Just then, the Three-headed Flood Dragon opened its enormous jaws, and three dazzling Dragon Pearls slowly emerged from its mouth.
The Dragon Pearls radiated a terrifying power, their light as dazzling as the blazing sun. They shot straight toward Yao Ji!
Yao Ji was instantly enveloped by their immense power. She felt as though a towering mountain had come crashing down on her, leaving her completely unable to move.
Taking advantage of the moment, the Three-headed Flood Dragon extended its sharp claws and lunged at Yao Ji's chest with blinding speed.
A dull thud rang out as the Three-Headed Flood Dragon brutally tore out and crushed Yao Ji's heart!
In an instant, blood sprayed everywhere, staining the clouds around them red.
Yao Ji let out a pained cry. With nothing left to support her, her delicate body plunged from the clouds like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the ground.
The Three-Headed Flood Dragon looked at Yao Ji, who lay before it barely breathing and on the verge of death. After a quick assessment, it decided she was beyond saving. Without lingering, it shimmered and transformed into a streak of light, vanishing swiftly into the distance.
Just then, the scholar Yang Tianyou happened to pass by, holding a scroll in one hand and leading a donkey with the other.
He caught sight of Yao Ji lying in a pool of blood and was shocked. He hurried over as fast as he could to see what had happened.
Yao Ji's face was as pale as paper, her breathing faint. Her clothes were soaked with blood, and she looked utterly wretched.
Beside himself with worry, Yang Tianyou asked, "Miss, how did you get so badly hurt? I'm no great healer, but I'd like to do what little I can to save your life. Is there anything I can do?"
Yao Ji thought to herself that she truly didn't want this mortal before her to save her. He was only human, after all, and if he did save her, he might suffer harm she couldn't foresee.
But then she remembered that the Three-Headed Flood Dragon was still at large. If she let this chance slip by, she might never be able to subdue it. Caught between the two choices, she hesitated.
At last, Yao Ji parted her lips and said softly, "There is a way to save my life, but I don't know if you'd be willing to try it."
Yang Tianyou hurriedly asked, "What is it? Please, tell me!"
Yao Ji gazed into Yang Tianyou's eyes and said, word by word, "You must give me half of your heart."
Yang Tianyou froze, then murmured, "Huh? Half my heart... can a heart really be divided like that? But this young lady is so beautiful, a peerless beauty as lovely as a celestial goddess. It would be such a pity if she died here. I'm only a poor, down-on-my-luck scholar. Even if I lose my life over this, it shouldn't matter much."
After thinking it over, Yang Tianyou nodded resolutely. "All right, I'm willing! But how do I give you my heart?" Though his words carried a hint of confusion, his gaze was unwavering.
Yao Ji's face was as pale as paper. Gritting her teeth, she summoned the last trace of Magic Power left in her body and struggled to cast a spell.
A faint light shot from her hand, heading straight for Yang Tianyou's heart.
In an instant, the force split Yang Tianyou's heart in two!
Daring not to hesitate, Yao Ji quickly and carefully removed one half of his heart and placed it where her own heart had been.
As the half-heart entered Yao Ji's body, a warm current flowed through her, easing her frail body somewhat.
But such a tremendous ordeal was more than Yang Tianyou could bear. His vision went black, and he immediately fainted.
Though the half-heart gave Yao Ji only a small amount of Magic Power, it was enough to heal her severe injuries.
She focused, drew upon the Magic Power she had just received, and began repairing her damaged meridians and wounds.
Before long, the shocking wounds on Yao Ji's body had gradually disappeared, and her breathing had steadied.
Feeling that her condition had improved, Yao Ji decided to take to the clouds at once and pursue the Three-Headed Flood Dragon, lest it cause more harm.
Yao Ji took a deep breath and leaped, intending to step onto the clouds.
But the moment she jumped, she suddenly seemed to lose her balance and fell straight back to the ground.
"???" Yao Ji stared in astonishment, bewildered. "What's going on? Why have I lost my Magic Power?"
She hurriedly looked down at Yang Tianyou, who was still unconscious on the ground, and murmured, "Could it be that his heart hasn't fully fused with mine yet? It seems I'll have to give up the pursuit for now and wait for my Magic Power to recover..."
With that, Yao Ji went over and crouched beside Yang Tianyou. She gently shook his shoulder and called softly, "Young master, young master, wake up."
As Yao Ji shook him, Yang Tianyou's head spun, leaving him dizzy and miserable.
After a long while, he finally came around and struggled to open his eyes.
When he realized that the person before him was Yao Ji, delight appeared on his face. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "Miss, you're better? That's wonderful! I can't believe I'm still alive..."
"Yes, young master. I'm deeply grateful for saving my life. If you hadn't stepped in when you did, I would have died."
Yao Ji looked at Yang Tianyou with gratitude and gave him a graceful bow. Her figure was slender and graceful, and her features lovely. Though her injuries left her looking a little haggard, her natural beauty still shone through.
"You're too kind, miss. It's my good fortune to have saved someone as kind and beautiful as you."
Yang Tianyou smiled warmly and replied softly, "Where do you live, miss? And how did you end up alone here, injured and unconscious?"
Yao Ji lowered her eyes slightly, a trace of sorrow and helplessness passing through them. She slowly replied, "You don't know the whole story, young master. I was traveling with my family, but we got separated along the way. Then, as bad luck would have it, I was attacked by a ferocious beast and badly injured. That's how I ended up here. I was fortunate that you came to my rescue, or I dread to think what might have happened." With that, Yao Ji let out a soft sigh.
Hearing this, Yang Tianyou couldn't help but feel sorry for her. He hurriedly reassured her, "Miss, don't worry too much. Since you have nowhere to go right now, why not come home with me for the time being? It isn't safe for you to be alone out here."
Yao Ji hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Then I'll have to trouble you, young master." And so, Yao Ji followed Yang Tianyou home to Guanjiang Pass.
In the days that followed, Yao Ji quietly searched for the escaped Three-Headed Flood Dragon while recovering from her injuries.
As they spent day after day together, Yao Ji and Yang Tianyou grew closer.
They strolled together along mountain paths, enjoying the spring blossoms and autumn moon; they sat together by the hearth, chatting and laughing.
Before they knew it, their hearts had drawn closer and closer, and deep affection had slowly blossomed between them.
Time slipped by, and the years flew past. On a lovely, sunny day, Yao Ji and Yang Tianyou married and became a devoted couple.
Not long after their wedding, Yao Ji gave birth to three adorable children: their eldest son, Yang Jiao; their second son, Yang Jian; and their daughter, Yang Chan.
The family lived in harmony and happiness.
Meanwhile, far away in the Heavenly Court, Su Mu was busy handling the various affairs of Qinghua Great Emperor's Manor.
But he had never forgotten to keep an eye on the mortal realm. When he learned that Yao Ji had safely given birth to Yang Jian and the others, Su Mu smiled faintly and said to himself, "At last, the moment has come..."
Su Mu waved his hand, and a streak of spiritual light flew into Longevity Great Emperor's Manor. Then he shot out like lightning, leaving the Heavenly Court in an instant.
At the same time, in the far-off Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, Daoist Zhunti learned through his vast supernatural powers that Yao Ji had safely given birth to three sons.
After pondering for a moment, he decided to find a way to pass the news on to Haotian.
When Haotian God learned of this, he flew into a rage. His usually calm face twisted into a terrifying scowl.
In his eyes, Yao Ji, his own younger sister, had secretly borne children with a mortal man. Such conduct was a grave insult to the dignity of the Heavenly Court and a tremendous stain on its reputation.
Without hesitation, he ordered Marshal Tianpeng to lead a host of Heavenly Soldiers and generals to capture Yao Ji and her children.
Though he knew he could have sent Kong Xuan or Dapeng to carry out the task, these two were currently serving in important positions in the Heavenly Court, and he still couldn't command them at will or send them wherever he pleased.
After all, there were many complicated relationships and conflicting interests between them.
For that reason, after careful consideration, he ultimately decided to send Marshal Tianpeng and his army.
Marshal Tianpeng didn't dare delay after receiving the order. He immediately assembled his troops and headed down to the mortal realm in a grand procession.
Before long, they arrived above Yang Tianyou's home.
At that moment, the Yang family's eldest son, Yang Jiao, and second son, Yang Jian, were playing happily in the courtyard. Their younger sister, Yang Chan, sat quietly on the steps in front of the house, watching her brothers have fun.
Suddenly, a vast shadow blotted out the bright sunlight, plunging the whole courtyard into darkness. Feeling that something was wrong, Yang Chan looked up. The sight before her terrified her, and she began wailing.
"Big brother, second brother, look!" Yang Chan sobbed, pointing at the sky with a trembling finger.
Yang Jiao and Yang Jian looked in the direction their sister was pointing. A dense mass of Heavenly Soldiers and generals, like dark clouds, filled the sky. At their head stood the imposing Marshal Tianpeng.
The two boys hurried to Yang Chan's side and stood protectively in front of her.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded inside the house. Yang Tianyou and Yao Ji had heard Yang Chan crying and rushed outside.
"What is it, Chan'er? What happened?" Yao Ji asked anxiously. But the moment she saw Marshal Tianpeng and the Heavenly Soldiers and generals in the sky, her face turned deathly pale.
Knowing that disaster had struck, Yao Ji had no time to think. She quickly turned and handed all three children to Yang Tianyou, then urgently warned him, "Husband, we're in danger! Take the children and run! You must protect them..." Before she could finish, tears spilled from her eyes.
"Wife, what's happening? Who are these people? What have they come here for?" Yang Tianyou asked, his face full of confusion.
His brows knitted together, and his eyes betrayed unease and anxiety.
"Husband, don't ask questions! Leave at once!" Yao Ji answered in a panic, urgently pushing them away.
Though Yang Tianyou still had many questions, Yao Ji was so frantic that he could only nod helplessly and hurry away with the children.
But just as they turned to leave, Marshal Tianpeng waved his hand and ordered the Heavenly Soldiers behind him, "Go after Yang Tianyou and the others at once! Don't let them get away!"
Seeing the Heavenly Soldiers pursue Yang Tianyou and the children, Yao Ji was frantic with worry.
Without thinking of anything else, she flashed forward, intending to stop them. But Marshal Tianpeng stepped in front of her.
"Princess Yao Ji, the Great Celestial Venerable has learned what you've done here and is now in a terrible rage. Please return to the Heavenly Court with me, so this matter doesn't become even more serious," Marshal Tianpeng said gravely.
"Tianpeng, move aside! Or don't blame me for showing no mercy!" Yao Ji snapped, frantic with worry.
Seeing that Tianpeng had no intention of letting her pass, Yao Ji didn't hesitate. With a sharp cry, she raised her hand and sent a fierce streak of light straight at him.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Soldiers moved swiftly on the other side and soon caught up with Yang Tianyou and his four children.
The Heavenly Soldiers glared at them and mercilessly launched a devastating supernatural attack. Light flashed, and their momentum was terrifying, as if they meant to swallow Yang Tianyou and the others whole.
Yang Tianyou spread his arms and stood in front of his three children like an unbreakable mountain.
His resolute face was set with the determination of a man ready to die. He seemed prepared to perish alongside his enemies.
Behind him, Yang Jiao, Yang Jian, and Yang Chan were filled with terror, their bodies trembling despite themselves.
They squeezed their eyes shut, afraid to witness the dreadful fate about to befall them. All they could do was silently pray that Heaven would protect them through this calamity.
A moment passed, then another, but the fatal blow they expected never came. After a while, the children gradually realized that nothing seemed to be happening around them, so they slowly opened their tightly shut eyes.
The moment they saw what was in front of them, they froze. Two people had appeared before them at some point.
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