Chapter Seventy
Not far away, in a cave, Gu Jin was using half of his original Immortal Power to refine the Divine Transformation Pill.
Watching the pill gradually take shape within the cauldron, a trace of relief flickered in his eyes.
Late at night, he emerged from the cave to find Ayin, who would normally be fast asleep by now, sitting beneath the phoenix tree.
Two wine cups were placed on the stone table, the fragrance of Drunken Jade Dew wafting through the air.
Ayin’s constitution was weak, and she could no longer indulge in much Drunken Jade Dew—he had reminded her of this just two days ago. Frowning, Gu Jin approached. Before he could reach her, Ayin’s voice broke the silence.
“A Jin, have a drink with me.” Ayin’s voice was slightly hoarse. Gu Jin, who cherished her deeply, thought of how dull life in the Forbidden Valley must be for her lively nature, which must have been stifled by now.
“Drunken Jade Dew has a strong aftereffect. You may have three cups at most.” Gu Jin conjured a white fur cloak and draped it over Ayin’s shoulders before sitting beside her.
Noticing Gu Jin’s weary expression and sensing the chaotic fluctuations of his Immortal Power, Ayin felt increasingly distressed, though she showed no sign of it on her face. “A Jin, with two senior brothers guarding the mountain gate, you needn’t worry too much. If your Immortal Foundation remains unstable, it could cause great trouble during your future tribulation.”
She tentatively suggested, “Apart from my weak constitution, I’ve almost fully recovered now. Let’s return to Qi Moon Hall. You don’t have to seclude yourself for cultivation every day.”
Gu Jin shook his head and patted Ayin’s head. “The Forbidden Valley is quiet and suitable for secluded cultivation. We’ll stay here until you’ve fully recovered.”
Ayin’s Immortal Power was too weak to sense that he was refining the Divine Transformation Pill daily, but in Qi Moon Hall, A Jiu and Yan Shuang would surely notice.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Ayin’s eyes. She retrieved the invitation delivered by Hong Que from her sleeve and looked at Gu Jin. “Today, Hua Shu’s maid delivered an invitation for her and Lanfeng Supreme Lord’s wedding, inviting you to the Heavenly Palace to attend their ceremony.”
“Hong Que came?” Gu Jin, sensing nothing amiss, took the invitation.
“During the days I was unconscious, did you go to Hundred Birds Island?” Ayin suddenly asked, causing Gu Jin’s hand, which held the invitation, to pause.
“Yes.”
“Did the Sect Leader send you to Hundred Birds Island to discuss matters with the Peacock King?” Ayin persisted anxiously, unwilling to give up.
Gu Jin thought to himself that he couldn’t let Ayin know the true purpose of his visit to Hundred Birds Island.
“I went to Hundred Birds Island for a minor matter.” He tightened the loose white fur cloak around Ayin’s shoulders and smiled. “You usually don’t concern yourself with such things. Why the sudden interest today?”
Seeing that Gu Jin was evading the topic and clearly unwilling to discuss his trip to Hundred Birds Island further, Ayin decided to lay all her cards on the table. “A Jin, the mountain gate is unsettled. Lanfeng Supreme Lord and Hua Shu’s wedding is on the Double Ninth Festival, which coincides with the critical moment when our senior brothers will light the Nine Star Lantern…” She paused briefly. “Why not let Qing Yi attend instead?”
A glimmer of hope shone in Ayin’s eyes. If Gu Jin was willing to stay at the mountain gate and not attend Hua Shu’s wedding, perhaps it meant he was ready to let go.
But Gu Jin recalled how Lanfeng had unhesitatingly lent the Divine Dew of the Jade Pool to save Ayin in the Heavenly Palace. That day, Lanfeng had extended the invitation with genuine warmth, and he had already accepted.
Gu Jin shook his head. “Lanfeng Supreme Lord and I have become friends at first sight. Moreover, he lent the Divine Dew of the Jade Pool to heal your injuries. Once you’ve fully recovered, we must visit the Heavenly Palace.”
Ayin’s expression grew even more despondent. She thought Gu Jin was merely making excuses—how could he miss Hua Shu’s wedding when he still held feelings for her?
“Go if you wish.”Ayin was quite annoyed. She downed the Drunken Jade Dew on the table in one gulp, let her white fur cloak fall to the ground, and strode straight into the house, ignoring Gu Jin.
Poor Gu Jin, though he had lived a few centuries longer than her, was no more knowledgeable about matters between men and women than Ayin. He was left utterly bewildered as to why Ayin had suddenly lost her temper.
From that day on, though Ayin obediently stayed in the Forbidden Valley to recuperate as he had instructed, she lost the liveliness she had shown at first. Each day, she lazily leaned against the phoenix tree to bask in the sun, growing increasingly listless. Sometimes, she would accidentally fall asleep and not wake for hours.
Gu Jin knew her final days were approaching. Every day, he carefully used his blood to sustain her life, not daring to leave her side for a moment, and ceaselessly refining the Divine Transformation Pill.
Ayin spent less and less time awake each day. Whenever she opened her eyes, she was met with Gu Jin’s gaze—both worried and relieved. She knew her own body well, and with a shudder, Ayin realized she truly might not have much longer to live.
Belatedly frightened by this realization, Ayin spent her days with her eyes fixed on Gu Jin’s every move. At night, afraid he would notice, she hid under the covers for three nights straight, not daring to close her eyes.
She was afraid to sleep, terrified that if she did, she might never wake again.
Had A Jin brought her to the Forbidden Valley because he knew she didn’t have long to live?
Ayin didn’t dare ask. What if A Jin didn’t know? It would be better if he didn’t. Even she was afraid of her own death, let alone A Jin.
She had used half her life essence to retrieve Feng Yin’s soul. If A Jin knew she was about to die, given his nature, he would surely blame himself and regret everything.
And so, the two of them spent another month in the Forbidden Valley, each pretending not to know the truth. As Hua Shu and Lan Feng’s wedding day drew near, the Nine Star Lantern was about to be fully lit, and the Divine Transformation Pill was due to be completed.
Unfortunately, even until two days before the Double Ninth Festival, though the Divine Transformation Pill showed signs of emerging, it had yet to fully form. Unable to leave Great Marsh Mountain, Gu Jin had no choice but to send Qing Yi to the Heavenly Palace to offer congratulations to Lan Feng and convey his apologies.
Hua Shu arrived at the Heavenly Palace two days early to prepare for the wedding.
Lan Feng, acting on behalf of Feng Ran, presided over the Heavenly Palace and held a position second only to the highest authority in the Immortal Tribe. For his wedding, Sect Leaders of various mountain sects and rulers of all clans gathered. Even a day before the ceremony, most of the guests had already arrived.
Qing Yi, representing Great Marsh Mountain, was personally received by Lan Feng. Upon hearing that Gu Jin was still in seclusion, Lan Feng understood that the pill to save Ayin had likely not yet been completed. He gently reassured Qing Yi and arranged Great Marsh Mountain’s seating for the banquet the following day in the foremost position, showing the utmost respect.
The Heavenly Palace wedding was set for the next day. Only after handling the important matters of the Immortal Realm did Lan Feng return to Xiuyang Hall.
This was the bedchamber where he and Hua Shu would reside after their wedding. It had been renovated a year earlier, with every detail arranged according to Hua Shu’s preferences.
When Hua Shu entered the hall, she immediately noticed Lan Feng’s thoughtful preparations, and her heart warmed with contentment.
When Lan Feng entered, she was trying on her wedding dress for the following day.
The crimson nine-layered phoenix feather wedding dress accentuated Hua Shu’s snow-white skin, making her as noble and breathtaking as a peony, the queen of flowers.
Her eyes shone with satisfied and serene joy, as if this wedding was something she had awaited for millennia. She turned her head and caught sight of Lan Feng leaning against the doorway, quietly watching her.
Hua Shu, rarely showing such bashfulness, took on a somewhat girlish demeanor.
A smile tugged at Lan Feng’s lips as he walked forward, took her hand, and guided her to sit before the sandalwood mirror.Hua Shu always wanted to say something, but now that the wedding day had truly arrived, she felt a surge of emotion and found herself at a loss for words.
Lan Feng picked up the sandalwood comb and gently ran it through her ink-black hair.
"The first time I saw you, I thought to myself, how could there be such an arrogant and unreasonable little girl."
Lan Feng's voice suddenly broke the silence. Hua Shu lifted her head with a smile. "The first time? Was it on Phoenix Tree Island? By then, I was already a young lady."
Lan Feng had only risen to fame in the past century. Before that, he had resided overseas and rarely ventured into the Immortal Realm.
Lan Feng shook his head, a hint of nostalgia in his tone. "You probably don't remember. Long ago, when Empress Wuhuan held the Qionghua Banquet at the Heavenly Palace, I was also invited. You attended with your father." He gestured with his hand and chuckled softly. "You were only this tall, still a little girl, not yet fully grown."
Hua Shu was taken aback. She remembered that occasion—it was the first time she had accompanied the Peacock King to a grand celebration at the Heavenly Palace. During that magnificent Qionghua Banquet, all eyes and praises were focused on the Celestial Princess Jing Zhao. For the first time, she felt the absolute authority of power with stark clarity.
"You knew me back then?" Hua Shu felt unexpectedly nervous, her spirits dampened. "I was too young then, and my Immortal Power was weak. No one paid any attention to me."
"Yes," Lan Feng replied, as if recalling something, a smile spreading across his face. "Even though you were just a little girl, you were more headstrong than anyone. When the attendants serving the Empress slighted the Peacock King, you gave them a stern lesson."
"You saw that?" Hua Shu suddenly felt deeply embarrassed. In her youth, she had acted recklessly and caused trouble at the Heavenly Palace, alarming the Empress. If not for the Celestial Emperor's magnanimity, the entire Peacock Clan might have faced reprimand from the Empress.
"Otherwise, do you think the Celestial Emperor would have arrived just in time?" Lan Feng raised his voice slightly, finally revealing a good deed from his youth after thousands of years. "I saw you looking pitiful, on the verge of tears before the Empress, so I quietly pleaded with the Celestial Emperor to come to your rescue."
He and Mu Guang both belonged to the Golden Dragon lineage, destined from birth to serve as rulers. The Celestial Emperor had always looked after him and held him in special regard.
Hua Shu stared blankly at the teasing yet warm smile on Lan Feng's face. A surge of warmth flooded her heart, and when she opened her mouth, she found herself choked up, unable to speak.
Had their fate begun so early? Had he truly noticed that lowly Immortal Power Peacock Clan princess back then?
Seeing Hua Shu's eyes moisten, Lan Feng took her hand. The usually dignified and proud ruler of the Heavenly Palace shed his solemn demeanor, adopting a tender, youthful posture, no longer hiding the love and joy in his heart.
"Back then, I never imagined that one day you would become my wife. Now, looking back, meeting you then was the best thing that could have happened."
Lan Feng gazed quietly at Hua Shu and drew her into his embrace. Warmth welled up in Hua Shu's eyes as she returned his embrace, softly responding.
"Yes, the best thing that could have happened."
The moonlight lingered outside Xiuyang Hall, concealing the tender whispers and laughter of the soon-to-be-wed couple within.
Forbidden Valley, behind Great Marsh Mountain.
Ayin lay half-reclined on the bed, having drunk the blood medicine Gu Jin had brought her. Seeing Gu Jin about to head to the cave for cultivation as usual, she unexpectedly grabbed the sleeve of his robe.
"A Jin," she called out, her voice weak.
Gu Jin quickly turned and gathered her close. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"Ayin shook her head. "Don’t stay here with me anymore." In her eyes flickered the fearlessness of one facing death. "Go to the Heavenly Palace." Her voice was intermittent, almost devoid of strength. Her eyes slowly closed, and she whispered, barely audible, "Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. She is getting married. Go to the Heavenly Palace."
Gu Jin did not understand her last two sentences. His fingertips brushed against Ayin’s gradually slowing pulse, and his heart turned cold. Ayin had no time left.
Gu Jin carefully laid Ayin on the bed and stumbled toward the cave where the Primordial Spirit Pill was being refined.
Inside the cave, the flames in the cauldron blazed fiercely. The Inner Core formed from the Feathered Phoenix Crown had almost merged with the Divine Dew of the Jade Pool and the Kunlun Snow Lotus. In at most three more days, the Divine Transformation Pill would be complete.
A heavy shadow fell over Gu Jin’s eyes. He sacrificed half of his Immortal Power to complete the final step in refining the Divine Transformation Pill.
As dawn broke, golden sunlight cascaded over every hall of the Heavenly Palace, finally forming a radiant rainbow that illuminated the Wuji Hall, where the grand wedding was to take place.
According to the Heavenly Palace’s longstanding wedding traditions—
With the first toll of the Azure Dragon Bell, the guests entered the hall.
With the second chime of the Peacock Bell, Hua Shu arrived amidst colorful auspicious clouds.
With the third resonance of the Golden Dragon Gate, Lan Feng would descend upon the Wuji Platform in his Golden Dragon form, completing the wedding ceremony.
Lan Feng had always been diligent in his duties, and even on his wedding day, he was no exception. Early in the morning, he went to Lingyu Hall to attend to the day’s affairs. Before leaving, he sent word to Hua Shu, assuring her he would not miss the appointed time.
Hua Shu, well aware of his nature, paid it no mind. She merely smiled and complained to her maid, Hong Que.
When the first toll of the Azure Dragon Bell sounded, the Heavenly Palace’s wedding guests flew in an orderly manner toward Wuji Hall, guided by attendants to their seats.
Shortly after, the second chime of the Peacock Bell rang out leisurely. Ten colorful peacocks were arranged in a staircase formation above Xiuyang Hall, soaring through the nine heavens. Hua Shu, clad in a grand red wedding gown and wearing a phoenix crown, stood atop the lead peacock, gliding gracefully forward.
As the peacock bells fell silent, she landed on the Wuji Platform, a vision in red, her beauty outshining the nine heavens.
The seated guests, witnessing such a magnificent and stunning Peacock Princess, could not help but express admiration, sighing at the perfect match made in heaven.
Amidst the praises, the Golden Dragon Gate resounded majestically, its chimes echoing throughout the Heavenly Palace and reaching the Three Realms.
Hua Shu gazed toward Lingyu Hall, a gentle smile on her lips, her eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.
But even as the final chime of the Golden Dragon Gate faded, Lan Feng’s figure did not appear above Lingyu Hall.
The guests in Wuji Hall waited in vain for a long while, exchanging puzzled glances. On the platform, Hua Shu stared intently at the sky above the Heavenly Palace. At some point, her hands had clenched her wedding gown, and her lips trembled slightly, revealing a mix of helplessness and fury.
How could Lan Feng not appear? Their wedding was of such solemn importance—how could he not show up?
The murmurs from below reached Hua Shu’s ears, grating and harsh, while the gazes of the crowd felt like needles piercing her skin.
Finally unable to contain herself, she coldly instructed Hong Que at the edge of the platform, "Go to Lingyu Hall and summon High Lord Lan Feng to proceed with the wedding..."
Before she could finish her words, a pained dragon’s roar echoed across the sky from the northwest of the Heavenly Palace. A massive golden dragon phantom tumbled at the edge of the celestial steps before plummeting downward, shaking the entire Heavenly Palace with the force of its fall.
The Golden Dragon form—that was Lan Feng!
The faces of the crowd paled."The Hall of Imperial Cosmos—isn't that His Majesty Mu Guang's main hall? Why would High Lord Lan Feng be there?" The voices of the surrounding crowd echoed incessantly. Hua Shu's face drained of color as she tore off her phoenix crown and flew toward the Hall of Imperial Cosmos.
In mere moments, Hua Shu and the gathered immortals landed before the Hall of Imperial Cosmos. The sight before them left everyone stunned, momentarily forgetting to step forward.
Lan Feng held an immortal sword, dressed in a crimson embroidered ceremonial robe, kneeling on one knee before the hall.
A long halberd pierced his chest, blood gushing forth and staining his kneeling form.
The intense scent of blood made it impossible to distinguish whether the crimson was the original color of his wedding attire or the deep red of his blood.
He gazed toward the direction of the Wuji Hall, filled with longing and attachment, yet his eyes held no light or vitality.
As Hua Shu, clad in her wedding dress, landed before the Hall of Imperial Cosmos, the kneeling figure seemed to have fulfilled his final wish. Unable to hold on any longer, the faint light in his eyes slowly faded, and he closed them before everyone.
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