yunxiang sneered, "Even if you choose the next Sun Warden, what then? They'll just die in the Solar Ark, consumed and assimilated by it, won't they?"
The old chief replied solemnly, "To die defending our clan and the Great Ruins is a worthy death."
An elder nearby said, "Don't worry, young friends. Young Qin will be fine. He can't approach that black sun and will retreat when he realizes it."
The other elders nodded, but suddenly a vast surge of energy swept over them. The old chief and the elders' faces changed dramatically as they leapt to their feet in shock. "This wave—it's the extinguished sun! Oh no! Young Qin!"
Boom!
The old chief and elders shot into the sky, smashing a huge hole in the majestic Sun Temple as they burst out. Lina shouted, and Dragon-Qilin immediately carried them up through the hole, flying out of the temple to look skyward.
The sunlight was blinding.
The black sun had vanished, replaced by a brilliant yellow-white sun pouring out waves of heat.
"Will he be all right?"
Lina quickly had Dragon-Qilin fly toward the sun, and Lynn Ling anxiously urged them on. Serena Yunxiang was overjoyed, "Finally, I'll be a beautiful widow..."
As they flew into the air, Dragon-Qilin suddenly veered toward the pillars below. The group was startled and looked down, spotting two figures on the ground along with several flood dragons.
Dragon-Qilin landed, and the three girls hurriedly jumped off, finding Qin Mu pulling a thin, frail girl out of the Solar Ark and laying her flat on the ground.
Lynn Ling rushed forward, "Cowherd, you..."
"Shh."
Qin Mu raised a finger and whispered, "She's fainted. I'm pretty good at treating girls—became famous as a divine doctor in Flower Alley."
Lynn Ling pinched him hard under his arm, complaining, "You had us worried sick!"
Qin Mu smiled. "I told you, there's no danger. Open!"
Array patterns spun in his eyes as he activated the Celestial Eye, then summoned a flood dragon with the Dragon Command technique. It landed on his shoulder, its body coiling around his waist.
Qin Mu borrowed the dragon's qi, his cultivation surging. More array patterns appeared in his pupils as he activated the Ninefold Celestial Eye to examine Crystal Blaze's body.
After a moment, he ended the Dragon Command technique, the patterns fading from his eyes. The flood dragon, however, remained comfortably perched on his shoulder.
"Maha." The flood dragon yawned, drowsy and sleepy.
Lina quickly ran over, grabbed Qin Mu's sleeve, and climbed up. "Down! Go sleep somewhere else—this is my spot!"
The flood dragon reluctantly slithered down.
Lina sat on Qin Mu's shoulder, swinging her feet, her snowy tail swaying proudly behind her.
Qin Mu pondered for a moment. "Lina, I'll recite the prescription, you fetch the herbs."
Lina replied, then transformed from a little girl into a fox, darting into his glutton pouch. Qin Mu recited the names of herbs, and whirlwinds inside the pouch lifted the medicines out.
Lynn Ling noticed their teamwork and felt a pang of jealousy toward the little fox. She glanced at Serena Yunxiang and joked, "No more beautiful widow for you."
Serena Yunxiang grinned, "With how the cult master plays around, he'll get himself killed sooner or later. Plenty of chances to be a beautiful widow."
Qin Mu refined several batches of spirit pills, gave some to the unconscious Crystal Blaze, and sorted the rest. Just then, the old chief and elders flew over from the sun, calling out, "Couldn't find young Qin—he's probably been burned to ashes..."
Before they finished speaking, they saw Qin Mu.
The elders could not hide their shock. Qin Mu finished sorting the pills. "Lina, give her a dose morning and night. Chief, mission accomplished."
The old chief suppressed his excitement and asked, "Young Qin, how did you ignite the sun? And how did you survive?"
Qin Mu smiled, "It was simple. I used the Dragon Command technique to borrow the power of several fire flood dragons, then cranked the Solar Jade Eye to its maximum and threw it into the black sun. The sun was ignited."
He spoke lightly, but the old chief knew how much Qin Mu had sacrificed. The treasure capable of igniting the black sun was extraordinary, and Qin Mu parted with it without hesitation.
He felt deep guilt; Qin Mu was so selfless, while earlier he himself had refused to help. The contrast left him ashamed.
"Crystal needs a few days' rest. Her body is too depleted—my spirit medicine only helps her recover some energy."
Qin Mu's expression grew serious. "Her life force is badly drained—it's hard to restore. I can only stabilize her for now, so it doesn't worsen."
The old chief breathed a sigh of relief. "Saving her life is already a great kindness. And you helped our Sun-Herder Clan reignite the sun—such a favor can never be repaid. Qin, Crystal is still unconscious, and we must choose a new Sun Warden to resist tonight's demon god invasion. Please come observe the ceremony... No!"
Qin Mu touched one of the pillars. The old chief's face changed and he tried to stop him, but was too late—Qin Mu's hand was already on the pillar's surface.
Instantly, a surge of energy erupted, roaring toward Qin Mu. He shouted in fury as true fire blazed around him, his body growing larger, and his other arm grabbed another pillar involuntarily.
His muscles and body swelled, two more arms sprouting from his sides and gripping the other pillars with a snap. In an instant, he transformed into a deity bathed in true solar fire!
Waves of divine might surged like crashing tides from all directions, making it feel as if they stood amidst a stormy sea.
The old chief shielded Lina, Lynn Ling, and the others, staring dazedly up at the hundred-zhang giant. Suddenly, he snapped out of it and dropped to one knee.
He bowed his head. "Your Highness."
The elders behind him also dropped to one knee, lowering their heads. "Your Highness."
Lynn Ling, Serena Yunxiang, and the others were confused, but saw the Sun-Herder giants silently approach the pillars and kneel one by one.
"Your Highness," they said.
Serena Yunxiang leaned close to Lynn Ling and whispered, "Princess Lynn, looks like the cowherd's status is even higher than yours..."