Di Jun and Tai Yi decided to act, and immediately got to work.
With a mighty procession of the Demon Race and a mountain of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, they excitedly headed for the Moon Star.
The spectacle was so grand that they seemed determined to let the entire Primordial World know that the Demon Emperor was going to propose.
Before the Moon Star, Di Jun straightened his robes and sent his voice into the Moon Star.
"Lord of the Sun Star, Di Jun, has come to pay his respects to the Moon Star. May I ask the Moon Goddess to show herself?"
Di Jun had come to propose, but he did not use his identity as the Demon Race's Demon Emperor. Instead, he introduced himself as the Lord of the Sun Star, hoping to draw closer to them.
"Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, what important matter brings you to my Moon Star?"
A voice as cool and clear as moonlight came from within the Moon Star. Though its tone was fairly courteous, it showed no intention of letting the Demon Race enter the Moon Star.
"Please allow us to enter, Goddess. Di Jun has an important matter to discuss."
Silence reigned within the Moon Star for a while before the grand formation slowly opened.
"My Moon Star is quiet and secluded. I ask that the Demon Emperor have his subordinates wait outside."
Di Jun agreed and entered the Moon Star with only Eastern Emperor Tai Yi.
The moment they set foot on the Moon Star's frigid land, an icy chill capable of freezing a person stiff struck them head-on. It was not the temperature that was low—it was the attitude!
Beneath the Moon Laurel Tree, Xihe and Chang Xi stood side by side.
The two Moon Goddesses were both breathtakingly beautiful, surrounded by immortal light and possessing peerlessly cool temperaments.
Even Great Powers like Di Jun and Tai Yi, whose Dao hearts were steadfast, could not help but lose themselves for a moment.
Di Jun straightened his clothes and crown, put on his gentlest smile, and stepped forward with cupped fists.
"Fellow Daoist Xihe, Fellow Daoist Chang Xi, forgive my presumptuous visit. I have come today to discuss a momentous joyous matter with the two of you."
Di Jun began to speak.
He talked about the "guidance of the Heavenly Dao," the "union of yin and yang," "Heavenly Marriage Merit," the "position of Heavenly Queen," "sharing glory and prosperity"...
He painted an incredibly magnificent picture until his mouth went dry.
However, Xihe merely interrupted him coldly.
"Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, please leave. My sister and I have lived on the Moon Star for a long time and are accustomed to peace and quiet. We have no desire to become involved in worldly affairs, much less to enter into a Heavenly Marriage and become someone's Heavenly Queen."
Chang Xi chimed in from the side, her tone even more aggressive.
"Exactly! Who doesn't know that your Demon Race was just defeated by Saint Nuwa's disciple? You come to propose at a time like this—who knows what you're really plotting? Do you want to drag our Moon Star into the mire? Dream on!"
The smile on Di Jun's face froze.
Tai Yi was so furious that he could barely suppress his Solar True Fire.
When beating someone, one did not strike them in the face; when insulting someone, one did not expose their weaknesses. Yet Chang Xi had stabbed straight into Di Jun and Tai Yi's hearts from the moment she opened her mouth.
Tai Yi wished he could sacrifice the Eastern Emperor Bell on the spot and lecture Chang Xi about "reason."
"Fellow Daoists, that is not quite right..."
Di Jun still wanted to make one last effort.
"Heavenly Marriage follows the will of the Heavenly Dao and brings great benefits to both sides..."
"Benefits?"
Xihe let out a cold laugh.
"Apart from that little bit of merit, what else can my sister and I gain? Being confined to the Sun Star to play His Majesty's game of supremacy? Or becoming enforcers for the Demon Race in the future? Our Moon Star is free and carefree, and we are perfectly happy here. There is no need to trouble Your Majesty the Demon Emperor!"
With the conversation having reached this point, she had rejected him without leaving the slightest shred of face.
Di Jun and Tai Yi had been thoroughly rebuffed. Their faces were livid as they stood in the cold Moon Palace, unable to leave or stay, so awkward that they could practically dig out a three-bedroom apartment.
The betrothal gifts they had brought now looked more like a joke.
Just as the two brothers were left with no way to save face and were about to lose their tempers out of shame, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice suddenly rang out.
Hongjun said only one sentence, yet it nearly made Di Jun vomit blood.
"Heavenly Marriage requires fate, but it also requires legitimacy.
"The Red Gauze Ball is the supreme treasure of Heavenly Dao relationships, governing the marriages of Heaven, Earth, and humankind.
"To establish a Heavenly Marriage, Nuwa must officiate with the Red Gauze Ball, bearing witness before Heaven and Earth. Only then can it be complete."
Nuwa?! The Red Gauze Ball?!
Di Jun's vision went black, and he nearly passed out!
They had only just fought Nuwa over territory and forged a mortal grudge. Now he had to humble himself and beg her to officiate his wedding?
Wasn't that basically offering his face for her to step on?
Di Jun's face shifted from green to white, his expression changing unpredictably. In the end, it became an extremely aggrieved sigh.
"Let's go! Back to the Sun Star!"
The proposal was impossible today.
But the Heavenly Marriage had to happen! The merit had to be obtained! And the Moon Star had to be secured!
Yet how he was supposed to broach the subject with Nuwa made Di Jun feel as though his head were splitting apart.
At the same time, in the Creation Palace.
Qingxuan was leisurely sharing some new-flavored fruit he had helped himself to from the Human Race with Nuwa when he suddenly burst into laughter.
Di Jun and Tai Yi got humiliated at the Moon Star? Hahaha! Serves them right!
The Heavenly Dao actually didn't tell Di Jun that officiating the Heavenly Marriage required the Red Gauze Ball in Master's hands?
It was Hongjun who told Di Jun instead. Di Jun was so furious that his face turned white.
Isn't he practically sticking his face out and begging to be hit? Di Jun probably wants to bang his head against a wall right now, doesn't he?
Nuwa was nibbling at the fruit when she heard Qingxuan's thoughts. Her movements paused slightly, and her delicate brows lifted.
The Red Gauze Ball officiating a wedding? Heavenly Marriage?
The Saint's thoughts shifted slightly, and she instantly understood the cause and effect. A playful smile curled at the corners of her lips.
This was... rather interesting.
Qingxuan's eyes spun, and an idea popped into his head.
He sidled up to Nuwa and said with a sly grin,
"Master, if Di Jun really swallows his pride and comes to ask you to officiate his wedding, will you agree? Or will you agree? Or will you agree?"
Nuwa rolled her eyes at him.
"Flippant! They have just fallen out with us. Would they come so easily? Even if they did, why should I help him?"
"Master, you can't put it that way!"
Qingxuan smiled wickedly.
"The Red Gauze Ball is a marriage treasure designated by the Heavenly Dao. It would be a waste not to fleece the Heavenly Dao. But as for how the wedding is conducted, what words are spoken during the ceremony, and who the officiating parties are—that leaves us plenty of room to maneuver!"
He lowered his voice and raised his brows suggestively.
"For example, we could 'emphasize' the equality of husband and wife and the mutual support of yin and yang in the ceremonial words. Or remind them that the Heavenly Queen also has the authority to govern the stars, especially her own Moon Star. We could even wish the newlyweds many children and blessings, tell them to devote themselves to cultivation, and advise them to stay out of the fighting and killing in the outside world..."
"Besides, who says Di Jun's Heavenly Marriage partner has to be one of the two goddesses of the Moon Star?"
Nuwa was incredibly clever, and she understood immediately. Her eyes lit up at once!
That was right! The Red Gauze Ball was in her hands, so the process and wording of the wedding were also in her hands!
She could use the opportunity to officiate the wedding to earn Heavenly Dao Merit while making things difficult for Di Jun.
How was this officiating a wedding? It was simply going to sabotage it!
And she could do so openly and legitimately, while the other party would still have to thank her!
"You really are full of wicked ideas!"
Nuwa could not help reaching out to poke Qingxuan's forehead with her slender finger, yet the smile on her face grew brighter and brighter.
"But... this suits my wishes perfectly!"
The master and disciple exchanged a smile, and everything was understood without a word.
Before you continue