Qi Yuan's Scheme, Jin Li's Choice

"It seems that one day, this Venerable will have to abduct her and take her as a Dao companion." Qi Yuan smiled faintly. Down below, the cultivators of the Moluo Clan all wore ambiguous smiles. A Yue Nü was forbidden to marry. For a Heavenly Venerable to abduct a Yue Nü as his Dao companion would be a direct slap in the face of the Moon Goddess Palace. "Congratulations in advance to the Heavenly Venerable on your triumphant success!" "In another month, it will be the Moon Star Banquet. If the Heavenly Venerable abducts the Yue Nü then, it will truly be a double celebration!" The Moluo cultivators flattered and laughed. The Moon Star Banquet was a special birthday banquet unique to the Moon Goddess Palace. Whenever a cultivator of the Moon Goddess Palace celebrated a ten-thousand-year birthday, a Moon Star Banquet would be held. "Oh? Whose Moon Star Banquet is it?" Qi Yuan's heart stirred slightly. Could it be Jin Li's? "It is for a Mythological figure who reflects the heavens—a female cultivator ranked among the top three on the Jueyue Abyss merit board!" a Moluo cultivator replied. He seemed quite knowledgeable about the situation over at Jueyue Abyss. Precisely because such a birthday banquet—a Moon Star Banquet—was held only upon reaching ten thousand years of age, the Moon Goddess Palace organized it with immense grandeur, inviting countless guests. This Moluo Mythological cultivator had been stationed here for several centuries, yet had only heard of a few Moon Star Banquets. "Oh," Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly. Since it wasn't Jin Li's, it was of no concern to him. With that, his figure flickered as he departed for his garrison station. Now that he was disguised as Heavenly Venerable Mochi, he had to keep playing the part. After all, he didn't have a residence permit for the Sixth Heaven. Moreover, if he was exposed, not only would the Moluo Clan's Yang Gods besiege him, but that figure from the Taihuang Palace who knew his identity might also take action against him. As for the Moon Goddess Palace... Aside from his wife Jin Li and his master-wife, everyone else was a stranger. Yue Nü held status in the Moon Goddess Palace, but no real authority. If he barged blindly into their territory, he might very well be obliterated by the Moon Goddess Palace's Creation Treasure. Therefore, seeing Jin Li had to be done safely; he even needed to coax his "mother-in-law" into good humor. Qi Yuan considered himself a man of exceptionally high emotional intelligence! When treating his junior sister Jiang Lingsu, he had warmed her heart for a hundred days. He certainly wouldn't put Jin Li in an awkward position between him and the Moon Goddess Palace. "Although the Moon Goddess Palace forbids Yue Nü from marrying, still... could their palace rules possibly supersede the marriage law?" Qi Yuan pondered whether he should hold high the banner of the marriage law to deal with the Moon Goddess Palace. Yet on second thought, the Moon Goddess Palace was Jin Li's maiden home after all. Doing that wouldn't be proper. He had to move them with emotion! "As a newcomer, I should go to Jueyue Abyss to pay my respects to the leadership. Ah, having high emotional intelligence is truly exhausting!" Qi Yuan felt that having high EQ was indeed a burden at times. Stationed at Jueyue Abyss, near Duanyue Abyss, was an Ultimate Principle Yang God. This Ultimate Principle Yang God was Heavenly Venerable Mochi's direct "superior." If Qi Yuan had low EQ, well, who cared about superiors? But since he was a cultivator with very "high EQ," how could he skip paying respects to his leader? Otherwise, he'd be given a hard time down the line. "To have social anxiety and high emotional intelligence coexisting within me... As the famous saying goes: 'With my hands clasping the sun and moon, plucking the stars...'" Looking at himself in the mirror, Qi Yuan almost felt like admiring his own reflection. Right now, he was an "outstanding, confident man." Pushing those thoughts aside, Qi Yuan turned his mind toward handling the current situation. After an unknown amount of time, a divine transmission arrived. Qi Yuan's expression remained calm. The Guardian sent by Taihuang Palace to Duanyue Abyss had arrived. "Enter!" At Qi Yuan's word, a Mythological expert pushed open the doors of the vast, cavernous hall and stepped inside. The other Moluo Yin Gods followed in single file behind him. This Mythological expert hailed from Taihuang Palace and was named Master Baideng. At this moment, his face was radiant with delight. Back at Taihuang Palace, he was a Mythological figure, standing high above others. But that exalted status was only relative to ordinary Yin Gods. As for Yang God Heavenly Venerables, they were beings he had to look up to with the utmost deference; even earning an audience required exhausting every ounce of effort. Here in the Demonic Abyss, however, he was practically a pampered young master. Even the Moluo Clan's Yang Gods treated him with impeccable courtesy. Just look—the new Yang God Heavenly Venerable stationed at Duanyue Abyss had requested to see him immediately upon arrival, and had even promised him a small gift. At this moment, he walked with triumphant, sweeping strides, bursting with anticipation over what gift this Heavenly Venerable would present to him. "Greetings... Heavenly Venerable!" Master Baideng still held deep reverence for a Yang God Heavenly Venerable, observing every proper formality. After bowing, he stole a glance upward at the Heavenly Venerable's figure. Back at Taihuang Palace, he wouldn't dare gaze upon the faces of Yang Gods, but here he dared. Yet when he looked, the Heavenly Venerable's features were completely obscured by an indistinct haze. Such was the deference owed to an exalted being. Just then, the Heavenly Venerable seated on the throne spoke, his voice vast and infinitely sacred: "Which foot did you step through the door with first?" The surrounding Moluo cultivators were bewildered, having no idea why the Heavenly Venerable would ask such a question. Master Baideng was momentarily stunned, not expecting this at all. Yet as a cultivator, his memory was extraordinary. "Junior stepped in with both legs at the same time," Master Baideng answered. Seated on the throne, Qi Yuan was dumbfounded. Why aren't you following the script? Embarrassment turned to fury! "Stepping in with both legs at once? This Venerable despises people like that most!" Qi Yuan roared in fury, his voice booming like thunder, shaking the spiritual energy in every direction. A Heavenly Venerable's rage was enough to influence the seasons and the heavens, even to shatter worlds and overturn the sun and moon. Master Baideng's blood and qi surged violently, his face turning pale in an instant, utterly at a loss as to how he had offended this Yang God Heavenly Venerable. The other Moluo Yin Gods exchanged nervous glances, baffled as to why Heavenly Venerable Mochi was enraged. They trembled in terror, deathly afraid of being caught in the crossfire. While the Heavenly Venerable might hesitate to harm a Taihuang Palace Guardian out of caution, taking it out on them would be all too easy. "May I ask how Junior has offended the Heavenly Venerable?" Master Baideng's face flushed crimson as he couldn't help asking. "Entering with both feet at once violates this Venerable's greatest taboo. You deserve death!" At these words, all the Yin Gods present were struck dumb. Both feet at once? What was wrong with that? Alas, none of them were people of Blue Star; they could not comprehend Qi Yuan's high EQ or his sense of humor. "Die!" Qi Yuan pointed a finger. The gulf between a Yang God and a Yin God was simply too immense. Even in the Mortal Heart Realm, with Qi Yuan's assistance, the Holy Mother of Inedia had only managed to withstand that entity's non-true body for twenty breaths using her Mythological form. Master Baideng possessed no power to resist whatsoever; he was domineeringly wiped out on the spot by that single finger. In an instant, the scent of fresh blood drifted through the hall. The once-triumphant Master Baideng had been obliterated in the blink of an eye. Seeing this, not a single Yin God dared to breathe. They only knew that this was a catastrophe. This was the Guardian sent by Taihuang Palace, representing the dignity and face of Taihuang Palace itself! And the Heavenly Venerable had simply killed him just like that? If Taihuang Palace learned of this and flew into a rage, the Heavenly Venerable... Well, the Heavenly Venerable would probably be fine. But they would suffer terribly. The Moluo Clan would surely push several scapegoats forward to quell Taihuang Palace's wrath. "What? Do you have an objection to this Venerable executing Baideng?" Qi Yuan swept his gaze across the Yin Gods, his eyes placid. The Moluo Yin Gods trembled, feeling as though disaster were imminent. Just then, one of the Yin God Venerables stepped forward, a flattering smile spreading across his face: "The Heavenly Venerable killed him well! Splendidly executed! This lowly one has long found that fellow an eyesore. For him to dare violate the Heavenly Venerable's taboo, he deserved death!" Hearing this, Qi Yuan gave an approving nod. "What is your name?" There was never any shortage of lackeys. "This lowly one is... Chuanpu!" the Yin God Venerable replied excitedly, his posture hunched with deference. Qi Yuan was immediately amused. "Your name suits your speech remarkably well." He hadn't expected such a coincidence. Life was truly full of entertainment everywhere. Chuanpu had no idea what Qi Yuan meant, but seeing that the Heavenly Venerable seemed pleased, he too beamed with joy. "This Venerable executed Baideng because I've long found him an eyesore. Hmph! We pay good money to fight a war, yet someone comes strutting around putting on airs—what sheer bad luck!" Hearing this, the other Yin Gods shared the sentiment, united in their resentment against a common enemy. It was clear that the Guardian from Taihuang Palace had heavily bullied and exploited them. "That man deserved to die!" "Baideng deceived the Heavenly Venerable lords of Taihuang Palace from above while oppressing us below. He truly deserved death!" Even so, while they harbored resentment toward Taihuang Palace, they dared not resent the Yang God lords. After all, the lords were always benevolent; they were merely misled by subordinates. ... Across the firmament, a pure, radiant light streaked by. A moon boat, luminous like a crescent moon, gleamed crystalline and bright, laden with all manner of natural treasures, fine wines, and delicacies. Moonlight poured down, resting upon a woman's white robe. The plum blossom patterns embroidered across her plain white dress appeared all the more vivid, exuding the proud, chilly elegance of winter plums in snow. Yet compared to the dress's wearer, even those blossoms fell far short. "Yueshuang, why have you come?" Clad in her white robe, Jin Li looked at the cold, aloof woman, a hint of joy rising in her eyes. "Your birthday is less than a month away, so I came to visit," Yueshuang said with a faint smile. "I was worried you'd be lonely here by yourself." "It's merely an ordinary birthday, not a... Moon Star Banquet," Jin Li said softly, a warm current passing through her chest. "Yu Tiao shares your birthday, and for her Moon Star Banquet, all sorts of friends are gathering. I couldn't bear to leave you all alone in the cold," Yueshuang said, a trace of guilt surfacing in her gaze. Back then, on the Wangyue Continent, she and Jin Li had been trapped. Between the two Yue Nü, one had been abandoned. The one abandoned had been Jin Li. Had it not been for the Faceless Sword God, Jin Li might have perished back then. Because of that, she had always harbored a sliver of guilt toward her sister. "A birthday is nothing special; it's no different from any ordinary day. These days, I plan to venture deeper into Jueyue Abyss to slay more of the Moluo Clan!" Jin Li said, a heavy aura of battle and blood radiating from her. The fragile young girl of the past had changed entirely over the passing years. "Are your merits nearly enough?" Yueshuang asked. "Mm, just a little more!" Jin Li nodded earnestly, anticipation flashing in her beautiful eyes. In another dozen years or so, her merits would suffice. Then, she could request Moon Goddess Yuanjun to grant her a single wish. "One day won't make a difference. Don't go on the day of the Moon Star Banquet. Let us sisters share a feast together. Once we finish, I will accompany you!" Yueshuang offered. Jin Li fell silent for a moment before nodding. "All right." Just then, something crossed Yueshuang's mind, and she suddenly asked, "What do you plan to ask of Moon Goddess Yuanjun? Is it... to find him, rescue him, resurrect him, or... "The Yue Nü of the Moon Goddess Palace are forbidden to marry. Even if Moon Goddess Yuanjun helps you find him, you cannot leave with him... "Or will you ask Moon Goddess Yuanjun to strip away your status as a Yue Nü so that... you can seek him out yourself and be together?" Every Yue Nü had only a single opportunity in her lifetime to make a request of Moon Goddess Yuanjun. Jin Li remained silent, but then a smile bloomed across her peerless face, radiant as plum blossoms bursting forth across a vast expanse of snow. "As long as he is alive, that is enough. If I could see him once more... it would be the greatest fortune of my life." "Why must you do this..." Yueshuang sighed. With no possible outcome, it was better to sever the tie early. "As long as he is alive, I believe... he will find me," Jin Li said, her gaze resolute. She recalled the second sentence Qi Yuan had relayed to her through the bridal knight. Back then, she hadn't understood its full meaning. Later, upon seeing the statue of the Faceless Sword God, her memories of the past had returned, and she understood everything. Those words were spoken by the Faceless Sword God, who had waited in vain beside July Lake for so long, across time and space to Empress Jin Li of the future. Even across the gulf of time, he had promised that he would see her. "You, oh you..." Yueshuang could not help but sigh. "Endless ages can bury everything. After so many years, how can you be sure he is still the person in your heart?" The greatest power of the white moonlight was that even the real person could not defeat their idealized memory. Jin Li clutched the Exquisite Jade Tide in her hand, a brilliant smile resurfacing in her eyes. She remembered the vigil keeper embracing his sword with snow upon his shoulders by July Lake; she remembered the peerless Sword God holding her hand as they walked through a hundred cities, slaying the Black-Robed Guards; she remembered the fearless swordsman who barred Dijue all on his own, fighting in isolation for three centuries to slay three thousand demons. Though she had never seen his face, she knew in her heart: "He is a thousand times, ten thousand times better than the man in my memories!" ... "Everything is prepared. Time to... pay a visit to Heavenly Venerable Motong." Inside the grand hall, Qi Yuan's figure gradually faded. Heavenly Venerable Motong was the sovereign of Jueyue Abyss, an Ultimate Principle Yang God, and essentially Heavenly Venerable Mochi's direct superior. The Moluo Clan had a total of five Ultimate Principle Yang Gods, three of whom were stationed in the Demonic Abyss—a testament to how seriously the Moluo Clan treated their conflict with the Moon Goddess Palace. "Meeting Heavenly Venerable Motong this time will truly test my acting skills! "I have a premonition that once this meeting is over, with my acting chops, I could vie for the Best Actor award if I went back to Blue Star!" "I truly am... an outstanding, confident man." Heavenly Venerable Mochi and Heavenly Venerable Motong had rarely interacted, but both were Yang Gods of the Moluo Clan. Any slight misstep on Qi Yuan's part could expose him. Furthermore, his visit to Heavenly Venerable Motong wasn't merely to pay respects to his superior; he also intended to go fishing, using good things to bait the "cadre." To that end, not only had he relentlessly brainwashed Mochi's remnant soul to extract every detail, but he had also laid out bait within Duanyue Abyss long ago, merely waiting for his own performance. "An Ultimate Principle Realm expert... shouldn't pose too much of an issue, right?" Qi Yuan mused. He had never fought an Ultimate Principle Realm powerhouse before. Still, by his estimation, it shouldn't be a problem. After all, his right eyelid wasn't twitching frantically, which meant everything was under control. "A pity this is the Demonic Abyss rather than the Moluo Clan's home territory. If Heavenly Venerable Motong disappears for too long, it will definitely be noticed." Qi Yuan sighed wistfully before flying toward Jueyue Abyss.