Chapter 43 Xuanjia Returns to Heaven, Xuanwu Incarnates as a God

Starting from the fifth day of the competition, more and more immortals were returning to heaven.

The Milky Way was almost never quiet; thunder rumbled and roared all night long.

Today is the sixth day of the competition. In another day or two, the first competition will be over. Although the maximum lifespan of mortals is generally one hundred years, very few people can actually live to be one hundred.

The immortals from the lower realms who participated in the competition were already in their sixties. If they hadn't accumulated enough faith power by that age, they would probably find it difficult to win.

Bitao and Zhan Kui, who still sported a fish head, had been tracking Xuanjia, who remained motionless, since early morning.

"Why isn't she back yet? Didn't you say she left with the prince?"

Bitao asked Zhankui, "After I left, didn't the herbal medicine hall that takes in orphans already start construction?"

“Yes,” Zhan Kui said, staring at Bi Tao with his barely closed fish eyes, “Construction has indeed already begun…”

"Do you think it's possible that Mingguang didn't assist that prince in ascending the throne?"

"He has been appointed as the assistant, and that is the nineteenth prince."

Bitao said somewhat flusteredly, "If Xuanjia hadn't had another opportunity to bring her to Dayuan Prefecture, she would have already passed away."

Bitao didn't know Xuanjia when she was in the mortal realm; the two had never even met. It was difficult to establish a friendship based solely on Zhan Kui's one-sided account.

Bitao felt a little guilty because she was in a hurry to return to heaven and be the first to succeed, so she didn't pay much attention to the matter of Xuanjia obtaining faith power and handed it over to others.

After returning to the Heavenly Realm and thinking about it, Bitao felt truly regretful.

It won't be long before Bitao tracks Xuanjia's life on the Silver River Net, and now she wants to see what's going on on her end.

Xuanjia's process of participating in the competition in the lower realm was just like her own words: unhurried and unhurried.

Although she came from a very poor background, at least she never reached the point where she couldn't survive.

She wasn't in a hurry to gain any faith power, and spent her days hanging out with her parents by the river, which gave her a fairly happy childhood.

In addition, since her true form is a turtle with a relatively hard shell, her racial innate skill, even without the divine spirit, still has some effect.

Therefore, from childhood to adulthood, even an ox could not match Xuanjia's strength.

The afflictions of birth, aging, sickness, and death may swarm around her, but they cannot touch her in the slightest.

Moreover, she is not only physically strong and a good swimmer, but also has ridiculously great strength.

One person can pull a fishing net that would normally require five strong men.

By the time she was thirteen or fourteen, she was already a well-known hardworking and capable fisherwoman.

And no matter how treacherous the river, she never capsizes or returns empty-handed.

In addition, she was extremely beautiful, slender, and her behavior was very different from that of a fisherwoman. Her manners were comparable to those of a lady from a prominent family.

Among the participating astral beings, Xuanjia was considered a beauty who seemed to have descended to earth like an immortal, with no flaws except for speaking slowly.

Like a shining pearl hidden in the ocean.

Therefore, ever since Xuanjia's parents died when she was eleven or twelve years old, matchmakers and people with ill intentions towards her have been constantly knocking down her doorstep.

However, over the years, whether it was powerful and wealthy people trying to forcibly take her away or old men who fished with her trying to take advantage of her, none of them succeeded.

She once crushed the bones of someone who plotted against her with her bare hands.

She was tied up and carried in a sedan chair to be one of the eighteen concubines, but before she even entered the house, the ropes and the sedan chair were torn to shreds by her furious outburst.

Three of the servants who carried her sedan chair and tried to rob her were crippled. The old lecher who wanted to use his charm to overshadow the crabapple blossoms was grabbed by the neck by her bare hands and lifted into the air like a chicken, almost dying on the spot.

Of course, over the years, she hasn't escaped many dangers; powerful and influential people have even sent her to prison.

However, the cell was just for show for her. If the guards hadn't been kind to her and told her that everything would be alright, she would have smashed down the wall and escaped long ago.

If all else fails, we can just move to another place.

Later, everything was indeed fine, because someone even more powerful than the bully took a liking to Xuanjia.

At that time, Xuanjia was raising seven or eight unwanted orphans all by herself, and fewer people offered to match her with men, since she refused to give up those children no matter what.

No matter how beautiful a woman is, no one can stand it if she comes home with seven or eight children.

Xuanjia works from dawn till dusk, spending most of his time on the water.

The person who was even more powerful than the bully was the nineteenth prince, who had finally managed to be granted the title of a county prince in order to escape the struggles in the capital. He had gone to a not-so-rich fiefdom and was granted that title.

The nineteenth prince was given the title of Prince Xianyun. Having escaped the power struggles within the capital, he lived a carefree life, not caring how simple his palace was or how cunning his servants were.

He would simply take a few guards with him each day, go out on a boat trip, and go fishing or catching fish.

Originally, he and Xuanjia would never have crossed paths.

Even though it's in the same prefecture as Shui'an, which isn't a wealthy place, it still has six cities surrounded by water.

It's not a major transportation hub, and the Shui'an River has a rapid current, resulting in poor aquatic products. Both fishermen and fish farmers can barely make ends meet.

The most famous things about Xuanjia's mountain town are silk fans and embroiderers.

Although Shanling Town is also near water, it has very little plains and is almost entirely mountains.

Since they couldn't find much silver in the water, people had to work hard in the mountains, hunting and raising silkworms. Eventually, they discovered that silk fans were quite popular among wealthy ladies and could fetch a good price, so the industry gradually grew.

This led to the emergence of a group of embroiderers who specialized in embroidering on fans made of precious silk fabric.

When Xuanjia was younger, her parents sent her to the mountains so that she could learn embroidery instead of making a living on a smelly fishing boat.

As a result, Xuanjia was sent back after a while by the person in charge.

The child is well-behaved, does whatever she is asked, is beautiful, and gets along well with everyone.

Everyone in the mountains liked her; even the canteen staff gave her extra meat.

But it was no use. She sat there like a pampered young lady, her slender, delicate fingers clumsy as if she had just grown arms, unable to use the embroidery needle at all.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't learn this delicate skill, and her strength was astonishing; she accidentally broke countless round fans while making them.

The manager was heartbroken; no matter how much he liked the girl, he couldn't keep her.

So Xuanjia had no choice but to go back to fishing.

She met the nineteenth prince, Prince Xianyun, on a stormy night.

Prince Xianyun had no useful people around him. After all, he was a completely unfavored and marginal prince in the capital. Even his title of prince was something that a few relatives with low-ranking official positions had to work hard to obtain.

He had a few guards who knew a little about martial arts, but most of them were not good at swimming.

When I left the city, everything was fine—calm, clear, and sunny. But then the weather suddenly changed. A fierce storm raged, with thunder and lightning. The river was churning, and the lightning even flashed vertically, as if some deity had descended to earth on thunder!

The group couldn't find their way and nearly capsized several times. Prince Xianyun himself couldn't swim and was initially protected by his guards.

Later, when faced with life and death, those guards who were not loyal to begin with didn't care about him much anymore.

That night, a violent storm raged, and the river surface was as terrifying as hell on earth.

Just as their boat was about to capsize, they spotted a fishing boat sailing steadily on the raging waves not far away.

The fishing boat was slightly larger than their own vessel, yet somehow it sailed so smoothly, cutting through the wind and waves, moving forward without hesitation.

At that time, Xuanjia was even standing on the deck of the ship, letting the raging wind blow her waterfall-like black hair and her coarse cloth dress that smelled of water.

She pulled the sail with the wind, and in such a strong wind, the hemp rope in her hand, which was thicker than her wrist, pulled the sail as if it were her own arm, as obedient as a dog.

Xuanjia approached the ship, which was like a dying fish in the raging storm, stood on the deck, and waved to the people inside.

"Your...ship...is...going...to...capsize...come...in...the...hole~~~"

The words "I am here" were even swallowed up by the gale.

Xuanjia meant well, but unfortunately, under those circumstances, her tone of voice, her slowly swaying hands, and her extraordinary beauty made her seem like a soul-reaping water ghost.

"Is it...is it a water ghost?! A water ghost has come to take our lives! But I've never done anything heinous in my life..."

"Water ghosts can only be reincarnated by finding a substitute. Do you think they care what you do or don't do? Get out of the way, raise the sail, raise the sail!"

Therefore, not only did the ship not approach, but a large group of guards even hurriedly changed direction, intending to get further away from her.

They rushed headlong into the distance without knowing which direction they were heading.

Xuanjia was helpless; she was the only one who dared to go out fishing in this weather.

If they weren't stopped, these people would die, so Xuanjia had no choice but to pull the sail and follow them.

They go wherever they want to go.

Whenever they were about to capsize, they would maneuver the boat around to bump it, so that they wouldn't actually capsize.

She didn't try to ask them to board her ship again, and simply followed and escorted them all the way.

No one's life was taken.

The group gradually realized that the beautiful woman who appeared in such extreme weather was not the legendary water ghost that was said to take people's lives.

But they still dared not board Xuanjia's ship, after all... she was too strange.

She could adjust the sails of a boat that required several strong men to pull with just one hand.

And so the two boats, like two swimming fish, drifted downstream together, side by side.

They drifted all the way from Shanling Town to Qinghe Town, hundreds of miles away.

As dawn broke, a warm yellow light rose from the water's surface, and the storm had ceased.

Xuanjia stood at the bow of the ship for an entire night in order to save them.

When it gets light, it means that all ghosts have retreated.

But the woman remained standing steadily at the bow of the boat. In the bright morning light, she did not look like a vengeful ghost at all; instead, she appeared to be graceful and elegant.

Why did they mistake this woman for a ghost last night?!

She's absolutely a goddess!

At this moment, Prince Xianyun, who had been tossed about in the lowest part of the cabin for most of the night and thought he was going to die, crawled out from underneath.

Standing on the deck, he saw the group of guards who ignored him gathered together, chattering about the woman standing on another ship next to them.

Someone called out to thank the woman, but she responded slowly without turning her head.

In just a few words, Prince Xianyun already knew the woman's identity.

They knew that it was because she had stayed by their boat all night that they had saved their lives.

But is it just her alone?

Prince Xianyun did not look down on women; he would find it unbelievable even if the other party was a tall and strong man of military caliber.

How could a woman of such a slender build withstand the storms of last night?

At that time, Xuanjia was casting a net with his back to the crowd.

Holding an outrageously large fishing net in her hands, she slightly twisted her waist, which looked as if it would break with a twist, and then swung her arms.

The net unfolded as if by divine intervention, like a cloud drifting in from the sky, gently landing on the water.

This is simply superhuman strength...

After narrowly escaping death, the guards around Prince Xianyun were all very guilty, but they still walked towards him.

Prince Xianyun did not retaliate against them, after all, when faced with life and death, everyone was only trying to protect themselves.

Upon inquiring, they learned where they were and were amazed that they had traveled hundreds of miles overnight.

If this is all there is to it, nothing unusual.

He was at least a prince, and he could still offer some nice things to thank this woman for saving his life.

Just then, Xuanjia adjusted its posture and began to pull the net.

She had never been to this area before, and there were no other fishing boats here. It was very close to Qinghe Town, but there weren't many people fishing here.

Moreover, after a heavy rain overnight, the fish will also move with the current.

Since we're already here, we can't leave empty-handed.

So without even bending her back, she simply lifted the large net, which had been submerged in the water and caught many fish, as easily as lifting a light fishing rod.

Prince Xianyun was already amazed when he only saw a profile view.

When Xuanjia turned his face completely around, Prince Xianyun was stunned on the spot.

The whole world seemed to have lost its sound; he could only hear his own frantic heartbeat and the piercing ringing in his ears.

Although Prince Xianyun was an unfavored prince, he grew up in the palace, saw the depth of human nature, and witnessed how cold and superficial love between men and women could be.

His father married one woman after another, but Prince Xianyun watched coldly from the sidelines, never seeing even a trace of affection for the women in his harem in his great father's eyes.

All he saw was exploitation and coercion by power. Even the noble ladies who married his brothers were after a bright future and unimaginable wealth.

What is love?

It's just mutual exploitation.

But as he faced the not-so-bright morning light, it was as if he saw a celestial maiden descending to earth.

He understood that love at first sight in the world is not just a romanticized and illusory concept found in books.

This woman was definitely not the most beautiful woman Prince Xianyun had ever seen. The emperor's harem already contained beauties from all over the world.

Even the maids walking around the palace were all different shapes and sizes, each with their own unique beauty.

The woman before them was dressed in plain clothes, without any makeup, and even wore only an ebony hairpin.

The clothes, stained with water, were a dark blue-green color and had obvious stains.

But she just stood there quietly, pulling the fishing net to gather a river of spring water, her beauty unparalleled in the world.

Prince Xianyun felt that he could no longer stand.

Then the ship rocked, and he really couldn't stand up. With a thud, he knelt down in front of Xuanjia.

The guards rushed to help him up, and even Xuanjia was startled, looking at him from across the boat.

When Prince Xianyun met her calm, clear eyes, he felt as if he were a fish in her net.

There was no way to escape.

She easily stirred up the spring waters of the river, and unintentionally stirred up the hearts of noblemen and princes.

Prince Xianyun didn't even stand up. He just knelt down and cupped his hands to Xuanjia, saying, "Thank you for saving my life, Goddess."

He was already deeply grateful to her for protecting him that night.

Now he even wishes he could cut open his chest right there and then, so she could see how he could lose his mind and soul just by looking at her.

Xuanjia was stunned when he saw the richly dressed man.

Are rich people this polite nowadays?

This was their first meeting, and everything that followed was so natural.

Prince Xianyun inquired about Xuanjia's home and learned that she was currently experiencing some difficulties. He then gave her money to help her overcome her troubles.

In the lifetime that Xuanjia was reborn into the mortal realm, apart from those who coveted something from her, no one really gave her money for nothing.

But when she thought about how she had worked hard all night to prevent this young master from falling into the water and being mistaken for a water ghost, she didn't hesitate to take the money.

Prince Xianyun was worried that she would think he was showing off, so he was overjoyed to see that she was willing to accept his kindness.

However, once something like this happens, it will happen again.

Xuanjia couldn't understand Prince Xianyun's "demand" because she couldn't understand the poem he was reciting.

"The ospreys cry 'guan guan' on the river's islet; a fair maiden, a gentleman's ideal..."①

Prince Xianyun recited the poem to Xuanjia a full eighteen times, each time blushing and filled with eager anticipation for Xuanjia's response.

He was a powerful and nobleman, a prince, but he was not a corrupt person who abused his power to bully others.

He was just experiencing his first love, and he just happened to meet the person he liked the most at the best time.

He was only sixteen years old, while Xuanjia was three years older than him at the time.

Is there anyone in this world more beautiful and more perfectly matched than this?

But the passionate confession was read aloud to the deaf man again and again.

Although Xuanjia was a tortoise spirit, she didn't even cultivate when she was in the Heavenly Realm. She spent all her time sleeping or lying down. How could she have time to read?

So Prince Xianyun never received a response, but he wasn't in a hurry.

They started sending all sorts of things to Xuanjia every day.

They also made new clothes for the orphans that Xuanjia had adopted, including Xuanjia himself, and even found a teacher for the children to enlighten them.

Xuanjia was initially a little embarrassed, after all, he had taken too much money from this Prince Xianyun.

Although Xuanjia was poor in the mortal realm, he was worshipped as one of the Four Spirits by the ancient immortals in the heavens.

Just because she doesn't have anything good now doesn't mean she hasn't seen what good things are.

By this time, Xuanjia already knew the prince quite well. He had a tough time, traveling back and forth between the two cities without ever having ridden a decent horse.

The guards who had initially followed her had also disappeared, and he was the only one who rode back and forth looking for her.

They sent her all sorts of nice things.

I even mentioned today that I embroidered a purse for her.

None of the previous gifts had moved Xuanjia, but this hand-embroidered purse truly touched him.

Because of Xuanjia's wish for the embroiderer to "collapse in the middle of the process," she knew just how difficult this thing was to embroider.

It's quite interesting that a young nobleman would be willing to embroider for her.

Of course, Xuanjia wasn't moved. She was ignorant of human love and affection; her true form was a little turtle that had been lying in the Jade Pool for a hundred years without moving an inch.

Does she know what love is?

Of all those others who had designs on her, not one of them was a true gentleman.

She only knew the evil desires of the world.

She could only guess that this Prince Xianyun probably wanted something from her.

So Xuanjia asked him directly, "What exactly do you need me to do?"

Prince Xianyun already knew that Xuanjia was ignorant of matters of love, and although he was tormented, he was still in no hurry.

He said to her, “I see that you are incredibly strong and a good swimmer. You saved my life in the water before. I think you are a very good person.”

“My guards have all left me, but I can’t find anyone suitable to protect me. Why don’t you become my guard?”

"Oh, by the way, you can also bring all those children you've raised into my palace. I'll find them new teachers to teach them knowledge and martial arts."

"To ensure that they will all have the ability to support themselves in the future."

Xuanjia paused for a moment, then agreed without hesitation.

Is there really such a good thing in the world?

Moreover, although Xuanjia had lost her immortal spirit, she was still an immortal, and she could naturally see that this Prince Xianyun was a magnanimous and upright gentleman. ②

Thus, Prince Xianyun successfully turned his beloved into his bodyguard.

This was the beginning of their relationship.

Xuanjia did this job so well that in the years that followed, after Mingguang defeated two princes, stirred up the court, and selected Prince Xianyun as the next Ziwei Star God—Xuanjia was always the one who stood in front of him during countless assassinations and pursuits.

As the saying goes, strength can overcome skill. Xuanjia speaks slowly, but he is still an immortal, and his movements are by no means slow.

Prince Xianyun was saved by Xuanjia countless times.

He was already completely infatuated with her.

Later, Mingguang found him and managed to bring him back to the capital, and Xuanjia naturally followed him ever since.

After the palace coup, Prince Xianyun ascended to a high position, becoming a true Ziwei star and an emperor on earth.

The capital's name was never changed; only the emperor's title was changed to Enrong.

Emperor Enrong never forgot the kindness of Mingguang's assistance and the honor of being supported by the people.

He worked diligently to govern the country and implemented benevolent policies.

By this time, he was surrounded by countless guards, and many people were willing to sacrifice their lives for him.

However, the only person who stayed closest to him was still Xuanjia, his personal female guard.

Emperor Enrong did want Xuanjia to marry him.

Later, he simply said to Xuanjia, "I have loved you for several years. Would you be willing to marry me?"

I've said this countless times.

However, Xuanjia consistently disagreed.

Xuanjia disagreed, but aside from sighing, he didn't force the issue or pester Xuanjia.

Xuanjia told him, "I am a celestial being from the heavens, and I cannot be entangled in karma with mortals. There is no possibility between us, and I will be returning to heaven someday."

Emperor Enrong initially disbelieved it, but this seemingly absurd reason did not offend an emperor who already held the power of life and death.

He even found the excuse cute.

He remained unhurried, expressing his affections with propriety but never forcing anyone.

In the early years of his reign, he kept a low profile, appointed generals to guard the borders, and allowed the people to rest and recuperate.

Knowing people well and making good use of them, possessing both virtue and skill.

He had already won over the court and the public in less than ten years since he came to power.

At that time, the Qingliao Kingdom was already enjoying a period of peace and prosperity.

After he ascended to the throne, his court officials naturally urged him to establish an empress and select concubines.

Emperor Enrong directly ordered the imperial physicians to issue a diagnosis, which was then distributed to every minister after the court session.

It is said that when he seized the throne in his early years, he was pursued and killed, which injured his genitals, and he will never have any children in this life.

He also very gently discussed with his ministers that he could abdicate the throne if they had a suitable candidate to recommend.

This move immediately shocked and intimidated the entire court.

After all, no emperor in the world would publicly announce his inability to perform sexual acts.

And he was willing to easily abdicate his throne.

There were indeed outstanding descendants among the imperial clan, but none of them possessed Emperor Enrong's governing skills.

He neither killed loyal and virtuous officials nor oppressed the common people.

He did not favor sycophants, did not appoint treacherous officials, did not live a life of extravagance, and never lost his mind even in a fit of rage.

During his reign, he was diligent and benevolent. His officials never had to worry about their merits being buried or being discarded after their usefulness was over.

Even the tributes sent from various regions each year would be categorized and distributed to the homes of ministers, who would share in the honor. What they kept for themselves might not be as good as what they sent out.

Such an emperor was practically an ascetic; so what if he couldn't have sex?!

As a result, a minor ripple occurred throughout the court and the public, but it quickly subsided.

Aside from recommending several gentle and intelligent princes of the imperial clan who were similar to him to raise and cultivate a relationship with, no one pressured him to establish an heir apparent.

After all, Emperor Enrong is still so young.

Thus, Emperor Enrong ruled by doing nothing for only twenty years after he ascended the throne.

With peace and stability on all sides, the country was prosperous and the people were strong. The relationship between the emperor and his officials was like that of family, and there was a harmonious atmosphere.

The person chosen by Mingguang is indeed the most suitable Ziwei star in the world to be emperor.

However, Emperor Enrong also had some worries.

That is, the person he loves is unwilling to marry him.

But he did not give up.

Twenty years have passed since the two met.

He was thirty-six years old, and Xuanjia, who was thirty-nine, was still his only personal female bodyguard.

Time seems to have been especially kind to the two of them, making them look as young and beautiful as ever.

A fine line at the corner of the eye or on the brow does not make one look old, but rather adds a unique charm.

In public, they were ruler and subject; in private, they were close friends.

They ate and lived together as equals, sharing the dragon bed equally, with each person taking half of it.

Emperor Enrong knew that she had established herbal medicine clinics among the people, so he contributed money and effort to help her expand them throughout the region.

Even the children she once promised to raise for her now include two generals, two officials, and one merchant.

Two others were misled and went astray. He did not kill them, but imprisoned them and spent his free time persuading them to change their minds.

In the twenty-first year, Xuanjia returned from watching the Lantern Festival outside the palace.

Looking at this gentle and kind man who always took care of her and truly loved her.

For the first time, she saw him as a man, not just a "mortal".

She thought of the two young lovers she had seen at the lantern festival, holding hands as they bought lanterns.

Recalling all the little moments they shared together.

His emotional senses, which had been closed for two lifetimes, suddenly opened.

She realized she had missed too many years.

When Emperor Enrong asked her, "Sister, did you bring me a lantern?" she shook her head.

Ever since he met her and learned her age, he has always called her "sister".

For a full twenty-one years, it has never changed.

Every year, the two of them would go out together for the Lantern Festival, but this year, the north was hit by heavy snow, and he had a backlog of memorials to the emperor, so he was ultimately unable to leave.

"Oh, it's alright, the palace has prepared many lanterns."

He stepped forward, bent down, unfastened his black outer robe, and draped it over his arm, saying, "You feel cold. I've had incense lit and hot tea brewed. Come into the inner chamber and have some to warm you up."

Xuanjia looked at him; he was nearly forty, no longer the handsome and refined young man he once was, but still handsome, his face sculpted by time into a more composed and stern countenance.

He began by saying, "But I brought you something else, something you've always wanted."

Emperor Enrong asked in surprise, "What is it? Is it the sour jujube cake from Lan Kwai Fong?"

Many times, when Xuanjia went out, he would bring him jujube cakes to eat.

Xuanjia shook her head, took a few steps to Emperor Enrong, looked at him and thought: Although the entanglement of cause and effect is hard to dispel, she does not want to miss the person in front of her.

She raised her hand and held onto Emperor Enrong's shoulder, stood on tiptoe, and gently kissed his slightly parted lips in surprise.

In an instant, the mountains shook and the sea surged skyward—

Emperor Enrong thought he had returned to twenty-one years ago, to the day he was about to die in the river on a dark, stormy night with thunder and lightning.

It turns out that someone really did descend to earth riding on lightning back then.

Heaven showed its favor, and the heavens sent a goddess to his side.

She protected him for life, and now she's willing to indulge his romantic feelings.

Emperor Enrong closed his eyes and did not move.

He dared not, fearing it was all just a dream.

His tears fell uncontrollably, and he raised his hand but dared not even embrace his goddess.

Until Xuanjia said, "We can have intercourse, but we cannot have children."

The entanglement of cause and effect is relatively easy to resolve, but if one has a child born to an ordinary person, one must transcend the mortal realm once again.

Emperor Enrong burst into laughter through his tears and embraced his goddess tightly.

"I won't have children... I won't have children..."

"Have you forgotten? I 'hurt' [the enemy]." This was his lie to his court officials and to the entire world.

He used this to poke fun at himself, and his wish came true.

But then Xuanjia hesitated again, his expression complicated, and said, "If you're not good enough, why are you pursuing me?"

Like a frog that's been slowly boiled in water for over twenty years, she's finally awakened to the world of love and wants to experience it, but if the other person isn't up to it...

Well... that's really a bit difficult.

Emperor Enrong: "..."

"I'm not really hurt!"

All his years of forbearance and restraint, were they just for show for blind people?

He carried the black armor directly to the dragon bed where the two of them usually slept together.

He leaned down and hugged Xuanjia, gently guiding her, "I'm fine, feel it..."

It's really nothing, nothing at all.

Sexual intercourse between men and women can be quite fun.

"Since you're alright, why don't you get married?" Xuanjia got up in the middle of the night and looked at Emperor Enrong with a puzzled expression.

Having fulfilled his great wish, Emperor Enrong still felt as if he were in a dream, his whole being floating on air. He had already begun to think about the ceremony of bestowing the title of Empress. Upon hearing this, he gritted his teeth.

He pulled Xuanjia aside and said, "Come here, I'll tell you why!"

The coronation ceremony went very smoothly.

Because the emperor had the Observatory fabricate the identity of Xuanjia as a "Taoist fairy nun".

He was told that a deity appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to welcome the goddess into the palace with the highest national honors, so that the dynasty could prolong its reign and protect all living beings.

Almost none of the court officials objected, after all, the emperor was wise and benevolent, and out of gratitude for the religious disturbances of the previous dynasty, he did not support any religion after ascending the throne.

Now that I've received a "divine decree," all I can do is marry a Taoist nun and worship her.

Since the position of empress is currently vacant, it's better to fill it to prevent neighboring countries from having any ulterior motives.

Thus, Xuanjia became empress. On the day of her coronation, a fairy maiden covered her face. Even after the marriage, Xuanjia remained the female guard who accompanied Emperor Enrong.

The emperor and empress's love lasted for a long time, and more than twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.

Xuanjia has been in the mortal realm for sixty-four years now.

She's old.

Emperor Enrong is getting old.

Few emperors live to this age, because he has a truly blessed and long-lived divine tortoise by his side, which, even without the divine spirit, can still influence the lifespan of those around him.

However, the lifespan of mortals is ultimately limited, and Emperor Enrong was about to die.

More than a decade ago, he had selected a member of the imperial clan from among those he was grooming, a man whose temperament was exactly like his own, and made him the crown prince.

Ironically, Liang Yingwei's reluctance to establish an heir has led to turmoil within the country and its people.

However, on the day Emperor Enrong established his crown prince, some old ministers even looked at the white frost on his temples and suddenly realized that the wise ruler had grown old, and they wept bitterly.

Now, atop the Silver River, Bitao gazes upon Emperor Enrong, his hair now completely white, his appearance withered and emaciated.

He reached out and touched Xuanjia's face.

His eyes were cloudy as he stared at a face that, like his own, bore the marks of time.

He marveled at his goddess, who was still so beautiful and still made his heart flutter.

On his deathbed, he held Xuanjia's hand and said, "Sister... in the next life... I will definitely come to find you in the next life..."

"Wait for me."

Xuanjia was also in tears. She had been loved and cherished all her life and had experienced love and affection. How could she bear to part with her?

But it was already very late.

She had to leave.

According to the path to heaven that Bitao had laid out for her, she should have left more than 20 years ago.

She deliberately had her subordinates replace the "Herbal Medicine Hall" she was in charge of, which is now the "Orphanage" of the Qingliao Kingdom.

He lingered in the human world for more than twenty years.

Emperor Enrong was still saying, "Sister... wait for me, in the next life..."

"But...there is no...afterlife...between us..."

She was not good at speaking, so Emperor Enrong spent his whole life teaching her to speak in two or three words so that she could express herself more quickly.

Encourage her and patiently wait for her to adapt.

But there is no afterlife between them.

"I am... a celestial being... I am about to... return to my rightful place..."

Xuanjia didn't lie to him, "You are...the Purple Star of the mortal realm...in your next life...or...a king of the mortal realm..."

Xuanjia lay in Emperor Enrong's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

Emperor Enrong heard this reason for decades.

How could he not believe it?

He also shed tears.

But he quickly opened his cloudy eyes, and a final glimmer of light shone within them.

He said, "Sister, don't be afraid, I will still come to find you."

"I will definitely go... there's always a way..."

There's always a way.

In the fortieth year of Anshun, Emperor Enrong passed away.

The whole nation mourned, and the government and the people grieved.

Emperor Enrong reigned for forty years, a period known as a time of "doors left unlocked at night" and "national peace and prosperity."

Legend has it that he was a celestial being from the upper realm who descended to earth to save all living beings. Even the fact that he only married one "ornamental" empress and never had any children was deified as a result of the celestial being being forbidden from marrying a mortal.

Emperor Enrong was buried, and Xuanjia passed away.

Bitao had seen the Silver River Net and was waiting with Zhan Kui at the entrance to the Heavenly Realm. Both of them had red eyes.

As the celestial lightning dissipated, the Xuanjia Dharma Form appeared.

Resembling a giant mountain sinking down, the divine form of a snake's body and a tortoise's back stands on the shore amidst the clouds.

Xuanjia has accumulated a great deal of merit in the human world, and his good deeds have been accumulated for more than forty years.

More than a million!

The golden light of merit was comparable to the second golden crow, illuminating heaven and earth in an instant.

Xuanjia sat cross-legged on the snake head of the Xuanwu statue, his hands forming the orchid mudra, his eyes closed and head bowed, his long hair flying like swirling clouds.

Her skin was as white as ice and her complexion as jade; she possessed an air of otherworldly grace.

The entire Milky Way trembled, and both the ancient immortals and the merit-based immortals were dumbfounded.

The golden light dissipated, and the Five Thunder Tribulation came to an end.

The Xuanjia Dharma Form snake head raised to the sky, opened its huge mouth, and let out a long howl that tore the heavens and the earth apart!

Some of the lower-ranking immortals were so shocked by the sound that their knees went weak and they almost knelt down.

Someone murmured in a daze, "She really is the incarnation of one of the Four Symbols—Xuanwu!"

The Xuanjia Dharma Image, with its overlapping golden armor, is majestic and boundless, a divine image of Xuanwu that has shaken the ages and proclaims that Xuanjia is one of the Four Symbols, the incarnation of Xuanwu!

Moreover, the vast ocean of immortal spirits she released further demonstrated that she had leaped four ranks from the position of Spirit Immortal to the middle rank of Profound Immortal.

The heavens are boiling!

Bitao burst into tears several times as she witnessed this shocking scene.

They stood at the entrance to the Heavenly Realm, hugging each other and jumping around!

As the Dharma image dissipated, the Xuanjia landed at the entrance to the Heavenly Realm. Bitao and Zhankui were the first to rush over, followed by a group of fairy maidens and immortal lords who were usually on good terms with them.

Xuanjia didn't even have time to be stunned when she saw Zhan Kui; she rushed straight into the arms of her two sisters.

Then she began to sob.

Bitao and Zhan Kui held Xuanjia tightly, knowing that she was heartbroken because of Emperor Enrong.

However, they were also overjoyed that she had jumped four levels and ascended to the rank of Xuanxian.

"Don't cry," Bitao said, "Don't cry..."

Zhan Kui cried so hard his fish bubble was about to burst.

"Waaah!" she cried. "Ascending to the Immortal Realm is so awesome!"

"Love... Waaaaah... Love is so beautiful! Why can't I have it!"

"I want one too, waaaaah!"

"I don't care, I want it!"

"A mermaid like me deserves this kind of love!"

Bitao: ...

Xuanjia, who was sobbing, said: "..."

The two looked at Zhan Kui, who could at best be considered a "mermaid"...

A moment later, the three of them burst into laughter through their tears.