Choose a different Demon Empress!
Everyone instantly understood Kunpeng's meaning.
Settle for the next best thing!
Everyone knew that nothing could be better than Di Jun marrying Xihe and Changxi.
Harmony between the sun and moon would maximize the merit of the heavenly marriage.
But this could no longer be forced.
Even Nuwa could not use a Saint's might to compel Xihe and Changxi to submit.
With that being the case, they could only seek other supreme deities to replace the two women.
Di Jun pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"It seems this is our only option..."
"Fortunately, with Saint Nuwa's Red Embroidered Ball to witness this emperor's heavenly marriage, we can still obtain vast merit."
Once that decision had been made, Demon Saint Ji Meng asked:
"Then, in Your Majesty's opinion, who could become our Demon Court's Demon Empress?"
Di Jun remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the Ten Demon Saints and the others.
Suddenly, his expression shifted.
"Qin Yuan, if this emperor remembers correctly, you belong to the Ancient Flying Birds and possess a measure of phoenix bloodline."
"Are you willing to replace Xihe and Changxi and become our Demon Court's Demon Empress?"
Qin Yuan!
One of the Ten Demon Saints, and the only woman among them.
Her strength was exceptional, her cultivation profound, and her innate origins outstanding.
She would command respect as Demon Empress.
Hearing Di Jun's words, Qin Yuan froze, then was overjoyed.
"I respectfully obey Your Majesty the Demon Emperor's command!"
She agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Becoming Demon Empress would elevate her standing once more and grant her greater authority in the future.
Besides, as a Demon Saint of the Demon Court, Qin Yuan already revered and admired Di Jun's bearing.
To become the cultivation partner of the exalted Demon Emperor was more than she could have hoped for.
Bai Ze, Kunpeng, and the others nodded slightly, raising no objections.
The matter was settled.
Di Jun wasted no words. Like Saint Tongtian, he immediately transmitted his voice through the Great Dao, proclaiming it to all living beings.
"I, Emperor Di Jun, have decided to marry Qin Yuan and establish a heavenly marriage!"
"In a hundred years, I shall ask Saint Nuwa to act and seal our heavenly marriage bond."
"When the time comes, all the world's Saints and mighty powers are welcome to attend and share in this grand occasion."
He acted with the force of thunder and the speed of wind, setting the heavenly marriage for a hundred years later.
After all, the Witch and Demon Clans were increasingly at drawn swords and bent bows. They had little time or opportunity left to strengthen themselves.
The sooner they held the heavenly marriage, the sooner they could obtain boundless fortune and merit and rise to their zenith in one stroke.
His declaration stirred another uproar among all living beings.
"A heavenly marriage? And Saint Nuwa will personally seal their marriage bond?"
"Heh, this Di Jun certainly knows how to borrow another's influence."
"It seems we will have no choice but to attend."
Some mighty powers sighed thus, seeing through Di Jun's intentions.
If it were merely Di Jun marrying Qin Yuan, it would hardly warrant the attention of countless trillions of beings.
But if a Saint were involved, its significance would be entirely different.
Countless mighty powers turned the matter over in their minds, secretly thinking that this might be their chance to become acquainted with a Saint.
Thus, anticipation stirred in everyone's hearts as they quietly awaited the heavenly marriage ceremony a hundred years hence.
Meanwhile, the Saints' Lineages were far from tranquil!
The ancestral seat of the Chan Sect.
Within the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain.
Saint Yuanshi stared coldly at the Twelve Golden Immortals before him, his expression solemn and imposing.
"You twelve are my Personal Disciples. You must carry forth the might of our Chan Sect."
"The heavenly marriage ceremony in a hundred years will be your opportunity to make your names."
"Do not disappoint your master..."
Naturally, Yuanshi would not miss the first heavenly marriage in history.
But congratulating the Demon Court was only a secondary concern.
In Yuanshi's eyes, all races would gather then, and the lineages of every Saint would descend.
It would be an opportunity for the various powers to show their mettle and compete for supremacy.
He placed great hopes in the Twelve Golden Immortals, intending for them to steal the limelight at the heavenly marriage and overshadow all living beings.
Hearing Yuanshi's words, the Twelve Golden Immortals respectfully assented.
"We shall faithfully follow Master's teachings!"
"We will surely show all living beings the supreme glory of the Chan Sect!"
The Twelve Golden Immortals were brimming with confidence as well.
The Great Luo Heaven, the Eight Scenic Palace!
This was Laozi's Human Sect cultivation grounds.
"Xuandu, you are the sole Personal Disciple of my Human Sect."
"For this heavenly marriage ceremony, you may refine a furnace of supreme Immortal Elixirs as a wedding gift."
"When the time comes, you can also let the mighty powers of this age witness your strength."
Thus Laozi instructed his sole Personal Disciple, Grand Master Xuandu!
Although the Human Sect often spoke of "acting through nonaction," appearing indifferent to fame and fortune and aloof from worldly strife, that was only its outward stance.
Laozi had, after all, been Hongjun's foremost disciple and stood at the head of the Saints of the Daoist tradition.
Naturally, he could not allow the other lineages to steal his limelight.
At the same time, this would pave the way for Xuandu, allowing him to become acquainted with more of the mighty powers of the age.
By comparison, the Interception Sect paid little attention to the Demon Court's so-called heavenly marriage.
The reason was simple!
The enormous impact of Gu Changqing's promotion to Personal Disciple had yet to fade.
The disciples spread the news from mouth to mouth, all proclaiming Gu Changqing's name.
Now, whenever the Outer Sect disciples mentioned Gu Changqing, their faces filled with reverence and respect.
"Hehe, Senior Brother Changqing truly is the pride of our Outer Sect."
"He may seem perpetually drunk and flippant, but mountains and valleys lie within his breast. His cultivation has long since reached heights beyond our grasp."
"More than our pride-Senior Brother Changqing is the most legendary figure in our Interception Sect."
"Starting as an Outer Sect disciple, he rose against heaven itself to become Master Tongtian's Personal Disciple."
"Such an achievement has no precedent, and none will ever follow!"
Praise and astonished exclamations like these rang endlessly throughout the Interception Sect.
It was not just the Outer Sect disciples.
Even Duobao and the others treated Gu Changqing with an entirely different attitude.
One day, Duobao, Jin Ling, the Three Xiao, and the others came together to Gu Changqing's cave abode.
Only Zhao Gongming did not come.
Clearly, Gu Changqing's sudden rise in status had placed him above Zhao Gongming and the Three Xiao in a single leap.
If Zhao Gongming faced Gu Changqing now, he would have to address him as "Senior Brother."
For the proud and lofty Zhao Gongming, that was still rather difficult to accept.
"Alas, Junior Brother Changqing is now a Personal Disciple. He could establish a new cave abode near the Biyou Palace."
"But this fellow seems utterly unconcerned with such matters. All he knows is drinking himself into a stupor."
Duobao sighed.
Hearing this, Golden Spirit Holy Mother and the others could not help chuckling.
His leap to becoming a Saint's Personal Disciple seemed to have had no effect whatsoever on Gu Changqing.
He still spent his days in this cave abode in the Outer Sect, drinking to his heart's content.
It was as though, in his eyes, nothing but fine wine had any place.
As they spoke, Duobao and the others entered Gu Changqing's cave abode.
Looking closely, they saw that, sure enough, Gu Changqing was just as he had always been, clutching his wine gourd and already thoroughly drunk.
"Junior Brother Changqing, you are a Personal Disciple now."
"You ought to rein in your drinking a little."
Duobao offered the advice helplessly.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing his words, Gu Changqing stiffened his neck and replied with a grin:
"Hehe, that's right. I'm a distinguished Personal Disciple now."
"What's wrong with having a drink?"
Before you continue