Sun Mother Xi He

"What's the meaning?"

Upon hearing Jiang Lan's answer, Bai Qiuran asked in surprise, "Can the Authority of a god be taken away in this way?"

"Sure."

Jiang Lan explained, "We Heavenly Gods are a very special kind of being. We possess characteristics of mortal life, but we also carry the characteristics of concepts. And concepts can be replaced through certain methods and Book of Questions- like structures."

She gently pinched her fair chin with her index finger and thumb, pondered for a moment, and then explained, "It's like the previous Heavenly Emperor. There was a Heavenly Gods who ascended to the throne named Di Jun. His original Divine Office are no longer known, but during his long reign as Heavenly Emperor, he gained immense Authority by constantly marrying and having children. For example, his most famous marriages to the Sun Mother Xi He and the Moon Mother Chang Xi resulted in these two goddesses giving birth to Ten Three-Legged Golden Crow, which became the Sun, and Twelve Moons, respectively. The Moon God is now Wang Shu, but the Three-Legged Golden Crow are still the Sun Gods in the sky. Di Jun thus gained Authority the Sun and Moon, and his authority even surpassed that of his children and wives."

"So Eastern Emperor Taiyi wants me to marry you, have a child, and then seize the Authority from you?"

Bai Qiuran pondered.

"I am an open rebel, while you have been acting like a loyal minister lately. He must want to strip away such important Authority as Vast Sea from me."

Jiang Lan's expression was not very good.

"If I remain stubborn after being stripped of my Authority, he'll probably find an excuse to get rid of me."

Bai Qiuran silently watched her. This girl, who looked only thirteen or fourteen years old, spoke without expression, but her thin shoulders were trembling slightly. She must have been afraid that she would end up in such a miserable state.

However, her inner rebellious spirit and sense of responsibility towards Human Race countered this fear, preventing her from easily yielding when facing Eastern Emperor Taiyi.

Bai Qiuran wanted to comfort her, but considering that she wasn't very familiar with her, she didn't say anything.

He thought for a moment, then changed the subject, asking, "So, are we getting married or not?"

"Even if it's just to deceive Eastern Emperor Taiyi into lowering his guard and gaining his trust, it's worth it."

Jiang Lan said resolutely, "The Human Race cannot do without my protection. If I disobey, even if Eastern Emperor Taiyi doesn't attack me, he will still turn against the Human Race."

"Okay."

Bai Qiuran took out the Military Tally from his pocket.

"Then I will respond to Eastern Emperor Taiyi."

"Wait, let's make this clear beforehand: after we get married, I'll be your wife. To keep up the act, we'll definitely have to live together. Even if it's just an act, we'll have to pretend to be loving. I'll also fulfill my duties as a wife and help you with the housework."

Jiang Lan extended her hand and said, "But we have a three-point agreement: you are not allowed to touch me before I give your permission!"

Why are you still dwelling on this...?

Bai Qiuran retorted, "I already said, women are nowhere near as interesting as Foundation Establishment..."

"Of course, it's to prevent you from taking away my Authority."

Jiang Lan looked wary.

"Who knows if you're truly Human Race? What if you're a Heavenly Gods? If I lose my virginity to you, I'll surely lose my Authority."

"Okay."

Bai Qiuran thought to himself, "I never intended to touch you anyway," and replied, "Whatever makes you happy."

"You should report this matter first."

Jiang Lan said, "Before the wedding, I want to go to a place."

Bai Qiuran agreed, and then Jiang Lan parted ways with the two of them. Bai Qiuran temporarily returned to his Divine Palace to draft a document for the Heavenly Emperor explaining Jiang Lan's response, while Jiang Lan rode on the Cloudmist and flew towards the Far Eastern Direction Vast Sea in the far east.

She quickly crossed the vast Eastern Lands and ventured deep into the Vast Sea. As soon as she entered the Vast Sea, the waves within the Vast Sea began to flow slowly around her, and the enormous Sea Beasts that had been roaming the Vast Sea also gave way to her.

Some of the Heavenly Gods born on the islands at sea showed a displeased expression when they saw Jiang Lan coming.

However, Jiang Lan ignored them and headed east until she arrived at the foot of a giant Divine Tree growing in the deep ocean.

This Divine Tree is composed of countless intertwined roots twisted and knotted together, forming a single entity that soars into the clouds.

Stopping halfway up the Divine Tree, Jiang Lan looked up at the sky and softly called out to the towering Divine Tree, "Is Aunt Xi He here?"

A moment later, no one responded, but two roots on the Fusang Divine Tree silently cracked open, making way for a path.

Jiang Lan flew into the Divine Tree through the gap, and then a force lifted her up rapidly, and in the blink of an eye she was up to the position of the Divine Tree above the clouds.

She came to a place where the branches of a tree intersected, where some exquisite wooden houses were built in the treetops. This place where the branches intersected was even larger than a square, and in the center there were round wooden tables and low stools.

Just then, a soft light shone from somewhere, making the entire square gleam. A woman dressed in a beautiful long red dress emerged from a wooden house above and slowly descended towards Jiang Lan.

The woman was beautiful, with an air of elegance, and a red mark between her eyebrows. If the Heavenly Emperor of this world were to choose an Imperial Consort, this woman would undoubtedly be one of the best candidates.

She approached Jiang Lan, looked at Jiang Lan with kind and gentle eyes, and asked, "Little Lan'er, what brings you to visit your aunt?"

"Aunt Xi He."

Jiang Lan paused for a moment, then said, "I'm getting married."

"Oh?"

Xi He burst into laughter, as if her own daughter had found a boyfriend. She asked, "Which young man has caught the eye of our Lan'er?"

"It was a marriage bestowed by the Heavenly Emperor..."

Jiang Lan answered softly.

"What... that bastard, he's not even going to let you go?"

Xi He's face was filled with anger upon hearing this, but she was helpless.

"I'm so sorry, Lan'er, I'm useless, I can't protect you."

"It doesn't matter."

Jiang Lan gently shook her head.

Xi He, the Sun Mother, was once the Empress Consort of the Heavenly Emperor, but at this moment, she and he could only be described as fellow sufferers in the same world.

She is now the only one left in her maternal grandfather's lineage, and the Sun Mother Xi He is also now just an orphan and her widow.

Di Jun is dead, and of the ten Three-Legged Crow, only one remains. The Sun Gods Golden Crow and the Sun Mother, though seemingly glamorous, are ultimately nothing more than a widow and a child who has lost his father and brothers.

"Don't worry about me. In some ways, this husband is someone I get along with quite well."

Jiang Lan comforted Xi He, saying, "He also made a three-point agreement with me beforehand, promising that he would never touch me without my consent after we got married."

"Hmph, men always make it sound so easy. Back then, Di Jun also told Chang Xi and me that we'd only hold hands and do nothing else... cough."

Xi He coughed, stopping herself from speaking, and then continued, "Moreover, Lan'er, think about the traits you inherited from your mother. Spending so much time together, I'm afraid you might really fall in love with him. If he's truly good to you, that's fine, but I'm afraid you'll be putting your heart into the wrong person."

"No, it won't."

Jiang Lan shook her head and smiled, "I would never fall in love with a Heavenly Gods."

Ultimately, she still couldn't believe that there was such a powerful God Race as Bai Qiuran in the world, who had recently beheaded the ancient War God Xingtian.

In short, you'd better watch yourself.

Xi He and said, "If anything happens to you in the future, come to Fusang to find me. Also, as agreed, I will give you your mother's belongings when you get married."

As she spoke, Xi He took out a green jade hairpin from her sleeve and handed it to Jiang Lan.