Chapter 53

“Goddess Liuli, are you inside?”

The divine attendant’s expression was somewhat troubled as she looked at the tightly shut door. “Although the ceremony has been postponed, you still need to go and pray…”

Suddenly, a voice came from behind: “Please wait a moment, Sister Divine Attendant. I’ll go in and speak with her.”

The divine attendant turned around and saw Zhu Qianying, who was often seen with the Goddess Liuli. She nodded. “Then I’ll leave it to Miss Zhu.”

Zhu Qianying walked into the room and closed the door. Her gaze immediately found the figure dressed in red sitting in front of the mirror. The radiant and striking red goddess robes were intricate in design, with layers upon layers and colorful decorations interwoven throughout.

She walked over, gently bent down to straighten the collar of her robes, and then raised her eyes to meet the gaze in the mirror. Her tone was soft: “What’s wrong, sister?”

Su Liuli slightly lowered her gaze. “The ceremony… has been postponed.”

“There’s no need to worry, sister,” Zhu Qianying said reassuringly. “I’ve already checked. It’s just that Yaochi hasn’t held a ceremony in many years, so the necessary equipment is insufficient. They just need a couple more days to prepare.”

“Recently, even a single mosquito can’t get into Yaochi Palace. Not even the head divine attendant is allowed to let anyone in. She won’t be coming.”

Zhu Qianying smiled softly. “Rest assured, Goddess, it will only be you, and it can only be you.”

“…Mm.” Su Liuli responded quietly, lifting her face to reveal a gentle smile. “Thank you for all your hard work these past days, Qianying.”

Zhu Qianying’s fingers lightly touched her face, her gaze seeming to look through her, as if seeing something beyond her.

She smiled gently. “As long as it makes you happy, sister.”

“By the way, what about him?” Su Liuli, seemingly unaware, looked up and asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. “In the years I’ve been gone… have they already gotten together?”

Zhu Qianying withdrew her hand, her lashes fluttering slightly, but her smile remained unchanged. “Don’t worry, sister. That hasn’t happened yet.”

It will take a little more time.

I hope you won’t disappoint me either.

Kou Yi smiled meaningfully. Even if Yu Tao were a fool, she could understand now. Her face involuntarily flushed.

But wasn’t this hairpin the one that Senior Brother had made for her after he broke her original one? Could it be that at that time, he had already… No, that couldn’t be true.

After finishing her grooming, it seemed that Kou Yi had something else to attend to and left, allowing another divine attendant to come and guide Yu Tao.

The divine attendant respectfully said, “Miss, please follow me.”

“Ah, okay.”

Yu Tao followed behind her, feeling the smooth fabric of her dress, unsure of its material. The style was somewhat similar to the divine attendants’ robes but simpler.

“Is Senior Kou Yi busy with the ceremony?” Yu Tao asked.

The divine attendant nodded. “The Head Divine Attendant needs to preside over the ceremony, so she has already gone ahead. I will take you to your room to wait for the others.”

So she was the Head Divine Attendant. No wonder she appeared so composed and experienced.

Seeing that it was almost time, Yu Tao asked, “Has my lady’s baptism been completed? Should I go with them…?”

“You need not worry, Miss. Once the ceremony is over, I will come to escort you to join them,” the divine attendant replied.

She gently closed the door. “Please remain calm, Miss, and refrain from moving around.”

Since she had said that, Yu Tao didn’t ask further and settled in to wait in the room, idly staring into space.

There was nothing she could do—while Zhu Mingyu and Lu Qingyu were undergoing the baptism, they couldn’t use the Liuli Mirror, so she couldn’t contact them.

A faint fragrance lingered in the room, gradually relaxing her.

Having been whisked away by Kou Yi early in the morning, Yu Tao soon began to feel drowsy as she sat in a simple chair, resting her face in her hands while fighting off sleep.

At the base of the central palace’s stairs, during the ceremony, glazed-colored vessels and clusters of Fuso flowers interwoven, dazzling in the midday sun, their colors vibrant and surreal.

The goddess statue stood proudly at the center, with divine attendants arranged neatly on either side, performing some ancient ritual. A huge harp, moved by magical power, played a distant, ethereal tune that echoed through the sky, while celestial birds soared around.

From afar, Zhu Mingyu and Lu Qingyu couldn’t help but show expressions of awe and admiration.

Zhu Mingyu watched for a while, then sighed with regret. “It’s a shame that the palace is guarded so strictly. Otherwise, I would have sneaked Yu Tao in to see this. These past few days, I’ve seen her flipping through records, talking about how beautiful the scenery of Yaochi is. From the look on her face, it’s obvious she wants to see it for herself.”

Lu Qingyu suddenly chuckled and shook her head. “Tsk tsk, Junior Sister Zhu, you still lack experience in this regard.”

She casually tossed a small recording jade slip into the air. “I’ve been recording the ceremony since it started. When we go back, Junior Sister Taotao can watch it. It will be just like being there in person.”

Zhu Mingyu paused, realizing that this time she had lost, and a breath of frustration caught in her chest. “Do you really think they’d let you record the ceremony? It’s such an important event.”

Lu Qingyu pointed to Kou Yi, who was overseeing the ceremony at the top of the stairs. “I already spoke with the Head Divine Attendant, and this jade slip is restricted. Only one person can view it, and it will automatically destroy itself after that.”

As they spoke, the ceremony reached its critical moment, and the protagonist finally appeared—dressed in a brilliant, intricate red gown, her skirt trailing behind her as she slowly ascended the pure white stone stairs, like the most vibrant flower blooming in an empty valley.

Zhu Mingyu narrowed her eyes slightly, focusing on that figure.

The strangest thing written in the book had now come true—Su Liuli, who had died years ago, was truly here.

She couldn’t help but glance at Lu Qingyu, and in her eyes, saw the same realization. They were both more and more convinced of the book’s authenticity.

The goddess succession ceremony proceeded according to plan, smoothly and without any issues. Before long, they reached the final step: the coronation.

Su Liuli took one step at a time up the stairs. Next, the Lord of Yaochi Palace would personally place the crown, inlaid with Fuso stones and symbolizing the goddess’s status, on her head, officially announcing the completion of the ceremony.

The ceremony had proceeded smoothly without any issues, and Su Liuli gradually relaxed, walking up to the highest point with a smile, where she locked eyes with Kou Yi, who was presiding over the event.

Kou Yi merely glanced at her before turning her gaze away, speaking with a composed tone: “I’m sure many of you are curious about why the ceremony was delayed a few days ago. Allow me to explain the reason today.”

“Not only is today the Goddess succession ceremony, but it is also the coronation of the new Lord of Yaochi Palace.”

Upon hearing this, all the divine attendants present were stunned.

The new Lord of Yaochi Palace? But the current Lord of Yaochi Palace was still here…

“The new divine decree has been issued. She will lead Yaochi to greater heights, along with the Ring of Spirit.”

Kou Yi slightly bowed her head, showing respect: “I welcome my lord.”

The divine attendants echoed in unison: “We welcome our lord.”

Zhu Mingyu tapped her chin: “This trip was worth it. Not only did I get to witness the Goddess ceremony, but now I get to see the new Lord of Yaochi Palace.”

Lu Qingyu clicked her tongue: “Yaochi Palace has had the same Yaochi Palace Lord for thousands of years. I didn’t expect a new Lord to suddenly appear today. We had no prior warning.”

“But judging by the sudden delay a few days ago, it seems that this change just happened. Is the succession of the palace lord happening so suddenly?”

Finally, the palace doors opened, revealing the grandeur of the inner sanctum, solemn and dignified.

In the vast palace, the eight sacred artifacts of Yaochi were sealed within pillars, their spiritual energy spilling out, and everyone felt a lightness in their bodies, as if the spirit platform had become clearer.

Above the main hall, the divine seat made of Fuso stone shimmered with a faint glow. A figure sat there, leaning lazily against the back of the seat.

From the lower steps, her face was obscured, but her right hand, resting on the side, was clearly visible. The Ring of Spirit, a symbol of the palace lord’s authority, glistened brilliantly.

Zhu Mingyu raised an eyebrow: “The new palace lord looks pretty arrogant. On her first day in office, she doesn’t even sit properly.”

Lu Qingyu glanced at her, speaking slowly: “Junior Sister Zhu, you may not be good at much, but you’re certainly bold. Talking bad about someone right under their nose—aren’t you afraid the new palace lord might just drag you into the pond tonight?”

“Please, I’ve soaked in that pond for seven days—I’d be a prune by now,” Zhu Mingyu shuddered. “I don’t want to go near water again anytime soon.”

As the two joked, Su Liuli, standing at the palace entrance, felt confused. Her gaze swept over to Zhu Qianying, who was in the shadows below, and saw the same uncertainty reflected in her eyes.

A new palace lord of Yaochi…?

She remembered that the palace lord of Yaochi had always been a single person, and she had never heard of a new palace lord before.

…Could it be that after the change, other things have changed as well?

“Come with me.”

Kou Yi called softly, and Su Liuli could only temporarily set aside her doubts as she followed behind, wanting to see for herself what kind of person the new palace lord of Yaochi was.

But as she got closer… she couldn’t help but frown.

It was a young face she hadn’t seen before. Not only that… she looked very ordinary, the kind of person you’d lose in a crowd in an instant.

What’s more, this person—whether out of arrogance or something else—was actually lying there with her face in her hand, eyes closed, sleeping during such an important ceremony.

Kou Yi stood beside her and gently knocked on the divine seat. “Palace Lord.”

After being called twice, the person slowly woke up, opening her eyes slowly. She seemed confused for a moment, and it took a while for her focus to settle.

She glanced around the room, her expression somewhat dazed, before looking at the head divine attendant. “Kou Yi…?”

“I’m here.” Kou Yi nodded slightly.

“Have I been sleeping for a long time? Is the ceremony over?”

Yu Tao rubbed her somewhat foggy head. Didn’t Kou Yi say she was the one presiding over the ceremony? She had no idea how long she’d been asleep. Since Kou Yi was already back, the ceremony should be over by now, right?

Su Liuli lowered her gaze slightly. Could it be that her cultivation hadn’t fully recovered, and her senses were still off? Why did this person’s aura only feel like someone at the Foundation Establishment stage?

She seemed incredibly arrogant, completely disregarding the ceremony, even going so far as to sleep through it.

“The ceremony still has one final step remaining.”

Yu Tao paused for a moment. Huh? It’s not over yet?

She raised her eyes and looked around. It was indeed the room she had been sleeping in. Confused, she asked, “Then how did you come back? Did something happen?”

“The final step requires you.”

Requires her? Did they need her help?

Yu Tao glanced at Kou Yi’s serious expression. Scenes of her recent days of mooching food and drink popped into her mind. She cleared her throat lightly. “If it’s within my ability, I can help.”

Kou Yi nodded slightly, holding a tray with a golden silk flower crown placed on it. It looked like a Hibiscus flower, very delicate and beautiful.

She gestured for Yu Tao to look at Su Liuli, speaking in a calm and steady voice, “You need to place it on her.”

Only then did Yu Tao notice someone else standing not far away. After seeing her clearly, she paused for a moment, recognizing that the person looked somewhat like her. Realization hit her right away—this was Su Liuli.

“Alright.”

The scent in the room was faint, and Yu Tao thought for a moment. It was just helping her put on a flower crown, so she agreed.

She stood up, carefully picked up the flower crown, and asked, “Do I just place it on her head?”

Kou Yi glanced at Su Liuli. “What are you still waiting for?”

Su Liuli didn’t dare to say much, kneeling on one knee in front of her and lowering her head slightly.

Yu Tao placed the crown on her, adjusting it carefully before withdrawing her hand.

She lifted her eyes to look at Kou Yi, but suddenly, the room around her shimmered like the surface of water, and then, like a tide, it rapidly receded. In an instant, it transformed into a vast white palace with towering support pillars.

Stunned, she felt her clothes flutter with the wind. Her sleeves seemed to have lengthened, and intricate silver patterns shimmered on her white robe.

Below the stairs, the divine attendants respectfully spoke in unison, “May our Lord bless Yaochi.”

As she stood, everyone in the hall could see her clearly. Zhu Mingyu and Lu Qingyu, upon seeing the familiar figure in the palace, were utterly shocked.

The new Lord of Yaochi was… Yu Tao?!