Chapter 25 Part 3

In the midst of the panic over the impending Demon Venerable’s release, Lady Zhi Wu, the guardian beast of Xi Ning True God, seized control of Upper God Qi Ran’s former powers with thunderous authority. She dispatched five thousand additional soldiers to reinforce Immortal Lord Fang Xie at the God-Demon Border. Then she personally investigated Qingqiu, uncovering every detail of the bride swap and reporting it straight to Xi Ning True God. Without pause, she led a retinue of immortal lords and immortal maidens to the Northern Wastelands.

Under Lady Zhi Wu’s calm and methodical orders, the tension eased slightly among the crowd. With Xi Ning True God and Lady Zhi Wu still in the world, perhaps there was no need for excessive worry.

The outside world buzzed with clamor, but not a whisper of the noise penetrated the Cloud-Dispelling Palace.

After days of recovery, Fu Lan Cen had restored much of the essence blood drained from her in White Orchid Hall. Yet her face remained pallid, her frail appearance stirring deep pity.

“…So, because she drained so much of my essence blood, Bai Youran was able to pass the Demon-Exterminating Mirror without showing any signs of demonic qi corruption?” Beneath a towering pear tree, the two sat on stone benches, chatting idly as a gentle breeze blew past.

Lu Xi poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Fu Lan Cen, nodding. “Exactly. As the divine maiden, your essence blood masked her corruption, letting her evade suspicion for so long.”

“Then, having taken so much of my blood for herself, did she actually transform into the divine maiden?” This puzzled Fu Lan Cen greatly. According to Lu Xi, only the true divine maiden could resonate with Upper God Qi Ran. Yet when he had searched Qingqiu anew, Bai Youran had resonated with him.

Did that mean Bai Youran’s infusion of her blood had turned her into the divine maiden?

Lu Xi shook her head and continued. “No. She merely used your blood to conceal the demonic qi on her body. She couldn’t truly replace you as the divine maiden.”

“As for why she resonated with Qi Ran back then… Well, after learning of Bai Youran’s secret deeds, he tampered things himself to ensure he could marry her.”

This was one of the points that filled Lu Xi with disappointment and rage toward Qi Ran. An upper god of the Heavenly Realm, disregarding the lives of all beings in the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands for his selfish desires, brazenly falsifying the divine maiden’s identity.

Fu Lan Cen found it utterly unbelievable. “Qi Ran is the Heavenly Realm’s sole upper god, bearing immense responsibilities. How could he abuse his power to scheme such a thing?”

In her heart, gods wielded boundless might and could act on any whim. Yet they must always prioritize the welfare of all living beings, showing them mercy and care, to justify the worship and offerings they received.

“So, I stripped him of his power,” Lu Xi said with a shrug.

A warm breeze rustled past, sending a dried leaf tumbling onto Lu Xi’s shoulder. It spun along her silky hair before falling to the ground.

Fu Lan Cen watched quietly, some fleeting thought crossing her mind. Without realizing it, she reached out, scooped up the strand of dark hair from Lu Xi’s shoulder, and cradled it in her palm, rubbing it tenderly.

“Why did you hide your identity and stay by my side before?”

The little fox’s voice was faint and soft, like wisps of feathers scattering on the breeze.

Lu Xi fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “Because I sensed changes in the seal and suspected the Demon Venerable had already sent out a strand of his divine soul. So I concealed my identity and searched everywhere. I traced it to Qingqiu and was about to investigate closely when I encountered you, injured. I saved you on impulse.”

“Noticing faint traces of demonic qi on you later, I decided to start my investigation there… and stayed by your side.”

She still couldn’t reveal the matter of transmigrating and the System, so she wove three parts truth with seven parts fabrication, framing it from her body’s original perspective.

“When I discovered the one colluding with the Demon Clan was from White Orchid Hall, I went with you to the Heavenly Realm. Suspecting the Demon Venerable’s divine soul had attached itself to Bai Youran, I didn’t dare act rashly. I feared exposing myself would prompt him to strike at you from the shadows. So during that time, I kept pretending while protecting you at your side.”

Long after her words hung in the air, the wind picked up, rustling fallen leaves and shattering the silence between them.

Fu Lan Cen spoke first. “So, you protected me only because of my identity as the divine maiden?”

Indistinct lights danced in the fox’s eyes, her trembling tone betraying her tension.

Lu Xi pondered for a moment. Amid the little fox’s expectant gaze, she shook her head. “Not just because you’re the divine maiden, but because of you—the person.”

“You’re kind-hearted, a little fox with a pure soul.” She curved her lips toward the increasingly nervous Fu Lan Cen, her voice gentleness itself. “I’ve seen you lonely and sorrowful at night, curled asleep amid dead leaves, eyes closed in vulnerability. I’ve seen you retain a curious, innocent heart toward everything.”

“You’re always alone, always grieving. I couldn’t bear to watch your tears fall or see you huddled up, wronged and pitiful.”

The little fox drank in those words like sweet honey, her heart warming with delight.

Emboldened by the response, she seized Lu Xi’s hand and leaned closer. “Does that mean… you like me?”

She had asked this before, but Lu Xi’s expression had been complicated then, offering no answer.

Now the moment felt right. She posed the question again, her eyes sparkling as they fixed on Lu Xi, waiting quietly.

“I do.” Lu Xi raised her hand to stroke the little fox’s fluffy head, smiling. “I like you very much.”

“I like you too, Lu Xi.” Thrilled by the answer she’d craved, the little fox eagerly confessed her own feelings.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly when she’d fallen for Lu Xi. Perhaps it was in the Back Mountain Forbidden Ground of Qingqiu, imprisoned with no escape, when Lu Xi appeared like a descended goddess and promised to free her. Or maybe when Lu Xi blushed shyly upon seeing her human form, finding it endlessly amusing.

Love was such a nebulous thing, impossible to define precisely. But at this moment, Fu Lan Cen knew her feelings for Lu Xi burned hot and fierce—she couldn’t let them slip away.

“So now… what are we?” The bashful little fox, heart soaring from the joyful reply, ventured for more.

Lu Xi gazed at the coy little fox, her fair cheeks blushing like dawn, soft and pink. Her lowered eyes and fluttering lashes betrayed her nerves.

An itch stirred in Lu Xi’s heart. Without thinking, she reached out and pinched that plump, rosy cheek. “Do you want to form dao companions with me?”

The little fox looked up, her lovely fox eyes blinking brightly. “I do.”

“Good.” Lu Xi could hold back no longer. She pulled the soft little fox into her arms. “Leave the arrangements to me.”

…

With the Demon Clan’s recent unrest and the Demon Venerable’s emergence looming, the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands trembled in unease. Thus, the contract formation ceremony was kept exceedingly low-key.

Yet to spare Fu Lan Cen any grievance, Lu Xi spared no effort in making every detail exquisitely perfect.

“Here, for you. Take a good look.” While Lu Xi inspected the grand hall’s preparations, Lady Zhi Wu mysteriously slipped her something that looked like a jade slip.

“What’s this?” She reached to examine it.

Zhi Wu slapped her hand away with a tsk. “No rush. Study it slowly in your chambers.”

Lu Xi: “…”

Seeing Zhi Wu’s sly expression, she suspected the jade slip was anything but wholesome.

Reluctant yet unable to refuse—Zhi Wu insisted it was her wedding gift—she reluctantly tucked it into her robe.

“Why haven’t you left? Is everything else ready?” Glancing up, she found Zhi Wu still there, arms crossed, rubbing her chin with a teasing smirk. A chill ran down Lu Xi’s spine.

Zhi Wu grinned and slung an arm over Lu Xi’s shoulder, whispering conspiratorially like old pals. “So, which one are you? Top or bottom?”

Lu Xi blanked for a long moment before realizing what she meant. Her face burned crimson as she clapped a hand over Zhi Wu’s imprudent mouth and shoved away the smirking dragon with gritted teeth. “Get out! Don’t say that stuff in front of Cen Cen—you’ll corrupt her!”

“Oh ho ho!” Zhi Wu teased jealously. “Cen Cen~ Already calling her Cen Cen, huh~?”

Lu Xi’s face stayed impassive. With a flick of her sleeve, she banished the unruly dragon from the premises.

…

Though the contract ceremony was simple, Lu Xi’s identity drew representatives from across the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands to the Heavenly Realm, bearing gifts just for a glimpse of the legendary primordial true god.

The chosen day was one Lu Xi had carefully selected: fair skies, gentle winds, swirling immortal mists—an ideal time for a wedding.

The once-barren grounds of Cloud-Dispelling Palace had transformed. At the center stood a massive round platform adorned with tables and chairs for the immortal lords and immortal maidens attending the rite.

Towering above the platform loomed the majestic Dispel Cloud Divine Hall, its golden roof gleaming under the brilliant sun. Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps stretched before it, shrouded in immortal mist where divine birds strolled, a vision of exquisite splendor.

The platform teemed with immortal lords and immortal maidens. Too many guests strained the available seats, but few minded—standing all day for a distant view of the primordial true god was a privilege.

Boom—boom—

Ceremonial music echoed from afar, joined by deep dragon roars and lingering phoenix cries. Looking up, the crowd saw a divine dragon and phoenix bathed in golden light, circling with resounding calls.

A black speck appeared on the horizon, growing larger until a grand sixteen-person bearer Phoenix Luan Joy Sedan arrived on immortal winds, descending gracefully at the base of the steps.

Breaths held in suspense, all eyes fixed on the sedan.

A slender hand emerged, lifting the curtain embroidered with rainbow-hued lucky clouds. It revealed a face of breathtaking allure.

Lu Xi stepped out, smoothing her vivid red wedding robes before extending her hand inside with a gentle voice. “Come, let’s go home.”

Through the swaying beaded veil on her face, Fu Lan Cen beheld the woman outside—her features like a painted masterpiece, lips curved in a spring-breeze smile. Joy surged as she placed her hand in that warm palm.

“Okay, let’s go home.”

Lu Xi swept Fu Lan Cen into her arms and soared from the base, leaping the nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine steps to land before Dispel Cloud Divine Hall. Guided by Zhi Wu, they swore oaths to the heavens, pinched a hand seal, and summoned the Contract Formation Array.

“Hey, do you know the true god consort’s background?” On the platform, envy sparked whispers.

“Seems she’s Qingqiu’s nine-tailed fox princess, but there’s bad blood with Qingqiu. They say she didn’t even come from there today…”

“Qingqiu’s luck is unreal! First a god venerable’s wife, now a true god consort!”

“Psh, don’t jinx it! Qi Ran’s been stripped of power and demoted— that so-called god venerable’s wife is finished. What luck?”

…

Nine peals of thunder boomed like cheers for the completed ceremony, streaking golden trails across the sky before dissolving into sparkling lights that showered the crowd. Those touched felt a springlike refreshment, their cultivation surging noticeably.

“Is this the power of a true god?!”

“Wahhh, it’s amazing! My cultivation advanced again! True God, could you marry a few more times?!”

…

Lu Xi heard none of their exclamations, for more pressing matters awaited.

She wrapped an arm around Fu Lan Cen’s slender waist and vanished from the spot.

Watching the pair disappear in an instant, Zhi Wu narrowed her eyes with a wicked grin. “Tch, so impatient!”

Enveloped in crimson hues, Lu Xi and Fu Lan Cen materialized on the soft bridal bed.

The breeze they brought made the table candles flicker, their dancing light casting an intimate glow over the alluring pair.

“Why are you just staring at me?” Fu Lan Cen flushed under Lu Xi’s bright gaze and ducked her head.

Lu Xi showered her with praise. “You’re beautiful.”

This only deepened Fu Lan Cen’s shyness. As she bowed her head, the phoenix crown atop it shook, its beads enhancing the in her rosy cheeks.

“You’re truly stunning,” Lu Xi murmured, caressing Fu Lan Cen’s cheek tenderly. She gently removed the crown, brushing aside the cascading hair. “May I kiss you?”