Chapter 315

Qi had fled to the wilderness and was just returning when he saw Fuxi's eyes glimmer slightly, a faint divine power flowing through them.

Qi felt a hint of doubt, for in the Heavenly Court he had never known what affair would still need Fuxi to expend divine power.

But Qi did not ask, merely thinking Fuxi had a sudden whim or perhaps some private matter.

Having just returned to his seat, Qi had barely sat down when Di Jun approached, smiling as he spoke: "Now the great gods gather in the Heavenly Court, yet you do not come to share my burden, instead hiding here in leisure—truly enviable."

Taiyi merely said: "Just watch you drink your fill; I'm too lazy to seek you out—it's only a little wine, I'm sure you can handle it."

Fuxi's words were not as cold as Taiyi's; he smiled and said: "Wherever you go, the clouds gather and the scenery follows—such a public display of holiness, how could we possibly contend with you?"

"If we were to go with you, it would seem we are too eager."

Di Jun gave Fuxi a sideways glance, didn't respond, then turned to Qi and asked: "Earlier, from afar I heard nothing of what you and Nüwa Changxi were saying; I only saw you flee in disarray—why was that?"

Qi gave an embarrassed, helpless laugh:

"I've only just arrived, and happened to interrupt Nüwa's affair—she was mostly discussing the earthly marriage, and my ill timing ruined the situation she had painstakingly arranged."

Di Jun then seemed to understand, while Fuxi beside him suddenly asked:

"Qi, we've known each other for a long time, yet I've never been clear on your preferences; in this earthly marriage matter, between Gouhu and Nüwa, whom do you favor?"

"I speak plainly: if you wish to marry Nüwa, I will naturally support you; but if you want to take both Nüwa and Gouhu as wives like Di Jun, don't blame me, Fuxi, for being unsentimental."

"Nüwa is after all my sister, and your close friend; as her elder brother, how could I let her suffer such indignity?"

Before Qi could speak, Di Jun frowned, displeased, and said:

"How could that be seen as disparaging? By your logic, my marrying Xihe and Changxi would be belittling them."

Fuxi immediately furrowed his brows and said:

"Don't stir up nonsense; if Taiyi and another god were to jointly serve one goddess, would you act this way?"

"I don't even concern outsiders, but Xihe and Changxi share deep feelings and do not wish to part—this is their affair; Nüwa and Gouhu are not so close."

Di Jun was about to reply when Taiyi glared at both of them and said:

"Don't use me as an example; I stand alone upon the Dao, revering the Dao, and only the sun of the world remains, while others are like fleeting light, though they have passed."

Having spoken, Taiyi turned to Qi and asked directly: "Qi, don't hide in the back silent; in my view, Nüwa is undoubtedly the best choice—we merely have a chance to prove the Dao, whereas Nüwa is the future heaven-ordained sage."

"To marry you would be an unparalleled blessing; besides, we have long been together, most familiar, and could walk the Great Dao side by side."

"Our zodiac signs match; should we have offspring, they would be the most fitting inheritors of the Great Dao—if you are inclined, speak plainly."

After Taiyi's words, Di Jun and Fuxi both fixed their gazes on Qi, who could only helplessly say: "I haven't been hiding; I already told Nüwa beforehand that, compared to Gouhu, I naturally lean toward her."

"And when have I ever indicated I intended to take multiple wives like Di Jun? It's merely Fuxi's wild guess."

"To me, marriage is actually not important; what I value is the heavenly blessing obtainable through the earthly marriage."

"The matter of Great Dao lineage is weighty; among the myriad primordial gods of the wilderness, many have marital bonds, yet how many primordial god clans remain in the wilderness today?"

"Like Di Jun, I doubt his assent to the heavenly marriage stems from any desire to found a Golden Crow clan."

"As for whom I would marry, I actually don't place great importance on it; I lean toward Nüwa merely because we are more familiar and our zodiac signs match."

"We are both primordial gods; I suspect the two of us are likewise—how could romantic love compare to the transmission of the Great Dao and the pursuit of the Great Dao?"

"If they think that way, I would rather refuse the earthly marriage bond, for such people could not walk the Great Dao with me."

"What I seek is a companion of the Great Dao, to walk the Great Dao together, not someone who abandons the Great Dao to choose me."

Taiyi nodded in approval; Di Jun, though finding it somewhat extreme, believed love and pursuit of the Great Dao were not contradictory, yet he did not voice objection.

Fuxi felt rather ashamed, thinking his private feelings had made him overvalue this earthly marriage.

Have you not seen Yuanhuang and Yuanfeng? Their affection surpasses countless marital dao partners of the world, yet after Yuanfeng's dao-transformation, does she not still live well?

Furthermore, after Yuanfeng's dao-transformation, Yuanhuang alone upheld the survival space of the entire phoenix clan.

The Undying Volcano, in Yuanhuang's hands, has never continuously erupted to this day; all beings of the Nan Fang continent are grateful to her.

Fuxi dares to guarantee that their affection absolutely surpasses that of Di Jun and Changxi; at least between them no outsider may intrude, for any reason.

Even so, after Yuanfeng's death, Yuanhuang never abandoned his pursuit of the Great Dao—this is the demeanor of a primordial god.

Or consider Zu Long and Long Mu; the depth of their feeling is rare in the world.

Long Mu committed a grave error, was punished by the Three Sovereigns, endured nine lifetimes of reincarnation; during this period, Zu Long continually searched the wilderness for her, accompanying her.

Throughout those nine lives, with Zu Long's help, Long Mu also solved the mystery of the womb and even bore children for Zu Long.

The legend of the dragon bearing nine sons still circulates in the wilderness, holding that Zu Long and Long Mu embody the utmost expression of love.

But after the nine cycles of reincarnation ended and Long Mu's true spirit vanished, Zu Long showed no change—he still developed and strengthened the dragon clan, becoming a hegemon of the age.

The ruler of the wilderness waters was, before Qi, the master of the wilderness water system, the supreme deity of the water earthly gods.

After the dragon clan's defeat, Zu Long was imprisoned in the water eye, suffering distress and setbacks, yet he never abandoned his pursuit of the Great Dao, still awaiting the day of deliverance.

Reflecting on this, Fuxi realized he had been greatly mistaken; marital affection is not the entirety of a primordial god's nature.

It is merely a tint in a primordial god's life; perhaps important, but lacking or losing it is also inconsequential.

Gazing at Qi before him, Fuxi spoke: "I am aware, but regardless, between Nüwa and Gouhu, Qi, you can choose only one."

Qi let out a soft sigh: "If not for Nüwa's words, Gouhu—and even the earthly marriage—would not be in my options; do you understand? Moreover, you underestimate Nüwa too much; she is the future heaven-ordained sage, her prospects far brighter than ours."

"Such a person, I alone am suited to her; Nüwa could be called a bride marrying down, and she would never tolerate two women serving one husband."

Qi again spoke resentfully: "Although I am confident that few in the wilderness surpass me, I would not dare, like Di Jun, to have such a thick skin as to actually have two top goddesses attend him."

"Moreover, I think I lack Di Jun's luck to have two goddesses both enamored of me."

Taiyi burst into laughter upon hearing this, Fuxi gave a faint smile, only Di Jun grew annoyed and said:

"I, exalted as Heavenly Emperor, command the stars, my might reaches the nine heavens and governs the four lands; that two goddesses are devoted to me and attend me is my charm—what talk of luck?"

Qi merely gave a disdainful glance at Di Jun, then said: "A person values self-knowledge."

Upon these words, Fuxi could no longer restrain himself, bursting into loud laughter, his exaggerated manner drawing sidelong looks.

As for Taiyi, his laughter never ceased; were it not for the barrier isolating this place, outsiders could not see or hear what was said, and likely all the gods of the wilderness would envy Di Jun's fortune.

"Marriage may not be worthy of the gods' regard, but the two goddesses who align with the Great Dao, suitable as dao companions, all cherish Di Jun—how could one not envy him?"

Di Jun saw everyone like that, but he also didn't know how to refute; he could only let out a cold snort and then said angrily:

"There's no point arguing with you; let's just drink!"

Having said that, Di Jun used his divine power to lift the wine, turning it into a water arrow that shot straight into the mouths of Taiyi and Fuxi, filling their mouths and causing their faces to flush red as they coughed nonstop.

As for Qi, the culprit, Di Jun had no intention of letting him off; he directly picked up two wine cups and forcibly made Qi drink along with him.

Meanwhile, on another seat, Nüwa frowned tightly, not knowing what had happened; Gouhui had clearly been moved before, but as soon as Qi left, she outright refused.

No matter how Nüwa persuaded her, Gouhui would not change her mind; even when Nüwa proactively told her not to mind herself, Gouhui still never agreed.

Even Nüwa sent a mental transmission to Gouhui, saying that if she really cared, they could be like Xihe and Changxi, but Nüwa ultimately still failed to get what she wanted.

Xihe and Changxi, as well as Houtu Xuanming, who were also at the same seat, were likewise urging her, after all the earth marriage was of great importance; if Gouhui agreed, they too could share a bit of merit.

Such a thing beneficial to everyone, yet ultimately it was a case of fate without destiny; Gouhui's words were firm and unyielding, as if this earth marriage were not an opportunity, but rather some flood and ferocious beast.

Just after the Heavenly Court assembly ended, Gouhui returned to Xikunlun; on the way, she sighed: "The Heavenly Court is truly perilous—even such a wonderful matter as heavenly-earthly marriage actually involves this kind of scheming."

"People like us who seek purity are naturally unskilled in this, and how dare we step into the vortex."

"In the wilderness, cultivation is not easy; I should just guard my own Xikunlun. This world is too dark; it's best to stay out of it."

Gouhui thought, after all she was also the Queen Mother of the West appointed by the Heavenly Court, one of the top deities in the wilderness, and having received a promise, she believed she could surely protect herself.

After the assembly dispersed, Fuxi, who had pretended to be drunk, returned to the Western Emperor Palace and immediately sobered up, a faint smile on his face, the corners of his mouth slightly lifted.

In contrast, Nüwa, after returning to her Empress Palace, was still deep in thought, wondering whether Gouhui had received some unknown news that made her unwilling to participate in the earth marriage.

Otherwise, Nüwa really couldn't understand: great success was right before her eyes, Gouhui had already been moved, even if Qi appeared to defuse the situation for her, it would only waste more words.

But the final outcome was not as desired; Nüwa couldn't help but suspect whether Qi had privately discussed something with Gouhui—otherwise, how could her efforts end in failure?

"Could it be that Qi harbors other thoughts toward me? That's why he appeared at just the right moment to interrupt, even sending a mental transmission in private?"

"But based on my past understanding of Qi, he shouldn't be the type to care about marriage partners; being single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, a transmitter of the Dao lineage, he shouldn't make such a fuss over something so trivial."

Nüwa, unable to figure it out after much thought, and feeling the effects of the wine, simply lay down on the phoenix carriage and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, the azure phoenix attending outside the hall, seeing Nüwa fallen asleep, gently lowered the curtains, lit the incense, and then quietly withdrew.

The entire Empress Palace instantly fell into silence, with only a speck of burning incense light, emitting a faint fragrance.

At the edge of Xifang Dalu, the Great Devil was then at the boundary between east and west, sitting cross-legged on the cliff's edge, with fierce winds howling around it.

At this moment, with the bright moon high, the Great Devil slowly inhaled and exhaled; strand after strand of essence energy, following the mouth and nose, was drawn into its belly.

Within a radius of ten thousand li, not a single birdcall could be heard; aside from the wind, even the sounds of insects and rodents moving were absent, as if it were a land of dead silence.

As the moonlight fell, one could see that beneath the cliff where the Great Devil stood, countless beings lay as if corpses, sunk into deep sleep.

And as the Great Devil breathed, the vital signs of the beings at the cliff's base gradually weakened, the rise and fall of their chests and abdomens becoming almost imperceptible.

Until the sun rose in the east, the Great Devil finally opened its eyes, as if silently waiting for something; only a wisp of purple qi drifted in with the sunrise, and the Great Devil suddenly inhaled, whereupon a fierce wind sprang up between heaven and earth, sweeping up the purple qi and drawing it all into its belly.

Suddenly, purple fire burst forth from the Great Devil's seven orifices; this fire burned from inside out, causing its flesh to twitch.

Afterward, seemingly unable to endure any longer, the Great Devil actually began rolling on the cliff, opening its mouth as if to say something, or to cry out in pain, yet only puffs of smoke kept emerging.

Often mixed with sparks; if one looked inside, one would see the purple fire converging, wildly destroying the Great Devil's five viscera and six bowels.

Together with the vocal cords and throat, they were scorched dry and cracked by the purple fire, revealing the internal strands of flesh and blood.

That fierce purple fire even cracked the Great Devil's flesh, leaving countless fissures across its body, from which the purple fire again erupted.

Fortunately, the Great Devil's means were formidable; for each bit destroyed by the purple fire, it instantly recovered a bit, until the purple fire vanished completely, and the Devil's twitching motions gradually ceased.

Until noon, with the high sun hanging, the Great Devil then slowly rose, walking along the boundary line between east and west Xifang Dalu toward the distance.

As the Great Devil walked, countless cursing sounds emanated from within its body, all condemning its act of swallowing the purple qi.

The Great Devil seemed oblivious to this, continuing to walk on, each step a stagger, yet never once pausing.

Not long after the Great Devil departed, a streak of flowing light suddenly flew in; a silver-robed divine general appeared, landing on the cliff where the Great Devil had previously stayed.

PS: Nüwa won with an absolute advantage; it seems the marriage partner is now destined to be Nüwa herself.

(End of chapter)