Perhaps I should say thats just like Pu Jingwan? When he saw her username, Ye Zichen couldnt help but facepalm. Still, after thinking it over, he repressed his d.e.s.i.r.e to complain and accepted it.

However

Why had Pu Jingwan and Xiao Yumei joined the group too?

Only Idealism: Yang Jian, what are you doing? I made this chat group because I had something I wanted to talk to you two about.

Erlang Shen: They both wanted to join.

Invincible Adorable Beauty: Hey! What could you possibly have to talk about that you cant say in front of us? Is it some sort of ahem.secret between men?

Ultimate Charmer: Zichen, if you dont want me to see it, I can leave the group.

I cant help but feel like Pu Jingwan is distorting my words. Ye Zichen couldnt help but sigh. He didnt quite know what to say.

What he wanted to say to Yang Jian and the Great Sage naturally wasnt anything remotely like what Pu Jingwan was imagining. Hed only formed the three-man group because they were extremely close, and he didnt want to trouble anyone else.

But since Pu Jingwan and Xiao Yumei had joined the group, there was no real harm in letting them know too.

Invincible Adorable Beauty: Ah? Why arent you saying anything? It seems I guessed right. Dont worry about it! Were all a.d.u.l.ts here; its no big deal.

Yang Jian: My mistake. I shouldnt have invited her.

Monkey King: Ive got my eye on you!

Only Idealism: Quit talking nonsense. I have serious business to discuss with Yang Jian and the Great Sage. Pu Jingwan, dont throw off my rhythm. Yumei, theres no need for you to leave the group. What Im about to say isnt a secret.

Ultimate Charmer: Alright.

Invincible Adorable Beauty: So, you can tell its me? Youve got good eyes. What do you think? My username quite suits my personality, doesnt it? One look at it and you can just picture me, cant you?

Ding!

The Invincible Ultimate Beauty was kicked from the group.

Just as she was relishing showing off her perfect username, Pu Jingwan watched the chat group disappear before her very eyes. Her finger froze over the screen.

Yang Jian, the Great Sage, and Pu Jingwan rushed up to stop her. Pu Jingwan, meanwhile, glared at Ye Zichens door and readied her fists.

I really envy those youths. The Hermit Emperor watched this play out. He couldnt help but chuckle. Although all of them were imperial-level rulers, in his eyes, they were still a bunch of children.

Hed truly lived for far, far too long. If we compared him to someone from the modern world, hed be an elder in his eighties, while Pu Jingwan and the others were a bunch of rowdy kids whod barely hit twenty.

They are enviable. Ye Rong couldnt help but smile. But, Hermit Emperor, surely you didnt come here just to tell me that? What is it youve come here for?

Thanks for the reminder. I almost forgot. When people get old, their memory suffers. The Hermit Emperor ran his fingers through his whiskers, then looked away from Pu Jingwan and the others. Ye Rong sat upright in her chair, waiting for him to speak.

Actually, I fully understand why you refused me so decisively back then. Youre worried about permanently exhausting a portion of your sons imperial starlight, rendering it incomplete. Furthermore, youre concerned that this might cause problems when he attempts to transcend, resulting in the destruction of our entire era. Am I right? asked the Hermit Emperor.

Youre wise indeed, Hermit Emperor. Ye Rong nodded.

Ive actually already considered these problems, but upon careful consideration, I decided that they were not serious. Otherwise, I wouldnt have suggested this method to Xue Yang and the others.

Im afraid I cant agree, said Ye Rong. She didnt seem at all convinced.

None of us is the Emperor Star, and none of us have had any contact to speak of with the previous Emperor Stars. Its uncertain whether imperial starlight can recover, and if it can, how long the process will take. Transcendence requires the celestial fate of the Emperor Star; only its bearer can save us. We cannot tolerate any flaws in his starlight. Based on what you just said, you know that full well, so why do you say treating Xue Mo would be harmless? asked Ye Rong.

Even in the face of Ye Rongs rapid-fire argument, the smile never once left the Hermit Emperors face.

When she stopped her tirade, he said but a single name, just two syllables: Zhou Wu.

Xuan Ji and Ye Rong knit their brows, then heard him laugh, Surely you know he, too, has imperial celestial fate?

Of course, said Ye Rong. But that has nothing to do with imperial starlight. Zichen, Zhou Wu, and heavens other chosen emperor all have true celestial fate, but theres still only one Emperor Star. Its light wont change, now will it?

A rational response, said the Hermit Emperor affirmingly. However, the next moment, he said something utterly shocking: The light of the Emperor Star is naturally eternal and unchanging, but what if this era had two Emperor Stars?

..

After booting the Invincible Adorable Beauty from the group, everything seemed to quiet down. However, it was almost a bit too quiet; no one was talking!

Erlang Shen: Ye-zi, Im going to let Big Sister Pu back in, okay? After you kicked her out, she practically went insane.

Erlang Shen: Big Sister Pu says shes going to murder you. Sis-in-law and the monkey are busy holding her back.

...

That did indeed sound like something Pu Jingwan might say.

Right now, he couldnt use his jade transmission slip. The internet and his cell phone were his only way of receiving information from the outside world. He still had important business to discuss with the Great Sage and Yang Jian. He couldnt just let Pu Jingwan keep kicking up a ruckus like this.

Only Idealism: Let her back in, but keep her under control this time, okay?

Erlang Shen invited the Invincible Adorable Beauty to join the chat.

Invincible Adorable Beauty: @Only Idealism, You dare kick me from the group? Who gave you the audacity? How dare you kick a cutie like me from the group!

Invincible Adorable Beauty: Let me tell you, if you know whats good for you, youll let me in the group. If you dont.

Ding!

Pu Jingwan was already in the middle of venting her fury at Ye Zichen. When she saw this, her rage intensified. She started screaming about wanting to kill him.

Back at the pagoda, Ye Rong and the others couldnt help but look askance at her, but before long, they looked away.

Did you just say there were two Emperor Stars? How is that possible? Theres just one in the night sky. If there were two, as the Lord of the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper, theres no way I wouldnt know about it.

What would you say if I told you the other Emperor Star was hidden? How could you know about it then? laughed the Hermit Emperor.

Ye Rongs skeptical expression froze. She was the Lord of the Big Dipper, and yet, shed never heard of a second Emperor Star. Why would the Hermit Emperor say such a thing?

Was he lying?

Given his status, it was unlikely that the Hermit Emperor would tell such an outrageous lie.

But.

Lord of the Big Dipper, if you doubt me, you can go ask Great Emperor Chao Feng, or perhaps, the ordinary star bearers. Ask them this: has your starlights recovery rate halved over the past hundred years? If so. Wont everything become perfectly clear?