Chapter 13

Su Yao guarded the gradually withering lotus flower day and night.

He never suffered hardship growing up; he was carefully cared for by Jin Weicui.

Aside from the suffering in the Snow Prison in the Heavenly Realm, he had always lived a life of luxury, surrounded by soft silks and gauze, fragrant pillows and jade mats, managing his life with great enjoyment and comfort.

Lately, regardless of wind or rain, he hasn't even laid out a soft blanket, and sleeps under the tree every day.

I use grass as my pillow and branches as my cushion.

Gathering dew in the dead of night and storing it with spiritual power, it's as if pouring all of one's magical power into the lotus.

But it was all in vain.

Later, the Fox King couldn't stand it any longer, so he went to the lotus flower himself.

When he saw Su Yao, his eyes were filled with worry: "Su Yao, have you been eating and resting well these days?"

Su Yao belatedly realized that the wrist inside the sleeve was extremely thin, and it looked as if it could be broken with a twist.

He looked at the stream beside him. In the shimmering light and shadow, his face was so thin that his chin was barely visible, no longer as beautiful as before.

"Su Yao."

The Fox King stood with one hand behind his back, watching as half of the enormous lotus flower was charred and withered.

"The principles of heaven and earth are cyclical and ever-changing. Nothing in the world can be forced."

Su Yao fell silent for a moment.

"Your Majesty has read extensively and has long since understood the mysteries of all things."

He gently stroked the withered lotus petals, as if touching a lover.

"But I can't."

He laughed: "Perhaps I'm too foolish, feeling that life is too short to see through love and hate."

The Fox King could only sigh in the end.

Beside the lotus stands a peach tree, its petals fluttering like snowflakes, delicate as jade.

Like tears from the sky, gently falling upon the lotus.

Su Yao, bored while guarding the Azure Lotus Primordial Spirit, would often talk to herself while alone with the flower.

"I've heard of you before when I was in Qingqiu, the famous Azure Lotus God, who is aloof and rarely gets close to people."

"I thought that the so-called blue lotus was something that could only be admired from afar and not touched, but I didn't expect that when you took care of me, you were so easy to approach."

"Are all gods intelligent?"

Su Yao leaned against the lotus flower, the sunlight casting the shadow of the flower cup onto him.

Like someone's wings, gently encircling him.

"I thought to myself, 'You're really good at raising foxes!'" Su Yao smiled. "The more I looked at a particular fruit, the more the same one would be on the table the next day."

"I like having someone scratch my chin while I eat fruit, and I especially like being gently brushed after a bath, and then being carried to the couch while I'm half asleep."

"I prefer fish in winter—I once suspected that you, my lord, had not been cultivating diligently, otherwise how could your cooking skills be so good? The fish is so fresh that I want to swallow my tongue."

"I'm most proud of my tail. After bathing, you would gently brush my tail feathers with floral water to make them fluffy and white. I really wanted to show it off to others, saying that the god who saved me made my tail even more beautiful."

"Back then, I didn't know what love was." Su Yao blinked. "I just felt that I was willing to form a spirit beast contract with you, recognize you as my master, and let you take care of me for the rest of my life."

"My Lord, do you know?" Su Yao's voice was very soft, but tears fell onto the flower cup, "Spirit beasts are the most affectionate creatures."

He kissed the lotus leaves and finally choked up: "A spirit beast that has lost its master can no longer be raised by others; it will only wait for him to return."

Su Yao took out the string of blue lotus prayer beads: "I'm so greedy, these prayer beads are expensive, how could I bear to destroy them?"

"So, Qinglian, please wake up."

The clouds are silent, the wind is still, only the flowing water and falling flowers mark the passing of spring, a world apart.

————

On the twentieth day of guarding the flower cup, Su Yao encountered an unexpected person.

Heavenly Emperor.

Embroidered dragon patterns, silver robes and cloud-patterned skirts.

He held a ferret in his arms, and his every step seemed to create clouds.

Su Yao was not in a good mood when she saw him.

If we say that Qinglian was merely kept in the dark and forced to contribute to the situation, then...

So, the Heavenly Emperor and Chongyun were the true instigators of his lifelong suffering.

So as soon as the two approached, Su Yao became wary and instinctively stood in front of the half-withered lotus flower.

"The flowers have really faded."

The Heavenly Emperor showed no expression; his dark pupils flickered slightly before he raised his hand to cast a spell.

Su Yao was unaware of what was going on, but she noticed that when the blue magic touched the lotus, it immediately corroded half of the petals.

"what you do!"

Su Yao flicked her sleeve, interrupting the Heavenly Emperor's spellcasting.

"Are you crazy? He is a deity of your Heavenly Court. Why are you attacking him instead of saving him?"

"The Azure Lotus Divine Lord has launched a powerful attack to quell the demonic attack, but his primordial spirit is withered, and he has no chance of survival."

The Heavenly Emperor's expression was indifferent, his eyes like frost and snow, freezing anyone who touched them.

He lightly flicked his sleeves: "In that case, I shall naturally withdraw his immortal power to replenish the spiritual energy of heaven and earth."

Su Yao gradually clenched her fists.

His entire body seemed to turn into sand in an instant at the moment the other person spoke, and then dispersed with a single breath.

No, it won't.

The Azure Lotus God could not simply vanish.

They were all lying to him.

Seeing that Su Yao was silent with her eyes down, the Heavenly Emperor took a few steps closer, turned his hands, and a golden-red light blazed up, as if to devour the entire flower cup.

"No one can touch him."

Su Yao slowly raised her eyes.

He raised his right hand high, his five fingers piercing his neck, enduring the immense pain, and slowly, inch by inch, pulled out a jade blade as thin as a cicada's wing.

Bone is transformed into a blade, and the primordial spirit is attached to it.

This means fighting to the death!

Su Yao clasped his hands together, and the long sword split in two.

He held the blade in front of him, its momentum like a hurricane, rushing forward like a swift arrow, forcing the Heavenly Emperor to retreat several steps before he could react.

"Su Yao, are you implying that Qingqiu is going to rebel?"

The Heavenly Emperor narrowed his eyes, and suddenly the blue sky was filled with wind and smoke, with dark clouds piling up on the horizon as if to crush the horizon.

With a flick of his wrist, the Xihe Sword shone with golden light like a halberd, piercing straight into people's eyes and causing pain.

Su Yao raised her chin slightly, "If Qingqiu doesn't rebel, will everything be peaceful? When the demonic energy invaded this place, where was Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, who was invincible?"

"Ignorant child."

The Heavenly Emperor seemed to be enraged and attacked fiercely with his sword.

"nonsense!"

The opponent's longsword flashed wildly, like a whirlwind of sickles and a rain of swords.

Su Yao pushed his magical power to the limit, his movements becoming incredibly agile. But wherever he landed, the Heavenly Emperor's Xi He followed him like a shadow.

The blades clashed, each strike ringing out, so powerful that Su Yao's palms cracked and his blood surged.

He didn't want to show any weakness, so he swallowed all the blood in his throat.

The ferret hid in a tree, seemingly trembling incessantly.

We cannot retreat. If we retreat, the Azure Lotus God will have no chance of survival.

However, even with all her might, Su Yao was still retreating inch by inch.

The magical power surged through his veins like a torrent, gradually breaking the dam of his muscles and bones. The sound of swords pierced his ears like long cones.

The Heavenly Emperor's swordsmanship grew faster and faster, and Su Yao, caught off guard, was about to be stabbed by Xi He.

In the blink of an eye, a lotus petal fluttered and fell.

It completely enveloped Su Yao, and was instantly ignited by the sword energy, exploding into a ball of sparks.

Taking advantage of the situation, Su Yao attacked and managed to tear off a corner of the Heavenly Emperor's sleeve.

It is the Azure Lotus God.

Su Yao's vision blurred instantly.

Even though he disappeared when his primordial spirit shattered, he was still protecting him—

Su Yao's palms were already covered in blood from the shock, and his lungs felt like an old bellows as he inhaled, requiring him to exert all his strength with every breath.

The Peach Blossom Fox possessed extraordinary talent, and at the peak of its cultivation, it was virtually unmatched within the Three Realms.

But their opponent happens to be the Heavenly Emperor.

It is the most difficult existence to defeat in all the worlds.

For the first time, he regretted not restoring his magical powers sooner and working diligently in the past.

That's why I'm now inferior to others in skill, and I can't even protect the last bit of my beloved's spirit.

"It still has consciousness." The Heavenly Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly. "The lotus is indeed the primordial spirit in the Three Realms that is easiest to reincarnate and has the strongest healing ability."

He slightly turned his sword and walked step by step toward Su Yao, saying, "Considering the difficulty of your cultivation, if you will no longer obstruct me, I can spare your life."

Su Yao laughed, gripping the long sword tightly with her bloodied hands: "Anyone who wants to pass will have to step over my dead body first."

The Peach Blossom Knife Technique is dazzling and boundless, its downward movement as smooth as a flowing spring under the moon, and with the addition of snow-like blossoms, it is breathtakingly beautiful.

Su Yao closed her eyes, letting the wind carry her blade, leaving her defenseless.

He was stabbed several times by the Heavenly Emperor, with wounds appearing on his arms and shoulders, but he still managed to break into the opponent's defensive range.

Qinglian, I have always been willing to do anything for you.

Just like you.

Su Yao rushed in front of the Heavenly Emperor. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and was about to detonate his inner core, perishing together with the Heavenly Emperor.

Just then, a delicate lotus fragrance wafted over.

The shattered lotus petals drifted in an orderly fashion, gathering like butterflies on the Heavenly Emperor's left shoulder.

For some reason, Su Yao had a sudden thought, and with a quick twist of his double blades, he slashed out diagonally, actually striking the Heavenly Emperor.

He retreated after his initial attack, utterly shocked.

The lotus fragments swirled and flew, this time gathering towards the Heavenly Emperor's ankle.

Su Yao used the same method and succeeded again.

It was the Azure Lotus Divine Lord who was helping him—telling him all the weaknesses of the Heavenly Emperor's skills!

Following the guidance of the lotus petals, Su Yao fought with increasing ferocity, always striking before her opponent could anticipate her moves. After dozens of rounds, she finally succeeded in striking, her long sword piercing the Heavenly Emperor's chest.

It was as if that person was right behind me, gently embracing me, and striking with me with a sword, making us invincible.

"How is this possible?" The Heavenly Emperor spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How could the Peach Blossom Fox possibly defeat me?"

Suddenly, countless demonic energies burst forth from his body, like vines binding his limbs, causing his veins to bulge and his blood vessels to throb.

The ground cracked and creaked, and a faint rumbling sound could be heard.

"It's...you?"

Su Yao took two steps back, feeling as if spiders were swarming out of their nest from her back, sending endless chills down her spine.

"So what if it is me?" The Heavenly Emperor's face was ferocious, and black energy overflowed from his chest. "The cycle of Heaven turns, and pure energy can become turbid, and turbid energy can become pure."

"What do you think brought about these ten thousand years of peace and prosperity?"

He seemed to be in great pain, coughing up blood-tinged phlegm.

"It was because I trapped all demonic energy within my body that I was able to bring peace to the world!"

"You want the inner core of the Azure Lotus Divine Lord—"

Su Yao suddenly realized how long they had been manipulated by the Heavenly Emperor as pawns!

"So you finally understand?" The Heavenly Emperor revealed a hint of disdainful smile. "The lotus cleanses all things, and the peach blossom fox's inner core heals severe injuries. When the two are combined, they become the best medicine in the world to cleanse demonic energy."

"What kind of spirit-swapping technique is this? How could such a coincidence happen in this world? It just so happens that it was a ferret that looks similar to you that had its spirit swapped?"

"I just didn't expect that I was going to find an opportunity to cut out your inner core and feed it to Qinglian, but you yourself were driven by love and cut out your own core, which saved me a lot of effort."

He tried to stand up, but the demonic energy tore through his lungs like sharp claws, revealing his beastly appearance on his once beautiful face.

"hateful--"

The Heavenly Emperor was about to strike again, but Su Yao dodged it. He braced himself against the ground with his sword, struggling fiercely.

"You are all medicinal pills, how could you hurt me?"

Elixir?

It turns out that in the eyes of the Heavenly Emperor, neither the Azure Lotus God nor himself were anything more than a pill.

The tragedy that plagued both himself and Qinglian for half their lives stemmed from this person.

Su Yao was furious and filled with hatred, and her magical power burned to its limit.

He spun his twin blades, pinning the Heavenly Emperor to the ground with a single blow. The Emperor cried out in pain and transformed into a dragon.

The silver dragon's massive tail swept, yet the longsword, brimming with magical power, remained perfectly still.

Su Yao was still not satisfied, and with a flick of her left hand, she cut off several more of his scales.

One of the petals, like a jewel, shimmered with light. After falling, the dragon let out a miserable howl and transformed into a tiny silver snake.

Its body was covered in blood, shrouded in black mist, and it seemed on the verge of collapse.

Suddenly, the ferret landed on Su Yao's shoulder, pointing its paws at Su Yao's chest, at the jewel-like scales, and then kicked straight at the lotus petals.

Su Yao took out the jade Buddhist beads from her chest and looked at the scales again.

He suddenly opened his eyes wide. The dragon scales were a part of the Heavenly Emperor's primordial spirit; if they were to be absorbed into the Azure Lotus Divine Lord's body, perhaps—

Perhaps the deity can still wake up.