Having stabilized his cultivation level, Minghe bowed deeply to Qing Huan once more, this time with greater respect and sincerity than ever before.
"I will never forget your Minghe, elder brother!"
Only now do I truly understand that following Qing Huan was perhaps the most correct choice I've ever made.
At that moment, Qing Huan sensed something and his gaze pierced through endless space, looking towards the demon race's Heavenly Court above the Thirty-Three Heavens.
A rich life force intertwined with the scorching heat of the Solar True Fire, permeating the Primordial Wilderness.
"Oh? The time has come."
Qing Huan muttered to himself, then said to the Minghe:
"You should consolidate your cultivation level carefully; I need to make my way to the Heavenly Court."
Having said that, without waiting for Minghe's response, his figure had already vanished on the shore of the Blood Sea.
In the Heavenly Court, behind the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, a magnificent palace filled with the essence of the Greater Yang and the Greater Yin was now overflowing with joy.
The ten golden crows, the beloved sons of the Demon Emperor Di Jun and the Taiyin Goddess Chang Xi, were born, carrying the hopes of the demon race.
Ten fluffy, golden three-legged crow chicks fluttered their wings and uttered clear, melodious chirps in their nest, which was filled with soft spiritual herbs and divine jade.
The Solar True Fire emanating from them, though still very weak, was incomparably pure and contained boundless potential.
Di Jun and Chang Xi stood to one side, their faces beaming with the happiness and pride of becoming parents for the first time. Eastern Emperor Taiyi and a group of important demon officials also came to offer their congratulations, and the entire Heavenly Court was filled with jubilation.
Qing Huan appeared silently inside the hall.
"Fellow Daoist Qing Huan!"
When Di Jun and Tai Yi saw him, they quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.
Chang Xi also held ten little ones and bowed slightly.
"No need for such formalities."
Qing Huan smiled and his gaze fell on the little golden crows.
"Congratulations to you both, the demon race has worthy successors."
He stepped forward and patted the heads of the ten little golden crows one by one.
The little ones seemed to like Qing Huan's friendly and natural aura. Instead of being afraid, they affectionately rubbed their beaks against his fingers and chirped.
"Uncle..."
One of the stronger little golden crows even let out a muffled cry, which made Di Jun Chang Xi burst into laughter.
Qing Huan smiled, but a thought stirred within her.
Looking at these innocent and adorable little lives, what surfaced in my mind was the original trajectory of fate—the earth-shattering tragedy that led to the fall of nine golden crows, Kuafu Chases the Sun, and Hou Yi Shoots the Suns. Ten Suns Across the Sky, causing widespread suffering and ultimately becoming one of the triggers for the full-scale outbreak of the Witch-Demon War, accelerating the decline of the Demon race.
Now that he is here, and Di Jun and Tai Yi, and these little golden crows even call him "uncle," how could he sit idly by and watch tragedy repeat itself?
"This is the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricots, containing the power of wind and thunder, which is beneficial for them to temper their bloodlines and control the Solar True Fire."
Qing Huan took out twenty spiritual fruits imbued with the aura of wind and thunder, and distributed two fruits to each of the ten little golden crows.
The little creatures instinctively sensed the benefits of the Immortal Apricot and happily began to peck at them, their golden light intensifying, accompanied by the faint sounds of wind and thunder.
Upon seeing this, Di Jun and Tai Yi smiled with satisfaction.
At this moment, Di Jun spoke:
"I intend to settle the children in Tanggu Valley, where Greater Yang rises and its essence is most concentrated, making it the most suitable place for them to grow."
Tanggu Valley?
Qing Huan frowned almost imperceptibly.
Sure enough, the original inertia remained.
"Fellow Di Jun, this matter is inappropriate."
Qing Huan directly voiced his opposition.
"Oh? What insightful opinion do you have, fellow Daoist?"
Di Jun was taken aback and quickly asked for guidance. Tai Yi also looked over.
Qing Huan's expression was serious:
"Although Tanggu Valley is a good place, it is located in the east, close to the territory of the Witch Clan, and is not an absolutely safe place."
The ten children were young, their minds were not yet settled, and they lacked control over their own Solar True Fire.
If they were to play together, causing the Solar True Fire to go out of control, resulting in ten suns rising simultaneously and scorching the earth, what kind of calamity would that cause? This is one example."
After a pause, he continued:
"Secondly, the conflict between the Witch and Demon and demons is intensifying. If the Witch Clan learn that ten future demon Crown Prince have gathered in Tanggu Valley, it's hard to guarantee that someone won't take the risk of launching a sneak attack, or that someone might secretly use supernatural powers to bewitch them. In that case, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Upon hearing this, Di Jun and Tai Yi's expressions also turned serious.
Previously, only the suitable environment of Tanggu Valley was considered, but safety and the potential disasters were overlooked.
Qing Huan's words were all reasonable, especially the possibility of "ten suns appearing at the same time," which was terrifying just to think about.
"Then, in your opinion, what should we do?" Di Jun humbly asked for guidance.
Qing Huan raised his hand, pointing to the enormous celestial body hanging in the Above the Nine Heavens, radiating endless light and heat:
"The safest place is none other than their birthplace— the Solar Star!"
"The Solar Star?"
Both Di Jun and Tai Yi were taken aback.
The environment of the Solar Star is extremely harsh; unless one's true form is an Innate Deities three-legged golden crow, it would be difficult to remain in the core for an extended period.
"Good."
Qing Huan affirmed.
"The Solar Star was transformed from Pangu's left eye. It is the source of the ultimate Primordial Wilderness and strength in the primordial world, and the head of All the Stars in the Heavens."
There, the purest Solar Law provide protection; those without the bloodline of the Golden Crow or the permission of the Star Lord cannot penetrate its core.
Placing the children in the core region of the Solar Star would allow them to grow faster by harnessing the most primal power, while also isolating them from most external threats—a foolproof strategy.
Di Jun and Tai Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing the interest in each other's eyes.
Indeed, where could be safer or more suitable for the Golden Crow to grow than the Solar Star itself?
"However... the core laws of the Solar Star are violent and require a powerful array to protect them. This array must not only protect the children from the impact of these violent laws but also prevent their power from leaking out unintentionally and causing a great disaster."
Tai Yi raised a crucial question.
"This is easy."
Qing Huan smiled calmly and took out the Innate Eight Trigrams Disk, Innate Spiritual Treasure he had obtained from Fuxi and which he had refined and perfected.
"I then used this Innate Eight Trigrams Disk as a foundation, drew upon the primordial power of the Solar Star, and combined it with the wonders of the All the Stars in the Heavens's rotation to set up a 'Solar True Fire Sealing Array'!"
Having said that, Qing Huan took a step forward and arrived on the surface of the Solar Star.
The blazing flames were enough to melt an ordinary Golden Immortal, yet they could not get within three zhang of him.
The Innate Eight Trigrams Disk Chaos was activated, and instantly, the illusory images of the eight trigrams—Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui—soared into the sky, rapidly expanding and resonating with the entire Solar Star of the All the Stars in the Heavens!
As if guided, the boundless Greater Yang essence fire transformed into countless golden runes, surging into the Bagua plate. Through the transformation of the Bagua plate, it outlined incomparably complex and profound array patterns, deeply imprinted on the core area of Solar Star.
Qing Huan formed hand seals, chanted incantations, and drew upon his profound understanding of the laws of heaven and earth.
The array patterns intertwine to form an invisible barrier. The interior is as warm as spring, suitable for young golden crows to inhabit and grow, while the exterior is extremely sturdy, drawing upon the power of the entire Solar Star for protection. It is impenetrable by anyone but Sage.
At the same time, the formation can also lock in the Solar True Fire that the little golden crows unconsciously emit, preventing it from easily spreading to the Primordial Earth.