Seeing that guests had arrived in sufficient numbers, Zhuxuan Dijun brought out today’s prized treasure with a smile—a spirit stone found in the lower realm that was said to be gestating a spiritual embryo.

Unfortunately, the assembled gods didn’t seem very interested. Who could tell whether or not there was a spiritual embryo inside a rock covered with moss? As for Zhuxuan Dijun’s talk about the moss breathing and details of fetal movements and such, none of them could discern any clues. After surrounding the bluestone for a while, they each dispersed.

Never expecting that the finale piece would turn into a failure, Zhuxuan Dijun could only turn his head and give the divine officials some low-voiced instructions. After a moment, a commotion suddenly arose from behind. Over a dozen divine officials pushed an enormous wheelbarrow slowly forward. On the cart seemed to be placed a large paper box. Drawing closer, one could see that it was covered with white paper, each sheet painted with cinnabar incantations that sealed the box completely airtight.

The gods who didn’t know the truth discussed among themselves. Everyone had heard that Zhuxuan Dijun collected Chiyou Dajun’s fingernail and Gonggong Dajun’s skull fragment. Could it be that everyone’s reaction to the spirit stone was too indifferent, so he deliberately took out these two items for the gods to appreciate?

Zhuxuan Dijun nodded slightly in indication. The divine officials immediately worked deftly to tear off and peel away the cinnabar incantation seals on the box one by one, revealing a large black metal chest beneath. After that, as if fearful, they all withdrew to a distance.

Zhuxuan Dijun couldn’t help but smile: “This object has already been sealed by great divine powers. What is there to fear? Esteemed guests, after Hou Yi shot down the suns in the lower realm, this seat expended tremendous effort to finally retrieve from the extreme northern abyss of the lower realm the last arrow that Hou Yi shot empty that day—this is that very object. Although the years have been long, the arrow remains extraordinarily fierce. It is a god-slaying object that gathered the resentment of mortals. This seat has nurtured it with pure energy for many years and only dares to take it out for viewing today. You younger generations should be careful not to get too close.”

With a wave of his long sleeve, the black metal chest opened silently. In the center, bound by heavenly gold locks, was an arrow shaft as thick as a finger, crimson in color. After so many years, this god-slaying object forged by mortals of the lower realm remained sharp as new. A single glance was enough to make one’s heart tremble with fear.

The assembled gods finally let out astonished low exclamations. This item was indeed much more interesting than that inexplicable bluestone.

Gu Ting looked around in all directions and couldn’t help tugging on Fucang’s sleeve, laughing quietly: “Good thing Divine Maiden Xihe didn’t come today.”

Otherwise, not only would Fucang be in a difficult position, all the guests at Zhuxuan Yuyang Palace would be in difficulty. If Divine Maiden Xihe saw Hou Yi’s arrow, her teardrops could burn this Yuyang Palace to ashes.

Now that the treasures had all been displayed, the assembled gods each observed them with great interest. A massive landscape screen was placed below the jade platform. Xiwang Mu’s musicians arrived gracefully and hid behind the screen. String and wind instruments rose melodiously, playing precisely the Nine Shao.

At this time, heavenly music played continuously and heavenly fragrance drifted faintly. The assembled gods observed treasures, chatted leisurely, ate and drank—a scene of complete relaxation. Only Baize Dijun gripped Zhuxuan Dijun’s sleeve and wouldn’t let go: “Young Master Zhuxuan, where did you put that piece of Chiyou Dajun’s fingernail and Gonggong Dajun’s skull fragment? Why haven’t you taken them out?”

Zhuxuan Dijun knew of his peculiar habit and immediately smiled bitterly: “Baize Dijun, those two items are relics of ancient demon clans. They can only be suppressed inside the azure glazed glass pagoda and cannot be displayed publicly. If Your Excellency wishes to see them, this seat will personally lead you to the azure glazed glass pagoda. How about that?”

Baize Dijun was after all an elder divine being—accompanying him to look for a while should allow escape. Poor Zhuxuan Dijun brought such naive thoughts with him as he accompanied him into the azure glazed glass pagoda. Afterward, he wailed bitterly with tears streaming down his face, having been stuck inside for several hours, yet Baize Dijun still showed no sign of coming out. But that was a story for later.

Gu Ting selected two jars of Supreme Pure Wine and a dish of jade lotus root. Today Xuan Yi had vented for him the pent-up resentment that had long filled his heart. He felt indescribably delighted and only wanted to drink three hundred cups with them and get thoroughly drunk. Looking around, he didn’t see Xuan Yi, but saw Fucang standing far off to one side. Opposite him was an unfamiliar long-bearded Shenjun who was speaking to him warmly about something. Behind the long-bearded Shenjun was a young divine maiden with flushed cheeks who kept sneaking glances at him.

At the sight of this scene, Zhi Xi’s heart sank with a thud. She couldn’t help speaking out: “What is Junior Brother Fucang doing?”

Gu Ting, however, smiled as if accustomed to it: “Another divine clan is introducing their daughter to him. This is a common occurrence. Look at him constantly touching his sleeve—in his heart he must be extremely impatient.”

After the sword dance at the Imperial Daughter’s wedding banquet, Fucang had suddenly gained enormous fame. First, his status was noble—he was the only son of the Azure Emperor. Second, he wasn’t infected by the dissolute atmosphere of the divine realm and had no bad rumors. This single point alone made him cherished by countless divine clans with daughters. Last time, the Heavenly Emperor’s matchmaking attempt with the Zhuyin Clan princess had failed, making the assembled gods even more eager to move. Previously when he’d been staying at Mingxing Palace that was one thing, but now that he’d come out to attend such a grand banquet, naturally those with intentions seized the opportunity.

Gu Ting wanted to help him escape and immediately called out loudly: “Fucang! Come over here for a moment!”

Fucang nodded, cupped his hands in salute to that long-bearded Shenjun, and walked over leisurely, breathing a slight sigh of relief: “Thank you.”

Gu Ting smiled and draped his arm over his shoulder: “Come, drink with me. Too bad that little demon Xuan Yi is hiding somewhere, otherwise today no matter what, we’d have to force a few cups down her.”

Can’t find Xuan Yi? Just as Fucang brought the blue jade cup to his lips and heard Gu Ting’s words, he couldn’t help scanning around. Unconsciously, he looked toward a giant Imperial Daughter’s Mulberry tree in the distance. Wasn’t she right there? Head lowered, concentrating wholeheartedly on pinching the white snow glazed glass pagoda in her hands, with more than half her body covered by shadow, displaying a kind of unusual tranquility.

He suddenly discovered that finding the Dragon Princess wasn’t difficult. Compared to lively chatting and conversation, she seemed to prefer staying alone, hiding in deep dim shadows, like a solitary plucked string, day after day pinching those strange and peculiar white snow figures.

Gu Ting seemed to say something to him. He withdrew his gaze and responded absentmindedly with a few words, but very quickly he would uncontrollably let his eyes stop on the area beneath the Imperial Daughter’s Mulberry.

Deep green and pale red interweaving, light and shadow devouring each other, like a lonely painting.

Fucang involuntarily set down his wine cup, actually giving rise to an impulse to go over there.

His body had just moved slightly when the bronze bell was suddenly struck with resounding chimes. The gentle and balanced strings and winds suddenly shifted, becoming passionate and fierce. Fucang abruptly came to his senses, thinking to himself this was bad—what was being performed at this moment was precisely the song Nine Songs.

Sure enough, the next moment Crown Prince Chang Qin called out to him from afar: “Fucang! Come perform a sword dance to liven things up, will you?”

As soon as these words were spoken, all the assembled gods were delighted. Back at the Imperial Daughter’s wedding banquet, Fucang Shenjun’s sword dance had been famous in all directions. Who would have thought they’d have the fortune to see it again today! Zhi Xi was even more excited, her powdered face flushing red. She felt too embarrassed and didn’t want others to notice, yet couldn’t suppress the heat rising to her face.

Fucang turned around. Crown Prince Chang Qin was hugging a fifty-stringed zither, beckoning to him with a smile. He slowly shook his head, indicating he didn’t want to take the stage. But how could Crown Prince Chang Qin heed him? The fifty-stringed zither rang out resoundingly, its timbre like splitting metal and stone, each note urging him over.

Fucang’s brow furrowed slightly. With no other choice, he could only execute Chun Jun sword in hand, pointing eastward with one sword stroke, and landed in the field as gracefully as a startled swan.

The song Nine Songs was already deafening. When Crown Prince Chang Qin’s fifty-stringed zither was played, the timbre was even more intense. With Fucang executing a sword dance with the heavenly treasure sword Chun Jun, winds and clouds surged from all directions with tremendous momentum. Even from such a distance, Xuan Yi was disturbed by the noise until her head ached.

She had no interest whatsoever in this guy’s sword dance. Wielding weapons was also unbearably noisy. She could only look around trying to find a quiet place to continue pinching the glazed glass pagoda properly.

Suddenly she heard a voice behind her say viciously: “So this is where you’re hiding! Hmph! Now let’s see who’ll come help you!”

Xuan Yi was slightly startled. The next moment, she was roughly grabbed from the soft chair.

The Shenjun grabbing her seemed not to have expected that she would have absolutely no power to resist, being caught so easily. He was actually stunned for a moment. Immediately after, he tucked Xuan Yi under his arm and covered her mouth and nose with one hand to prevent her from crying out.

“Hurry up, don’t let them see!” The several other Shenjuns at his side looked around nervously in all directions, afraid of being discovered.

The Shenjun who had acted looked left and right. Seeing an immortal plum forest in the distance, blocked by various magnificent and luxurious pavilions, he threw a glance. The assembled Shenjuns immediately headed toward the immortal plum forest.

As soon as they entered the immortal plum forest, she was thrown on the ground. The Shenjun who had grabbed her said sternly: “Let’s see how arrogant you are now! Hmph! A wet-behind-the-ears little divine maiden dares to speak so arrogantly! Today I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders! Remember well—my name is Mo Zhao! Mo Zhao of the Youyu Clan! I want to see if you dare provoke the Youyu Clan!”

Xuan Yi didn’t make a sound. Her eyes flowed around, looking over each of their faces in a circle. So it turned out to be those several Shenjuns from before at the azure glazed glass pagoda. They must have found her to take revenge.

“What, too scared to speak?” Mo Zhao Shenjun sneered. “Just now near the glazed glass pagoda, weren’t your words very sharp? Say more! Go ahead!”

He’d originally wanted to frighten this little divine maiden, hear her cry out a few times, then have her apologize and be done with it. Who knew she would slowly raise her head and emit a slight cold laugh from her nose, carrying an almost cruel condescension that infuriated them even more than any arrogant expression.

Mo Zhao Shenjun roared angrily: “What are you snorting about?! Apologize quickly! Otherwise we’ll strip your clothes off!”

She slowly bent her knees and sat up, dusted off the dirt on her skirt, picked up the half-pinched white snow glazed glass pagoda, and carefully put it in her sleeve.

It seemed that to deal with inferior warriors, one could only use the methods of inferior warriors.

On the soft green grass, a thick layer of white frost had formed at some unknown time. In mid-air, densely packed white snow actually began falling lightly. The assembled gods only felt a wave of eerily penetrating cold, as if even their bones were frozen. Even more strange, the immortal plum forest that had been sunny and bright just moments ago suddenly became dark and gloomy.

At this, the assembled Shenjuns finally came to their senses, all shocked and terrified: “The Zhuyin Clan! She’s that little princess of the Zhuyin Clan!”

“So what if she’s of the Zhuyin Clan!” Mo Zhao was secretly alarmed but still spoke stubbornly. “Does being of the Zhuyin Clan mean she can speak arrogantly at will?! I’m going to have a discussion with Zhongshan Dijun about this!”

The other Shenjuns, however, didn’t dare continue their bravado. One by one they slowly retreated. Mo Zhao must have lost his mind. The Sea of Parting Regret, sealed by darkness and frozen, was just a hundred miles away. No matter who passed through this area, they would fear the methods of the Zhuyin Clan. Yet he still dared to provoke her—simply courting death.

The assembled Shenjuns cupped their hands in salute, respectful and deferential: “Princess, in this matter from beginning to end, it was Mo Zhao Shenjun of the Youyu Clan who instigated everything. Wrongs have perpetrators and debts have debtors. If the Princess wishes to assign blame, we humbly request that you not implicate us.”

Mo Zhao Shenjun couldn’t have expected his fellow disciples to turn on him as easily as flipping a book. In great anger, he said sternly: “A bunch of cowardly wretches! I don’t believe she dares do anything to me at Zhuxuan Yuyang Palace! Come on! If you have the guts, annihilate me on the spot!”

As his words fell, a seductive yet ice-cold voice suddenly rang out: “As you wish.”

The assembled Shenjuns only felt pain in their chests and involuntarily flew backward one by one. Mo Zhao Shenjun was about to cry out in alarm when he saw a cold light flash before his eyes. His ear felt cool, and the top of his head also felt cool. Immediately after, his chest felt as if struck by a boulder. That cry of alarm couldn’t escape his throat. He fell to the ground and fainted on the spot.

A pair of hands grabbed Xuan Yi up. She raised her head somewhat bewildered and saw Fucang, who should have been performing his flamboyant sword dance up front, standing before her. The unsheathed Chun Jun was tossed on the ground, a thin bloodstain on the sword’s body.