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墨書 Inktalez
Yama's Wedding
Thinking of this, Yao Guang couldn't help but cast a provocative glance at Kaiyang. Kaiyang was baffled by Yao Guang's look. However, he knew deep down that Yao Guang's demeanor was not innocent. Otherwise, why would he suddenly feel a chill run down his spine? It seemed he needed to be more cautious lately. Yao Guang was no longer alone; even if he bullied her, Xue would surely protect her. Kaiyang had made up his mind that as long as Xue was around, he would not bully Yao Guang like before. Later on, Xue was quite curious as to why the Star Lord Kaiyang no longer enjoyed bullying Yao Guang as he used to.
Little did they know, it was precisely because of Yao Guang that with Xue as her support, Kaiyang held a sense of admiration for Xue and dared not act recklessly in front of him. Of course, the reason behind this would only be revealed to Xue much later, during which time Yao Guang had a good laugh at Kaiyang.
A few people stood outside Yao Guang Palace chatting when suddenly a celestial voice echoed from above. "The Jade Emperor requests the presence of several Star Lords at the Treasure Spirit Celestial Palace."
Upon hearing this, the group exchanged glances. They wondered what urgent matters the Jade Emperor had to discuss with them at Lingxiao Palace. The previously relaxed atmosphere now thickened with tension.
Yao Guang looked at Xue and said, "Xue, wait for me here." Uncertain of what the Jade Emperor wanted this time, Yao Guang felt it best to keep Xue safe within the palace since he had already left the Underworld and had nowhere else to go.
"Alright, you go ahead," Xue replied, noticing the serious expression on the soldier's face. He understood that perhaps this summons was related to discussions about the conflict with the Dragon Clan.
It seemed that war among the divine dragons was inevitable. What kind of scene would unfold once the war began?
Watching Yao Guang and the others leave, Xue pushed open the grand doors of Yao Guang Palace, which was where Yao Guang had grown up.
The palace exterior featured massive archways, golden glazed tiles on the roof, intricate carvings and colorful paintings, gilded walls, and luxurious green tiles—an epitome of opulence. Upon seeing this palace, Xue couldn't help but chuckle.
The Jade Emperor remained consistent; even for a Star Lord he didn't particularly favor, he still displayed such generosity. This magnificent palace truly deserved its reputation as one of the most affluent places in the realm.
Even the luminous pearl hanging in the corner illuminated everything inside clearly.
As he pushed open the door and looked inside, he found it surprisingly simple and unadorned, contrasting sharply with the palace's exterior.
The floor was paved with warm white jade stones.
The elegantly carved window frames exuded a refined charm that carried an ancient fragrance.
Looking out, Xue could see that the palace contained only a bed and a table; nothing else was present. On the table were the Four Treasures of the Study. Xue walked over and touched the table, only to find it free of dust. It seemed that when Yao Guang was away, the palace had been kept impeccably clean, just as it had been during her time there.
Beside the table stood an exquisite incense burner made of gilded bronze, intricately designed with spiral carvings. The burner was filled with fragrant materials, and wisps of smoke curled up through the hollow openings, filling the room with a rich aroma. Xue knew well about the affection that Shu and the other Star Lords held for Yao Guang; although the room's layout was simple, it was anything but understated. Every item used was delicate and refined, indicating their care for the room's owner.
As the fragrant smoke swirled around, Xue noticed a painting hanging on the wall. Its frame was quite plain, and the artwork did not depict any dazzling scenery; it merely showed a man's back. Xue approached and gazed at the painting, noticing that the area around the scroll had become very smooth from frequent touching, suggesting that its owner must have often caressed this piece of art. Over time, such wear would naturally create a polished surface.
The painting featured only the man's back, yet Xue recognized it at once; it resembled how she had looked when she left the West all those years ago. At that time, she had just emerged from battling demons, her white clothes stained with blood, yet she had been oblivious to her appearance as she stepped into this sacred place. The man in the painting had no visible face, only long hair cascading down his back. The overall impression of the artwork conveyed a sense of solemnity and melancholy. The few strokes used created an atmosphere of desolation, highlighting the deep emotions that the artist felt for this figure.
Xue placed her hand on the painting and gently rubbed it. Each time her fingers brushed against where the brush had touched, she felt a profound connection. She wondered what Yao Guang must have felt when she hung this painting in her palace. Fortunately, Xue had ultimately not missed out on sunlight; after a millennium, she finally understood Yao Guang's sentiments today. After some contemplation, Xue walked over to Yao Guang's desk, picked up a brush, spread out some rice paper, and quietly began to create her own painting. Wasn't it lonely to have only her own portrait in this palace?
Meanwhile, Yao Guang and the other Star Lords soared through the clouds toward Lingxiao Palace. Upon entering, they discovered that nearly all deities had gathered in this grand hall.
"Jade Emperor, we apologize for our tardiness."
"There's no need," replied Jade Emperor to Shu and the others.
Once they stood up, Yao Guang and her companions realized that the atmosphere in this court was exceptionally solemn; even Chang'e—who usually preferred to stay indoors—along with Thousand-Mile Eye, Listening Ear, and Erlang Shen were all present. It seemed something significant was about to happen.
Indeed, Jade Emperor continued: "You have all heard about the rebellion of the Dragon Clan; I would like to hear your suggestions regarding this matter."
As soon as he spoke these words, discussions erupted among the deities below. Yao Guang listened as they debated between two factions: those advocating for war feared losing face for their court, while those supporting peace understood that their current military strength was insufficient to contend with the Dragon Clan's soldiers.
Listening to the bustling conversations below him, Jade Emperor grew increasingly agitated and slammed his hand down onto a white jade table with a resounding crash that shattered it into pieces.
"Jade Emperor, please calm your anger; we are at fault," everyone exclaimed in shock as they knelt down to plead for his forgiveness.
"I merely wish to know your opinions on this matter," Jade Emperor said sternly. "I have just received a declaration of war from the Dragon Clan; take a look!" He produced the war declaration from the Dragon Clan and held it above their heads where golden letters glimmered.
"Our Dragon Clan has been supreme since ancient times; however, we fell into your schemes due to carelessness back then. Now justice has come full circle; today we establish this declaration of war to avenge our past humiliation." The bold characters hung above them like a heavy cloud. Though brief in words, each sentence conveyed deep indignation from the Dragon Clan regarding what had transpired in court years ago.
The Jade Emperor looked at them and asked, "Now that you have seen the state of this war declaration, what do you wish for?"
Originally, the immortals had been chattering incessantly, but after reading the war declaration, they fell silent.
A heavy silence enveloped the hall. It turned out that the immortals were just like mortals; when faced with problems they could not solve, no one wanted to be the one to step forward.
The Jade Emperor seemed to have anticipated this situation. He raised his head and addressed the immortals below, "The great battle between the Dragon Clan and our court is imminent. Do none of you have any good strategies?"
The once arrogant immortals now wore troubled expressions, and not a single one dared to step forward to answer the Jade Emperor's question. Even those who usually prided themselves on their powerful spells retreated further back, fearing that the Jade Emperor might glance in their direction.
Yao Guang watched their cowardice with a secret smirk. These immortals often mocked him and his companions, yet now, with disaster looming, they all shrank back, completely abandoning their usual bravado.
Sitting in his high seat, the Jade Emperor observed the scene below with a calm demeanor. His ears finally enjoyed a moment of peace. Although this was not the outcome he had hoped for, he understood very well that by indulging these immortals too much in daily life, how could he expect them to contribute anything during this war?
Suddenly, a celestial being dressed in white stepped forward and said to the Jade Emperor, "Your servant has heard that Big Dipper Seventh Star possesses formidable powers. In this battle against the Dragon Clan, as calamity approaches our court, Big Dipper Seventh Star should certainly lend a hand. Among all the immortals present here, only Big Dipper Seventh Star has innate abilities since ancient times and does not require cultivation. Their magical power is naturally superior to all of us here; if they do not take action now, who can fight?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Guang thought to himself how ironic it was that someone would ask who could fight. These immortals had always looked down on them—the Big Dipper Seventh Star—simply because they were born with extraordinary abilities as Star Lords from ancient times. The immortals prided themselves on their years of cultivation to achieve immortality and thus held disdain for those born as deities. Now that calamity was imminent, they used such reasoning to evade their responsibilities.
As soon as these words were spoken, whispers erupted among the immortals in Lingxiao Palace. The white-clad immortal's remarks struck a chord with them. Although Big Dipper Seventh Star held a low status in court, everyone knew that their magical prowess far surpassed that of those who had cultivated later. In light of the upcoming battle against the Dragon Clan, it was evident to any discerning eye that their chances of victory were slim. Therefore, it made sense to pick on someone easier to bully for the first strike; even if they did not win this war in the end, they would not be blamed by the Jade Emperor. (To be continued.)
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