There shall never again be night in the world.

The Candle Dragon keeps the sun from setting, eternally illuminating this celestial realm.

If this continues, the entire world would become a terrifying purgatory.

This spell consumes a great deal of energy, as it requires maintaining an additional six hours.

But this also provides a better opportunity for him to comprehend the Innate Yang Qi Dao.

There are advantages as well as disadvantages.

Additionally, he can suppress the Wushan Heavenly Court—a strategy that hits two birds with one stone.

The next day, the sun did not set.

The mortal world descended into chaos.

Rumors spread among the people, claiming that Emperor Chu had angered the heavens, and punishment would soon follow.

Instantly, remnants from the six kingdoms instigated numerous rebellions, while the barbarians at the borders, who held close ties with demon beasts, also revolted.

The Chu Country erupted into war flames; the armies ceased expansion and instead busied themselves with quelling uprisings. Coupled with the vast territory, in some regions there were even signs of fragmentation.

In thirty years since its founding, Chu Country suddenly transitioned from a golden age into a period of turbulence.

The Emperor felt even the era name was unlucky, so he changed it from Long Han to Kaihuang.

This year marked the first year of Kaihuang.

But such mysticism in era names could not salvage Chu Country's decline.

Human woes may have been resolved, and external conflicts suppressed, but now celestial phenomena posed an even greater challenge.

The sun had not receded for half a year.

Although the Wushan Heavenly Court held its ground, vegetation visibly decreased, and most of the kingdom's lands began transforming into desert.

The court could only continually migrate its populace.

Beyond environmental concerns, there were issues with people's daily routines, their physical health, and mental well-being.

In summary, if things continued as they were, extinction was merely a matter of time.

Thinking of this, the Emperor gazed at the sky, secretly pondering.

The only hope rested with the Wushan Heavenly Court.

At that moment, within the Palace of the Polestar.

"Eastern King! I truly have no mana left."

Xiangg Jun and Lady Xiangg spoke weakly.

The rains over recent days had been summoned by them, but as the rivers dried up, their powers grew increasingly feeble, until they had almost no mana left.

Now the world demanded three bouts of rain every day to counteract the sun's relentless rays.

But they could only manage one downpour per day; going forward would be even harder.

Many Water Gods gradually lost their mana. If not for Kunlun, they likely wouldn't last much longer.

"Alright, you both may rest now. Let me handle the rains next."

Song Lin spoke.

This tactic by the Candle Dragon had undoubtedly placed Song Lin in checkmate.

If ignored, the Wushan Heavenly Court would be weakened, as a wasteland offers no Earth Energy.

If addressed, it would deplete the court's power.

A deadlock indeed, for the sun remained perched in the sky.

The world cannot exist without the sun and moon.

The moon might pose fewer issues, but if the sun rampages, it triggers absolute calamity.

All life depends on the sun, even spectral entities.

Even ghosts require a certain measure of Sun and Moon Essence.

This event gave Song Lin profound insight into the sun's mighty power.

Through Bai Ze, he learned that it was all due to the Candle Dragon's mysterious magic treasure.

If applied in reality, this treasure would render its owner unrivaled.

Such an artifact would absolutely suppress all ghostly creatures, leaving the Taishi Demon Emperor with no advantage. If Song Lin joined forces with Moyu Qilin and Xiezhi, they would surely defeat him.

Song Lin calmed the others, then stepped out of the Palace of the Polestar.

Withering Wushan, dispirited deities.

In contrast, the abnormal soldiers were largely unaffected, as their bodies were self-contained small universes, impervious to external changes.

This was precisely why Song Lin valued the acquired immortals.

They would pave the way out of the Small Thousand World, as the deities would lose their power to a frightening degree upon departure.

Song Lin met the sun's gaze directly, a man and a dragon seemingly locking eyes across the void.

"Candle Dragon, your fame precedes you. Stories abound of how you see daylight, bring nightfall, blow winter, summon summer, neither drink nor eat nor rest—yet if you rest, there arises wind."

Song Lin mused.

Perhaps this was the myth of the Candle Dragon in later generations; perhaps by then the Candle Dragon possessed such divine power.

But now was not the era for that. This myth shall be ended by me.

From here on out, there will be no Candle Dragon—only the southern Candle Dragon, and the sun will belong to me alone.

The Innate Dao of Ten Thousand Realms shall converge upon me.

Song Lin sat cross-legged at the edge of a cliff.

Attuning to the Heavenly Heart, his Primordial Spirit rested peacefully in the fire chamber within three inches of his body.

Chanting the Taiyi Jinhua Scripture heart method, he united with the heavens and the earth, losing his ego, forgetting all things, merging his essence with celestial light and the Great Dao.

He followed the teachings of the gods to perceive the Taiyi Innate Ancestor Qi.

If the Candle Dragon was going all in, then he wouldn't back down either; let's see who could Integrate first.

After all, there was only one Candle Dragon, but Song Lin had the Heavenly Court and the Nine-Transformation Spirit Pill.

Surely, there was no reason for him to be weaker than the Candle Dragon.

A Small Thousand World could have only one being to fully integrate with a single Dao and advance into the legendary Medium Thousand Heavenly Immortal Realm.

Whoever fully integrated first would leave the other as worthless and insignificant.

In that moment, Song Lin immersed himself completely.

His entire being transitioned into an incomprehensible, profound state.

Simultaneously, he deployed mana to unleash the Natural Dao, utilizing the Heavenly Court to influence the realm to counteract the Candle Dragon's sun.

Time flew by as swiftly as a white horse darting past—a year passed without nights.

Although Chu Country was largely desertified, at least there was no widespread casualty; under the protection of the Wushan Heavenly Court, the people lived well enough.

Clearly, from a war standpoint, the Candle Dragon had gained significantly, as the Wushan Heavenly Court indeed retreated.

The majority of Taiyi Divine Realm's deities had pledged allegiance to the Wushan Heavenly Court.

Except for the most critical "Great Water" and "Supreme and Minor Fate Officers."

During Chu Country's rituals, Great Water held the same rank as Taiyi, followed by East Lord and Siming.

Bai Ze had searched for many years, yet still found no trace of the three powerful deities.

If Great Water appeared, it could resolve the dilemma of the unsetting sun; if Supreme and Minor Fate Officers appeared, it could perfect the laws of the Wushan Heavenly Court.

Unfortunately, it seemed something crucial was missing.

"What is missing?"

In the World in the Pot, Song Lin muttered to himself, pondering this question.

Progress in Integration of the Dao surpassed fifty percent.

Yet deeper into the process, he could never reach the innermost layer of the black sphere, as if he were being repelled.

How had the Candle Dragon achieved it?

The Candle Dragon must have devoured East Lord—Innate Gods possess this capability, after all.

But Song Lin surely couldn't do the same; he could only rely on his own understanding.

What was it that barred him from merging completely?

Merging?

At that moment, a sudden epiphany struck Song Lin.

Indeed, perhaps it is the issue of merging.

He constantly approached problems as an outsider.

Always contemplating starting from scratch, regarding himself as unique, refusing to blend into this world.

From the perspective of this world's hosts, if you don't even believe you belong to this realm, why would they entrust their blessings to you?

Perhaps the Ancient Gods thought the same.

Eastern King and East Lord—what difference does it make?

Both are manifestations of the sun; if Song Lin cannot be East Lord, does that mean he ceases to be Song Lin?

Taiyi is benevolent, caring nothing about who bears the title of Heavenly Emperor.

But on second thought.

If an outsider desires someone else's inheritance while refusing to admit to benefiting from it, why would they grant it?

At minimum, one needs to adopt the proper attitude.

With this realization, Song Lin stepped out of the World in the Pot.

Manifesting his dharma image, visible to the world.

"I am East Lord! Also the Eastern King! Two beings united, inseparable. By the Taiyi God's vow, on the day I attain the Dao, my heart shall shine like a crystal pagoda, illuminating all realms!"

Boom!

At these words, the heavens gave rise to phenomena.

Taiyi delighted; Ancient Gods gave their approval.

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