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墨書 Inktalez
Yama's Wedding
In Phoenix Mountain, all the birds and beasts had long since departed. In the face of danger, instinct might be more important than ability.
The Phoenix Empress lay on the ground, completely drained of strength. She took one last look at the place where she had lived with the Candle Dragon, and thought that resting here in this mountain wasn't so bad after all.
Soon, the cold ice rapidly spread across the entire peak. Some creatures that had not managed to escape were quickly frozen as well. The Phoenix Empress merely watched it all, waiting for the chill to envelop her.
As the guardian of Phoenix Mountain, the Phoenix Empress would sleep alongside this mountain.
At the same time, a mirror before the Jade Emperor reflected the scene within Phoenix Mountain. Observing what unfolded, he sighed, "Phoenix Empress." In the vast palace, only his voice echoed; unfortunately, this sigh would be heard by no one but himself. Did the Phoenix Empress still resent her past? The Jade Emperor admitted to himself that he had indeed relied on some underhanded means to reach his current position. The man he had advised would have made his own decisions regardless; perhaps that man would have resolved to do the same.
Yet, all these years, the Phoenix Empress still hadn’t come to terms with it. No matter how eloquent she was, when standing before such a man, exposed and vulnerable, what could she possibly hide from his eyes? If he did not wish it, who could force him?
Similarly, if it weren’t for this situation, how could she have secured a millennium of peace for her court? Even if over the years it had become increasingly uncontrollable, that was fine; what he protected with his life could still be firmly held in her hands.
The Jade Emperor clenched his fists; this time he would break through this court and stand anew!
“Xue, we must come visit the Phoenix Empress more often.” The moment Yao Guang stepped out of Phoenix Mountain, the image of the Phoenix Empress alone lingered in his mind. The vast and empty Phoenix Mountain felt like a place where she had been forgotten.
“Agreed.” Xue nodded in agreement with Yao Guang’s words. Their departure was unavoidable; once matters here concluded, Xue would definitely return with Yao Guang to visit the Phoenix Empress.
Before long, Yao Guang and Xue had entered through the South Gate.
Shu and several other Star Lords were waiting at the entrance. From a distance, Yao Guang spotted his brothers standing there and felt a wave of confusion wash over him. “Xue, are you and my elder brother returning today?”
"No, not really." The return was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, and Xue hadn't had the chance to inform Shu and the others. However, looking at their expressions, it seemed they had been waiting at the South Gate for quite a while. "Perhaps it was just a coincidence," Xue replied.
Shu and the others wore expressions that mixed anger with a hint of frustration.
"Elder Brother!" A crisp voice called from above.
Upon hearing this voice, Shu and the others shuddered slightly; it was unmistakable...
Sure enough, when they turned around, they saw Yao Guang standing right in front of them, beaming with a smile.
"Yao Guang, you’re back!" Kaiyang was the first to react, his tone filled with deep surprise. He had come today with a heart full of anger, but unexpectedly seeing Yao Guang return instantly lifted his spirits.
"Yes, we’re back." Yao Guang excitedly rushed into her brother's arms.
The five Star Lords quickly surrounded Yao Guang, eagerly checking on her to see if she was fully recovered.
After a flurry of questions, they finally understood what had caused Yao Guang's earlier unusual condition.
"I never expected it was due to the Phoenix Fire within you," Xuan remarked with a sigh. Initially, he thought Yao Guang had fallen victim to some kind of sorcery while in the lower realms. It turned out that the Phoenix Empress had kindly bestowed the Phoenix Fire upon Yao Guang, which had caused issues within her body.
He had heard of the Phoenix Empress before; she was an ancient divine beast with a unique relationship with the Candle Dragon, the current emperor. Ever since the Candle Dragon sacrificed itself for righteousness, she had chosen to descend to the lower realms and had been largely ignored by the Jade Emperor. Nevertheless, Yao Guang obtaining her inner core would undoubtedly benefit her greatly in future battles against the dragon clan.
After finally escaping her brothers' relentless inquiries, Yao Guang stepped forward to face her serious elder brother. "Elder Brother, I’m back," she said solemnly.
Shu looked at Yao Guang, who stood before him, now healthy and well. The excitement in his heart was indescribable, yet Shu rarely let his emotions show. "It's good that you're back."
Yao Guang gazed at his elder brother. Despite their close bond as siblings, Shu's demeanor always seemed aloof. Even now, when he saw Yao Guang, his voice was filled with excitement, yet his expression remained cold.
"What were you doing just now? Waiting for us?" Xue asked, observing the already concluded pleasantries between Yao Guang and the Star Lords.
"What else could we be doing?" At the mention of this, Kaiyang, who had been suppressing his anger, flared up again.
"What happened?" Yao Guang asked in confusion upon seeing Kaiyang so furious. What could possibly be wrong?
"Come and see for yourself!" The usually composed Quan pulled Yao Guang over to look through the South Gate.
What is this...
Yao Guang stared at the scene before him. Inside Lingxiao Palace, laughter and chatter filled the air. The Jade Emperor sat at the head table, drinking alone, while the other deities feasted and drank. The celestial maidens around them danced gracefully, creating an atmosphere of joy and celebration.
"What’s going on?" Yao Guang wondered aloud. It was just a banquet; why had Kaiyang been so angry earlier?
Xue also focused on the scene. What was the Jade Emperor planning? As Xue's gaze swept over him, the Jade Emperor immediately noticed and shot a piercing look back at him. Startled, Xue instinctively withdrew his gaze. Such keen perception! He marveled internally; the Jade Emperor was indeed as formidable as he had heard. Although Xue hadn’t been present during past events, he had pieced together enough information to grasp the truth of what had transpired back then. This understanding was precisely why he had never approached the court—partly because his faction was not aligned with theirs, and partly because he knew too much about past events to feel comfortable around someone like the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor watched the gathering of deities before him. Just moments ago, when the Big Dipper Seventh Star—no, the six stars of the Big Dipper—had come to report military matters, he had lost his temper and sent them away. He recalled their unwilling expressions as they left; it pleased him to know that these Seven Stars were among the better deities in court. Unfortunately for them, they mistakenly believed they could deceive him with their reincarnation tactics, making him think their powers were not significant. But what could he possibly not know? Such tricks were laughable in front of him; how could they hope to keep anything hidden? Yet this also indirectly indicated that they bore no ill will toward him.
However, human hearts are best kept in one’s own hands; they are notoriously fickle.
Moreover, the Big Dipper Seventh Star was far too powerful—not merely due to their magical abilities but because they had lived for so long and remained so clear-headed. If only they were like those deities below them—lost in revelry and living in a self-created era of peace—they wouldn’t need to be so astute. With one like them in court, it would be sufficient; all others simply needed to obey him.
The Jade Emperor toyed with the wine cup in his hand, feeling that this court was indeed quite dull. It might be nice to cultivate a few individuals like these to keep him company. However, the Seven Stars could not be together; it seemed he needed to think of a way to ensure they remained apart. The Jade Emperor had already made up his mind.
He glanced again at the immortals below, who appeared to be aimlessly wandering in the eyes of others. This time, he decided to clear them all out as well.
"Come, my esteemed ministers, let us drink together," he said, raising his wine cup high.
"Thank you, Jade Emperor," each immortal's face lit up with emotion. To be treated in such a manner by the Jade Emperor was a clear indication of their superiority. Just moments ago, they had witnessed those self-important Star Lords being reprimanded by the Jade Emperor and leaving in disgrace. With this thought, those drinking puffed out their chests even more. Even the Star Lords were nothing in the eyes of the Jade Emperor, and being valued so highly by him filled them with pride, their faces glowing with joy.
Ah, but they were merely a bunch of lowly sorcerers; it truly bored him.
Outside the hall, Yao Guang looked at Shu in confusion.
"Hey, Yao Guang, come take a look," Shu pulled Yao Guang over to the South Gate.
"What do you want me to see?" Wasn't the realm below just the human world? What did that have to do with Kaiyang's angry demeanor?
"Just take a look first," Shu guided Yao Guang to the exit of the South Gate, ensuring her body was steady so she wouldn't fall from the clouds.
What is it? Yao Guang thought to herself but followed Shu's gaze down to the lower realm. (To be continued.)
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