Chapter 44 You have utterly disregarded all human ethics! Our relationship has always been based on love…

After Xuanjia passed away, before he and Bitao could return to their new palace under the big peach tree, they were taken away halfway there.

Upon receiving the news, the attendants of the Northern Black Tortoise Star Lord, including Doumu Xie, Niu Jinniu, Nü Tufu, Xu Rishu, Wei Yueyan, Shi Huozhu, and Bi Shuiyu, all gathered in the Taiqing Realm to respectfully welcome the Black Tortoise Star Lord's incarnation back to his rightful star position.

It has been a long time since so many celestial deities have appeared at the same time, and the scale of the event is even greater than when Xuanjia returned to heaven and revealed his Dharma form, attracting even more onlookers.

When Xuanjia returned to heaven and passed through the Five Thunder Formation, she also received an ancient inheritance, learned her own star position, and became familiar with the people who came to pick her up through those inheritances.

She said to Bitao and Zhankui, "I might... have to go... for a few days..."

Bitao understood, of course. The ancient star deities who had become gods were no ordinary beings. Now that they had awakened, they naturally had to return to their original star positions as soon as possible.

After Xuanjia left, many people gathered around and inquired, subtly asking Bitao if she had known Xuanjia's identity beforehand. Bitao simply smiled and brushed them off.

"How could I possibly know? Wasn't Xuanjia worshipped as the incarnation of Xuanwu from the moment it transformed into a spirit?"

"Shouldn't the Ministry of War be the first to find out?"

Unable to find out anything, the group dispersed disappointed.

Not long after Bitao and Zhankui returned to the palace, Bitao noticed that Zhankui was acting strangely.

"...Where are you going dressed like this?" Bitao asked as Zhan Kui applied makeup to her fish-shaped face.

The red fish head was quite frightening. Because she couldn't draw red on, she drew two white faces on herself, making her look like a paper monster at first glance.

"I'm going to find my love, as earth-shattering as Xuanjia's!"

Bitao: "..."

On the way back to the palace, I heard the news that the Moon Goddess returned to her position last night and successfully ascended to the rank of True Moon Goddess.

He was one of the later returnees from the ancient immortal clan. He assisted Emperor Enrong in stabilizing the position of the Ziwei Star Constellation at the Observatory in the human world, and acted as his mouthpiece for the people.

"You're going to find Guanghan? But what kind of earth-shattering love is between you two?"

Bitao's expression was indescribable. She thought about how Zhan Kui had been even more frivolous than the Guanghan True Immortal when he was in the Heavenly Realm after he descended to the mortal world.

Guanghan Zhenxian was just one of her many men, and the one who... after she got tired of him, had Rong'an Wang recommend him to the Imperial Capital Observatory.

I never went to see them during that time; it was practically like I abandoned them.

"You two can only be considered to have had a brief affair at most."

Bitao advised her, "Your current state is Heaven's punishment for you avoiding the tribulation of lightning, but I suspect you will return to normal before the next round of the competition begins."

"It's probably not a good idea for you to go see him now..."

What an earth-shattering love it must be to be able to bring oneself to eat a huge fish head!

Zhan Kui remained obstinate: "I don't care!"

"I can't even reach the Xuanjia level of immortality, but I must have her earth-shattering love!"

After Zhan Kui finished speaking, he rushed out. He was a fish himself, slippery and hard to handle, and Bi Tao couldn't even grab him.

Bitao chased after Zhan Kui and shouted again, but in the blink of an eye, she disappeared from sight.

Finding the palace rather dull, Bitao wandered off to the Jade Bone Palace.

When the two mentioned Xuanjia, Zhu Ming, holding a teacup, said, "Xuanwu God Lord is an ancient star deity from the primordial era. Together with Mengzhang God Lord of the Eastern Azure Dragon, Jianbing God Lord of the Western White Tiger, and Lingguang God Lord of the Southern Vermilion Bird, they are known as the Four Ancient Spirits."

"The Azure Dragon represents the east, the White Tiger the west, the Vermilion Bird the south, and the Black Tortoise the north. They also represent the four seasons of spring, autumn, summer, and winter."

"Xuanwu Town is not just a single star or a cluster of constellations in the north, but the entire north is the place where Xuanwu is in charge of constellations."

"The incarnation of Xuanwu God has returned to its rightful place. Even if Xuanjia had more than a million merits, she would still be at the lowest immortal rank after the ancient incarnation of Xuanxian returned to its rightful place."

"She has ancient heritage, which is the power of the ancient immortal clan's heritage."

"The Xuanwu Star Lord has been worshipping the stars and rotating the yin and yang sundials for tens of thousands of years. The celestial realm has not produced an incarnation god for a long time. You, Xuanjia little sister, will have an extraordinary status in the future."

"Once she is officially recognized as a Star Goddess, all the star worship power in the North will be concentrated in her. Ascending to the Immortal rank will be as easy as eating and drinking. What is a Mysterious Immortal then?"

Zhu Ming looked at Bitao, who seemed to be holding back her emotions, and said a lot of things.

He then asked her, "How was it? We spent every day together, and I thought we were sisters from humble backgrounds, but it turns out she's transformed into an ancient star spirit incarnate."

"Even if you were foolish and cunning after descending to the lower realm, and you won the first place, you would only advance four levels in a row, while others directly crossed four realms."

"Are you feeling very uncomfortable?"

Bitao, who was propping her head up, rolled her eyes at Zhu Ming when she heard his sarcastic remarks: "...What am I upset about? What are you talking about?"

"Zhan Kui was probably provoked by Xuanjia."

“I’m worried that if she goes out looking like that, the ancient immortals will laugh at her again.”

Bitao said, "How could I not know the power of the ancient incarnation gods? The Eastern Azure Emperor incarnates everywhere. Not to mention anything else, just the Ten Directions Salvation Heavenly Venerable alone is an existence that no immortal in the heavenly realm can surpass."

"Xuanjia never liked cultivation to begin with. Now that she is one of the four ancient star spirits incarnations, she will never have to work hard again. I am overjoyed for her."

"Besides, not all the ancient immortals are people who seek fame and fortune."

“I have never had much prejudice against the ancient immortals. Don’t you admire some of them? For example, Yun Chuan, the Heavenly Immortal of the Ministry of War. After he passed away, didn’t you send him a great gift that could refine his natal magic weapon to congratulate him?” “If the ancient immortals were truly all unworthy, wouldn’t the celestial realm’s millennia-long heritage and reincarnation have long since vanished into the cosmos and the yin-yang cosmos?”

"With the Heavenly Rules above, even the selfish desires of immortals will eventually be reflected back upon themselves, just as a mirror reflects their own actions."

"Otherwise, were all those ancient immortals who used sundials really tired of living?"

"You even guessed that?" Zhu Ming raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He looked at Bitao with admiration and said, "I thought you would at least feel that after all your hard work, you couldn't compete with an inheritance, and that the way of heaven is unfair."

Bitao shrugged: "Isn't this great? The Xuanjia that has inherited the power is still the Xuanjia. As the incarnation of the Xuanwu God, although she inherited a part of the power of the ancient stars, she is a completely different person from the real Xuanwu God."

"From now on, neither of us will have to be afraid."

Bitao smiled slyly: "Didn't you say you couldn't beat the Star God? If you can't beat anyone in the future, or if someone bullies you, I just need to go find Xuanjia Star Lord and ask her to send her subordinate Star God to support you and me."

"Hahahaha..." Zhu Ming clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "Then wouldn't you and I have a powerful backer?"

Bitao clapped her hands together and exclaimed, "That's exactly right!"

Zhu Ming looked at Bitao for a while longer, making sure that she was not feeling suffocated by this, and finally felt relieved.

As a celestial being, the greatest fear is the raging of the Five Yin, and the jealousy that evolves from these Five Yin is the most difficult to eradicate and predict.

Even the smallest seed of trouble, if sown, can affect all future choices.

Once one's heart deviates from the right path, how can one face the divine judgment with a sincere and clear mind when struck by lightning again in the future?

"I gave gifts to Yun Chuan Tianxian only to win him over. Everyone in the Ministry of War who has been promoted to the rank of Tianxian this time is very influential."

Zhu Ming squinted: "Their momentum has steadily surpassed that of the Lei and Dou tribes; their ambitions are considerable."

Today, Bitao was unusually unwilling to listen to Zhu Ming's analysis and was still worried that Zhan Kui would be bullied.

She stood up abruptly and said to Zhu Ming, "No, I still have to go find Zhan Kui."

Zhu Ming was about to say: "Since Immortal Yun Chuan is working so hard to catch up with Ming Guang, the Ministry of War may have to compete for Ming Guang's current position in the future."

This is also why Yun Chuan of the Ministry of War never did anything to drive away Bi Tao, this "wild fairy spirit" that could interfere with Ming Guang.

But before she could finish speaking, Bitao had already walked out of the Jade Bone Palace.

Zhu Minggang was worried that she would become jealous and affect his ascension to immortality, but now he couldn't help but curse her at the door: "You heartless thing! All you care about is that fathead fish!"

"Your little darling is about to be usurped!"

Bitao charged directly towards the northeast of the Nine Heavens, where the Dou Department was located—the Biantian.

After crossing the Jade Bow Rainbow Bridge, head straight for the Moon Goddess... Oh, now it's the Golden Toad Palace of the True Moon Goddess.

However, the gates of the Golden Toad Palace were tightly closed, and the fairy maidens and immortal lords at the gates all said that the True Immortal of Guanghan was not in the Golden Toad Palace.

“My master has gone to the viewing platform,” a celestial being who was familiar with Bitao said to her with a smile. “After the Guanghan True Immortal passed away last night, he went to find the Mingguang Mystic Immortal.”

"Did you see Zhan Kui come over?"

"The Immortal Zhan Kui? I didn't see him."

Bitao searched several of the places Zhan Kui usually frequented, but still couldn't find her.

Finally, I went to the Six Imperial Platforms of the High Heavens, intending to ask about the Moon Palace.

But when she arrived there, Bitao discovered that the viewing platform was now filled with people from various tribes of the Ancient Immortal Clan.

They looked like they were discussing something important.

After Bitao appeared, the first thing she saw was Mingguang, who was surrounded by the crowd.

Mingguang also looked towards Bitao immediately.

The ancient immortals fell silent, each looking at Bitao with a different expression.

In the past, when these people saw Bitao, even if they didn't say anything sarcastic, they would at least look at her with some mocking eyes.

Although she is still only a deity, these people no longer dare to be as presumptuous towards her as before.

Those who witnessed her bizarre methods during her trip to the mortal realm no longer dared to underestimate her.

Regardless, Bitao came out on top, and they were all her defeated opponents. In the end, she made it impossible for these people who were arrogant and disdainful of the heavens to continue to "look down on" her.

Especially... Binglun.

The moment he saw Bitao, he felt the excruciating pain that churned his internal organs returned to his body.

The feeling of being completely suppressed, having his sternum shattered, finding even breathing incredibly difficult, and being unable to move a single finger overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

Even now that he has passed away, even though he is now of a higher rank than Bitao Immortal, he still cannot suppress the fear he has never felt before.

His path to death was almost ruined by her.

He knew very well that Bitao could have killed him back then.

Because he was the one who made the first move, he was only shocked by Bitao's assassination attempt on Mingguang and did not hold back against Bitao.

If Bitao really killed him back then, it would just be a normal fight, and the Heavenly Rules would not punish her for it.

She loomed over him like an inescapable dark cloud, light yet utterly powerless against him.

He was originally standing with his back to Bitao, and he was the closest to where Bitao appeared.

However, after Binglun turned around and saw Bitao clearly, he subconsciously took several steps back, his steps unsteady and revealing his unconcealed panic, and bumped into his waiter.

Bitao: "..." Why do I look like a frightened cat?

The crowd in the arena, each with their own distinct expression, remained silent.

Mingguang, who was surrounded in the middle, stood up. He was overjoyed, thinking that Xiaotaozhi had come to see him.

Forget about being reserved, she quickly got up and walked towards Xiao Taozhi.

Bitao rolled her eyes, but couldn't find the two people she was looking for, so she walked straight towards Binglun.

Binglun didn't retreat any further, or he would become a laughing stock!

However, the surging pain in his abdomen made him feel suffocated once again.

He appeared to be arrogantly standing tall in front of Bitao, but in reality, his hand at his side was secretly clenched into a fist.

But Bitao walked quickly to him, and instead of saying anything sarcastic or provocative as he had expected, she did not do so.

Instead, he cupped his hands to the attendant behind him and said, "Immortal Jing Su, may I have a word with you in private?"

Mingguang, who had already walked over, asked, "Is there something you need?"

He was interrupted after only managing to say, "What do you have..."

They didn't come looking for him.

Mingguang stood there, taller than everyone else, like a goose standing among chickens.

Bitao caught a glimpse of him pursing his lips in annoyance and almost couldn't help but laugh.

Jing Su had only recently passed away, and he had not accumulated much merit, so he failed to break through to the rank of immortal during his descent to the mortal realm.

But he and Bitao had an agreement.

So he cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Peach Blossom Fairy, please come with me."

Soon, Bitao and Jingsu moved away from the crowd, but they didn't go very far. They stood under the Chongxiao Liuyutai and talked.

Mingguang stood on the viewing platform, watching the two people communicating telepathically from afar. If he really wanted to eavesdrop, it wouldn't be out of the question...

But that would be too despicable.

But what is there for them to say to each other?

Mingguang recalled that when Xiaotaozhi lost her memory in the lower realm, she praised Jingsu's handsome appearance as soon as she saw him.

The fingers inside the sleeves of Mingguang's robe clenched unconsciously.

He felt that if Xiao Taozhi took a liking to Jing Su... that would definitely not work.

They are discussing the candidates for the second round of the competition.

Moreover, Jing Su is Bing Lun's attendant, and Bing Lun and Xiao Tao Zhi often disagree. Jing Su is caught in the middle and finds himself in a difficult position. Furthermore, he is not very ambitious and after descending to the mortal realm, he simply follows orders without having any of his own ideas.

If Jing Su hadn't failed to break through to the True Immortal level in the first competition, he wouldn't have planned to participate in the second one. That's what they were just talking about.

Jing Su is currently only a deity with mediocre talent. Even if he advances to the True Immortal level in the second round of the competition, his career will end with him becoming the Thunder King in the Thunder Department.

They are not a good match.

Mingguang frowned unconsciously as he imagined the scene of the two of them together if romantic feelings developed between them, and he forced himself to turn his head away from them.

But the five senses still couldn't help but quietly and impenetrably envelop it.

Of course, he didn't break through their telepathic communication; he just secretly observed their expressions and actions as they spoke.

Bitao smiled and said, "Congratulations on ascending to the upper level of immortals, becoming a true immortal in one step."

As she spoke, Bitao took out a sword tassel from her sleeve and handed it to him.

Bitao had prepared this gift long ago, intending to find a suitable opportunity to give it to her.

Although she didn't find Zhan Kui on this trip, she could vaguely sense Ming Guang's spying, and this occasion was just right for her to go out.

Bitao knew that Mingguang would be spying on them, and she also knew that he adhered to the virtues of a gentleman and would not take advantage of his status as a Xuanxian to break the secret communication between the two of them.

Therefore, she smiled particularly brightly at Jing Su: "It's not much of a gift. I found it in the former storeroom of the Eastern King when I was tidying up the newly acquired palace."

“My element is wood, but this sword tassel’s element is earth. Among all my friends, you are the most suitable.”

"It's no use for me to keep it, so don't worry about it if you keep it."

"Just assume I need something from you. When I come to you for help, don't refuse me."

Jing Su instinctively wanted to refuse, but when he saw the sword tassel in Bi Tao's hand, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

This is an earth-elemental spirit-gathering sword tassel, with an exquisite spirit-gathering array drawn on the jade pendant, clearly the work of a high-ranking immortal.

Wearing it on a sword will surely have an outstanding effect.

Jing Su is skilled in martial arts and his moves are sharp. He is usually quite diligent. His only problem is that he is not very talented.

Despite being a Thunder Department attendant, he is not a Thunder Spirit or a Wind, Rain, or Lightning Spirit, but an Earth Spirit.

It's not easy for the Earth Spirit to collect immortal spirits, and he has always been short of immortal spirits.

If you have this sword tassel, your strength will definitely double when you practice and fight.

How can I refuse...?

Jing Su smiled genuinely, hesitated for a moment, and then solemnly accepted the sword tassel.

His performance in the lower realm competition this time was quite poor; any worse and he wouldn't have made it back.

Since his passing, everyone has only lamented that he failed to break through to the Immortal Realm; no one has congratulated him on advancing two ranks.

Jing Su softened his voice: "I am the one who should congratulate you, Immortal Bitao. Congratulations on taking the first step towards becoming a true immortal."

Jing Su was a little flustered: "But I have nothing of value to offer to Fairy Bitao."

"If there is anything I can do in the future, I will do my best."

Bitao waved her hand: "I don't lack anything. By the way, have you seen the Moon Immortal and Zhan Kui?"

Jing Su held the sword tassel in his hand, a smile always on his face: "The True Immortal of Guanghan came here last night. This morning, he seemed to have received a message from someone on the Silver River Net and left not long ago."

"As for the Immortal Zhan Kui, I did not see him."

"Okay, thank you." Bitao breathed a sigh of relief, at least Zhan Kui didn't come over with that face and get laughed at.

But if the two of them didn't go to the Golden Toad Palace of the Moon Immortal, where did they go?

"There's nothing else, please trouble the immortal Jing Su."

As Jing Su bowed and took his leave, Bi Tao said, "However, there is a very small matter that I need to trouble Immortal Jing Su with first."

"If anyone asks why I came to see you, just say that I wanted to curry favor with you and give you a gift."

Jing Su wasn't one to talk big, so he replied without hesitation, "Okay."

Once the two separated, Mingguang quickly withdrew his five senses from his observation.

But his expression had darkened considerably.

The two of them were smiling so brightly at each other, what exactly did they say?

Bitao did not follow Jing Su back to the Six Imperial Platforms of Chongxiao, but instead transformed into a spirit and flew away.

When Jing Su returned, he was carrying an earth spirit sword tassel, which was clearly made by a high-level immortal. In the short time it took him to walk, he had already gathered a lot of earth-type immortal spirits.

This isn't expensive, but it's hard to find, making it a perfect little gift for Jingsu's current situation.

Jing Su was genuinely happy. As Bing Lun's attendant, he couldn't make many friends because of Bing Lun's personality.

Everyone in the group was focused on getting promoted, and no one had the leisure to prepare gifts for others.

Therefore, he was quite fond of it, and his gaze became extremely gentle when he spoke to others afterwards.

But to Mingguang, it was incredibly glaring.

He became distracted as he collected the list of ancient immortals who wanted to participate in the second round of the competition.

His gaze kept lingering on Jing Su, and the more he looked, the more he felt that he was definitely not a good match for Xiao Taozhi.

Seeing Jing Su unable to contain himself, with the tassel of his sword already hanging on it, swaying back and forth, annoyed him.

The sword tassel was actually peach pink.

Peach pink is Bitao's favorite and most frequently used color.

What's the meaning?

Did she ask the Eastern King for it?

For the sake of Jing Su?

The more Mingguang thought about it, the more he felt as if his internal organs were on fire.

He finally decided to go find Xiao Taozhi and ask her the truth!

They can't go on like this forever.

Bitao had just returned to her palace when she discovered that Zhan Kui and Guanghan Zhenxian, whom she had been searching for, were actually boating on the Boundless Sea.

They were quite far from the large peach tree, but Bitao, with her divine senses, quickly located them.

From a distance, it looks quite poetic and romantic, like a scene from a poem.

Moreover, Bitao also saw the Moon Immortal bowing his head to kiss Zhan Kui's fish head.

Bitao was shocked.

Could these two really be in love?!

The truth is, on the small boat, Zhan Kui threatened Guang Han: "My sister is now the incarnation of the Xuanwu God. If you don't kiss me, I'll have her send the Star God to beat you up."

The Moon Goddess, who was always good at fortune-telling but not at fighting: "..."

He had a entanglement with Zhan Kui in the lower realm because of Rong An Wang's recommendation.

He knew perfectly well that Mingguang disliked his ways and was unwilling to help him, which is why he endured humiliation and coaxed Zhan Kui.

It was only after he passed away last night that, while tracking the victorious immortal position on the Silver River, he discovered that one of Zhan Kui's best friends, a turtle incarnation named Xuanjia, was actually the incarnation of the Four Symbols, Xuanwu.

He has already been led by the attendants back to his position as a star deity.

Previously, Zhan Kui sent him a message on Yin Han Gu, threatening that if he didn't come, he would have someone beat him up.

Above the Nine Heavens, below the Supreme Immortals, including the Mysterious Immortals, if we only consider martial prowess and disregard immortal rank, there are very few people who can defeat the Star God.

Guanghan knows Zhankui quite well; she never speaks in a threatening way, but if she says she'll find someone to beat him up, she really will.

He's already a True Immortal, it would be too embarrassing for him to be beaten so badly that he couldn't fight back.

Therefore, the True Immortal of Guanghan could only endure the humiliation once again, accompanying Zhan Kui on his journey through the Boundless Sea while secretly planning that he should also hurry up and practice his cultivation techniques.

It's not enough to just be able to calculate. He calculated that he and Zhan Kui had some connection, but he couldn't figure out who she would ask to beat him up.

In other words, his combat skills are lacking. Whether in the celestial realm or the mortal realm, he is a first-rate strategist, but as long as he engages in close combat, he will become a sitting duck.

When Zhan Kui, in his current inhuman and fish-like state, asked for a kiss, he could only lower his head and comply.

However, Guanghan wasn't too upset. After all, although Zhan Kui's current state was somewhat complicated, her human form was still quite to Guanghan's liking.

And it gets kind of funny after watching it for a while.

He had previously tracked down Yin Han Gu and saw that Yun Chuan Tian Xian had taken the brunt of her tribulation lightning. He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Yun Chuan, a martial god who could hold up the seas and the heavens, being struck so hard that his face turned pale and he was frequently swallowing blood.

The koi fish truly lives up to its name; thinking back to those years in the mortal realm, everything I did was incredibly lucky when I was with her.

That's the most comfortable life I've ever had.

No matter the circumstances, she never concealed her desires and demands. Among the nine celestial maidens she associated with in the Moon Palace, Zhan Kui was the most uninhibited.

Sometimes, when the two were being intimate, Guanghan would blush because of some of her novel requests.

When it comes to enjoying matters between men and women, he feels somewhat inferior.

And so Bitao saw this scene: a person and a fish leaning on each other in the boundless sea.

The two drifted further and further away with the waves until they were no longer visible.

Bitao suddenly realized that she had a problem.

Why should she worry about love for a koi carp that can even dodge the Five Thunder Formation?

She herself hasn't found love yet!

However, this "settlement" came quickly.

Mingguang couldn't resist lowering his head in the end and came to Dushuo Mountain in Juntian. Under the large peach tree that he knew so well but now felt somewhat unfamiliar, he came to find Xiaotaozhi.

Bitao received news from Mingguang on the other side of her palace, under a large peach tree, and was lying on a couch eating peaches.

The peaches from the celestial realm taste better than those from the mortal realm; the ones she ate were all grown by herself from the giant peach tree.

No one can catalyze it except herself; it would take ten thousand years for the great peach tree to bear peaches on its own.

It blooms once every ten thousand years and bears fruit only once; each fruit is a highly nourishing substance imbued with the essence of heaven and earth.

The peaches that grow naturally are much worse than the ones grown on their own, but they are still very rich in spiritual energy. It's mainly about the taste.

Just as he was enjoying the sweet taste of the peach, he received the news. He jumped up from the couch and finished the peach in a few bites.

Then I found a mirror and looked at my current appearance, only regretting that I didn't have a dressing case as large as Zhu Ming's.

However, Bitao was still very satisfied with herself. Her eyes were full of affection, and even without makeup, her face was as beautiful as a peach blossom.

She is indeed naturally beautiful and cannot hide it.

She leisurely went out and strolled to her appointment.

Half an hour had passed by the time they reached the other side of the large peach tree on foot.

Mingguang remained waiting under the tree, his back to her.

The great peach tree blooms for ten thousand years, its petals drifting down year after year, and now they are almost covering Mingguang's long hair and shoulders.

Bitao recalled the time before he broke the Thunder Pattern Curse. She had invited him to the big peach tree, which angered him. The formation shook, causing the peach blossoms to fall incessantly, just like now.

At that time, he burned his golden spirit outside his body more fiercely than a raging fire, and would not allow any peach blossom to fall on him.

Tsk.

Bitao walked over, and Mingguang turned around.

He remained the same, with a lofty and unyielding spirit, as profound and majestic as a mountain, unparalleled in the world.

If immortals do not deliberately maintain their appearance, they will remain unchanged for almost ten million years.

His expression now is different from before; he no longer has that wariness and resistance.

Those pale golden eyes, like the morning sun, even carried a hint of soft appeasement and compromise.

When he stood there, looking at Bitao, his sleeves swayed a few times, as if he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet, and he seemed a little helpless.

Bitao stood not far from him with her hands behind her back, tilting her head slightly to look at him, barely suppressing the smile on her lips and the emotion in her eyes.

He turned his gaze to the Boundless Sea and said slowly, "Immortal Mingguang, is your presence here to settle the score for the sword I stabbed you in the mortal realm?"

Mingguang's prepared response: "Can we not be so unfamiliar with each other?"

And then it died in the womb again.

He opened his mouth, and after a long while, he sighed and said, "Little Peach Branch, you know perfectly well that I can't really blame you, so why say such hurtful things?"

Bitao reached out and picked at her ear, almost losing her composure because of his low, magnetic voice that sounded like he was giving in.

She really wanted to call all the immortals who followed Mingguang to come and see how charming the usually aloof and arrogant immortal lord was when he spoke gently and ingratiatingly.

Unfortunately, this scene could not be captured and broadcast by Yin Han Gu.

Now that Mingguang had decided to seek peace, he no longer adopted any arrogant attitude.

He was still a little annoyed when he arrived that Bitao had gone to deliver a gift to Jing Su, but she had to interrupt him even when he said something.

But after standing under this large peach tree for an hour, Mingguang recalled the years the two of them had spent together, and all that remained in his heart was gratitude.

Thinking back to the more than 100 years she had pursued him, he had never given her a kind word, let alone interrupted her. Sometimes he would even turn into a spirit and disappear before she could speak.

He knew that Binglun had sent her to the prison palace several times, but he never intervened because he disliked that she was always causing trouble.

I wanted to discourage her from giving up.

She must have been feeling terrible at the time.

Therefore, when Xiao Taozhi actually appeared in front of him, Mingguang no longer cared about being angry.

He immediately admitted his fault: "It is I who have wronged you, having forgotten you for a hundred years."

"Can't we just get along like we used to?"

Bitao turned to look at Mingguang, and under his focused and yearning gaze, she really couldn't resist.

Her heart began to pound uncontrollably, her eyes narrowed slightly, and her mind wandered to unspeakable, unclean thoughts.

Mingguang's gentle, pleading expression is just so adorable.

She could no longer control herself. She walked to Mingguang's side, looked at him with the same affection, reached out and took Mingguang's hand, pressing it against her wildly beating heart.

"Come and feel it for yourself, feel how I feel about you now."

"You know perfectly well that I have pursued you for a hundred years, and my feelings are genuine. I want to ask you, how can we still be the same as before?"

Mingguang's large hand was caught off guard and fell into a softness that even the clouds could not match.

Before he could even feel the intense, fiery heartbeat beneath that softness, he recoiled as if electrocuted, staggering back several steps until his back pressed against the large peach wood.

He tucked his hands into his sleeves, clenched his fists so tightly that his nails seemed to dig into his palms, and helplessly pressed them against the tree trunk behind his back.

He stared at Bitao in utter astonishment.

He was as red-faced and bulging with veins as if he had been stabbed in the mortal realm.

But this time it was truly because of shyness and difficulty in speaking.

He looked at Bitao with the eyes of someone looking at a flood or a ferocious beast. Her extreme shyness and helplessness were like a raging fire, instantly igniting the incomprehensible anger in his heart towards Xiaotaozhi: "Why do you have to do this!"

Bitao scoffed, "Haven't figured out whether you want to try again? Lie down here and listen to how I was so moved by your few words of reconciliation that I couldn't control myself."

"I've been like this for over a hundred years now. Do you only remember the years we spent together, but have forgotten the years I chased after you?"

Mingguang had no idea how to answer Bitao, and his pale golden eyes flushed red again.

"But why...?"

Mingguang simply couldn't understand: "You weren't like this before, we started out..."

"I've always been like this."

"What did I do the instant I condensed my spirit from that large peach tree and landed on you? Have you forgotten?"

Mingguang recalled that when she wasn't even a little peach branch person, she was just a chaotic fairy spirit that fell on his shoulder and wanted to devour him.

But he was puzzled: "What... does this have to do with what we're talking about now?"

"Back then, you just wanted to devour my immortal essence for your own use."

“No,” Bitao denied everything. “I just took a fancy to you, that’s why I jumped down from the tree to eat you.”

"Because I didn't understand love at that time, and appetite and desire always have similarities."

Mingguang found it utterly unbelievable. That period of time was so vivid and unforgettable in his memory that he dreamed about it so much that he didn't want to wake up.

He wouldn't allow Bitao to twist her body like that: "Don't talk nonsense!"

Bitao said, "How am I talking nonsense? What are you doing here if you don't even dare to listen to the truth?"

Bitao was obviously talking nonsense. Her feelings for Mingguang changed over the course of a century of longing.

When he first came to the big peach tree, he was just a little kid.

She was just a chaotic being, what did she know about love and desire?

She only knew how stubborn Mingguang was, and whether his coming to beg for peace today was simply to return to their former status as "close friends."

She must shatter Mingguang's perception of the past at its root in order to break the strong cage in his mind regarding their relationship.

"Before I condensed my spirit, I had a spiritual consciousness on the peach tree for a thousand years. You came to my tree first and attracted my attention by crying and sobbing."

“Even after I bit you, you still come every day, making me neglect my cultivation so much that I can’t even look after you.”

"It's because you crave my company that you stick with me all day long."

"You seduced me and made me fall in love, then turned around and forgot about me. I chased after you for a hundred years, and you hurt me many times. Now you remember all that and come here to force me to be your 'best friend' again. Mingguang Xuanxian, how could you go so far?"

Mingguang was so anxious that he almost turned the same color as the petals falling on him.

"You're simply...you're a complete double-tongued person..."

Mingguang was so angry that he was incoherent. His past happiness had been shattered and turned upside down, and he could not suppress his stubborn temper: "Back then, I was just a child in human form, and you hadn't even solidified into human form yet. How could I have seduced you and made you fall in love?!"

"You're saying such things! You're completely...disregarding all human ethics!"

In Mingguang's mind, the order of heaven and earth, the cycle of yin and yang, and the fundamental principles of human relations are all indestructible doctrines, and he cannot tolerate anyone violating them.

"How could I disregard human ethics? Before I condensed my spirit, I already had a lifespan of a thousand years. The area covered by the great peach wood is three thousand miles away. What don't I understand? What haven't I seen?"

"Besides, what are you talking to me about ethics and morality? Although you were just born, your ancient immortal clan already received their inheritance while you were still in your mother's womb, and you were born with knowledge of the past and present."

"It takes a full ninety years to be born as a human. If you convert that to time in the interstellar realm, you'd be almost a thousand years old at birth!"

"You were indeed a child back then, but couldn't you have grown up?"

Bitao said sharply, "The reason you didn't transform into human form immediately after birth like other ancient immortals is because you are stupid and have poor talent. You were afraid of being scolded or disliked by your parents, so you maintained your child form to give yourself some time."

"I saw you looking exactly like this back then, what are you trying to prove, you old tree, are you?!"

"How is it against human ethics for me, a person over a thousand years old, to like someone who is almost a thousand years old?"

Mingguang's cherished past was so distorted that he was practically on the verge of exploding.

From his position pressed tightly against the large peach wood, he hurriedly walked to Bitao's side, grabbed her shoulders with both hands, and demanded sharply, "Back then, you forced me to consider you my 'best friend,' and made me swear that you would be my only 'best friend' in this life. How can you make such a careless statement?"

Bitao felt a numbness in both shoulders and looked up to see his furious, handsome face up close.

He knew that his stimulation had been quite effective.

He wouldn't be so angry if he didn't actually believe it to some extent.

Bitao continued, "There has never been any such thing as a best friend; what we have between us has always been love!"

He laughed and said, "Immortal Mingguang, even if you were oblivious to emotions in the Heavenly Realm, you must have seen quite a few human emotions during your decade-long time in the mortal realm, even without personally experiencing them."

"Are you stupid? Have you ever seen a pair of best friends who are a man and a woman, and who swear that they will only have each other for life?"

Bitao said matter-of-factly, "From the very beginning, that was a vow to your lover. Just think of it as me coaxing you back then, but you have already sworn that you can't have any other woman in your life but me."

"You were always mine."

Mingguang was breathing heavily, so anxious he almost wanted to sew Bitao's mouth shut.

He managed to glean some evidence from his mind to corroborate their past "legitimate" relationship.

He roared, "But you hadn't even formed a spirit or become a human back then, you couldn't even distinguish between men and women! What are you talking about love and affection for?"

Before Bitao transformed, she was indeed neither male nor female.

Later, she transformed into a woman because a woman's physique is more suitable for wood spirit cultivation, and it has nothing to do with Mingguang.

But that didn't stop her from arguing: "I am a peach blossom spirit, of course I am a woman!"

"Didn't you see that I used peach blossoms to decorate my face? Haven't you heard the saying that a beautiful woman's face is like that of a peach blossom?"

"You...you..." Mingguang was almost brought to tears by Bitao's anger.

His pair of crimson-gold eyes were bloodshot, as if he were more seriously injured than when he was stabbed in the mortal realm.

Bitao's words only exacerbated the deep wounds in his heart: "And where did you put me back then?"

"Top of the head, shoulders, chest, cuffs, waist, back of the neck... it's almost like it's been put in the mouth and stuffed into the crotch, isn't it?"

"Can you honestly say you weren't even a little bit attracted to me?"

"If not, then why did you always bring me in and out of Xuanhui Palace? And it was common for you to hold me while sleeping."

Mingguang felt a surge in his chest, and he could almost taste a metallic sweetness in his throat.

He looked at Bitao, his expression cracking, his lips trembling, and his body shaking violently.

Bitao continued, "And after your memories were sealed by General Kunyi, why did you still come to the big peach tree?"

Bitao raised her hand, pointed at his heart, and stared intently into his bloodshot eyes, saying, "Why did you come to the big peach tree again today?"

"That's because you've been unable to control your longing for me."

"Mingguang, do you really know what you're thinking?"

"You've been gone for so long, why haven't you come to make peace with me?"

Bitao gently persuaded, "If you truly considered me a close friend, you wouldn't have come today."

"Why have you come today? Is it because I ignored you after giving Jing Su a gift?"

"What are you here for? To make up, and then what? Do you want me to stay away from Jing Su?"

Mingguang did indeed have this thought, and his expression became even more unpleasant.

But he didn't hide it either. He would never hide his inner thoughts from Xiao Taozhi. He said coldly, "Jing Su is not the right person for you."

"Then who is it, you?"

Seeing that he had taken the bait, Bitao immediately pressed her attack: "You coward who doesn't even dare to admit he likes me?!"

"When do I like..."

“Let me tell you why you can’t stand me giving Jing Su things, but when I go in and out of Zhu Mingxian’s Jade Bone Palace, have close ties with You Tian’s meritorious immortals, and have countless friends in the Nine Heavens, you don’t come to me or care about me.”

"Because you know, I'm just friends with them, and it's not the same as the deep feelings I have for you."

"You're afraid I don't love you, yet you refuse to accept my love for you, Mingguang Xuanxian, what exactly do you want from me?"

Bitao shook off his hands, turned her back, and pretended to be heartbroken.

In reality, the corners of his mouth were turned up so high that he couldn't suppress them, and his face was almost distorted.

Mingguang's reaction was hilarious.

Mingguang felt his mind was in a daze, his ears were ringing, and the two consecutive words "love" made his knees go weak and his heart clench.

The word "love" was too heavy for Mingguang, and it was something he never thought would fall on him.

How can an immortal have private feelings/desires?

How could Xiao Taozhi say that so easily?

How can you disregard past friendships and force this onto them?

Bitao's voice trembled slightly: "You are the future candidate for Immortal Emperor, while I am just a wild immortal in the Qi Condensation stage. I have been trying my best to follow in your footsteps and risking my life to participate in the competition. If I cannot win, I may not even have the chance to be human... But you have told me more than once that there is absolutely no possibility between us..."

"They clearly have no intention of responding to me today either."

"Then why are you still holding onto me?"

Bitao looked up at Mingguang with sorrow in her eyes and continued to rip out his heart.

"You should leave, Mingguang Xuanxian. The gap between us now is more than an insurmountable chasm."

"Don't look for me anymore. I'm keeping my promise to you from when I was in the lower realm. I will never bother you again."

"Just pretend you never regained your memories, and that we never had each other."

"Don't worry about who I have feelings for, or whether I can return to heaven after descending to the mortal realm."

Bitao softened her voice and recalled wistfully, "Thinking back to when I lost my memory in the Star Realm, those were my happiest days. If you hadn't told me I was in the competition, I wouldn't have even planned to become an immortal."

"It's good to be an ordinary person... working at sunrise and resting at sunset."

"Although we are always short of money, mortals are born in the morning and die at night, and life passes by very quickly."

"After drinking a bowl of Meng Po soup, all the pain of love can be completely forgotten."

Bitao lowered her head and said in a barely audible voice, "There's no need to chase after anyone for a hundred years; all we'll end up with is a laughingstock from the heavens..."

Mingguang felt that he could no longer breathe.

She hated his lack of ambition, which almost shattered his resistance to her so-called love and affection.

Little Peach Branch...did Little Peach Branch ever have a heart that longed to never return to heaven and only be a mortal?

Just because he... he didn't respond to her, she's going to give up being an immortal?

How absurd!

How can this be allowed?

"No," Mingguang said, "I won't allow you to..."

He tried to grab Bitao again, but Bitao took a step back and dodged him.

He was always the one avoiding her.

After his death, this was the second time Mingguang's hand had been suspended in mid-air, but he couldn't grasp anything.

It hung there for a long time, incredulous.

An indescribable fear welled up in his heart; he dared not even think about what would happen if Xiao Taozhi were to truly become a mortal...

He was left all alone. What would he do in the millions of years to come?

Before Mingguang could say anything more, two beams of light suddenly descended from behind Bitao.

The two celestial officials who came to guide them descended to earth and transformed into human form.

He respectfully addressed Bitao, saying, "Immortal Bitao, your arrival in the Star Realm is imminent. Please come with us to receive you."

Upon closer inspection, Bitao realized that the two individuals were not from the Medical Department, but rather from the Nine Heavens Supervisors, minor immortals from the Supervisory Department, both residing in the Eastern Azure Heaven.

Who did she choose?

Who is it this time?

Bitao glanced at Mingguang, and the feigned emotions on her face vanished instantly.

That's about enough excitement for today.

Mingguang wasn't really stupid. The reason he could be fooled by her sophistry for a while was because he cared too much about their past friendship, which made him confused and unable to distinguish right from wrong.

But after all, the two of them are the people who know each other best.

Any more and he'll realize her scheme.

Then Bitao turned around and said politely to Mingguang, "Mingguang Xuanxian, I think there's nothing more to say between us. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

As she spoke, she followed the two supervising officials to escort her "general".

Mingguang stood alone under the large peach tree, his hands hanging limply in the air, his brow furrowed, his mind filled with sorrow.