My Golden Core is a Star, do you call this cultivating?

The Moonlight Banquet was one of the most joyous and festive occasions in the Moon God Palace.

A birthday after ten thousand years was certainly something to celebrate for cultivators.

In the mortal world, such events would be marked by fireworks, red decorations lining the streets for miles. In the cultivation world, these celebrations were even more resplendent.

Lantern trees lit with a thousand lights, and firework blossoms flaring in seven radiant branches.

That night, the Moon God Palace, typically shrouded in darkness, was as bright as daylight.

Occasionally, streams of light streaked through the sky as cultivators from other battle zones arrived, dressed in wide-sleeved robes and carrying gifts, adding to the lively atmosphere.

The host of the Moonlight Banquet, wearing a red gauze-like coat with a sapphire blue inner garment, radiated both joy and nobility.

She sat at the head of the hall, her face adorned with a constant smile.

“Please extend my thanks to Warden Hong Jun!”

The recent guest, who had brought a gift, was the younger brother of Warden Hong Jun.

A Warden was the highest authority in a region of the Devil Abyss, second only to a Yang God. Wardens would rarely leave their territories unless there were special circumstances.

For Yu Yao, the host of the Moonlight Banquet, the fact that Warden Hong Jun had sent his brother with a gift was an undeniable display of honor.

“Out of the nineteen territories' Wardens, half have already sent someone to congratulate you. Sister Yu Yao, you are truly enviable!”

“If I held a Moonlight Banquet for my birthday, I bet no one would come. Even the Wardens wouldn’t bother sending anyone.”

Inside and outside the halls of the Moon God Palace, the hum of conversation and laughter filled the air.

Many couldn’t help but look at Yu Yao with undisguised envy.

In a quiet corner, under the soft moonlight, the atmosphere was calmer and more reserved.

Yue Shuang glanced at the woman beside her, “When you hold your Moonlight Banquet, it will certainly be ten times, no, a hundred times livelier than this.”

The woman remained silent, calm, and composed.

Yue Shuang looked at her again and couldn’t help but compliment her, “With just a little bit of dressing up, you’re already outshining everyone here. You better not go congratulate Yu Yao. Otherwise, she might curse you out of jealousy.”

Perhaps because it was her birthday, or due to Yue Shuang’s coaxing, Jinli had, for once, changed out of her plain robes.

Her snow-white complexion was touched with light makeup, her hair pinned with a golden clasp, making her appear delicate and charming.

She wore a pale gold long gown, draped with a sheer yellow shawl, with a lotus-colored inner garment underneath. Her waist was cinched by a Redbird Jade Belt, with Linglong Jade Xi hanging elegantly, and her skirt was embroidered with intricate gold thread designs.

Her ample chest contrasted sharply with her slender waist.

Her elegant features, lightly made up, made her seem like a celestial beauty.

“This… isn’t suitable for battle,” the woman, with beauty like flowers reflected in the water, said, her voice tinged with a faint murderous intent.

Seeing this, Yue Shuang couldn’t help but comment, “Among all the Moon Maidens, you have the fewest admirers. With that killing intent, you scare everyone off.”

Although Moon Maidens were forbidden from marriage, they still had many admirers.

If there was a brief moment of intimacy, the Moon God Palace would turn a blind eye.

Jinli remained unfazed, sitting quietly, gently stroking her Linglong Jade Xi.

The birthday celebrations continued, and more people arrived.

At this point, Great Sovereigns no longer drew much attention. Only when a Myth arrived did people take notice.

“Zheg Gui congratulates Senior Sister and offers three strands of Innate Primal Qi as a gift, wishing Senior Sister a swift ascension to the Star Realm (illuminating the heavens)!”

At that moment, a Mythical female cultivator presented her gift, drawing the attention of many lower-level Yin Gods.

But among the honored guests, this gift seemed rather ordinary.

Yu Yao’s eyes sparkled as she smiled and responded, “Thank you, Junior Sister. May you also reach the Star Realm soon.”

Zheg Gui smiled gracefully and exchanged a few polite words.

This scene did not escape Yue Shuang’s notice, and her eyes flashed with suspicion.

“There’s something wrong with her…”

“Hm?” Jinli asked, surprised.

“I’ve heard rumors that she’s thinking of betraying us. She might be planning to escape the Moon God Palace today and join the Devil Abyss,” Yue Shuang said calmly.

Unlike Jinli, Yue Shuang belonged to a covert squad specializing in intelligence.

“Interested in intercepting her and her contact?” Yue Shuang asked. “It would be a great accomplishment.”

Since they were still in the Moon God Palace, as long as Zheg Gui didn’t escape, nothing could go wrong.

With the Youhuang Remnant Moon and Longyue Yang God overseeing the area, it was safe.

Traitors like Zheg Gui existed not only in the Moon God Palace but also in the Devil Abyss.

“Sure,” Jinli nodded.

“Making you work on your birthday… maybe I’m a bit heartless,” Yue Shuang joked.

Above, the crowd continued to fill the stage, laughter abounding.

In the corner, Jinli seemed to be in a world apart from the lively celebration.

“Sigh, you should be living the grand life like Yu Yao,” Yue Shuang lamented.

After all, Jinli was a Moon Maiden, holding a highly respected position in the Moon God Palace, ranked above even Yang Gods.

Other Moon Maidens, even without a Moonlight Banquet, would still receive countless guests for their birthdays. Those who couldn’t attend in person would send letters and gifts.

But as the day wore on, no one had come to offer Jinli a single gift or letter.

Yue Shuang, who was in charge of the intelligence department, had not received any mail for Jinli.

She understood why. Jinli had spent almost all her time in the Devil Abyss after returning, fighting hard for battle achievements, rarely interacting with her peers.

This was why she had few visitors.

“None of that matters,” Jinli said, shaking her head.

These things had never been important to her.

“You…” Yue Shuang sighed, then said, “Let’s go, follow her.”

Zheg Gui had already left.

“Alright.”

Both of them concealed their presence and left the lively Moonlight Banquet.

The Moon God Palace remained bustling, with vibrant lights everywhere.

However, it didn’t feel overwhelming.

“She’s definitely up to something, sneaking around like that,” Yue Shuang said, excitement gleaming in her eyes.

Catching a traitor, especially a Myth-level one, was a significant achievement.

Moon Maiden Jinli and Yue Shuang followed Zheg Gui from a distance, their presence completely hidden.

“A Myth choosing to betray us... What a shame,” Yue Shuang lamented. “I wonder who she’s meeting—a Great Sovereign, or another Myth?”

In the dim moonlight, the two Moon Maidens followed closely behind Zheg Gui, their expressions calm.

"Hopefully, it's a strong one," Jinli said.

The stronger the opponent, the greater the battle achievement.

“Agreed,” Yue Shuang chuckled.

This was the Moon God Palace's territory, so even if they encountered an enemy they couldn’t defeat, they could easily escape.

They continued to follow Zheg Gui for several thousand miles.

The noise and color of the Moon God Palace had long faded, replaced by an eerie silence and the cold moonlight.

Finally, Zheg Gui stopped by a lakeside.

Suddenly, Yue Shuang’s eyes widened in surprise, “Wait, she’s not alone?”

Ahead, a figure cloaked entirely in black appeared. Judging by the figure’s build, it seemed to be a woman.

Yue Shuang’s expression turned cautious.

“A Myth,” Jinli said, her brows furrowed slightly.

“Who is she? A Myth from Absolute Moon Abyss?” Yue Shuang wondered, trying to figure out the identity of the black-robed figure.

The black-cloaked woman and Zheg Gui stood by the lake, seemingly exchanging words.

At that moment, Yue Shuang’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh, it seems someone else remembers your birthday after all. You’ve received a letter.”

Yue Shuang was in charge of the intelligence department of the Devil Abyss.

Any mail from the outside world would pass through her specialized network.

Just moments ago, she had received a batch of letters.

One of them was addressed to Jinli.

“Oh.” Jinli continued to focus on the black-robed woman, her brow furrowed.

After all, there weren’t many Myths in the Absolute Moon Abyss. The thought of betrayal left her uneasy.

As for the letter... she didn’t think much of it.

As Yue Shuang had mentioned, she was a Moon Maiden. It was only natural for people to send her greetings on her birthday.

“Shall I open it?” Yue Shuang asked.

For cultivators like them, multitasking was a simple matter.

Jinli’s expression remained calm and composed, showing no reaction.

“Hm, interesting… seems like someone you know from the Second Heaven sent it. The letter took three years to arrive,” Yue Shuang remarked, clearly surprised.

The letter had been held at an earlier checkpoint and was supposed to be delivered to Jinli on July 17th.

Under the moonlight, Jinli’s heart skipped a beat.

Yue Shuang extracted the contents of the message and placed them into a jade slip, handing it to Jinli.

“Take a look—it seems to be a technique of some kind.”

“Someone sending a technique from the Second Heaven to the Sixth Heaven... how curious.”

A ripple seemed to appear in Jinli’s usually calm eyes. She felt a mix of anticipation and fear.

Her slender hand reached for the jade slip.

The words of the Bridal Knight from long ago echoed in her ears once more:

“In the past, I did not see you, and sorrow clung to me like layers of snow, heavy and deep through the ages.

“Today, I do not see you, and my eyes long for you as if gazing at dewdrops, intoxicated by the passage of time.

“In the future, when I see you, I will not regret our late reunion, nor resent the fleetingness of our time together.”

“To meet you…”

The name of the technique was none other than To Meet You.

In that instant, Jinli’s eyes filled with mist.

By the shores of July Lake, the figure of the Faceless Sword God, fishing in the winter snow, appeared in her mind.

He had always been waiting for her.

At that time, she hadn’t even met him.

And he hadn’t recognized that the small Moon Maiden he had been waiting for was the one he had long sought.

Jinli clutched the jade slip tightly.

Just from the name of the technique, she knew, without a doubt, that it was from him.

He was alive!

He had come to meet her!

He was in the Second Heaven!

Overwhelmed with joy, she anxiously turned to Yue Shuang, her voice pleading, “I need to go to the Second Heaven!”

She couldn’t bear to stay in the Sixth Heaven for another moment.

Yue Shuang’s smile froze. She seemed to realize something, “Is it from him?”

She didn’t want her dear friend to leave the Moon God Palace.

"Let's handle this first... wait—something's wrong."

Suddenly, Yue Shuang’s face turned ashen.

Because the black-robed Myth had removed her hood, revealing a face that was all too familiar.

"The Deputy Warden!"

This woman was none other than the Deputy Warden of Absolute Moon Abyss, a Myth who held partial control over the Youhuang Remnant Moon.

The betrayal of a Deputy Warden was vastly different from that of a regular Myth.

Yue Shuang's heart sank like a stone, her face turning pale as she muttered, “The Youhuang Remnant Moon... has been disabled here!”

She understood all too well what this meant.

It meant that if Devil Abyss Myths arrived, the Yang Gods of Absolute Moon Abyss wouldn’t have time to react.

Such an opportunity would never be missed by the Devil Abyss.

She could feel a powerful conspiracy unfolding, filled with regret.

They shouldn’t have followed Zheg Gui!

The Yang God of Absolute Moon Abyss had surely already arrived here.

Jinli frowned, but her hands were still unconsciously clutching the hem of her robe, showing that she was far from calm.

“What should we do?” Yue Shuang asked, panic in her voice.

Even if they tried to send a message now, it was too late.

Just then, a cold wind swept through, and Yue Shuang felt a chilling frost.

It was as though pear blossoms were blooming in the air.

Snowflakes began to fall, and as she looked up, under the moonlight, the snowflakes sparkled, delicate as if a classical beauty was dancing.

Yue Shuang stood in stunned silence, her nerves tightening.

At the far end of the world, where the snow fell even heavier, a figure clad in blood-red appeared.

He cradled a sword in his arms, his face hidden behind a faceless mask, snowflakes drifting onto his shoulders and blending into his black hair.

The two Myths by the lakeside immediately bowed low, not daring to meet the figure’s eyes.

Yue Shuang clenched her teeth, feeling an overwhelming sense of danger.

A Yang God!

This was definitely a Yang God!

They were doomed...

But before she could process further, the figure beside her, cloaked in pale yellow, rushed toward the faceless man, snow swirling around her as she ran.

Fearlessly, without hesitation, crossing every obstacle.

Yue Shuang’s face froze in disbelief for a moment.

Under the swirling snowflakes, the man in the blood-red robe stopped.

“I have returned from Death, waiting long for you.”

His voice was deep, filled with complexity and longing.

Yue Shuang felt as if she were witnessing a vision, seeing the faceless man holding a sword, sitting by the lake, waiting for someone.

Time passed, the Old Trees at July Lake growing more rings on their trunks.

The man in the blood-red robe wore a gentle expression as he gazed at the snow-covered beauty, her movements like a butterfly’s dance.

He knew that this was the Moon Maiden Jinli, the one he had waited for by July Lake all that time.

Their long-ago promise, transcending time and space, was now within reach. Yet it felt like a dream—so close, yet so far.

“Qi! Yuan!!!”

Moon Maiden Jinli stopped, her eyes brimming with tears, halting just three steps away.

She trembled, both in fear and disbelief, as if caught in a dream.

But the man in the blood-red robe removed his mask, revealing a stunningly handsome yet faintly familiar face.

His features were as fine as jade, unparalleled in beauty.

He held his sword, honoring their promise, stepping toward Moon Maiden Jinli.

“To see you dance is like drinking fine wine.”

The words seemed to echo the second sentence he had once spoken to her.

“Today, I do not see you, and my eyes long for you as if gazing at dewdrops, intoxicated by the passage of time.

“Today, I see your figure, and it is like drinking fine wine.”

In Jinli’s vision, there was only him—her one and only.

Her body trembled, her shoulders shaking, and the overwhelming longing she had buried deep within her heart surged forth like a tidal wave.

“Jinli, I’ve finally seen you.”

Qi Yuan gazed at the woman before him, lifting his sleeve to reveal his pale arm.

On what had once been smooth skin, a faint crescent moon-shaped mark was slowly reappearing.

It was the mark left by the Moon Maiden.

After defeating the Outer Demons in the Absolute Death Realm, Qi Yuan had woken to find the mark had vanished.

Now, it had returned.

Jinli stood still, staring at his face.

Even dressed in the more elegant pale yellow gown, she exuded a chilling aura.

“Qi Yuan, I’ve been waiting for you too!”

She reached out and gently cupped Qi Yuan’s face, just as she had once held the faceless statue in the ruined temple.

In that moment, time and space became one, their forms overlapping through the years.

Life unseen is like stars moving apart, far yet close.

Finally, she had met him.