"Many thanks to Niangniang Nuwa for officiating the marriage between Xihe and me."
After the ceremony, having felt the increase in his strength and waited for Xihe to adjust, Di Jun took Xihe's jade hand and walked toward Niangniang Nuwa to express his thanks.
"I was born of the Witch Race, so I naturally had to make this trip. This is my gift to congratulate you both on your marriage. Accept it!"
After bestowing the Innate Spiritual Treasure Phoenix Hairpin upon Xihe, Nuwa exchanged a few words with Di Jun, Xihe, Tai Yi, and Fuxi before returning to the outer heavens in her carriage to Empress Wa's Palace.
"Respectfully seeing off the Saint."
As they watched Nuwa's phoenix carriage take flight, all the great cultivators and immortals from every faction in the Heavenly Court rose and spoke.
After Niangniang Nuwa left, the atmosphere in the main hall suddenly relaxed considerably. The guests present came forward one after another to congratulate Di Jun and Xihe.
Even Li Yunjing, Grand Master Xuandu, and Randeng presented congratulatory gifts on behalf of the Three Sects Leaders. Although the Three Pure Ones had not come in person, their gifts were extraordinary.
Laozi sent a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir, Yuanshi sent a small bottle of Three Lights Divine Water, and Tongtian sent a pair of lower-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure jade pendants.
"Please convey our thanks to the Three Pure Ones Saints on our behalf. Tell them that Di Jun appreciates the kindness of the three Saints." When Di Jun and Xihe saw the gifts sent by Li Yunjing and the others, smiles appeared on their faces. Although the Three Pure Ones had maintained their dignity and not come personally, they had still observed the proper etiquette. This proved that they harbored no hostility toward the Heavenly Court, which was already an excellent result.
"Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor is too polite. This poor Daoist will certainly convey your words." As the only quasi-Saint present, Randeng naturally answered on their behalf.
After all the guests had finished offering their congratulations, the many fairies of the Heavenly Court performed songs and dances. The immortals wandered about, constantly exchanging pleasantries with fellow Daoists from every faction. As a quasi-Saint expert and one of the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace, Randeng naturally had many old friends. For a while, only Li Yunjing and Xuandu remained around the table, tasting the Heavenly Court's spirit fruits, immortal tea, and immortal wine while listening to immortal music and watching the many fairies dance gracefully. It was peaceful and carefree.
However, this tranquility did not last long. Before long, several experts at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level came over to greet Li Yunjing and Xuandu. As disciples of Saints and Grand Unity Golden Immortal experts themselves, they naturally attracted many people eager to curry favor with them.
Li Yunjing refused no one, smiling as he clinked cups and exchanged drinks with various immortals. Once he was deep into his cups, he ended up becoming acquainted with many famous figures of the Primordial World. Some of them had truly survived the Witch-Demon Great Tribulation and would later thrive in the years to come.
The grand banquet was originally meant to celebrate throughout the world for three months, but Li Yunjing and the others still took their leave on the third day. As disciples of Saints, their every action represented their masters, so they naturally could not take advantage of the Heavenly Court like ordinary immortals.
When the Three Pure Ones preached to the disciples of the Three Sects once more after three thousand years, the Heavenly Court recovered from its decline and unexpectedly entered a period of great development.
Di Jun and Xihe had married, establishing the Heavenly Marriage. The Moon Star had also completely fallen under the Heavenly Court's control. The Myriad Stars were all within the Heavenly Court's grasp.
"'Zhou Tian Xing Dou' combines the power of three hundred and sixty-five stars, with the Solar Star and Moon Star serving as the main stars and formation cores. Today, it is finally complete."
In the Heavenly Court, the five quasi-Saints—Di Jun, Xihe, Tai Yi, Fuxi, and Kunpeng—had gathered together. Using the River Chart and Luo Writing, they continued deducing the Zhou Tian Xing Dou for two thousand five hundred years. At last, they had completed the formation's flaws and raised it to its limit.
Di Jun was brimming with confidence as he laughed. "To set up this formation, we need to refine three hundred and sixty-five Great Zhou Tian Star Banners, corresponding to the three hundred and sixty-five primary stars in the heavens. We also need one hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred Small Zhou Tian Star Banners. Then, by condensing the power of billions of members of the Witch Race, we can finally raise this Zhou Tian Xing Dou to a level capable of contending with a Saint."
"We finally have an ultimate trump card. When the Witch and Demon Races go to war, we must give the Witch Race a surprise!" Even Kunpeng could not conceal the joy in his heart. Once the Zhou Tian Xing Dou was complete, the Heavenly Court would have nothing to fear. As one of its high-ranking officials, he would naturally benefit enormously.
"Kunpeng is right! The Witch Race's legendary Twelve Heavenly Fiend God Formation has never been unleashed, and it has always been a huge hidden danger for us. But judging from the might of the Zhou Tian Xing Dou, even if the Witch Race reveals every trump card, they cannot possibly be our match!" Eastern Emperor Tai Yi laughed heartily, indescribably exhilarated.
"Now, we must pass the new Zhou Tian Xing Dou down. Have the Ten Great Marshals, led by Bai Ze, command the various armies in practicing day and night until they master it completely!" Fuxi said solemnly.
"Exactly! While having the armies practice the new Zhou Tian Xing Dou, gather skilled craftsmen and have them quickly refine the Great and Small Zhou Tian Star Banners. Use them as the foundation and prepare for the great battle to come!" Di Jun said joyfully.
"Yes!" The other four quasi-Saints nodded repeatedly. They all felt that after the Heavenly Marriage, the fortune of the entire Demon Race had suddenly risen by a considerable margin. Everything proceeded smoothly, and each of them instinctively felt that Heaven's Dao was on their side and that all great undertakings were destined to succeed.
In the blink of an eye, six thousand years passed. The Three Pure Ones had finished preaching to their disciples three times, while the Demon Race continued operating at full strength and preparing for the final decisive battle.
Recently, the smile on Di Jun's face had grown broader and broader. The Heavenly Court's preparations were proceeding smoothly, and Xihe had also given him an enormous surprise: she had borne ten children for his Three-legged Golden Crow clan.
When news of this spread, the entire Heavenly Court was even more ecstatic. The Heavenly Emperor Di Jun came from the Three-legged Golden Crow clan, which had only two members—the brothers Di Jun and Tai Yi. Their population was pitifully small.
Now, Di Jun had descendants. Ten Crown Princes had been born in succession, proving that the Demon Race's fortune had grown even stronger.
Because of this, the entire Demon Race fell into celebration. Di Jun was tremendously excited, feeling that this time, his great undertaking would truly succeed. As long as he defeated the Witch Race, with the fortune of the Primordial World, he might not be unable to attain the Dao!
At that moment, three bell tolls rang out from the Three Pure Ones Palace on Mount Kunlun. The ten-thousand-year Dao Discussion Conference had finally arrived.
As the disciples of the Three Sects gathered at the mountaintop, the doors of the Three Pure Ones Palace opened with a resounding boom. The Grand Pure Saint's voice, carrying an ethereal Dao resonance, came from within the main hall.
"The ten-thousand-year Dao Discussion Conference has arrived. Disciples of the Three Sects, enter the hall and discuss the Dao!"
Having received Laozi's instruction, the disciples of the Exposition Sect and Interception Sect entered the main hall of the Three Pure Ones Palace in orderly succession under the leadership of their respective First Senior Brothers.
"We pay our respects to Master, Uncle-Master, and Martial Uncle!"
The disciples of the Three Sects knelt and saluted the Three Pure Ones in turn, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
"Rise."
The Grand Pure Saint swept out his sleeve, and a gentle, invisible force lifted the disciples of the Three Sects to their feet.
"Red flowers, white lotus roots, and green lotus leaves—the Three Sects were originally one family. The disciples of the Human, Exposition, and Interception Sects should naturally stand together and support one another. Today's Dao Discussion Conference among the Three Sects is intended for the disciples of the Three Sects to verify what they have learned against one another and test the results of their respective cultivation."
As soon as the Grand Pure Saint finished speaking, the disciples of the Three Sects grew eager for action. They all wanted to display their might before the Saint and win glory for their own sect.
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