Chapter 224

In an instant, the will to survive overcame fear.

The able-bodied men rushed to the quarry with rudimentary tools, while the women and children, led by some people, evacuated in an orderly manner to the caves to the east.

Yang Tianyou did not stop. After landing, he personally led the group, instructing them on how to use the terrain and how to set traps with logs and boulders.

His wisdom and composure gave hope to the previously desperate people, uniting them into a force to be reckoned with.

In the sky, Yao Ji's battle with the demonic beasts grew increasingly fierce.

Immortal Silk fluttered, and lightning flashed.

However, Yao Ji's Immortal Power had been suppressed for too long, and she gradually felt powerless.

The demonic beast roared, broke free of the Immortal Silk, and black lightning shot straight towards Yao Ji.

"Careful!"

Yang Tianyou's eyes were bloodshot. He grabbed a sharpened log and hurled it with all his might at the Kui Niu's eyes.

However, attacks from mortals are nothing more than a tickle to demonic beasts.

It merely tilted its head, letting the giant tree graz its cheek as it flew past, while the lightning, imbued with destructive power, still struck Yao Ji without mercy.

Yao Ji struggled to maintain her Protective Immortal Light, but it was instantly shattered by the lightning. She let out a muffled groan and fell from the sky.

At the critical moment, Yang Tianyou rushed over and caught Yao Ji tightly in his arms before she hit the ground.

He used his back to absorb the impact of the fall.

"Pfft~"

Yang Tianyou spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling as if his internal organs had been displaced.

"God bless you!"

Yao Ji gasped in his arms, tears streaming down her face.

The monstrous beast strode forward with its giant feet, its momentum overwhelming everything, and stomped down hard on the two people who had fallen to the ground.

"Don't even think about hurting her!"

Yang Tianyou's eyes were bloodshot. Holding Yao Ji, he used his last bit of strength to roll and dodge.

The monster's giant feet followed him relentlessly, leaving him nowhere to escape.

In that critical moment, a pure and intense thought surged within Yang Tianyou —to protect!

Protect the beloved in your arms, protect the people below!

This intention was so strong that the nascent Dao Rhyme Golden Light within his body instantly surged.

A warm and powerful golden light burst forth from Yang Tianyou's body, instantly enveloping him and Yao Ji.

The originally depleted Immortal Power within Yao Ji's body miraculously resonated with this golden power, and the two completely different yet similarly sourced powers began to merge.

Feeling this newfound power, Yao Ji reached out her jade hand and intertwined her fingers with Yang Tianyou's.

"Tianyou, let's be together!"

"Good!"

In an instant, two beams of light, one golden and one white, intertwined and transformed into a dazzling pillar of light that pierced through the heavens and earth, crashing into the demonic beast.

The monstrous beast, powerful enough to destroy a city, let out a mournful cry under the attack that combined the Mortal Will with the Immortal God Power. Its massive body was forced back hundreds of feet, turning into a wisp of black smoke as it fled hastily towards the horizon.

Crisis resolved.

Above the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Haotian looked at the two embracing in the water mirror, and the jubilant people below who had survived the calamity. Finally, a look of satisfaction appeared on his eternally unchanging face.

When Yang Tianyou and Yao Ji returned to the Heavenly Court exhausted to report, Haotian nodded, a rare occurrence for him.

"Yang Tianyou, you are very good."

She looked at Yang Tianyou and said, "You have proven your courage and wisdom through your actions, and you have also proven your determination. You... are worthy of Yao Ji."

Upon hearing this, Yang Tianyou and Yao Ji's faces immediately lit up with unbelievable joy.

However, Haotian abruptly changed the subject, his voice turning icy again. "But, humans and gods are on different paths, and the Heavenly Rules cannot be defied."

"I can pardon your death sentences, but the two of you must never be together."

Joy froze on Yang Tianyou's face; he couldn't believe his ears.

He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with pain and confusion, his voice trembling with emotion. "Why! Heavenly Emperor, I have proven myself! I can protect her! You yourself have admitted that I am worthy of her! Why are you still stopping us?"

"Snort!"

Haotian's icy gaze pierced directly at the two of them.

An invisible pressure made the Immortal Official standing around them even breathe cautiously.

"Yao Ji, do you know your crime?"

Haotian's voice was devoid of any emotion.

"Elder sister,"

Yao Ji spoke, "Tianyou and I joined forces to slay demons and save tens of thousands of lives in the mortal realm. This is an achievement. As for the love between a celestial and a mortal... it is not a sin when love prevails."

Although Yang Tianyou was only a mortal, he showed no fear at this moment and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, everything started because of me and has nothing to do with Yao Ji."

She exhausted her Immortal Power to save me, and traveled far and wide to help me protect the people. If she is guilty, Yang Tianyou is willing to bear the full responsibility!

Haotian snorted coldly, and the temperature inside the hall plummeted.

She looked at her younger sister; the feat of slaying the Black Flood Dragon was indeed a great achievement, enough to offset many of her mistakes.

But when immortals and mortals fall in love, it shakes the very foundation of Heavenly Rules and the cornerstone of the order of the three realms.

If this precedent is set today, and all the immortals and gods follow suit, what will become of the Heavenly Court's authority?

Wouldn't the Three Realms be thrown into utter chaos?

After much deliberation, Haotian had made up his mind.

She must uphold the Heavenly Rules, but she cannot completely erase their achievements.

"Considering your merits in protecting living beings, I will temporarily refrain from pursuing past transgressions."

Haotian's voice softened slightly, "Yao Ji, you may stay in the Heavenly Court, but from this day forward, you are strictly forbidden from meeting Yang Tianyou in private."

Yang Tianyou, you shall return to the mortal realm immediately. If you can remain true to your heart and continue to protect this land, I may grant you Immortal Status a hundred years from now.

At that time, we'll see how your fate unfolds.

Upon hearing this, Yao Ji turned pale and wanted to argue, but Haotian stopped her with a look.

She understood that this was already the biggest concession her brother could make.

Yang Tianyou bowed deeply to Yao Ji, his eyes filled with reluctance. He didn't say much, but mouthed three words to her: Wait for me.

He then turned around, resolutely walked out of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and embarked on the cloud path back to the mortal world.

Yao Ji was confined to her palace, where she spent her days gazing out the window, her eyes seemingly able to pierce through the clouds and reach the mortal world.

The Heavenly Court palaces and pavilions, filled with heavenly music, all appeared as cages to her.

The only solace was the occasional news brought by her good friend, Fairy Caiyun.

She learned that Yang Tianyou had not become depressed after returning to the human world.

He transformed that deep longing into a powerful force to protect the people.

He led the villagers to reclaim wasteland and build water conservancy projects. With the help of a trace of magic that Yao Ji had given him, he organized young men to resist the invasion of small groups of demonic beasts. His reputation grew day by day, and he was revered by the people as their guardian deity.

Yao Ji listened with both relief and overwhelming heartache.

A hundred years is but a fleeting moment for a deity, but for her, it feels like an eternity.

Even in the mortal realm, Yang Tianyou would often gaze at the starry sky in the still of the night, searching for the celestial palace that belonged to Yao Ji.

His longing for her was the driving force that enabled him to overcome all obstacles and never give up.

One day, while inspecting his territory, he sensed an unusual tremor coming from deep within the earth.

With his familiarity with the mountains and rivers, he was horrified to discover that beneath his feet was a dormant Earth Veins node, which was now showing signs of erupting.

Once it erupts, mountains will crumble and the earth will split, lava will gush forth, and the surrounding area will be turned into scorched earth, with countless lives lost in an instant.

Such a cataclysmic natural disaster was far beyond the power of a mere mortal like him to withstand.

He was extremely anxious, but helpless.

The message, delivered with great alarm by Fairy Caiyun, was swiftly relayed to Yao Ji's ears.

Hearing that the Earth Veins were about to erupt, and that Yang Tianyou was at the center of the crisis, Yao Ji felt a sudden darkness engulf her...