On this day, in the Imperial Garden behind the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Taibai Jinxing, with a solemn expression, went straight to the warm pavilion where Haotian usually rested.
He was about to request an audience when he saw Yaochi already inside the pavilion. He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should report to her in person.
"Taibai, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry?" Haotian's voice came from inside the pavilion, tinged with displeasure. "Speak freely, Yaochi is not an outsider."
Taibai Jinxing took a deep breath and bowed to Haotian and Yaochi: " Your Majesty, Your Highness... Fairy Yao Ji has been found."
Haotian, who had been reclining on the jade couch, sat up abruptly upon hearing this, his eyes flashing with surprise. "Found it? Where is it?"
Yaochi also showed a relieved expression. "It's good that my little sister is alright. His Your Majesty has been very worried these past few days."
Taibai Jinxing wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice hoarse. " Your Majesty, Her Majesty... Fairy Yao Ji... she... she married into a human tribe... and... she gave birth to three children."
"What?!"
Haotian and Yaochi were greatly surprised, and the glass cups on the jade table jingled loudly.
Haotian's face instantly turned ashen. "Taibai, are you telling the truth?"
Taibai Jinxing nodded. "Your Majesty, I sent people to search for a long time and finally found the traces of Fairy Yao Ji in the Red Maple Tribe of the human race, which led us to her."
"She used the alias Yao Niang and married a human man named Yang Tianyou for over ten years, with whom she had two sons and a daughter."
"Good, very good!"
Haotian laughed in fury, his eyes flashing with cold light, "A princess of the Heavenly Court, the Fairy Yao Ji who rules the Desire Realm, actually indulged in lust and mated with that human! And even gave birth to an illegitimate child!"
Yaochi quickly advised, " Your Majesty, please calm down. There may be more to this than meets the eye..."
"Hidden reason?" Haotian interrupted her, "What hidden reason could there be! She's trampling the dignity of the Heavenly Court and the dignity of Haotian underfoot!"
He turned to look at Taibai Jinxing, his voice as cold as ice. " Taibai Jinxing, I order you to immediately lead the Five Extremes War Gods, gather 50,000 Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, and descend to the mortal realm to capture Yao Ji! Remember, I want her alive!"
Taibai Jinxing bowed and accepted the order, about to leave, when Yaochi spoke again, " Your Majesty, that human race is backed by Dao Venerable Lin Tian. If our army presses in, I'm afraid..."
Haotian snorted coldly, his imperial majesty awe-inspiring. "I am merely capturing Yao Ji for violating the Heavenly Rules, not initiating a war against the human race. As for that man and his three bastard children..."
A murderous glint flashed in his eyes. "Kill them all, to uphold the heavenly rules!"
" Your Majesty!" Yaochi wanted to persuade her again.
"No need for further words!" Haotian interrupted. "I refuse to believe that Dao Venerable Lin Tian would wage war against my Heavenly Court for the sake of a few mere humans! Don't forget, behind me is Dao Ancestor Hongjun!"
Seeing that His Your Majesty had made up his mind, Taibai Jinxing withdrew.
Yaochi gazed at Haotian's retreating figure and sighed softly.
She and Yao Ji were like sisters, and she couldn't bear to see her end up like this.
However, the Heavenly Rules are strict, and as the Heavenly Emperor, Haotian must set an example...
Haotian clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, and muttered to himself, " Yao Ji, Yao Ji, you've slapped me in the face... Don't blame your brother for being heartless."
at the same time.
Red Maple Tribe, Yang Tianyou's home.
A family of five is sitting around a wooden table eating lunch.
On the table were several home-style dishes prepared by Yao Ji herself. Although not lavish, they were full of warmth and comfort.
Yang Jian was excitedly recounting the story of how he and his sister rescued an injured Little Deer in the back mountains during the day, while Yang Chan occasionally added to the story, and Yang Jiao smiled as she served food to her younger siblings.
Yao Ji watched this scene with eyes full of tenderness.
These ordinary days, though not as luxurious as those in Heavenly Court, brought her a warmth and sense of security she had never experienced before.
Suddenly, her expression changed, and the bamboo chopsticks in her hand fell to the table with a clatter.
"Wife, what's wrong?" Yang Tianyou asked with concern.
Yao Ji stood up, looked at the darkening sky outside the window, her expression grave. "Husband... they're coming."
Yang Tianyou was stunned at first, then realized what was happening, and his face turned deathly pale.
But he quickly calmed down and said in a deep voice, "Jiao'er, take your younger brother and sister inside. No matter what you hear, you are not allowed to come out!"
The three children had never seen their father so serious. Yang Jiao didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly pulled Yang Jian and Yang Chan into the inner room.
Yang Tianyou took a hunting bow from the wall, slung a quiver of arrows over his shoulder, and strode over to Yao Ji's side.
Yao Ji looked at him, her eyes filled with surprise. "Husband, you..."
Yang Tianyou smiled slightly and reached out to hold Yao Ji's hand tightly, "My wife, although my cultivation is low, as your husband, I must face this together with you. How could I abandon you and flee for my life?"
He gazed at Yao Ji's exquisite face, his voice resolute. "These past ten years have been the happiest time of my life. Even if we die today, we will die together."
Yao Ji's eyes reddened slightly as she grasped his hand in return. "Alright, we'll be husband and wife, sharing life and death."
She turned to look inside the room, and a resolute look flashed in her eyes.
The next moment, her body flashed with light, and the seal that had been sealed for many years was instantly broken!
A powerful aura soared into the sky, and seven-colored rays of light burst forth from her body, illuminating the entire courtyard!
Late-stage Mystic Immortal!
During her years of seclusion among humans, Yao Ji sealed away her immortal power, but unknowingly she also gained a deeper understanding of the ways of desire.
He was seriously injured and almost died back then, but now he has not only fully recovered, but his cultivation has also advanced further, breaking through to the late stage of the Mystic Immortal!
Yang Tianyou felt the oppressive aura emanating from his wife, but his eyes were filled with pride. "My wife is indeed formidable."
Yao Ji shook her head with a wry smile, "No matter how powerful they are, they probably can't defeat the Heavenly Court Army..."
Before the words were even finished, the sky suddenly changed!
The sky, which had been bathed in the setting sun, suddenly darkened!
Dark clouds rolled in, blocking out the sunlight, and thunder roared!
The members of the Red Maple Tribe came out of their homes, gazing at the sky with surprise and uncertainty.
The tribal chief, Li Xun, was a man in the mid-stage of the Martial Soul Realm. Upon seeing this, his expression turned solemn, and he quickly summoned the experts in the tribe.
Soon, two elders at the early stage of the Martial Soul Realm, along with dozens of clansmen at the Core Elixir Realm and Dharma Aspect Realm, gathered in the tribal square.
"Who are you, fellow Daoist, who has graced my Red Maple Tribe with your presence?" Li Xun channeled his true energy, his voice booming like a bell, "Please show yourself!"
Suddenly, the clouds in the sky parted to both sides!
Countless golden-armored celestial soldiers appeared in the clouds, exuding a murderous aura!
Fifty thousand heavenly soldiers lined up, completely surrounding the skies above the Red Maple Tribe!
Five powerful figures stood at the front of the formation; they were the Five Extremes War Gods —the War Gods of the East, South, West, North, and Center!
Taibai Jinxing stood in the center, looking down at the tribe with a complicated expression.
Upon Li Xun, Li Xun's heart sank, but he forced himself to remain calm and said loudly, "I am Li Xun, the leader of the Red Maple Tribe. May I ask who you are and what brings you to my human tribe?"
The Northern Pole War God stepped forward, his voice icy. "I am the Northern Pole War God of the Heavenly Court! I have come to capture the Heavenly Court criminal Yao Ji, and this has nothing to do with you! Don't meddle, or else... you will be killed without mercy!"
" The Heavenly Court?" Li Xun and his clansmen looked at each other in bewilderment.
Although they had lived in tribes for a long time, they had heard of the Heavenly Court—a new force appointed by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun to rule the Primordial Wilderness.
Who is Yao Ji?
The Northern Pole War God ignored Li Xun, fixing his gaze on the courtyard in the southeast corner of the tribe, and shouted in a deep voice, " Yao Ji! You descended to the mortal realm without permission and mated with a human, violating the heavenly rules, a crime unforgivable! Surrender now!"
In the courtyard, Yao Ji took a deep breath, and her colorful Rainbow Feather Robe automatically appeared, a long sword in her hand.
She stepped forward, looked up at the sky, and said in a clear and firm voice, " Yao Ji is here! But what crime have I committed?"
She gripped Yang Tianyou's hand tightly. "My husband and I are mutually in love, and we have become husband and wife. What's wrong with that? Do the Heavenly Court Court's rules even restrict true feelings?"
"Stubborn fool!" roared the Northern Pole War God. "Since you refuse to submit to the law, then don't blame this War God for being merciless!"
Taibai Jinxing sighed, raised his hand, and ordered, " Five Extremes War Gods, heed my command! Capture Yao Ji and kill the other four!"
"Stop!"
Li Xun flew to the center, blocking the way, and said in a deep voice, "This is human territory. You want to capture my human race? Don't you respect my Human Emperor?"
"Behind my human race are the Mother God Empress Nuwa and the Father God Dao Venerable Lin Tian."