Moonlight Mystique

Fu Ling paid no heed to Jin Yao's explanations. Having grown up among the Yao Race in her youth, she had always harbored deep prejudices against the Immortals. After her mother's death at the hands of an Immortal, her hatred only intensified. Were it not for Jin Yao being her only remaining kin, she would never have stayed among the Immortals for so long. She had waited all these years for Jin Yao to avenge her mother, the late Lady Chaohui. Yet even after Feng Ran's Ascension, when Jin Yao ruled the Heavenly Palace for eight hundred years, he never once mentioned the matter, instead showing courtesy to Yu Feng and others. Now that Fu Ling had come of age, she could no longer suppress the resentment festering within her. She refused to remain a low-ranking Immortal Lady any longer. Zhen Yu had promised to help her break the Seal suppressing her Yao power, cleanse her Immortal bones, and allow her to retrain in the Dao of the Yao. Once she cultivated enough to attain Divine Power, she could personally avenge her mother.

Fu Ling had returned to the Heavenly Palace to retrieve her mother's legacy—the Cloudfire Arrow—from Jin Yao's hall. When Jin Yao sensed her intentions, he pursued her relentlessly. Had Zhen Yu not appeared suddenly, she would have already been dragged back to the Heavenly Palace by her father.

"Ungrateful child! If you dare defect to the Cold Spring Palace today, I will disown you!" Jin Yao roared in anguish upon hearing Fu Ling's plan to discard her Immortal bones and dissolve her core.

Though peace had been maintained between Immortals and the Yao Race in recent years, they remained strictly separate. The Cold Spring Palace was notorious across the Three Realms for its ruthless methods. Were it not for Zhen Yu's formidable strength, the Fox Yao Clan would have long destroyed it.

"If you had been willing to abandon your lofty position as a Heavenly Lord and taken Mother into seclusion, I wouldn't have lost her," Fu Ling said coldly, her years of pent-up hatred overwhelming all else. "Since I've already lost my mother, what does it matter if I lose you as a father?"

She abruptly drew the Cloudfire Arrow from behind her and pointed it at the sky.

"I, Fu Ling, swear today that I will make every Immortal in the Heavenly Palace pay for my mother's life. From this moment forth, I belong to the Yao Race and have no further ties to you, Divine Lord Jin Yao!"

The Cloudfire Arrow erupted in blazing Yao flames, illuminating the peak of Purple Moon Mountain with her oath.

Jin Yao trembled with fury, his grip on the Toothed Immortal Sword turning his knuckles white. The sword surged with Divine Power in response to its master's rage. The barrier around Purple Moon Mountain reacted to this surge, crackling with violet lightning in warning.

Seeing the barrier disturbed, Zhen Yu's expression tightened. Jin Yao might not know, but he was well aware that Tian Qi was in secluded cultivation within Purple Moon Mountain. If Jin Yao's recklessness provoked Tian Qi's awakening, the Cold Spring Palace would suffer dire consequences.

The thought of the Yao Emperor's throne contention at the Violet Palace seven years from now sent a chill down Zhen Yu's spine. He stepped forward, shielding Fu Ling, and declared sternly, "Divine Lord Jin Yao, Lady Fu Ling has sworn to sever ties with you. From now on, she is under my protection. If you have any grievances, bring them to the Cold Spring Palace! This is Purple Moon Mountain—I will not engage with you here!" With that, he seized Fu Ling's hand and fled toward the Third Heaven.

The Toothed Sword, infused with surging Divine Power, intercepted them mid-flight. Zhen Yu was forced back three steps, while Fu Ling paled under the overwhelming force.

Jin Yao, his face dark with rage, blocked Zhen Yu's path, the Toothed Sword in hand. "Zhen Yu! You will not take my daughter today!"

Jin Yao knew Zhen Yu's nature all too well. Fu Ling was already dangerously withdrawn. If she joined the Cold Spring Palace and unleashed her Yao power, she would be damned for eternity. She was his only daughter—he would never let her leave with Zhen Yu, no matter what."Jin Yao, I've given you three points of leeway, but don't mistake my courtesy for fear!" Zhen Yu, with his proud Heart-Nature, had suffered an unexpected blow from the Giant-Toothed Sword. Enraged and spurred by competitiveness, he pushed Fu Ling behind him and raised his hand, summoning the Green Jade Divine Halberd into his palm.

"You've trespassed into the Yao Race's Holy Land today, disturbing the True God's seclusion. Even if I kill you here on Purple Moon Mountain, the Immortal Realm would have nothing to say!"

Jin Yao couldn't hear Zhen Yu's words at this moment—and even if he had, not even Tian Qi's appearance would sway him from preventing Fu Ling from purging her immortal bones to become a pure Yao.

With a cold, grim expression, Jin Yao swung the Giant-Toothed Divine Sword toward Zhen Yu. The Green Jade Divine Halberd met the sword midair, and the clash of the two semi-Divine Artifacts above Purple Moon Mountain sent shockwaves of Divine Power colliding, causing the mountain's barrier to roar in warning.

The Immortal and Yao Races had long been at peace, let alone their Divine-Grade figures. The moment the two semi-Divine Artifacts collided, powerful beings across the Three Realms sensed the surging Divine Power around Purple Moon Mountain.

At that very moment, Zi Han—who had been basking in the Old Dragon King's flattery in the East Sea—suddenly looked up, his expression shifting drastically. Without even bothering to collect the tribute, he transformed into a giant Dragon and soared toward Purple Moon Mountain, inwardly raging.

Damn it all! Who in the heavens dared to start a fight on Purple Moon Mountain?! If this disturbance ruined the Divine Lord's refinement of Yue Mi's Divine body, even if he turned into a newly hatched Dragon hatchling, he’d likely be skinned and gutted by the Divine Lord!

The battle atop Purple Moon Mountain raged for an entire day. Jin Yao fought with reckless abandon, his golden crown long since lost. Zhen Yu, covered in wounds, ignored everything else, his eyes burning with the sole desire to strike Jin Yao down with his halberd.

The clash of immortal and Yao powers surged around Purple Moon Mountain, leaving no land intact for miles—except for the solitary mountain itself, protected by its barrier and remaining eerily untouched.

"You old monster! You couldn't protect your wife or your daughter, yet you seek to redeem yourself by challenging me? How laughable!" Zhen Yu swung his halberd, piercing another bloody hole into Jin Yao's shoulder. Spitting blood, he laughed wildly. "Once your blood runs dry, I'll hang that broken sword of yours in Cold Spring Palace as my trophy!"

He had completely forgotten the far greater number of wounds on his own waist, consumed by the thrill of battle and cruel taunts.

From a distance, Fu Ling watched Jin Yao, battered and drenched in blood, her grip on the Cloud-Fire Arrow tightening and loosening in hesitation. She had already sworn a blood oath—she and Jin Yao were no longer connected. If she softened now, she would be doomed to an eternity as a lowly Loose Immortal in the Heavenly Palace, trapped in darkness.

After a day and night of brutal combat, Jin Yao seemed to have aged a decade. He glanced at Fu Ling, who had remained silent the entire time, then suddenly let out a deep grunt. His body, still gripping the Giant-Toothed Sword, began to turn translucent.

Zhen Yu froze—just as Jin Yao merged completely with the sword. The Giant-Toothed Sword suddenly grew taller, blazing with light many times brighter than before, and shot toward Zhen Yu's chest at divine speed.

If he killed Zhen Yu, the Cold Spring Palace would cease to exist in the Yao Realm. Then perhaps… Fu Ling would willingly return to the Immortal Realm and let go of her hatred.

A sigh echoed from within the Giant-Toothed Sword. Jin Yao closed his eyes, channeling every last ounce of his Divine Power into this final strike, hurtling toward Zhen Yu.

Even if it meant destroying his semi-Divine body and reverting to an immortal… he would protect his daughter in his own way!Jin Yao, after all, was tens of thousands of years older than Zhen Yu. Though both were demigods, in a life-and-death struggle, Zhen Yu stood no chance against Jin Yao. The full-force strike Jin Yao unleashed was something Zhen Yu couldn’t possibly withstand—and even if he did, his divine body would be so severely wounded that he’d be no match for Chang Mei seven years later.

In the blink of an eye, almost without warning, Zhen Yu suddenly charged toward the barrier of the Purple Moon Mountain nearby.

The Giant Fang Sword, guided by Jin Yao’s Divine Power to attack Zhen Yu, followed its target and hurtled toward the True God’s barrier, wreathed in violet lightning.

A deafening explosion rang out—whether by chance or fate, the Divine Power of the Giant Fang Sword struck the weakest point of the barrier, piercing through and shooting straight toward the Soul Suppression Tower inside the grand hall.

By now, the soul flames within the tower had reached their peak. Tian Qi, seated cross-legged within the flames, had his eyes tightly shut. Opposite him, on a jade platform, a newly forged divine body refined with the power of the Demon God had already taken form. The wisp of Divine Sense in Tian Qi’s palm, as if possessing its own intelligence, slowly drifted toward the forehead of the newly shaped divine body. It paused just half an inch away, radiating a joyful divine resonance.

At this moment, Tian Qi within the soul flames also sensed a familiar presence lingering in the tower. He opened his eyes, gazing at that wisp of Divine Sense, and the corners of his lips—silent for millennia—finally curled into a relieved and contented smile.

"Yue Mi, you’ve finally…"

Before his soft sigh could fade, an overwhelming surge of Divine Power suddenly crashed into the Soul Suppression Tower. The force broke through the tower’s structure, barreling straight toward Yue Mi’s already-formed divine body.

Without a second thought, acting purely on instinct, Tian Qi lunged toward the jade platform, shielding Yue Mi’s Divine Sense and divine body beneath him.

A thunderous explosion! The moment the Giant Fang Sword’s Divine Power struck Tian Qi’s body, the top of the Soul Suppression Tower shattered violently. The chaotic divine flames and the Demon God’s power burst through the Purple Moon Mountain’s barrier, soaring into the heavens. No one noticed that, in the instant these forces collided, the eight divine trees surrounding the tower merged into one and were blasted out of Purple Moon Mountain by the explosion, vanishing to who-knows-where.

Jin Yao and Zhen Yu, locked in their fierce battle, were flung apart by the surging Divine Power erupting from the mountain, crashing down on opposite ends of Purple Moon Mountain.

Fu Ling bit her lip and flew toward Zhen Yu’s falling figure, catching him.

Jin Yao’s Divine Sense suffered a direct backlash from the Demon God’s power, forcibly ejected from the Giant Fang Sword. His eyes shut tight, he plummeted toward the ground alongside the divine blade.

Two powerful immortal forces descended from the sky, barely catching the severely wounded and unconscious Jin Yao. Yu Feng and Yan Huo glared at Fu Ling and Zhen Yu, fury burning in their eyes, but the scene before them forced them to retreat several steps with Jin Yao in tow.

On the other side of Purple Moon Mountain, Zhen Yu and Fu Ling stared at the unfolding spectacle, a chill creeping into their hearts.

The barrier of Purple Moon Mountain had shattered, yet the entire mountain range was now engulfed in emerald divine flames. At its center stood a towering jade-green divine pagoda, radiating the overwhelming Divine Might of the Demon God’s power.

Even a fool could tell now—Tian Qi was here, in Purple Moon Mountain. Before the stunned crowd could even beg for forgiveness, an enraged dragon’s roar echoed from the east as a blast of dragonfire surged toward the mountain.

"You reckless fools! Who gave you the right to trespass into Purple Moon Mountain?!"

The torrent of dragonfire left Yu Feng and Zhen Yu’s groups scorched and blackened. The four of them gaped at the colossal dragon form that nearly blotted out half the sky, sucking in a sharp breath—too terrified to utter a word.The Divine Beast of True God Tian Qi was a purple Dragon that had lived for over a hundred thousand years. Those in the lower Three Realms had only ever seen the smiling young man, never witnessing his true form or the display of his Divine Power.

Good heavens, truly worthy of being a True God's mount. Even in the lower Three Realms, this was an existence that neither gods nor buddhas dared to provoke.

"Dragon Lord, the immortal Jin Yao has been overbearing, not only intruding into our Yao Realm but also causing chaos in Purple Moon Mountain. In a life-and-death struggle with me, I was forced to retaliate there, inadvertently disturbing True God Tian Qi's meditation."

Zhen Yu spoke first before Zi Han could erupt in anger. Covered in blood and looking utterly disheveled, his words didn't seem entirely false.

"Palace Master Zhen Yu, what eloquence! Are you shifting all blame onto our Divine Lord simply because he's severely injured and unconscious?" Yu Feng calmly bowed to Zi Han and said respectfully, "Dragon Lord, Zhen Yu bewitched the only beloved daughter of Divine Lord Jin Yao to leave the immortal clan and join the Yao Race. In his desperate love for his daughter, Jin Yao acted out in rage at Purple Moon Mountain..."

"Nonsense! Fu Ling's birth mother was from the Blood Flower Yao Race. You killed her mother. Whether she chooses to be an immortal or a Yao is entirely her own decision. How can you claim I bewitched her? Your immortal clan couldn't keep her, so now you slander me before the Dragon Lord!"

"Zhen Yu, you old demon...!" The Flame Lord's face flushed red with rage, but he couldn't find words to refute. The old grievances between the two clans from thousands of years ago couldn't possibly be judged right or wrong now.

"Old demon? I'm merely a few thousand years old—still quite young!"

"Silence!" The purple Dragon guarding Purple Moon Mountain coldly shouted, cutting off the argument.

Its enormous dragon eyes swept coldly over Zhen Yu, Jin Yao, Yu Feng, and the others. Even Zhen Yu, who had reached demi-god status, couldn't help but shudder, let alone the other three.

"Your crimes of disturbing Purple Moon Mountain today will be settled later. Zhen Yu, Yu Feng, spread my decree across the Three Realms: from this day forth, until the gates of Purple Moon Mountain reopen, no human, god, Yao, or demon may trespass within a hundred miles. Should anyone dare, regardless of identity, they shall face the punishment of my heavenly thunder and dragon fire!"

Zi Han spoke with a mix of fury and cold severity, then exhaled two bursts of dragon fire, forcibly expelling Zhen Yu and Yu Feng's factions from Purple Moon Mountain.

Zhen Yu, already severely injured, was helped back to Cold Spring Palace by Fu Ling to recuperate. Yu Feng and the others, preoccupied with Jin Yao's injuries and aware they had angered the purple Dragon, departed without another word for Heavenly Palace.

As Yu Feng rode the auspicious clouds, he glanced back at Purple Moon Mountain, an inexplicable unease settling in his heart. The Soul Suppression Tower clearly emanated True God Tian Qi's Divine Might, yet why hadn't he appeared despite their commotion? Could something have happened?

Purple Moon Mountain returned to silence. Zi Han transformed into human form and stumbled toward the Soul Suppression Tower. Even with his Divine Power, it took tremendous effort to enter the tower ravaged by Yao divine energy and Hundun soul flames. Once inside, he froze at the sight before him.

Tian Qi lay quietly on the jade platform, holding Yue Mi's body, both with closed eyes. Yue Mi's faint Divine Sense was safely cradled in Tian Qi's palm.

Zi Han hurried forward, pressing a hand to Tian Qi's forehead, then gasped and collapsed to the ground despite his hundred-thousand-year composure, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Trembling, he held Tian Qi's hand for a long time, finally confirming one earth-shattering truth.In Tian Qi's Divine Sea between his brows, not a trace of Divine Sense remained.

The purple Dragon transformed into a chubby toddler, clinging to Tian Qi's hand and wailing "Wah wah wah" for a long while. Only after crying its fill did it snap back to reality, resetting the barrier around Purple Moon Mountain before sniffling and wiping away snot and tears to seek help in the Divine Realm.

Meanwhile, in the Star-Gazing Pavilion, Xuan Yi held a water mirror observing everything happening at Purple Moon Mountain. He took a leisurely sip from his gourd and let out a long, satisfied sigh.

"The outside world is still so fascinating. Watching this drama is far more entertaining than anything in Purgatory."

Zhi Yang frowned, then suddenly twitched his nose and looked suspiciously at the wine gourd in Xuan Yi's hand. "Where did you get that wine?"

This wine didn't smell like anything from the Divine Realm, yet it clearly had considerable age to it—something impossible to preserve in the mortal world.

"This wine?" Xuan Yi shook the gourd with a grin. "Last time I was so moved by that little girl Yue Mi—absolutely overwhelmed. Those three carts of wine vessels sitting in Tian Qi's palace were just going to waste. Better for me to drink them, consider it doing me a personal favor."

A cup shattered on the floor of the Star-Gazing Pavilion, followed by Zhi Yang's furious roar through clenched teeth.

"That was tens of thousands of years of Yue Mi's heartfelt intentions! You utter scoundrel!"

Leaving aside the laughter and curses within the Star-Gazing Pavilion, seven years passed in the blink of an eye, and Bai Shuo grew up in the mortal world. General Bai hoped his youngest daughter would live peacefully and smoothly, unaware that Bai Shuo remembered her vow to cultivate immortality and repay her debt with crystal clarity. Day after day, she persisted in the same task with unwavering determination—and this persistence lasted another seven years.

Seven years later, the Bai General's residence became famous far and wide. People said General Bai hadn't just raised a virtuous and wise Crown Princess—he'd also produced a notorious little charlatan known throughout the land.