Chapter 17

At the entrance of the Heavenly Emperor’s Palace.

Bai Yuer remained kneeling on the ground, having not risen in a full year.

Her red feathered robe was caked with dust.

Her once snow-white, delicate cheeks had lost all color, appearing pale and frail.

Even though Bai Yuer was a favored child of heaven, protected by the Vermilion Phoenix Divine Flame, a year of continuous kneeling without a single grain of food had left her extremely weak.

Over the past year, Jun Xiaoyao had come and gone from the Heavenly Emperor’s Palace many times, yet he had never once looked at her directly.

Bai Yuer’s heart sank deeper and deeper with the passing time.

She felt Jun Xiaoyao might never forgive her.

This meant she could never obtain the Elixir of Immortality from him, let alone use it to save her father, the Emperor.

Due to Jun Linglong’s orders, the Vermilion Ancient Nation had not informed Bai Yuer that the Vermilion Emperor had received the Elixir of Immortality.

Bai Yuer foolishly believed she had no hope left.

She felt as if she had sunk into an endless, bottomless ocean, suffocating, her crimson eyes filled with despair.

At that moment, faint footsteps sounded.

Bai Yuer instinctively lifted her beautiful eyes—and her breath nearly stopped.

The figure she had longed for day and night was truly walking toward her.

Jun Xiaoyao wore a pure white robe, spotless as snow, his skin glowing with divine radiance.

After a year, Jun Xiaoyao, now nine years old, had grown taller, his features exquisitely carved by heaven’s hand, already taking on a breathtakingly handsome appearance.

His expression was calm as he stepped before Bai Yuer.

Jun Linglong followed closely behind him.

“I pay homage to the Divine Son!”

Bai Yuer’s expression was stunned, yet filled with joy.

After a full year, she had finally waited for this day.

Jun Xiaoyao studied Bai Yuer—her frame had thinned considerably, clearly showing sincere remorse.

Yet Jun Xiaoyao said nothing, merely gazing at her coolly.

Seeing this, Bai Yuer bit her silver teeth lightly and bowed deeply three times before Jun Xiaoyao: “Divine Son, Yuer knows her fault. Please forgive me once.”

Jun Xiaoyao said coolly: “Knowing your fault is enough. Rise. After all, I’m not some demon.”

Jun Linglong, hearing this, muttered inwardly.

You’re not a demon, yet you made her kneel here for a whole year?

You even gave out the Elixir of Immortality already, yet hid it from Bai Yuer and kept her kneeling.

You’re the real old demon.

“Thank you, Divine Son.” Bai Yuer struggled to rise, her legs numb and trembling with weakness.

Seeing this, Jun Xiaoyao flicked his finger—a top-tier Sacred Elixir landed in Bai Yuer’s hand.

Bai Yuer was even more stunned and honored.

A top-tier Sacred Elixir could fetch a heavenly price outside; Jun Xiaoyao handed it to her as if it were nothing.

Instantly, Bai Yuer felt no resentment toward Jun Xiaoyao—only gratitude.

She swallowed the Sacred Elixir and began to regain her strength.

Jun Xiaoyao’s lips curled into a faint, cold smile.

The old trick of striking first, then offering candy—he knew it too well.

The Sacred Elixir’s effect was astonishing; Bai Yuer quickly shed her weakness.

Yet, thinking of her gravely ill Vermilion Emperor, Bai Yuer clenched her jade hand, hesitant to speak.

To have earned Jun Xiaoyao’s forgiveness was already an unexpected blessing.

How could she now dare ask him for the Elixir of Immortality?

Thinking this, Bai Yuer took a deep breath and bowed to Jun Xiaoyao: “Thank you, Divine Son, for your mercy. Yuer takes her leave.”

Deep inside, Bai Yuer sighed—she had still failed to bring back the Elixir of Immortality.

At that moment, Jun Linglong softly laughed: “Bai Yuer, don’t you want the Elixir of Immortality?”

Bai Yuer smiled bitterly: “To gain the Divine Son’s forgiveness is fortune enough. How could Yuer dare to ask for more?”

“Then why not contact the Vermilion Ancient Nation?” Jun Linglong’s beautiful eyes shimmered.

Bai Yuer blinked, then pulled out a jade slip to send a message.

The Vermilion Ancient Nation replied immediately.

“The Jun Clan delivered the Elixir of Immortality some time ago—it was all thanks to the Divine Son’s grace.”

“The Emperor’s injuries have fully healed, and he is now in seclusion, striving for a higher realm.”

“All of this is due to the Divine Son’s benevolence!”

Each message left Bai Yuer’s mind momentarily blank.

Then her face flushed with excitement, disbelief trembling through her.

“Divine Son… it was you…”

Bai Yuer’s eyes blazed with fervor and emotion as she looked at Jun Xiaoyao, her voice choked with tears.

“I told you—I’m no demon,” Jun Xiaoyao said calmly, smiling.

In that moment, Jun Xiaoyao’s figure was deeply engraved into Bai Yuer’s heart.

From within to without, she felt as if she had become shaped entirely by him.

Her heart bore his imprint forever, impossible to erase.

It was like a person drowning in utter despair, suddenly finding every hope fulfilled.

And every hope had been given to her by Jun Xiaoyao.

“Yuer vows to serve the Divine Son for life—as servant, as slave, without hesitation. If I break this oath, may thunder strike me down!”

Bai Yuer knelt before Jun Xiaoyao, speaking with iron resolve.

Previously, she had knelt to beg forgiveness; now, she bowed with sincere, heartfelt submission.

And just then, a voice filled with fury rang out from beyond the Jun Clan’s gate.

“Where is the Jun Clan’s Divine Son? To bully a weak woman—what kind of courage is that? Have the guts to fight me!”

The voice exploded like thunder, shaking heaven and earth.

Many Jun Clan members were startled.

A Jun Clan guard approached Jun Xiaoyao to report.

“Divine Son, a young man outside is causing trouble—he’s likely from the Azure Dragon Ancient Nation.”

“Hmph… looks like this fiancé still lacks self-awareness…” Jun Xiaoyao sneered inwardly.

He said coolly: “Let him in. I’ll handle this.”

“Yes.” The guard withdrew.

Bai Yuer, still kneeling, turned pale.

Jun Xiaoyao had just forgiven her—and now her fiancé had come to provoke him.

Wasn’t this ruining everything?

At that moment, Bai Yuer felt a flicker of resentment toward her fiancé, Xiao Chen.

“Divine Son, I—” Bai Yuer, panicked, hurried to speak.

“No need,” Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand.

Moments later, a young man in an Azure Dragon robe, handsome and refined, arrived.

When he saw Bai Yuer kneeling before Jun Xiaoyao, his eyes flared with rage, a storm of murderous intent surging forth.

Any man would find it unbearable to see his fiancée kneeling before another man.

“Yuer, get up! How dare he force you like this!” Xiao Chen roared.

“Xiao Chen, be silent! How dare you disrespect the Divine Son!” Bai Yuer snapped sharply.

Xiao Chen froze, staring at Bai Yuer in disbelief.

“Yuer, I came to save you—why are you defending him?” Xiao Chen asked, bewildered.

“Enough. I knelt of my own will. The Divine Son forgave me—I’m grateful. What are you doing here?” Bai Yuer said coldly.

She had once held slight affection for Xiao Chen, her childhood companion.

But the Azure Dragon Ancient Nation broke its promise and withheld the Elixir of Immortality from the Vermilion Ancient Nation.

She had even asked Xiao Chen for help—he promised her, yet not a trace of the Elixir had appeared.

If not for Jun Xiaoyao providing the Elixir of Immortality, her father might still be dying.

Between Jun Xiaoyao and Xiao Chen—who truly owed her a debt?

“Yuer, how can you think this way? Did he force you into this?”

Xiao Chen clenched his teeth, his fury burning hotter.