Chapter 16

◎Divergence◎  

“——This time, in avenging Ying Chu, we owe much to Princess Zhaocui’s assistance. This Jade Clarity Fan was personally selected by me as a token of gratitude for Princess Zhaocui. There’s no need for modesty, Princess—this is what you deserve.”  

Today was the birthday celebration of the Barren Sea’s ruler, and Immortals from all corners of the realms had come to offer their congratulations.  

In the past, the Chongming God of Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm wouldn’t have deigned to attend such a minor clan’s banquet.  

This time, his esteemed presence was solely due to Princess Chishui Zhaocui, the human princess soon to marry into the Barren Sea Celestial Clan, who had done a great service for Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm—earning his condescension to grace the occasion.  

Zhaocui stared blankly at the radiant Jade Clarity Fan on the tray before her, then beamed with delight and bowed to the Chongming God in thanks.  

“Many thanks, Divine Venerable.”  

The Jade Clarity Fan was a top-tier Magical Artifact from Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm, imbued with the power of heaven and earth.  

Even an Immortal with modest Immortal Power could wield tremendous force with this fan in hand, making it perfect for self-defense.  

Ting Yun smiled as he handed the fan to Zhaocui, but when he looked up, he was momentarily taken aback.  

This Princess Zhaocui was unmistakably the sister of Princess Zhuo Ying—they shared seven or eight parts in resemblance.  

The Chongming God also scrutinized Zhaocui and remarked:  

“I heard the human emperor built a grand Temple in the mortal realm for you, with thriving incense offerings. Why haven’t you cultivated Immortal Techniques, Princess Zhaocui?”  

With impeccable manners, Zhaocui replied sweetly:  

“My marriage to the Young Lord is imminent, so I am currently occupied with the training befitting a Young Lord’s wife. Thus, I have no time to cultivate Immortal Techniques. Moreover, I believe a wife’s duty lies in tending to her husband’s daily needs and managing his household affairs.”  

The noblewomen of the Barren Sea present at the banquet couldn’t help but roll their eyes inwardly at her words.  

The Barren Sea Celestial Clan revered martial prowess—even women were trained rigorously from childhood.  

Not to mention, years ago, Chishui Zhuoying and Young Lord Chen Ye had pioneered the inclusion of women in the military. Since then, cultivation among women had flourished, from noble families to common folk, and several female generals were seated at the banquet.  

Many of these female generals were married with families. One husband, upon hearing Zhaocui’s words, instinctively nodded in agreement—only to be abruptly kicked under the table by his wife.  

The Barren Sea’s ruler and the Chongming God, being men, naturally approved of her sentiments.  

The Chongming God said, “Princess Zhaocui is as virtuous as she is beautiful. The Young Lord has truly gained a worthy helpmeet.”  

Seated to Zhaocui’s left, Chen Ye merely smiled faintly and raised his cup to sip cold wine.  

“A pity, then, that such a sensible Princess Zhaocui has a meddlesome, lowborn elder sister who doesn’t know her place.”  

The Chongming God’s expression darkened.  

“If we don’t teach her a lesson this time, she’ll truly believe that clinging to the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace grants her the right to throw her weight around—even daring to slight the Goddess of our Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm.”  

A month ago, Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm belatedly received news from the mortal world.  

Goddess Ying Chu should have been reborn as the daughter of Prince Duan’s Mansion, enjoying a lifetime of mortal riches and fulfilling her wish to be with her beloved.  

Unexpectedly, the true daughter of Prince Duan’s Mansion had appeared out of nowhere, bearing such a striking resemblance to Prince Duan that their blood ties were undeniable.  

Fortunately, though Zhong Xianqing also remained in Prince Duan’s Mansion, the prince and his consort still favored Zhong Yingying—the child they had raised by their side—more.

Zhong Xianqing arrived at Prince Duan’s Mansion. Though she harbored intentions to oppose Zhong Yingying, under the favoritism of Prince Duan and his consort, she rarely succeeded.  

Yet even so, in the eyes of the Chongming God, his niece’s supposedly smooth life had already been marred by imperfections.  

A mere mortal woman borrowing her identity was actually accumulating blessings and virtue for her.  

In this lifetime, aiding the Goddess through her tribulation would surely bring her great fortune in the next.  

But now, she had conspired with a human hostage, daring to contend with the Goddess and defy the heavens—did she even possess the capability?  

“Princess Zhaocui.”  

The Chongming God looked at her and smiled faintly.  

“As a human, you are unburdened by karma when interfering in mortal affairs. Might I ask a small favor of you?”  

The unsettled Zhaocui suddenly raised her eyes, gazing at the god in slight surprise.  

Though he smiled, there was no warmth in his eyes—only an oppressive, condescending authority.  

“Keep watch over the movements in Prince Duan’s Mansion in the mortal realm. If Chi Shui Zhuoying dares interfere with my niece Ying Chu’s tribulation again, inform Xumi. I will reward you handsomely.”  

At these words, the Jade Clarity Fan in Zhaocui’s hand suddenly felt much heavier.  

“What? Unwilling?”  

Seeing her hesitation, the Chongming God’s smile faded slightly.  

Zhaocui’s mind was in turmoil.  

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. She had written to her parents, fabricating excuses to have them tear down her sister’s Princess Shrine, only to prove her worth and earn more of Chen Ye’s regard.  

The shrine could be rebuilt—she never meant to harm her sister.  

But now—  

From the throne in the Merman Palace, the seemingly drunken Lord of the Barren Sea cast a piercing gaze her way, while beside her, the young lord Chen Ye remained silent, pouring himself another cup of wine.  

A faint pang of regret surged within her.  

She felt as though she had placed herself in a situation beyond her control.  

“This humble one… is willing to serve the god.”  

The banquet resumed its harmonious atmosphere, but the uneasy Zhaocui could no longer sit still. She soon excused herself for some air.  

As she walked through the Coral Sea, someone abruptly blocked her path.  

“Chishui Zhaocui, I underestimated you before. Though we are adversaries by circumstance, to betray your own sister just to please the young lord and the lord—truly astonishing.”  

Zhaocui looked up to see the Second Prince Consort of the Barren Sea standing before her.  

Before Chen Ye, the second prince had been the most promising heir to the young lord’s position.  

Even now, with the succession decided, the two still schemed against each other openly and covertly. In the months since Zhaocui arrived in the Barren Sea, the Second Prince Consort had set many traps for her.  

Hearing her words, Zhaocui flushed red.  

“I didn’t betray my sister!”  

“You destroyed your sister’s only temple. Even if it doesn’t ruin her immortal form, it damages her Immortal Root. Isn’t that betrayal?”  

Zhaocui bit her lip.  

She knew her sister was enduring grueling ascetic practices day after day in the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace, her life already difficult.  

And now, she had convinced her father to order the destruction of her sister’s only temple. Her condition might worsen.  

But… she had no other choice.  

Once the Barren Sea unified the four seas and she weathered this crisis, she would make it up to her sister.  

With this thought, Zhaocui felt slightly better.  

“My sister and I have our own affairs. An outsider like you has no right to interfere. Move aside.”

The Second Prince Consort curled her lips in a mocking smile, standing firm and blocking Zhaocui’s path:

“An outsider? I’m afraid in your sister’s eyes, you’ve already become one too…”

Enraged by her words, Zhaocui barely hesitated before summoning the Jade Clarity Fan given to her by the Chongming God and swinging it casually—

Bang!

Chen Ye and a white-robed advisor had just arrived at the Coral Sea when they witnessed the Second Prince Consort being sent flying by Zhaocui, crashing violently into a red coral tree.

The advisor’s face instantly paled.

This is bad!

“What are you all standing around for? Fetch a physician immediately!”

Startled, Zhaocui turned to look at them.

The Second Prince Consort’s maids had never expected Zhaocui to strike, and it took them a moment to react before rushing to call for a physician.

One of the maids shouted angrily, “How dare you attack the Second Prince Consort! The Second Prince will never let you off for this!”

The white-robed advisor broke into a cold sweat. “This is truly a misunderstanding. Once the banquet concludes, I will personally explain to His Highness the Second Prince…”

Zhaocui tossed the Jade Clarity Fan aside and looked pitifully at Chen Ye, who had yet to speak.

“I heard that the Second Prince’s mother once… did many terrible things to your mother, Young Lord. I only wanted to avenge you on your behalf.”

The Second Prince Consort, injured by Zhaocui’s fan, spat out a mouthful of blood, glaring at them with hatred.

Chen Ye thought of his own birth mother.

She had died in the struggles of the inner palace, her final moments spent coughing up blood just like this. Meanwhile, his father had been by the Empress and the Second Prince’s side, enjoying a harmonious family moment.

The advisor turned back, exasperated.

“Princess Zhaocui, don’t you realize we were just about to negotiate peace with the Second Prince? Now that you’ve caused such a scene, how are we supposed to resolve this…?”

After a long silence, Chen Ye spoke calmly:

“Then there’s no need for peace talks.”

“Young Lord!”

The advisor was stunned and quickly interjected,

“Princess Zhuoying once mentioned to me that the Barren Sea’s current state cannot endure further internal strife. To achieve our greater goals, we must temporarily set aside old grudges and unite the Barren Sea. Only then can we—”

“The Second Prince no longer has the strength to oppose me.”

“But he loves his wife dearly! Even if he can’t resist directly, a desperate struggle from him could still cost us dearly!”

Ignoring the advisor’s protests, Chen Ye bent down, picked up the Jade Clarity Fan, and placed it back into Zhaocui’s palm.

“Did I cause trouble for you, Young Lord?”

She nervously clutched Chen Ye’s sleeve, biting her lip.

“If I did, I’ll go apologize to the Second Prince right now.”

As she turned to leave, Chen Ye grasped her wrist.

His cool, moonlit eyes flickered with long-buried resentment.

Word by word, he declared:

“My people—no matter what happens—will never kneel before the Second Prince.”

Zhaocui froze, then was overwhelmed with emotion.

Nearby, the white-robed advisor felt his insides churning with frustration, nearly spitting blood in anger.

According to their plans, once internal conflicts were resolved, they could turn their forces against the four seas that had oppressed the Barren Sea for years.

But now, with the Second Prince provoked, the slightest misstep could unravel everything, dragging them back into endless power struggles with the princes and draining their resources.

If only Princess Zhuoying were here—things would never have escalated like this!

I quit!

I can’t do this job for another day!

—

Zhuoying soon learned of the incident from a letter sent by Xiao Liuer.

The letter was written in secret script and burned before the shrine housing her divine statue, sending it up to the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace—there was no more secure method of communication.

The letter was detailed, covering not only the entire sequence of events but also some changes in personnel within the Young Lord’s residence.

After Chen Ye resolved to break ties with the Second Prince, several advisors resigned, but their positions were quickly filled.

Xiao Liuer also mentioned at the end that Zhaocui had recently changed tactics, frequently paying respects to Chen Ye’s deceased mother, and Chen Ye’s attitude toward her seemed to have shifted as well.

After reading the letter, Zhuoying smiled faintly.

The Second Prince and Chen Ye’s mother were indeed a sore spot for him.

Back then, she and Chen Ye had argued countless times over this. Chen Ye was determined to kill the Second Prince, solely to make the Empress suffer as retribution for his mother’s death.

Zhuoying, however, opposed this. She had even stood for three full days in the freezing Barren Sea Ice Abyss, nearly stepping into the underworld, just to plead the Second Prince’s case.

She hoped the two brothers would prioritize their family and country, setting aside old grudges to unite against external threats.

Ultimately, thanks to her efforts, the princes temporarily ceased their infighting and turned their spears outward.

Looking back now, her past self was pitifully naive.

What did it matter to her if the Barren Sea was in turmoil?

With Chen Ye’s strength, even if the brothers fought, he wouldn’t lose—it would only delay the Barren Sea’s rise by a considerable time.

But as Chen Ye’s strategist, she would have lived far more comfortably than the common folk of the Barren Sea regardless.

In her past life, she had cared too much about others and too little about herself, leading to that laughable end.

Having been reborn once, she would never repeat the same mistakes.

“…What are you all doing?”

Inside the Virtual Imperial Altar, Zhuoying, who was preparing to descend to the mortal realm in response to Zhong Xianqing’s prayers, watched as more and more items were being piled onto her and couldn’t help but ask.

Fu Yao, who was hanging the tenth protective magical artifact on Zhuoying’s wrist, looked up and answered matter-of-factly:

“Of course, we’re here to see you off.”

Upon learning that Zhuoying planned to descend today to meet her follower—the one whose identity and aura of destiny had been stolen by the Goddess Yingchu—many disciples of Fusang Academy, along with numerous off-duty immortals from the Upper Purity Heaven, had come to join the spectacle.

She suppressed her irritation and asked:

“What I mean is, why are you here to see me off when I’m just going to meet my follower?”

The immortals also felt a bit embarrassed.

The story traced back to the day Zhuoying had debated Jiuxuan Xianweng in the Purple Tenuity Hall.

Truth be told, many immortals of the Upper Purity Heaven harbored grievances against the so-called noble deities of Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm.

But with figures like Jiuxuan Xianweng around, and given that most of them were poor at articulating their thoughts, they usually swallowed their discontent.

No one had ever dared to confront Jiuxuan Xianweng as Zhuoying did—and, most importantly, she had refuted him with sound reasoning.

What thrilled everyone even more was her audacity to openly defy the goddesses and divine lords of Mount Sumeru Immortal Realm!

She had done everything they had never dared to imagine.

So when they heard she was descending again to aid that unfortunate mortal whose aura of destiny had been stolen by Goddess Yingchu, they came driven by simple righteousness—and an even simpler curiosity.

Since they were here, they couldn’t come empty-handed.

So one brought a few talismans, another brought some protective magical artifacts, and when all was gathered, the originally plain-dressed Zhuoying was now jingling and clattering from head to toe, utterly weighed down.

Ye Shi Yun stepped forward, fastening the tenth string of fortune beads around her wrist, then clasped her hands together solemnly and said:

“In any case, as the sole hope of our Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace, Princess Zhuo Ying, you must go forth boldly! We await your return!”

Everyone nodded in unison, their gazes seeing off this lone seedling—the brightest mind of the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace.

Zhuoying: “…”

She truly thought it was a bewildering miracle that the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace remained the leader of the Immortal Realm to this day.