Chapter 227: The Heaven Star Sect: All Stars Return to Their Places

In the third year of Shen Ting's Dao Yuan era, the eighteenth day of the ninth month, the day of Start of Winter in Sheng Long Tian.

The Kunlun God of the Mystic Dao of Yuan Yan and the Southern Li Vermilion Bird Holy War Empress had a grand wedding.

All the gods came to congratulate, all the immortals paid homage; this was the glorious day of Shen Ting's New Dao revival, when the shadow of the great calamity finally lifted.

The Queen Mother of the West sat cross-legged outside the Inner Court Dao Lord's resting palace for a long time without rising; only she knew that the Dao Lord no longer existed.

Even Shen Qingli did not understand; only the Queen Mother of the West comprehended all of this.

After all, she was not only the Dao Palace's penal officer but also a guardian of the Dao Court.

"Your Majesty."

The Queen Mother of the West slowly rose and performed the great obeisance.

That omnipotent being who had pulled Shen Ting back from the brink of collapse and single-handedly steadied all heavens—the Primordial Dao Lord—was no more.

Although he had already passed on the Dao lineage, and his chosen one had also convinced the Queen Mother of the West, he was still not him.

The Queen Mother of the West knew very well that she would never see her former lord again; it was no wonder that among the Dao Lord's successive divine edicts was one to change Shen Ting's era name.

On the last day of the previous era, Your Majesty had already returned to the Void.

On the first day of the new era, it was the day the Young Lord smoothly inherited the Dao lineage, the day Your Majesty could rest easy.

During these three years, although the Dao Lord still retained a thread of Dao thought, he was merely waiting for the Young Lord to return.

She came, and he then dissipated.

"Do not grieve; he is still here."

Shen Kuo's voice sounded from behind the Queen Mother of the West.

The Queen Mother of the West's spine straightened instantly; she saw Shen Kuo in crimson robes surpassing fire already past her, standing before the great doors of the Dao Lord's resting palace.

"God?" the Queen Mother of the West puzzled.

Shen Kuo gazed at his old friend's former residence, and he also clearly understood that his friend had stepped down, yet was also reborn through the Dao.

By returning to the Void himself, he secured a sliver of life for Shen Ting and all the gods, also giving rise to a new Dao that allowed the 'decayed' Shen Ting to be reborn.

Having placed himself at death's door to live, and returning to the Void to restart, he truly was always a step ahead in his understanding of the Dao.

"Thank you."

Shen Kuo extended his hand, but the Dao friends who once could hold hands with him are no longer present.

Nevertheless, in the dark he could see that rascal kid shamelessly placing his hand onto his hand.

He truly owed him! He really did owe him.

But the matter of him eloping with the young maiden is another story!

"Is Your Majesty still here?"

The Queen Mother of the West suppressed her astonishment, somewhat incredulous.

In her perception, the Dao she guarded had already dissipated!

"Naturally."

Shen Kuo looked at the familiar pavilion, feeling no sorrow.

In his eyes, the vicissitudes of sea and field, the turning of constellations, were merely the inevitable unfolding of the Dao, with nothing to lament.

"Then why is Your Majesty not seen?"

"We will meet again."

Shen Kuo withdrew his hands.

Although it was still unclear what mischief this kid was up to.

But one day we will surely meet again.

Only, when that time comes, we do not know what form he will take.

"Then this place,"

"let it remain."

Shen Kuo never intended to move in.

Since the beginning of Shen Ting, he has always resided in the Vermilion Bird Hall.

Actually, as the Kunlun God, he also has his own palace in the Dao Palace, merely a quieter one.

Nowadays, too many people come and go before his gate; that place cannot accommodate them……

"Let me arrange lodging for you, subordinate." The Queen Mother of the West mused that always staying in the Vermilion Bird Hall was not ideal.

She had originally thought that after the grand wedding, the God would move in, but she never expected the God to have no such intention; she was preparing to set it up as a new bridal chamber.

The old departs, the new arrives.

That is how it ought to be.

"Otherwise, such a fierce deity as she would not have sat here for so long."

"No need, the Vermilion Bird Hall is fine." Shen Kuo was not so particular.

The Queen Mother of the West then did not insist, saying, "Then I'll have the subordinate arrange something else."

Shen Kuo nodded, but did not leave together; he was just about to bring out wine when Shen Qingli arrived.

"Dad is indeed here." Shen Qingli, also dressed in festive red today, kept sizing up her father, nodding repeatedly, "I never thought Dad would look so good in red."

"Aren't you accompanying your mother?"

"I also came to see Dad."

Shen Qingli watched him pour out the wine.

"Would you like to have a drink with A Jin?"

"No."

Shen Kuo simply went to the gate of Di Jin Hall and poured a cup of wine.

Ah this...

Jiuli prostrated themselves, utterly convinced! This is paying respect to the dead!

Shen Qingli's expression was a bit complicated, "Dad, there's no need,"

"Heh." Shen Kuo sneered, "That old pig has rooted my pristine cabbage—no need?"

Shen Qingli rubbed her forehead, not expecting that she hadn't settled accounts with Di Jin yet; her father had already done so, opening with grave wine.

Although not happy, after Shen Kuo put down the wine cup, his expression also grew somewhat complex: "Do you really like Di Jin?"

Shen Qingli understood that if she said she didn't like Di Jin, her father would certainly not let that guy keep pestering her.

"Is it not because he gave you a lot, making you feel indebted, so you just went along with him?"

"Or perhaps he is the only peer who treats you relatively well?"

Shen Kuo felt heartbroken just mentioning it; the Biyu Sect's bunch of demons and monsters truly devour people without spitting out bones.

"Perhaps you just see him as family, your brother."

"No." Shen Qingli shook her head.

If it were before Di Jin climbed into her bed, she was certain she regarded him as a brother.

Even without blood ties, she had never thought of him that way.

But he did.

Moreover.

He also couldn't be considered Di Jin's brother.

He was still the one who, in her darkest despair, granted her the Immortal-Demon Transformation and was her benefactor.

Actually it's a bit complicated...

He is the Di Jin who acts coquettish in front of her.

He is also the deity who can dote on and protect her.

"Can't explain it clearly."

"But indeed I don't regard him as a brother or a benefactor."

Shen Qingli understood her own feelings, for these two emotions she had indeed once invested in Di Jin, but they gradually turned sour.

Perhaps it's because she actually hadn't interacted with him for long as either an older sister or a disciple, so he either left or disappeared.

More often, he clung to her in the guise of a clingy childhood sweetheart husband.

"I understand."

Shen Kuo sighed helplessly.

"A chaste woman fears a clingy husband."

That brat is exactly the product of such clinging.

And yet that proper title was personally given by him.

"Oh dear, Divine Lord! Why are you still here? The auspicious time is coming soon!"

The old matron's voice came urgently; Shen Kuo didn't feel like chatting further about Di Jin, pulling his daughter away hastily.

The grand ceremony was held that day in the banquet hall; basically all the gods and immortals who could come did come! The seating was a vast sea of heads.

What made Shen Qingli feel the difference most was that many more strong incense offerings had been added! Eighty percent of the Dao Palace's divinities had already revived and come to attend the ceremony.

This isn't even counting...

"Qingqiu, chief of the Qingyan clan, comes to congratulate."

"East Sea, dragon crown prince, comes to congratulate."

"West Wasteland, lord of the Ruoshui Abyss, comes to congratulate."

"..."

The rulers of the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands, or their heirs, all came bearing congratulatory gifts.

Those rulers who didn't come were basically because they had just revived and it was still inconvenient to come.

For example, the East Sea Dragon King, who directly sacrificed himself during the great calamity, leaving only a dragon soul clinging to life. Although he has now revived, gathering back his scattered dragon body from between heaven and earth remains a major problem.

Thus the dragon crown prince, upon entering, kept staring fixedly at Shen Qingli.

Soul-Consolidating Pill! The divine medicine that could save his father...

"A Li, you've become a tempting delicacy."

Jiuli lay on the banquet table, looking this way and that; a crowd of immortals, about eighty or ninety percent, were all staring at A Li.

However, these gazes held no malice, nor did they dare to; they were only goodwill, flattery, and longing, yet they still dared not approach rashly.

After all, seated before Shen Qingli were arranged to her left and right the Queen Mother of the West, Jin Wu, Tai Jin, Hou Tu, Tai Shang, Ming Yue, and many other primordial deities—stars surrounding the moon, nothing more.

Anyone wishing to approach Shen Qingli first had to pass the barrier of the gods.

Can a person even pass that?

The dragon crown prince was almost depressed.

Shen Qingli happily enjoyed her leisure, sipping jade nectar, snacking on pastries, watching her parents, feeling blissful.

"Heavenly Star Hall!"

The officiating immortal official suddenly exclaimed!

"Heavenly Star Hall, Lord Ji Xing, comes to congratulate!"

"Heavenly Star Hall, Lord Hua Yuan Xing, comes to congratulate!"

"Heavenly Star Hall, Lord Tao Xing, comes to congratulate!"

"Heavenly Star Hall, Lord Zhu Ge Xing, comes to congratulate!"

"Heavenly Star Hall,..."

Initially, just the three words Heaven Star Hall had already caught Shen Qingli's attention.

Immediately after, the familiar surname moved her! She stood up and looked toward the main hall's entrance.

「Heaven Star Hall, Heaven Sword Star, come to congratulate。」

Wearing scarlet martial attire and bearing the Heaven Star giant sword, Liu Meng has arrived.

She and her 「sect」, the Heaven Star Sect myriad 「stars」, appeared before Shen Qingli's eyes like a dream.