Chapter Eighty-Three
The fifteenth day of the ninth month, the sixty-three thousand six hundred and thirty-second year of the Post-Ancient Calendar.
Looking back, many significant events occurred on this day.
Great Marsh Mountain, which had stood at the pinnacle of the Immortal Realm for sixty thousand years, fell into ruin on this day. Yuan Qi, the son of the True Gods Shang Gu and Bai Jue, also awakened and ascended to godhood at Great Marsh Mountain on this very day.
There was another matter, far more important than these two, yet it was not announced to the Three Realms. The immortals and demons of the Three Realms only caught faint signs from some unusual phenomena.
On the day Yuan Qi ascended to godhood, the Pillars of Heaven at the Immortal-Demon boundary and the gates of the Ancient Realm vanished simultaneously. All connections and passages between the Ancient Divine Realm and the Lower Three Realms were completely sealed, except for the Path of Inquiry derived from the laws of heaven and earth.
It is said in ancient times that whenever a True God descends into the world, the Ancient Divine Realm would close its gates for a thousand years, using the power of the entire realm to nurture the True God. Only after a millennium would the gates reopen.
On the day the Pillars of Heaven and the gates of the Ancient Realm disappeared, the immortals and demons of the Lower Three Realms knew that a True God had been born in the Ancient Divine Realm.
They just did not know whether the one born upon the Cosmic Altar was a new True God or the returning True God Bai Jue.
Matters of the Ancient Divine Realm had always been beyond the reach of the Lower Three Realms. After some speculation and discussion, they shifted their focus back to the Three Realms.
More than half a month had passed since Yuan Qi ascended to godhood at Great Marsh Mountain. After attaining divinity, Yuan Qi did not return to Clear Pond Palace with Chang Que. Instead, he went to the Heavenly Palace with High Immortals such as Yu Feng and Jing Lei.
Hong Yi, the nephew of the Fox race king, had committed heinous crimes in slaughtering Great Marsh Mountain. The eleven High Immortals thus sentenced Hong Yi to death. As Hong Yi was already a Demigod, and fearing the Fox race might cause further trouble, the Heavenly Palace decreed that he would face the Heavenly Thunder punishment at the Azure Dragon Platform fifteen days later.
The Nine Heavens Profound Thunder would grind bones to dust and scatter ashes to the wind. The Immortal Tribe showed no mercy toward Hong Yi.
Counting the days, the Heavenly Thunder punishment was scheduled for three days later.
Great Marsh Mountain had perished. After Gu Jin attained divinity, the Primordial Chaos Power he left behind replaced the immortal spirit formation array, enveloping the entire mountain. No one could enter Great Marsh Mountain again. With nowhere else to go, Ayin followed Yuan Qi back to the Heavenly Palace.
Hong Yi was imprisoned in the Immortal Locking Pagoda, kept within Venerable Yu Feng’s Wind Spirit Palace. Ayin had too many doubts and once entered Wind Spirit Palace to ask Venerable Yu Feng to allow her into the Immortal Locking Pagoda to see Hong Yi, but Yu Feng refused with a troubled expression.
Hong Yi was already a Demigod. If Ayin recklessly entered the Immortal Locking Pagoda, no one knew what might happen. Now that Yuan Qi’s identity was fully revealed, the entire Heavenly Palace treated Ayin with equal respect and did not slight her because of the fall of Great Marsh Mountain.
Yet Ayin no longer felt the joy and freedom she had experienced at Great Marsh Mountain. From the day she returned to the Heavenly Palace, she had not seen Gu Jin again.
No, perhaps she should now call him Yuan Qi.
The son of the True Gods Shang Gu and Bai Jue, a Divine Lord born a god. Ayin had never imagined that A Jin, who had cared for her as she grew up at Great Marsh Mountain, would have such an identity.
The lowliest Water Condensation Beast of the Immortal Realm and the most noble divine son of the Divine Realm—it seemed that in a single day, they had become as different as clouds and mud.
Standing before the gates of Sunlit Palace for a long time, Ayin saw the lights inside the hall burning day and night. Unable to resist, she stopped an Immortal Attendant leaving the hall.
“A Jin…” Ayin paused, suppressing the ache in her heart before speaking again, “Has His Highness Yuan Qi not rested yet?”The immortal attendant in the palace, recognizing Ayin, greeted her with utmost courtesy and respect. "Greetings, Lady Ayin. His Highness has just finished his evening meal, and the Kunlun Patriarch happened to visit. They are currently playing chess. Would you like to see His Highness? Allow me to go in and announce your arrival..."
"No need. I was just asking. Since His Highness has a guest, I will come another day." Ayin stood awkwardly before the Sunlit Palace, shaking her head at the attendant before walking away dejectedly.
Half a month ago, Yu Feng had welcomed Yuan Qi back to the Heavenly Palace. Given Yuan Qi's special status, he was granted his own palace within the Heavenly Palace. Although he did not involve himself in the political affairs of the Immortal Tribe, all the notable High Immortals visited him daily, fearing they might fall behind.
Ayin wanted to know what exactly had happened at Great Marsh Mountain—why Hong Yi had slaughtered the entire sect after attaining divinity. With Yan Shuang and Qing Yi still unconscious, the only person she could turn to for help was Yuan Qi.
But the Yuan Qi of today... Ayin sighed softly. Now, even meeting him required an announcement.
Yet whether she truly couldn't see him or simply didn't dare to, even Ayin herself couldn't say.
The mountain of corpses at Great Marsh Mountain made it impossible for her to face Yuan Qi.
She often wondered: if she hadn't rescued A Jiu in the Nine Nether Purgatory, if she hadn't insisted on bringing A Jiu back to the mountain to recover, if she hadn't been severely injured and fallen unconscious during Great Marsh Mountain's most critical moment—if A Jin hadn't left the mountain to refine the Divine Transformation Pill for her—would all these tragedies have been avoided?
Her two senior brothers wouldn't have died, and Great Marsh Mountain wouldn't have perished.
She couldn't face the destruction of Great Marsh Mountain, nor did she want to face Yuan Qi after he had become a god.
If she didn't face it, would her A Jin not disappear?
Inside the Sunlit Palace, the Kunlun Patriarch won half a move against Yuan Qi. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, he reluctantly bid farewell.
After seeing the Kunlun Patriarch out of the palace, Chang Que hesitated for a moment before returning to the study to report to Yuan Qi.
"Your Highness, Lady Ayin came earlier."
Ayin came every day, but the Sunlit Palace was bustling with visitors, and the stream of guests never ceased. In truth, given Yuan Qi's status, he could have refused to see these High Immortals. Yet for some reason, whenever a High Immortal requested an audience, he never declined—as if deliberately avoiding that person.
Sure enough, Yuan Qi's hand, holding the book, paused. After a brief silence, he still asked, "She left?"
Chang Que nodded. "Lady Ayin has returned to Phoenix Roost Palace. Your Highness, Lady Ayin must have something important. I will go invite her first thing tomorrow morning..."
"No need," Yuan Qi shook his head. "She likely came because of Hong Yi."
Whether it was Chang Que's imagination or not, whenever Yuan Qi uttered the name "Hong Yi," he always sensed a cold, ruthless undertone.
It wasn't about hatred—perhaps only when one was utterly indifferent to a person could such an emotion arise.
Chang Que had cared for Yuan Qi in Clear Pond Palace for a hundred years and had never seen such an emotion in the eyes of that once-pampered and naive Little Divine Lord.
The entire sect of Great Marsh Mountain had meant too much to the Little Divine Lord.
That day on Great Marsh Mountain, when the Little Divine Lord ascended to godhood and used his divine power to seal the mountain, he later insisted on coming to the Heavenly Palace—likely because he wanted to witness Hong Yi's thunder punishment with his own eyes, to give an account to the entire sect of Great Marsh Mountain.
Chang Que sighed, remembering something else, and added, "Your Highness, these past few days, the High Immortals have been spreading rumors that with the disappearance of the Cosmic Pillar and the Ancient Realm gate, a True God may have descended in the Divine Realm."
Yuan Qi's expression softened slightly, a flicker of emotion stirring in his eyes. But he quickly suppressed that hint of anticipation and excitement, replying, "I understand. A thousand years from now, when the Ancient Realm gate reopens, we will naturally know who has returned from the Cosmic Altar."Chang Que looked astonished. "Your Highness, aren't you returning to the Divine Realm?"
Although the gate to the Ancient Realm had vanished, Yuan Qi was now a High God, possessing the ability to tear through realms and return to the Ancient Divine Realm. Chang Que had assumed that after witnessing Hong Yi's execution at the Heavenly Palace, Yuan Qi would return to the Divine Realm. But from the sound of it now, did he intend to remain in the Lower Three Realms?
Yuan Qi did not answer, only speaking in a low voice, "We'll discuss the future when it comes. You may leave."
Though puzzled, Chang Que could only assent and withdraw.
In the study, candlelight flickered softly. Chang Que's words echoed in his ears, and the image of Ayin leaving the palace alone surfaced in his mind almost every moment. Yet the sight of the Great Marsh Mountain hall filled with bones always suppressed the tenderness and nostalgia in his heart.
He gazed at the candlelight, his thoughts drifting. Suddenly, the light surged, and a golden glow swept through the room. Yuan Qi was blinded by the brilliance, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a forest.
Under the bright sun, peach blossoms blazed brilliantly, and a stream murmured gently.
Beneath an ancient peach tree stood a familiar yet unfamiliar figure in white. Whether in the Clear Pond Palace of his childhood or the carefree days at Great Marsh Mountain, he had waited for this moment for over two hundred years.
But he had never imagined that the day he became a god through worldly trials would also be the day he returned.
Was all of this predestined?
"I finally understand the choice you made back then, but the cost was too great, Father."
Yuan Qi's eyes stung. He opened his mouth several times, only to fall silent, watching the figure beneath the peach tree without approaching.
After a long while, a sigh, almost imperceptible, drifted softly amidst the falling blossoms and flowing water.
The white-robed Divine Lord turned and looked at the young man not far away, whose features resembled his own, a flicker of remorse passing through his eyes.
He was no longer the aloof True God of the Abyssal Swamp, nor the earnest young High Lord of Lookout Mountain, eagerly awaiting Yuan Qi's hatching. Now, he was gentle and wise, powerful yet compassionate.
He walked up to Yuan Qi, reached out to brush a withered leaf from his shoulder, and spoke with relief, "You've grown up."
After more than two hundred years, Bai Jue, as a father, had finally reclaimed the piece of affection he had once regretted most.
At Bai Jue's words, Yuan Qi's shoulders trembled slightly as he struggled to suppress the shaking in his body.
He wanted to embrace the person before him, but in the years without a father, he had never learned how to express such emotions.
A sigh sounded, and before he could gather his thoughts, he was enveloped in a broad embrace.
"Father."
The trembling voice spoke. After more than two hundred years, Bai Jue had finally waited for this day.
His eyes grew moist. Releasing his son, whose face was flushed with embarrassment, he said, "Your mother is very worried about you."
Yuan Qi took two steps back. He understood the meaning behind Bai Jue's appearance, but now, he had his own path to follow.
Seeing Yuan Qi's silence, Bai Jue understood. "Have you made up your mind? You won't return to the Divine Realm?"
"Yes, Father," Yuan Qi met Bai Jue's gaze. "Although I have attained Divine Transformation, there are still many things I must accomplish. I cannot return."
Bai Jue looked at the determination and resolve in his eyes and nodded. "You've grown up. Whatever decision you make, your mother and I will not interfere. The gate to the Ancient Realm is closed, and I have only just descended to the Divine Realm. My Divine Power is not yet fully formed. For the next thousand years, I will not descend to the Three Realms again. Unless you ascend to the Divine Realm, I fear this may be the last time we meet, my son."
"I know."
"From now on, you must walk your path alone, child. It will be difficult."
"I know."
"Are you afraid?""Father, during those sixty thousand years, were you ever afraid?"
"No." Bai Jue gazed at him quietly. "But it was very lonely."
Yuan Qi looked at Bai Jue, the corners of his mouth lifting into his first smile since attaining divinity.
"I am not afraid. You waited sixty thousand years, and I can certainly do the same."
A faint smile brushed Bai Jue's face. He patted Yuan Qi's shoulder, his divine power fading as his figure slowly vanished.
A flash of golden light passed, and when Yuan Qi opened his eyes again, he was still seated in the study of Sunlit Palace, as if nothing had ever happened.
He looked at the withered leaf in his hand, warmth surging in his eyes.
After one hundred thirty thousand years of waiting and missed chances, his parents had finally found their fulfillment.
He rose and walked to the window, gazing toward the direction of Phoenix Roost Palace, sighing softly in his heart.
In this lifetime, he wondered if he would ever find his own fulfillment.
In Phoenix Roost Palace, after visiting the unconscious Qing Yi, Ayin sat by Yan Shuang's bedside in the rear hall as usual.
Yan Shuang's injuries were severe, with wounds on her back and shoulders deep enough to reach the bone. Even immortal medicine could not erase them, and she could only rely on her own immortal power to slowly heal.
Looking at the wounds on her body, Ayin felt both guilt and sorrow, yet a deep suspicion remained hidden in her heart.
Each of the wounds on Yan Shuang's body was fatal and utterly ruthless—could it truly have been A Jiu who injured her?
Just then, a cold wind blew past. The window ledge was pushed open a crack. Having taken the Divine Transformation Pill, Ayin's immortal power was now far beyond what it once was. She abruptly stood up, staring toward the window, and coldly demanded, "Who's there?"
OpenNovel