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Chapter 29: Marriage Proposal
🕑 Added 2022-09-16 13:00:08 +0000 UTCTongtian sat in Supreme Purity Hall with the Kunlun Mirror in her hand. Xi Wangmu had already erased the spiritual imprint in the innate spiritual artifact, allowing Tongtian to refine it without obstacle. Her mastery of the Law of Time and Law of Space only increased the refining speed.
The Kunlun Mirror had thirty-six restrictions, equal to a high-grade cardinal spiritual artifact. At the same grade, a cardinal spiritual artifact has more restrictions than an innate spiritual artifact, and similarly, an innate spiritual artifact has more restrictions than an acquired spiritual artifact.
Spiritual artifacts contained traces of the law. It was for this reason that cardinal artifacts, treasures born during the creation of heaven and earth, were so sought after. They were imprinted with the purest laws.
Innate spiritual artifacts contain the laws as well, but the laws imprinted were murky, hidden by the rules of heaven and earth. The user needed to decipher the truth of the laws. Acquired spiritual artifacts were even worse. The laws were imprinted into the artifact after it had been refined, and it is based on the artificer's own understanding of the law.
Contrary to Tongtian's expectations, it was not the Law of Spacetime that was imprinted into the Kunlun but the Law of Time and Law of Space separately.
Tongtian could only sigh and work on deciphering the laws contained within the Kunlun Mirror.
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While Tongtian was focused on comprehending the laws within the Kunlun Mirror, Di Jun was worrying about other matters. Unlike the time he sent out the Celestial Army to destroy Violet Manor, Eminence Heaven Palace currently only held Di Jun, Taiyi, and seven of the ten demon sages.
"Tell Us, what issues have you discovered about the Starry Sky War Array?"
Ji Meng stepped forward and cupped his fists. "The Starry Sky War Formation has no major problems but..."
"But?" Di Jun asked.
"There is no one suited to control the Supreme Yin Star." Ji Meng finished.
When Ji Meng stepped back, Bai Ze stepped forward. "According to our calculation, if someone suited can control the Supreme Yin Star, the strength of the Starry Sky War Array will be increased by ten percent, but the overall combat ability will rise by at least thirty percent."
Di Jun tapped the armrest of the Nine Dragon Throne. "In all the Great Desolation, no one is more suited than the lunar goddesses, Xihe and Changxi. Taiyi and We are born in the Supreme Yang Star, Xihe and Changxi are born in the Supreme Yin Star, a match made in heaven."
Bai Ze and the rest of the demon sages saluted Di Jun. "Congratulation to Your Majesties' marriage."
Di Jun waved his hand and quieted the celebratory words. "This matters still need to be considered. First of all, who would propose marriage. It's improper for Us or Taiyi to propose. Who should we send?"
"I believe Southern Emperor Nuwa would be suitable," Bai Ze said, stepping forward. "The Dao Ancestor gave Emperor Nuwa the Red Hydrangea. It is a destined meritorious spiritual artifact after establishing the marriage of heaven, earth, and man. Your Majesty's marriage can be no other than the heavenly marriage."
Upon hearing Nuwa's name, Di Jun imperceptibly frowned. His thoughts invariably turned towards the Grandmist Violet Qi. If Nuwa became a Saint of Heaven, then her prestige would instantly overshadow his, the Heavenly Emperor's. By that point, would it even matter if he was the Heavenly Emperor or not?
It was not that Di Jun hadn't had the thought of taking Nuwa's Grandmist Violet Qi by force, but Nuwa herself was strong. In addition, Fuxi would side with her, and such an internal conflict would only benefit the Titan Tribe.
"We will put the matter of Our marriage for later," Di Jun said. "Heavenly Court is still missing the Northern Emperor. Do beloved officials have any suggestions?"
Shang Yang, a stag demon, stepped forward. "Answering Your Majesty, among the many demons of the Great Desolation, the ones with the highest cultivation are Kong Xuan, Jinchi, and Kunpeng. Kong Xuan was once part of Violet Manor and betrayed them at a critical time, so this official does not believe he is trustworthy. Jinchi does not stray from Kong Xuan, leaving only Kunpeng."
None of the three gods was simple. All three reached the Quasi-Saint already, so they likely wouldn't be tempted by Heavenly Court's innate spiritual artifacts. In addition, Di Jun still remembered how Kong Xuan had attacked Kunpeng in Violet Heaven Palace to secure a spot for Jinchi on one of the six prayer mats.
Too bad Jinchi was too useless and gave up the seat. Recalling his role, Di Jun smiled. Based on this incident, Di Jun believed Kong Xuan and Jinchi wouldn't join Heavenly Court easily.
Di Jun then recalled Kunpengs information.
Kunpeng was born in the Darknorth Sea. The Darknorth Sea wasn’t as prosperous as the East and Central Regions, but it wasn't as barren as the West, just much harsher. In addition, Kunpeng created a force known as Darknorth Palace, becoming the overlord of the Darknorth Sea.
If Kunpeng joined Heavenly Court, its strength would rise to another level.
However, would such a person join so easily?
Nevertheless, they still had to try.
"Dispatch one of the demon sages to Kunpeng," Di Jun said. "It's good if he agrees, if he doesn't..."
Di Jun left his words unsaid, but everyone knew what he meant. “What about the Ten Thousand Immortals Book?”
After seeing the power of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, Di Jun deeply desired it. Unlike Violet Manor, Heavenly Court had far more Profound Immortals and above. Even if they could only establish one Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, Heavenly Court’s power would increase by fifty percent.
Taiyi shook his head. “After Dong Wanggong died, I took all his treasures except the Nine-Dragon Cane, but I didn’t discover the Ten Thousand Immortals Book at all. Either Dong Wanggong destroyed it or it disappeared.”
Di Jun sighed after hearing, but he didn’t pursue it any longer. After this, they continued to discuss the important matters for the future of Heavenly Court. Finally, the topic returned to the matter of marriage, and Di Jun summoned Nuwa.
"Fellow Daoist Di Jun," Nuwa said after entering.
Di Jun inwardly frowned. After Nuwa attained the Grandmist Violet Qi, she no longer addressed him as majesty anymore, but he didn't show any satisfaction. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to trouble fellow Daoist Nuwa."
Nuwa raised an eyebrow. "What matter does Daoist Di jun require of me?"
Di Jun glanced at Taiyi. Holding back his frown, he turned back towards Nuwa. "It's a good thing for Daoist Nuwa. I believe it's time for Taiyi and We to marry. That is, to establish the heavenly marriage. We implore Nuwa to be a matchmaker."
Upon hearing this, Nuwa felt the Red Hydrangea react. Her eyes lit up, and she asked, "Who is Daoist Di Jun's target?"
"Solitary yang does not develop; lone yin does not prosper. Taiyi and We are born of the Supreme Yang Star. Naturally, the only ones compatible with us are the two born of the Supreme Yin Star."
Nuwa recalled the two beautiful goddesses she had seen in Violet Heaven Palace. She wasn't narcissistic, but she, Tongtian, Houtu, Xihe, and Changxi each wore worthy enough to claim the title of the Great Desolation's number one beauty.
"Leave it to me, I'll definitely persuade Xihe and Changxi," Nuwa said. Then she asked, "I assume Daoist Di Jun will seek Xihe's hand and Daoist Taiyi will seek Changxi's hand in marriage?"
Di Jun nodded. "I'll have to trouble fellow Daoist Nuwa."
Nuwa nodded and turned to leave. Compared to Di Jun, she was also expectant of the results. However, to everyone's surprise, Taiyi spoke. "Hold on a second."
"Daoist Taiyi, is there something wrong?" Nuwa turned around and asked.
Taiyi nodded. "Yes, there is one problem."
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On the Supreme Yin Star, the moon of the Great Desolation, existed a solemn white palace on the surface. Next to it was a top-grade connate spiritual fruit, the Lunar Laurel Tree, with leaves formed of moonlight.
When Nuwa neared, she stopped at a certain distance. "Sister Xihe, Sister Changxi, am I not welcomed here?"
Not long after, the palace gates opened, and two goddesses walked one. One possessed an eternal yet ephemeral beauty, while the other resembled the lake's reflection of the moon. You could see it, but you could never touch it.
"How can that be? Please come, Sister Nuwa," Xihe said as she invited Nuwa to sit at the table and chairs under the laurel tree.
Xihe brewed some good tea she managed to obtain during her travels through the Great Desolation. After a few words of pleasantries, she asked Nuwa why she had come.
"It's like this," Nuwa began. "In the Great Desolation, there should be three marriages: heaven, earth, and man. Daoist Di Jun is born of the Supreme Yang Star and is the Heavenly Emperor, and Sister Xihe is born of the Supreme Yin Star. I've come today as a matchmaker. The marriage between you and Daoist Di Jun is the heavenly marriage of the Great Desolation, and the Way of Heaven will bestow great merits upon the completion. I don't know what Sister Xihe thinks of my proposal?"
When Xihe fell silent, Nuwa sipped her tea. She wasn't in a hurry. After all, she had already glimpsed something from the river of time. It could be said that the moment Di Jun and Xihe were born, their marriage was already destined.
For her part, Xihe closed her eyes and recalled the times she saw Di Jun. They didn't cross paths much, only meeting during the Dao Ancestor's sermons, but Di Jun's appearance and aura were deeply imprinted into Xihe's mind.
Something inside Di Jun drew Xihe to him, and Di Jun was the same. Di Jun represented yang, and Xihe represented yin, and this attraction was innate. Even if Xihe fell in love with someone, her love for him would not exceed her natural attraction to Di Jun, no matter how deep that love was.
The only two who were an excellent match were Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu. The two leaders of the fallen Violet Manor also had the destiny to become the Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress, but they could not seize this chance.
"Please tell the Heavenly Emperor, no. Please tell Di Jun that I agreed to his proposal," Xihe said.
Nuwa smiled. "Then I will leave Daoist Di Jun's betrothal to give here."
A fiery red gourd with a three-legged golden crow engraved on it appeared on the table. Even at this distance, Xihe and Changxi could feel the intense heat radiating off of it, but instead of harming her, it seemed to nourish her naturally cold body.
"This is the top-grade Allcrow True Gourd, one of the seven gourds from one of the top ten connate spiritual roots, the Immortal Gourd Vine," Nuwa said. Originally it had the potential to become a high-grade cardinal spiritual artifact. Unfortunately, the Immortal Gourd Vine didn't have enough nutrients to nurture this seventh gourd.
"Daoist Di Jun refined part of the Supreme Yang Star's quintessence into this gourd, and it will naturally produce an infinite amount of Solar Truefire as long as it can absorb the essence of heaven and earth. For Sister Xihe, it should be an invaluable treasure," Nuwa finished with a smile.
"Tell Di Jun I will wait for him on the marriage sedan," Xihei said. To refine part of the Supreme Yang Star's quintessence meant harming the foundation of the star. Even for Di Jun, it would mean bearing a significant amount of cause and effect, so for him to gift to this her moved Xihe's heart.
"What about me? Did Eastern Emperor Taiyi say anything?" Changxi asked. Just as Xihe felt naturally attracted to Di Jun, Changxi also felt naturally attracted to Taiyi.
Upon hearing this, Nuwa made an awkward face. "This, Daoist Taiyi didn't mention this, and only Daoist Di Jun asked me to come to be a matchmaker."
Hearing this, Changxi's expression fell. "I see. I'm sorry for bothering Sister Nuwa."
Nuwa felt apologetic, but she couldn't say anything. After a few more words, she left. She still had one last place to visit.
After Nuwa left, Changxi excused herself and returned to the palace in low spirits. Xihe sighed but didn't say anything in the end. She turned towards the Thirty-Three Heavens and then at Great Desolation, where the Titan Tribe were stationed.
"Perhaps it better that Changxi won't be embroiled in this tribulation."
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In Supreme Purity Hall, Tongtian fiddled with the Kunlun Mirror. She had already comprehended the partial Law of Time within the mirror, and it would only take a little more time to comprehend the Law of Space within.
The Law of Space within really wasn't much. It only allowed Tongtian to teleport great distances and make things a bit more convenient. Compared to that, she preferred the ability to hide between layers of space.
Of course, she also sped up time around her to decrease the time she needed to comprehend. Now that she was almost done, she considered what to do with the Kunlun Mirror.
Spiritual artifacts are useful because of the abilities contained within them and to increase the user's strength. However, the Kunlun Mirror was almost completely Tongtian now. "Should I use it to merge with the connate gourd I got or just feed it to my Qingping Sword?"
While Tongtian was pondering, a guest appeared at Kunlun Mountain. The Three Purities gathered in Three Purity Hall inside Three Purity Palace and invited Nuwa in.
"A rare visitor, I wonder what Junior Sister has come for?" Laozi spoke first. He was the eldest and the strongest, having successfully cut off all three Corpses. Now, he just needed to merge them.
"It is a good thing," Nuwa said, but her smile was a bit stiff. "I've come in place of Daoist Taiyi."
Upon hearing that name, Yuanshi's face directly darkened. "What does that flat-feathered bastard want?"
Hearing Yuanshi's reaction, Nuwa had an ominous premonition, but she still gritted her teeth. "Earlier, Daoist Di Jun asked me to become a matchmaker for him and Xihe."
"Oh? Are you here to invite us to the wedding?" Tongtian asked. Although the first marriage ceremony was exciting, she had already seen the Pangu Genesis Formation, so Heavenly Court didn't hold much interest to her.
Nuwa shook her head. "No, Daoist Taiyi wants to seek Senior Sister's hand in marriage."
