Zhuxuan Yuyang Palace was located at the foot of Zhongqu Mountain in the extreme western lands, less than a hundred miles from the legendary Sea of Parting Regret.

Successive generations of Zhuxuan Dijun had always enjoyed grand displays. Back when the Sea of Parting Regret had not yet become a forbidden zone, countless divine clans had envied and coveted Yuyang Palace’s prime location. Who knew that sudden catastrophe would strike, transforming the prime location into a forbidden zone overnight? The face-conscious Zhuxuan Dijuns refused to relocate, and as the Sea of Parting Regret expanded year after year, they could only move Yuyang Palace further back. By now it had been moved a thousand miles. Along the western extension at the foot of Zhongqu Mountain, one could still vaguely see traces of Zhuxuan Yuyang Palace’s former glory.

Two quarters before noon, the area before Zhuxuan Yuyang Palace was already bustling with excitement. Guests came and went in an endless stream, and countless bowl-sized golden flowers fell continuously. Yuyang Palace had an expansive layout. Zhuxuan Dijun particularly favored using cinnabar to paint walls and colored tiles for roofs. Towering buildings rose from the ground like cliffs, presenting another scene of magnificent prosperity.

Walking the white jade avenue from the main gate, countless alluring female immortals danced gracefully on both sides. Flowing clouds and star sand tumbled chaotically. Moreover, there was a pavilion every five steps and a tower every ten steps. The top of each tall building was adorned with enormous radiant pearls carved into lotus shapes or etched into various flowers, birds, fish, and insects. Under the bright daylight, the pearls’ light shone deep blue—extravagance taken to its extreme.

Baize Dijun’s disciples were almost all of noble status, yet they rarely witnessed such scenes. Aside from Gu Ting and Fucang who had visited before and appeared calmer, the other disciples were practically dumbstruck. Even Xuan Yi watched in a slight daze—compared to Zhuxuan Yuyang Palace, Mingxing Palace’s Three Hundred Courtyards were simply a dump.

After circling around a crystal pavilion, the view suddenly opened up. A massive platform built from piled jade stones stretched across from them. Above it, treasure light flowed freely and auspicious clouds bloomed in countless clusters. Innumerable crystal stands were arranged in neat rows, sealing within them various treasures collected by successive generations of Zhuxuan Dijun—from rare medicinal pills from the Thirty-Three Heavens above, to magical artifacts left behind by ancient gods, even including things like the jade hairpin bead that Su Nü had once dropped beside the Sansheng Stone and the dark fox fur cloak that Xuan Nü had worn when meeting the ancient Heavenly Emperor in the past. The items appeared endlessly, dazzling the disciples. At the same time, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief: Good. Originally they’d thought this Zhuxuan Dijun’s collected treasures would all be things like hair and fingernails. It seemed he was still considerably more normal than their own teacher.

Below the jade platform, many divine officials attended, serving tea and water. Seeing that Xuan Yi had difficulty with her legs and was being carried on Fucang’s back, a divine official promptly brought over a levitating soft chair, saying: “This chair can be controlled with divine power—it will make it more convenient for the Princess to move about.”

Following that, a female immortal came forward and covered Xuan Yi’s eyes with black gauze, saying respectfully: “The Princess’s eyes cannot tolerate bright light. With this gauze covering them, there will be no problem.”

They even knew that she was a princess of the Zhuyin Clan and that her eyes disliked strong light. This Zhuxuan Dijun was truly thoughtful and considerate.

Xuan Yi sat in the soft chair, held her head high, and swooshed past right in front of Fucang. She turned a circle at will, then thoroughly scratched the itchy wound that had tormented her for so long. In an instant, her mind became clear and her whole body felt delighted—look at how generous this Zhuxuan Dijun was! Baize Dijun’s reputation was undeserved—he was stingy to death.

Inside divine palaces there were restrictions—riding clouds, controlling wind, and even mount flight were not allowed. The disciples walked on two legs, but she flew in her soft chair, which was actually much faster than them. In one swoop, she flew past the jade platform.

She had little interest in the various treasures displayed on the jade platform. Seeing a delicate eight-sided exquisite pagoda built entirely from azure glazed glass not far to the east, which looked extremely distinctive and ingenious, she couldn’t help drifting close to examine it carefully with her head raised.

Before coming, she’d heard that a fingernail of Chiyou Dajun was sealed inside an azure glazed glass pagoda. Looking at this pagoda shaped according to the Two Principles and Eight Trigrams, with majestic divine power faintly flowing within, it must be that pagoda.

Xuan Yi turned her wrist, and a ball of white snow appeared in her palm. She carefully began kneading it according to the shape of the azure glazed glass pagoda. Having just pinched out a rough form, her shoulder was suddenly patted lightly. Gu Ting laughed: “This little ghost shouldn’t run around carelessly, or you might get lost.”

Xuan Yi looked around in all directions but saw he was all alone. She couldn’t help asking curiously: “Where are Senior Sister Zhi Xi and Senior Brother Fucang? Don’t you usually hang out together?”

Hang out? Gu Ting didn’t know whether to feel angry or amused: “Senior Sister Zhi Xi is drafting a three-thousand-character observation report in her mind. Fucang was pulled aside by Crown Prince Chang Qin to talk. I’m wandering around at random.”

Wandering around alone at random didn’t quite match this Gu Ting Shenjun’s usual habits. He looked rigid, but actually loved most to call out to friends and companions. Xuan Yi turned her head to look behind. Sure enough, the disciples were all noisily gathered with Shao Yi. Because there were always young and beautiful divine maidens surrounding him, having only arrived a short while ago, four or five young divine maidens were already sitting with him, chatting and laughing.

She understood in her heart but didn’t expose it, continuing to knead the white snow glazed glass pagoda in her hands.

“Junior Brother Gu Ting!” Zhi Xi ran down from the jade platform, urgently calling to him. This model good disciple had a face full of bitter contemplation. “Have you conceived your three-thousand-character observation report? Should I focus on writing about the treasures or about the scenery of Yuyang Palace?”

Gu Ting seemed somewhat helpless about her being so studious. Just as he was about to respond, he saw several passing Shenjuns frequently turning their heads to look in this direction. Their gazes weren’t very polite, seemingly carrying some mockery and even a bit of sympathy.

He couldn’t help speaking out: “Gentlemen, may I ask what the matter is?”

Those several Shenjuns only smiled. One of them said teasingly: “Nothing, pardon us.”

With that, they turned to leave. As they walked, they still whispered among themselves. Gu Ting vaguely heard phrases like “engagement canceled,” “this is Gu Ting,” “fiancée ran away with another Shenjun,” and such. He only felt his heart sink, and the hand hidden in his sleeve began trembling uncontrollably.

Zhi Xi frowned tightly: “You several—gossiping behind people’s backs is truly too unseemly!”

The several celestial gods couldn’t help stopping in their tracks. They exchanged glances with each other, then laughed: “Then we apologize. We heard that you are all disciples of Baize Dijun. Baize Dijun has long enjoyed a great reputation, and his disciples are indeed each outstanding and exceptional. We cannot hope to match you—how ashamed we are, how ashamed.”

Though this was an apology, even an idiot could hear the mocking intent in the words. A flash of anger passed through Zhi Xi’s eyes. She said coldly: “Looking at your appearances, I presume you are also some Dijun’s disciples. We are grateful for your erroneous praise. We dare not claim to be outstanding and exceptional, but we can definitely assert that we understand the way of propriety better than you!”

The several young Shenjuns immediately became annoyed. One of them sneered: “What boastful arrogance! The way of propriety? The Shenjun who cuckolded Gu Ting Shenjun is your fellow disciple, and his fiancée who had an affair with another Shenjun is also your fellow disciple. What, you’re allowed to do it, but we’re not allowed to speak of it? Baize Dijun is so strict in accepting disciples—in my view, the disciples he accepts aren’t much after all! Stop putting on such airs!”

Zhi Xi was furious beyond measure, but couldn’t think of any sharp words to retort with. In her anxiety, tears welled up in her eyes, rolling around in their sockets. She refused to show weakness before these people and only bit her teeth, stubbornly holding back.

Xuan Yi’s soft and gentle voice suddenly rang out: “You gentlemen are so thoroughly familiar with the affairs of Baize Dijun’s disciples—could it be because of jealousy turned to resentment?”

The Shenjun with extremely sharp words said coldly: “Jealousy turned to resentment? Ridiculous! Our teacher doesn’t have numerous peculiar habits like Baize Dijun, and my fellow disciples don’t have those messy affairs like yours. What is there to be jealous and resentful about?”

Xuan Yi looked them up and down, a trace of a smile appearing on her face: “I’m afraid even if you wanted to, you couldn’t find divine maidens with such poor judgment.”

“You!” The several Shenjuns immediately flew into a rage.

Xuan Yi controlled the soft chair to float back several feet and covered her nose with her long sleeve, saying lightly: “Don’t come closer. Just stand over there. We’ll talk slowly.”

Her lofty arrogance and sharpness infuriated them. That Shenjun said angrily: “I’ll just ask—was there a single error in what I said earlier? If you have the ability to point out our faults, that would also count as impressive!”

Xuan Yi turned the rough eight-sided pagoda form in her hand around and around, saying: “From heaven to earth, there has never been a lack of all kinds of rumors. And those that can make you discuss them with relish and flying spittle are all about famous divine clans. I truly don’t know what faults you small gods have. Even if there were any, I’m not very interested.”

The young Shenjuns trembled all over with anger. Xuan Yi smiled amiably and spoke leisurely: “Or you could tell me about them. I’ll see if they can relieve my boredom?”

This little divine maiden who appeared from who knows where spoke in such a heart-piercing manner and had such an arrogant attitude—they absolutely had to make her lose face!

One Shenjun moved extremely quickly. Amid Zhi Xi’s cry of alarm, he stepped forward to flip Xuan Yi off the soft chair.

Who knew his throat would suddenly feel cold? A sword hilt inlaid with azure jewels had somehow come to rest lightly against his throat. The sword hilt was gripped by a slender hand. Following the snow-white sleeve upward, one saw a pair of cool and deep black eyes. The sword hadn’t even been unsheathed, yet it made him more terrified than if it had been drawn.

“Having grown such a long tongue, it must be quite troublesome.”

Fucang lightly pressed the sword hilt against that Shenjun’s throat, lowering his lashes to stare fixedly at him.