Hongjun Bestows a Treasure, the Red Marriage Ball

Myriad immortals gathered; the auspicious hour had arrived.

Within the Primordial Starry Sky, sun and moon shone together. Auspicious clouds spread across billions of miles of starry rivers, and the countless stars of the heavens rang in unison, as though celebrating the union of the first marriage since heaven and earth had been opened.

Lingxiao stood before Lingxiao Palace on the Sun Star, clad in flowing scarlet wedding robes. Innate golden threads embroidered the countless stars, along with patterns of the revolving sun and moon. Great Sun Golden Crows coiled and soared along the hem, every scale and claw distinct. Resplendent Sun Dao charm flowed endlessly around him; his elegance was peerless, his bearing transcendent.

"Go."

With a thought, Lingxiao poured his Great Firmament mana into the Fusang Tree.

"Hum."

The Sun Star trembled faintly. That top-grade innate Spiritual Root, stretching across billions of miles, unfurled countless branches. They intertwined and solidified, transforming into a crimson-gold rainbow bridge that rose from the Sun Star and spanned the starry sky toward the Lunar Star.

Great Sun golden radiance flowed across the bridge, yet all searing heat had been drawn away, leaving only a gentle warmth. Walking upon it was as steady as walking level ground; its Dao charm was naturally formed.

Before the Moon Palace on the Lunar Star, the Moon Osmanthus Tree swayed softly.

"Dao Brother is coming."

"Hehe, we're coming too!"

Xihe and Changxi, clad side by side in crimson bridal gowns, exchanged a knowing glance and poured their mana into the Moon Osmanthus Tree as well.

In an instant, thousands upon thousands of luminous white branches unfurled and extended, becoming a jade bridge like white mutton-fat jade. It rose from the Lunar Star and stretched into the depths of the starry sky, finally joining seamlessly with the crimson-gold rainbow bridge between the sun and moon.

Gold and jade shone together, yin and yang joined as one—it was a marriage ordained by heaven, with crow and rabbit singing in harmony.

Xihe's bearing was dignified. Her wedding gown bore embroidered Lunar stars and the palaces of the Moon Palace, while subtle patterns of the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine adorned its edges.

Her usually cool and aloof eyes rippled with unmelting tenderness, and a faint blush colored her icy jade features, adding several measures of breathtaking beauty to her stately grace;

Changxi, meanwhile, was charming and lively. Her almond eyes gleamed like stars, her cheeks were rosy, and from time to time she rose on tiptoe to gaze toward the end of the golden bridge, unable to conceal the joy filling her heart.

"Hahahaha, the wedding has begun!"

"Even this old man has never witnessed such a lively and joyous occasion. A wedding? Marriage? How truly novel!"

The moment the golden and jade bridges connected, the three thousand Violet Firmament Guests and Great Supernatural Beings of every faction who had long gathered on the Sun Star all sprang into action.

This bridal procession could be called an unprecedented extravagance since heaven and earth first opened:

The Twelve Time Markers Star Lords whom Lingxiao had previously enlightened transformed into twelve streams of light and stood respectfully before the carriage, bearing the carriage and guarding Father God and Mother God;

Eastern King Lord, the Dao Ancestor's personally appointed leader of the male immortals, led thirty-six pairs of golden boys and jade maidens to clear the way. With a light tap of his Dragon-Headed Staff, he swept aside the turbulent currents of the starry sky and opened a joyous path reaching heaven;

Hong Yun beamed as he waved his great sleeves, gathering thirty-six varieties of innate cloud-glow and seventy-two varieties of earthly mist. Along both sides of the golden bridge, he spread clouds across the sky and thousands of streams of auspicious radiance;

Kunpeng stood before the North Sea Profound-Ice Carriage, driving nine North Sea Giant Monsters with ten thousand years of cultivation to pull it. It carried Zhen Yuanzi, Fire Phoenix Patriarch, and other great powers, following closely behind;

Ziwei Star Lord wore a violet-gold Daoist robe. With a raised hand, he drew down the light of the countless stars, transforming it into a brilliant sea of stellar lamps that illuminated the darkness of the entire starry sky;

Zhunti and Jieyin, the two Great Supernatural Beings from the west, stood smiling amid the clouds as well. Zhunti scattered the pure fragrance of bodhi, while Jieyin released boundless light, condensing seven-colored rosy radiance along both sides of the joyous path. Sanskrit chants rang out in waves, offering congratulations for the marriage.

The remaining Three Pure Ones, Twelve Ancestral Witches, and other supreme great powers all traveled with the procession.

Nearly every renowned Great Supernatural Being in heaven and earth throughout the Primordial World had gathered here.

Such a lineup had never existed before and would be difficult to see again.

The procession crossed the golden-jade rainbow bridge and arrived before the Moon Palace on the Lunar Star.

"Xihe, Changxi, are you willing to form this blessed union with me?"

Lingxiao slowly stepped down from the Nine-Dragon Agarwood Carriage and extended his hands toward Xihe and Changxi, who waited within the palace gates.

"Since Dao Brother has come, of course we are willing."

The two women exchanged a glance, then shyly placed their hands in his palms. The instant their fingertips touched, the fortunes of the sun and lunar yin thunderously resonated. Yin and yang energies circulated around them, becoming a seamless whole.

Nuwa, serving as the chief matchmaker nearby, wore an immortal gown patterned with phoenixes. As she watched the three of them join hands, her eyes brimmed with smiles, though a trace of inexplicable envy rose in her heart.

She had taken form long ago, yet she had never seen such splendor, such a wedding ceremony.

Sun and moon sang in harmony, and ten thousand immortals came to offer tribute. It truly was the first of its kind since heaven and earth opened.

Lingxiao led Xihe and Changxi onto the golden bridge together with Nuwa. A vast multitude of great powers followed behind them as they returned to Lingxiao Palace on the Sun Star.

Beneath the Fusang Tree before the palace, a nine-tiered Heavenly Sacrificial Platform had long been built, with offerings arranged upon it.

The auspicious hour had arrived. Nuwa slowly ascended the Heavenly Sacrificial Platform. As officiant of the wedding, her clear Dao voice spread throughout the Primordial World. "Pangu stands above; let the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun bear witness!"

"Today, Lingxiao, lord of the Sun Star, and Xihe and Changxi, ladies of the Lunar Star, inherit Pangu's legacy and receive the fortune of heaven and earth. They each govern the two poles of yin and yang, serving as the foundation for the turning of the heavens."

"Today, in accordance with the Heavenly Dao, they shall form a marriage. The auspicious hour has arrived; perform the rites of marriage!"

"First bow to the heaven and earth of the Primordial World!"

Lingxiao, together with Xihe and Changxi, turned and bowed toward the Primordial World, paying respect to the heaven-and-earth cosmos that bore all things.

As that bow fell, both the Sun Star and Lunar Star trembled, while the countless stars of the heavens resonated without cease. Innate spiritual energy showered over the starry rivers and earth like sweet rain.

"Second bow to Dao Ancestor Hongjun!"

The three turned once more and solemnly bowed toward Violet Firmament Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, thanking the Dao Ancestor for establishing the order of heaven and earth, imparting the true meaning of the Great Dao, and safeguarding the peace of the Primordial World.

"Husband and wives, bow to one another!"

Lingxiao stood in the middle, with Xihe and Changxi to either side. The three faced one another in pairs, forming the configuration of the two principles and three forces, and bowed.

The instant the rites were completed, earthshaking cries of congratulations erupted above and below the Heavenly Sacrificial Platform. Ten thousand immortals celebrated in unison, their voices shaking the Primordial World.

Boom!

At that moment, a thunderous explosion suddenly rang out above the starry sky.

From the depths of Chaos, an incomparably brilliant innate treasure-light broke through the World Womb Membrane and descended directly toward the Heavenly Sacrificial Platform on the Sun Star.

Within the treasure-light, mysterious Dao patterns of the Marriage Dao could faintly be seen flowing.

Immediately afterward, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's Dao voice, carrying a faint smile and filling every corner of the Primordial World, slowly sounded:

"Today, the sun and moon sing in harmony, and the marriage rites are complete. This promotes the order of yin and yang in the Primordial World and establishes the foundation of ethics for all races. Excellent."

"I possess a treasure called the Red Marriage Ball. It contains the mysteries of the Marriage Dao and is fated to belong to Nuwa. On this day of great joy, I bestow this treasure to complete the order of marriage."

As the Dao voice faded, that ball of treasure-light descended directly into Nuwa's hands, transforming into a Red Marriage Ball over a foot in diameter.

The ball was a warm scarlet throughout, embroidered with Dao patterns of yin and yang joining in harmony and dragons and phoenixes bringing auspiciousness. Its pendants and tassels swayed gently, while radiant light coiled around it. In an instant, it acknowledged Nuwa as its master.

"The Dao Ancestor bestowed a treasure?" Queen Mother of the West's lovely face was filled with shock.

"Dao Brother Lingxiao truly is unlike anyone else." Eastern King Lord stroked his long beard and sighed deeply.

He understood in his heart that although this treasure appeared to have been granted to Nuwa, if Lingxiao had not invited Nuwa to serve as chief matchmaker and established the order of yin and yang through marriage, how could Nuwa have obtained such a tremendous opportunity?

Kunpeng stood nearby, his expression calm, though his eyes were filled with certainty.

In his view, Dao Brother Lingxiao had established the Twelve Time Markers, founded the order of the immortal Dao, and comprehended the method of creating writing. With such great wisdom, obtaining such an opportunity was only natural. What was there to be surprised about?

"Th-this is actually a treasure personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor!?"

The immortals instantly erupted into uproar, and every Great Supernatural Being wore an expression of shock.

Who was Dao Ancestor Hongjun?

He was the supreme existence who ended the chaotic Dragon-Han Tribulation and quelled the War of Dao and Demons!

He was the first Heavenly Dao Sage in the Primordial World to attain the Primordial Unity Dao!

He was the supreme Dao Ancestor favored by the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World!

How many Innate Sacred Beings present could not even find the gates of Violet Firmament Palace?

Yet now, for the sake of a single wedding ceremony, he had personally appeared to bestow a treasure and bear witness to the marriage!

Throughout the entire Primordial World, aside from Lingxiao, there was likely no second person who could command such honor!

"This disciple thanks Teacher for bestowing this treasure!"

Nuwa hurriedly bowed toward Violet Firmament Palace. In a flash of insight, she activated the Red Marriage Ball.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

With a light flick of her delicate hand, three luminous crimson marriage threads flew from the ball and wound around the fingertips of Lingxiao, Xihe, and Changxi respectively.

Boom!

The instant the red threads entered their bodies and the marriage bond between the three was completely forged, the entire Primordial Starry Sky trembled faintly—then an enormous mass of Heavenly Dao Merit descended!