Wu Zimo jogged over excitedly, ready to speak, but when he saw Qiao Xuan standing next to Jiang Weiqing, he asked in confusion, “Shidi, what are you doing here?”

Qiao Xuan thought to himself, You’re a true brother, showing up just in time! He responded with a shy, obedient tone, “I happened to run into the Sword Sovereign and was fortunate enough to receive his guidance.”

Wu Zimo immediately understood—Jiang Weiqing had given him some pointers again. A look of envy flashed across Wu Zimo’s face. Sword Sovereign Qing Heng had been in the Guiyuan Sword Sect for seven hundred years, deeply devoted to cultivation and rarely interacting with ordinary disciples. Many longed for his guidance but never got the chance. Who would have thought he’d take such an interest in Qiao Xuan?

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that, as the Goddess Ruo Hua had already arrived.

The goddess in purple attire approached gracefully, her robes fluttering. A light purple ribbon loosely tied her ink-black hair behind her neck. Her features were as delicate as a painting, cold and aloof, but when she smiled and raised her gaze, it was as if a hundred flowers bloomed, reviving the world. Her beauty was indescribable, captivating all who looked upon her.

Qiao Xuan stood there dazed, even forgetting that Jiang Weiqing was beside him.

Wu Zimo, seeing his dumbfounded expression, struggled to suppress his laughter. Though the Goddess Ruo Hua was indeed beautiful, the undisputed most beautiful woman in the Celestial Realm, Qiao Xuan’s reaction was a bit embarrassing. But then again, Wu Zimo recalled that his first encounter with the goddess hadn’t been much better, so he decided not to tease him.

Wu Zimo lightly nudged Qiao Xuan with his elbow, “Hey, snap out of it.”

Qiao Xuan jolted back to reality, quickly lowering his gaze and retracting his attention. If I don’t seize this chance to slip away now, when will I? Thank you, Goddess, for saving me from this awkward situation. I won’t intrude on your moment to bond with the Sword Sovereign!

Making a quick decision, Qiao Xuan bowed to Jiang Weiqing and said, “Then, I’ll take my leave, Sword Sovereign.”

Jiang Weiqing’s lips pressed into a thin line, as if he wanted to say something, but Ruo Hua had already noticed Qiao Xuan and spoke with a smile, “I heard that the Guiyuan Sword Sect has a newly ascended disciple. Is that you?”

Qiao Xuan quickly and respectfully replied, “Yes, that’s me, Goddess.”

Ruo Hua smiled softly, “It seems we are fated to meet. Here, take this flower; it will help you stabilize your immortal body.”

She extended her delicate hand, and a small white flower drifted towards Qiao Xuan.

Qiao Xuan recognized it immediately as a Ningyu Flower. Though not particularly rare, it contained pure and gentle spiritual energy, making it ideal for newly ascended immortals to solidify their celestial forms—an appropriate and thoughtful gift for a first meeting.

Qiao Xuan sneaked a glance at Jiang Weiqing. Look at this! Even though I’m only receiving this flower because of my association with you, the Goddess knows to offer a gift to a junior upon meeting them. Yet you, as an upper god, just nag about cultivation. How annoying!

He accepted the white flower gratefully, saying, “Thank you, Goddess, for the gift.”

Ruo Hua nodded with a gentle smile.

Qiao Xuan quickly tucked the flower away, not giving Jiang Weiqing a chance to speak, and hurriedly made his exit!

Jiang Weiqing’s brow furrowed slightly as he watched the boy rush off. He hesitated but ultimately didn’t stop him. Instead, he turned to Ruo Hua and asked, his voice cool, “You came to see me. Is there something you need?”

Ruo Hua smiled, “Of course. Tomorrow, the Dijun is hosting a banquet for the immortals. I’m here on his behalf to arrange the seating. Please review it and see if it’s to your satisfaction.”

Jiang Weiqing seemed somewhat distracted, responding, “Such a minor matter—decide it as you see fit. There’s no need to consult me.”

Ruo Hua’s eyes reflected a thoughtful look as she smiled and said quietly, “You seem very concerned about that new disciple.”

Jiang Weiqing’s expression darkened, not wishing to continue the topic. “He’s just a sect junior.”

…

Qiao Xuan ran a fair distance, slammed the door shut behind him, and finally let out a sigh of relief.

He looked down at the flower in his hand, knowing it was a good one, but since he wasn’t human, it was useless to him. He put it away, feeling a bit contemplative.

Wu Zimo had misunderstood, thinking Qiao Xuan had been stunned by the goddess’s beauty. But that wasn’t the case…

The reason he was so shocked was that Ruo Hua was also someone he knew!

The Celestial Realm is really too small.

No wonder her name had sounded familiar before. He had thought it was because of the gossip among the Guiyuan Sword Sect disciples, but that wasn’t it. The name was familiar because Ruo Hua was the unrequited love of his fourth life’s emotional tribulation!

It wasn’t Qiao Xuan’s fault for not remembering immediately. After all, with seven lifetimes of emotional tribulations spanning a thousand years, he had encountered too many people and events to keep track of them all. Besides, Ruo Hua hadn’t appeared much in his life, and if it weren’t for her extreme beauty, Qiao Xuan probably wouldn’t have recognized her even if they met face-to-face…

He hadn’t known Ruo Hua’s identity back then. Who could have guessed she was a goddess of the Celestial Realm? That foolish monster sure had good taste…

But now Ruo Hua was in the Celestial Realm and was clearly involved with Jiang Weiqing, so she hadn’t ended up with that foolish monster.

I risked my life to bring you two together, and hundreds of years have passed, yet you still couldn’t win over your goddess? How disappointing… Was my sacrifice worth it at all?!

Qiao Xuan felt a deep sense of frustration, believing he had made a huge mistake. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his complicated emotions.

Maybe this is just fate, he mused. Just as he was destined to never attain his desires in that life, perhaps Xueming was also doomed to never win Ruo Hua’s heart… And what about Ruo Hua’s feelings towards Jiang Weiqing? Could it be another case of unrequited love…?

Bah, stop overthinking it! Qiao Xuan scolded himself. The goddess and the Sword Sovereign will definitely end up together!

He clasped his hands together, silently praying.

With a new love interest, who would still care about an old flame? This way, Jiang Weiqing wouldn’t have the time to bother with him. As for that foolish monster, what did it matter to him now? He had already repaid his debts in full back then.

If Xueming couldn’t win over his goddess, that was his own fault.

A pathetic creature licking his wounds in solitude… such a pitiful monster!

Qiao Xuan sighed. It’s only been a few days since I left, and I’ve already run into so many old acquaintances. I can’t tell if I’m just lucky or if the heavens are playing tricks on me…

He had always felt the heavens weren’t very kind to him. If it hadn’t been for his master, he would have been struck to ashes by the tribulation long ago…

I’ve been gone for almost a month now. I wonder if anyone has noticed.

Qiao Xuan sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and the golden seal on his forehead glowed. In an instant, his consciousness returned to the Xuanhe Valley.

In the thatched hut, the boy who had been lying still on the stone bed suddenly opened his eyes.

Qiao Xuan got up, rubbing his chin. I wonder if the birds and mushrooms have missed me during this time…

He pushed open the window and gazed into the distance.

In the center of Xuanhe Valley was a mountain peak shrouded in clouds, where his master was in seclusion.

Since he had arrived in this world, he hadn’t seen his master leave the valley.

A truly indifferent and detached individual.

Qiao Xuan couldn’t understand how these immortals could find pleasure in cultivating for thousands of years, spending millennia in seclusion. What was so fascinating about it? He could never do that. If his long life were destined to be so dull, he’d rather live a shorter, more exciting one and not waste his time.

But now that he had run away, his master would surely be angry if he found out… Qiao Xuan scratched his head, Luckily, it seems he hasn’t noticed yet!

…

The next morning, Qiao Xuan was woken up by a thumping sound. Groggy, he stumbled over to the window and opened it, only to find the crane perched on the ledge.

The crane folded its wings, gripping the windowsill with its claws, and spoke to him in a flattering tone, “I’ve found the treasure vault!”

Qiao Xuan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “You found the Mountains and Seas Diagram?”

The crane quickly replied, “I didn’t see the Mountains and Seas Diagram itself, but I believe it must be there. To help you find it, I called in favors from all my friends. We’ve searched the entire palace, and that’s the only place we couldn’t access. It’s heavily guarded with restrictions, and I heard that a celestial attendant almost stumbled in by mistake and was punished by the Dijun. It must be where he keeps important treasures!”

Oh? This sounds promising.

Qiao Xuan smiled and tossed the crane a fruit. “Here’s your reward.”

The crane, looking a bit aggrieved, asked, “Can’t I have a few more? We all put in a lot of work, and one fruit isn’t enough to share…”

Qiao Xuan, fully aware of the crane’s thoughts, smirked and said, “Don’t worry. Once we get there, you’ll get your fair share.”

The crane eyed Qiao Xuan, realizing it wouldn’t get any more out of him right now, and grudgingly asked, “When are you planning to go?”

Qiao Xuan’s ears perked up as he replied, “I’ll slip out during the banquet to meet you.”

With that, he waved his hand, shutting the window.

At that moment, Wu Zimo’s voice called from outside, “Shidi, are you up? Everyone’s waiting for you. Let’s go, let’s go! Today’s a rare chance to feast!”

Qiao Xuan turned and opened the door, smiling cheerfully, “Coming.”

The banquet was held in the central garden of the palace. The sky was a clear blue, with clouds flowing like waterfalls. In the peach grove, tables made of white jade were set up, each laden with exquisite celestial delicacies and fine wines. A steep mountain peak rose in the distance, its top seemingly sliced flat by a sword, with more tables and chairs arranged on the platform.

The atmosphere was both elegant and luxurious.

Qiao Xuan marveled at the sight.

It was said that Dijun Hualan had become an upper god over a hundred thousand years ago, and after entering seclusion to seek the Way a thousand years prior, his cultivation had become even more unfathomable. Today’s grand celebration, attended by so many immortals, was a testament to his influence in the Celestial Realm.

But Qiao Xuan thought there was another reason why everyone was so eager to join in—the event was a rare, large-scale social gathering!

Of those who had ascended to the Celestial Realm, nine out of ten were cultivation fanatics, usually secluded on their respective mountains with little chance to interact. But that didn’t mean immortals didn’t need social connections… Sometimes it was necessary to exchange experiences or resources.

Such opportunities were rare, so naturally, everyone was willing to come out, network, and reconnect with old friends. The Dijun was the host of this grand party, and with his wealth and generosity, everyone was pleased with the arrangements.

Qiao Xuan had always loved attending parties, often gathering friends for food and fun. But this was his first time at a Celestial Realm party, and he was fascinated by everything he saw, feeling that the experience was well worth it!

The hierarchy in the Celestial Realm was clear, and as junior immortals, they were seated toward the back. Qiao Xuan quietly took a seat in an inconspicuous spot and looked up at the high platform atop the mountain peak.

That was where the upper gods were seated.

His eyes quickly found Jiang Weiqing.

To ascend to the rank of upper god in less than a thousand years was an achievement unparalleled in the Celestial Realm. Jiang Weiqing sat there with composure, exuding an aura that matched the other upper gods. Ruo Hua sat beside him, slightly turned as if speaking to him with a smile.

What a perfect pair of divine lovers, Qiao Xuan thought, genuinely curious about their conversation.

When he glanced around, he noticed Wu Zimo and the other disciples were all staring intently at the front, their eyes gleaming with gossip…

Even the other sects’ immortals were quietly chatting amongst themselves, clearly interested in the gossip about the upper gods.

You’re all immortals now—can’t you be a little more reserved?

At that moment, the other upper gods had all arrived, leaving only the central seat empty. There was no need to guess that it was reserved for Dijun Hualan. Beside that seat sat the proud and beautiful Miyun Gongzhu (Princess Miyun). Qiao Xuan instinctively sensed some drama brewing and was just about to ask when Wu Zimo eagerly started gossiping with him.

Wu Zimo whispered mysteriously, “Did you see Princess Miyun of Liu Guang Palace?”

Qiao Xuan nodded.

Wu Zimo chuckled, “Today’s seating arrangement is quite telling. The goddess is sitting with our Sword Sovereign, while Princess Miyun is seated next to the Dijun…”

Qiao Xuan quickly caught on, “The Dijun and Princess Miyun are a couple?”

Wu Zimo shook his head, sighing, “Not quite. It’s more of a one-sided affair. Princess Miyun has secretly admired Dijun Hualan for a hundred thousand years. Everyone in the Celestial Realm knows about it… Princess Miyun is the last of the Qicai Liuyu divine birds, said to have inherited the bloodline of the Phoenix. The Phoenix clan has been extinct for hundreds of thousands of years, making Princess Miyun the foremost divine bird in the Celestial Realm, with a prestigious status. In theory, her status is a match for the Dijun, but alas, the Dijun is as emotionally unresponsive as a block of wood…”

Qiao Xuan was taken aback, “The Phoenix clan is extinct?”

Wu Zimo nodded, “Yes, the Phoenix was a divine bird, born from the workings of heaven and earth. But as with all powerful divine beasts, they faced countless calamities and difficulties in reproduction. Many ancient divine beasts have since died out… It’s not just the Phoenix clan; even the Dragon clan couldn’t escape the same fate. Dijun Hualan and Goddess Ruo Hua are the last remaining members of the Dragon clan. I heard that Goddess Ruo Hua was the last dragon to ascend. After her ascension, the Dragon clan perished in the mortal world, so Dijun Hualan has always looked after her with great care…”

“If the Phoenix clan were still around, the Phoenix god and the Dijun would undoubtedly be the perfect match. But since there are no more Phoenixes…” Wu Zimo chuckled, “Princess Miyun is a decent alternative, which is probably why she dared to harbor such thoughts.”

Qiao Xuan nodded, “Oh.”

Just then, a stir at the front caught Qiao Xuan’s attention. He looked up to see a refined and noble man descending on a cloud.

The man was dressed in luxurious robes embroidered with golden cloud patterns, a jade crown on his head with golden tassels adorned with jade pendants. His waist was decorated with ornaments that jingled softly. He was truly as handsome as a god, exuding both nobility and grace, yet his demeanor was neither overbearing nor haughty, commanding respect from all who beheld him.

Without Wu Zimo’s introduction, Qiao Xuan already knew—this was none other than Dijun Hualan.

What a Celestial Emperor.

The upper gods all smiled in greeting, and Dijun Hualan returned their gestures with a nod, then gracefully took his seat in the center.

With the Dijun now present, seated one place away from Jiang Weiqing, the two of them, one dignified and the other like a shining beacon, instantly captured the attention of the entire assembly.

Qiao Xuan lowered his gaze, a thought flickering in his mind. Everyone’s attention is focused up there. Now’s the perfect time to slip away! But just as he was about to make his move, Wu Zimo grabbed his shoulder, smiling warmly, “Come, let me introduce you to some fellow immortals. These friends are from the Chongming Dao Sect!”

Qiao Xuan: “…”

…

On the high platform, Jiang Weiqing held a white jade wine cup, sipping slowly. His gaze shifted to the distance, where he could see every detail clearly, even though he was far away. The boy was currently being dragged around by Wu Zimo, chatting animatedly with some disciples from the Chongming Dao Sect, but he seemed a bit distracted. What could he be thinking about?

Last night, Jiang Weiqing hadn’t wanted to let the boy leave, but he was, after all, just an ordinary disciple, not Ah Xuan. Jiang Weiqing shouldn’t be wasting time on him…

His grip on the wine cup tightened slightly when a melodious voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. Ruo Hua looked at him with concern, “Is something troubling you?”

Jiang Weiqing snapped back to reality, surprised that he hadn’t even noticed Ruo Hua approaching. He quickly concealed his thoughts and smiled lightly, “No, nothing at all.”

Ruo Hua gazed at him steadily, her beautiful eyes shimmering as she finally seemed to gather the courage to say, “Ruo Hua has long had feelings for the Sword Sovereign. Are you aware of this?”

Jiang Weiqing’s expression immediately turned serious. His gaze grew heavy as he realized that here, on this high platform, not only were they in the presence of Dijun Hualan but also many other upper gods. Ruo Hua’s words were nothing short of a public confession… something he hadn’t anticipated.

As expected, everyone turned their attention to them as soon as Ruo Hua spoke.

Princess Miyun smiled, the Buddhist monks chanted blessings, the Chongming Daoist clapped and laughed… Even Dijun Hualan appeared momentarily surprised before offering a warm, approving smile.

The others might be enjoying the show, but Dijun Hualan sincerely wished for Ruo Hua’s happiness.

Over a hundred thousand years ago, Dijun Hualan had already become an upper god, but he followed the path of the Wu Wei, rarely interfering in the affairs of the three realms. Unlike humans, who flourished and multiplied, divine beasts like dragons faced countless calamities and found it difficult to reproduce. Despite occasional assistance from the Dijun, the Dragon clan had perished five hundred years ago, with Ruo Hua being the last dragon to ascend before its extinction.

Although the extinction of the Dragon clan was fate, Dijun Hualan still felt a deep sense of guilt. As the Dragon God, he had failed to protect his kin’s legacy… This was why he had always shown special care for Ruo Hua, treating her like a cherished younger relative.

Jiang Weiqing, although having ascended only a few hundred years ago, possessed a sword spirit so remarkable that even the Guiyuan Ancestor had praised him. He was the youngest upper god in the Celestial Realm, with extraordinary talent and limitless potential. Coupled with his exceptional looks and demeanor, Dijun Hualan believed he was a perfect match for Ruo Hua and would gladly see them together.

With this thought, Dijun Hualan smiled and said, “What do you think, Sword Sovereign? If you are both willing, I would personally officiate your wedding ceremony.”

One was the youngest upper god, the other the most beautiful goddess in the Celestial Realm—a perfect match. With Dijun Hualan himself offering to officiate, it seemed like a joyous occasion was imminent.

The other upper gods all joined in with smiles and words of encouragement.

Since his ascension to the Celestial Realm, Jiang Weiqing had reached the rank of upper god in just seven hundred years. Many female immortals admired him, but he had always remained singularly focused on the path of the sword, seemingly indifferent to matters of love.

But this time, the one expressing affection was the Goddess Ruo Hua—a goddess not only with remarkable cultivation and unparalleled beauty but also backed by Dijun Hualan. How could she be compared to other female immortals?

With their status as equals, and with Dijun Hualan playing matchmaker, everyone expected this union to be inevitable!

No one thought Jiang Weiqing would refuse.

Jiang Weiqing’s expression slowly darkened.

Qiao Xuan, still distracted below, was being led around by Wu Zimo and hadn’t found an opportunity to slip away… Today, the palace was open to guests, with many of the usual restrictions lifted. And because of the banquet, the guards were more relaxed. If he missed today’s chance, it would be much harder to find another…

Just as Qiao Xuan was growing anxious, Wu Zimo and the other disciples suddenly stopped talking.

What’s going on?

Qiao Xuan followed their gaze to the high platform.

Wu Zimo grabbed his shoulder, put a finger to his lips in a shushing motion, and whispered, “The Goddess Ruo Hua just confessed to the Sword Sovereign, and Dijun Hualan said he’s willing to officiate their wedding.”

Whoa, seriously? They had all been chatting so animatedly just now, but somehow, they had also been eavesdropping on the drama up front… The Celestial Realm truly had its share of multi-taskers!

Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but be impressed.

He looked around and noticed that many others appeared to be eating and drinking but were actually discreetly watching the high platform. Some were using magic to eavesdrop, others were sneaking peeks with little mirrors, some were sending their spirit beasts to spy, and there were even those placing bets on the outcome… Wow, everyone’s using their unique skills to get the latest gossip!

This is basically the Celestial Realm’s version of a fan convention!

Qiao Xuan perked up, excited.

He had thought this was just going to be a regular celestial banquet, but who would have guessed there’d be such juicy gossip!

It turns out immortals aren’t so different from mortals after all. Goddess Ruo Hua’s courage to confess in such a public setting was commendable. More importantly, with everyone watching, Jiang Weiqing couldn’t possibly refuse. To do so would not only embarrass Ruo Hua but also put Dijun Hualan in a difficult position.

Besides, while Jiang Weiqing’s talents were exceptional, his foundation in the Celestial Realm was still relatively young, having only ascended seven hundred years ago. Marrying the Goddess Ruo Hua would bring him nothing but benefits.

The immortals below were filled with admiration, envy, and curiosity… But clearly, no one believed Jiang Weiqing would refuse.

Qiao Xuan didn’t think he would refuse either.

Caught up in the atmosphere, Qiao Xuan forgot about sneaking away and stretched his neck to get a better view.

But why hadn’t Jiang Weiqing responded yet? The suspense was killing him!

Amidst the anticipation of the crowd—

Jiang Weiqing finally stood up, his expression solemn as he looked at Ruo Hua. His voice, clear and cool like a mountain spring, echoed through the gathering, “I’m sorry. My deceased wife in the mortal realm is my one true love… Therefore, I cannot accept the goddess’s feelings.”

Qiao Xuan: … The drama suddenly lost all its flavor.

Author’s Note:

Qiao Xuan: Deceased wife is dead. Don’t bring it up, thanks!

Jiang Weiqing: …

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