After the fairy in the pale yellow dress returned to her seat, the banquet seemingly returned to its lively state, with the sounds of clinking glasses resounding again, and the fairy maidens continuing to move among the guests carrying wine jugs.
Several old immortals huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.
One person said, "I thought the Yue Lao was an old man with a white beard, but I didn't expect him to be a young immortal."
Another chimed in, "She's incredibly beautiful; no wonder that fairy fell for her at first sight."
Then someone brought up the phrase "guarding fate," pondered it for a moment, and said that the saying was interesting. The Old Man Under the Yue Lao) ties the knot, and the Moon Official guards it; it sounds like a preordained destiny.
However, given that there doesn't seem to be any relationship between the Yue Lao and the Moon Official, it's quite disrespectful for them to discuss the two Primordial God like this.
Several female immortals on the nearby table were also secretly glancing at Qiguan Yuan.
Qiguan Yuan was peeling a lychee with his head down, his silver hair falling down from his shoulders, covering half of his face.
He peeled the lychee, revealing the glistening white flesh, his fingertips glistening with juice.
The female immortals blushed simultaneously and quickly looked away; the scene had a strangely erotic feel to it.
Xiu Yun Yin sat upright next to Qiguan Yuan, turning his body slightly to block part of his view.
He made the movement very naturally, as if he had casually adjusted his posture, still holding a wine glass in his hand, with a calm expression.
A bolder spirit brought over a wine cup, hoping to strike up a conversation under the guise of offering a toast.
Before he could even speak, Xiu Yun Yin raised his eyes and looked at him calmly.
The immortal paused for a moment, the words caught in his throat, but he ultimately picked up his wine cup and went back.
If you can't afford to offend him, you can at least avoid him; he'll just stay away from the God of Yue Lao.
Ling Xiao sat behind a small table at the very edge of Jade Pool.
He was dressed in black armor, with a burly build and broad shoulders; sitting there, he resembled an iron tower.
Several deities dressed as military generals sat at the same table with him, occasionally glancing at Qiguan Yuan as they toasted each other.
"Why are those two who play matchmaker born as Primordial God?" a god with a scar on his face muttered under his breath.
Another chimed in, "The one in white seems to have some skill; at least he exudes an air of authority. The one in red, all he does is eat the whole time."
"Why strike a pose while eating grapes? It's like he's some kind of god. And those female immortals, they can't take their eyes off him."
But it does seem quite nice.
After they finished speaking, they laughed themselves.
Ling Xiao didn't laugh. He held his wine glass, his gaze fixed on Qiguan Yuan's direction with a gloomy expression.
Fine cracks had appeared on the cup's surface, spreading from his fingertips.
He recalled how many years he had fought on the northern frontier.
He slew dragons in the Demon Abyss, slaughtered cities in the wasteland, and has countless scars, big and small, on his body, all to earn the position of Martial God.
These two people fell from the tree and did nothing, yet they became the Primordial God.
Especially that silver-haired one, with her boneless and lazy demeanor, hasn't even glanced at anyone since she entered, yet those female immortals keep fawning over her.
Ling Xiao's lips twitched slightly, it was hard to tell whether it was sarcasm or something else.
His colleague noticed his expression and whispered a word of advice, "Today is a banquet hosted by the Emperor; don't cause trouble."
Ling Xiao slammed the wine glass down on the table. The glass hit the jade tabletop with a dull thud.
The surrounding military officers fell silent.
"I know what I'm doing," Ling Xiao said.
Then he stood up.
The combat boots pounded on the jade floor, each step accompanied by a dull thud.
The immortals along the way all turned their heads, and seeing Ling Xiao's expression, they knew something bad was about to happen.
Some people put down their glasses, some moved aside, and others wore expressions of anticipation, as if they were watching a good show.
Ling Xiao stopped in front of Qiguan Yuan and Xiu Yun Yin's desks.
Xiu Yun Yin raised his eyes.
His expression was very calm.
Qiguan Yuan didn't look up; he was holding a grape in his hand, intently peeling it.
The grape skins were very thin, and he peeled them slowly, tearing them off piece by piece to reveal the bright green flesh inside.
"Are you two the newly arrived Yue Lao and Moon Official?" Ling Xiao asked, his voice rough, like sand scraping against an iron plate.
Qiguan Yuan finally raised his eyes.
His eyes swept over Ling Xiao from head to toe, then he looked away, popped the peeled grape into his mouth, and mumbled a response.
"Um."
Just one word.
Ling Xiao's fingers clenched tightly, his knuckles cracking.
He had fought for many years and was considered a prominent figure in the Heavenly Realm; no one had ever dared to treat him this way.
Xiu Yun Yin put down his wine cup.
The movement was very gentle; the bottom of the cup barely made a sound when it touched the table.
His body leaned forward slightly by a few inches.
Ling Xiao didn't notice this detail.
His entire attention was focused on Qiguan Yuan, and his nonchalant attitude made his chest feel tight.
"I'm quite curious," Ling Xiao said, picking up his wine glass, his tone laced with undisguised sarcasm. "What do you two do all day? Play matchmaker, write down your names?"
"So this is how someone can be ranked among the Primordial God? Those of us who fought on the battlefield have become a laughingstock."
As soon as he said that, all the conversations around him stopped.
An old hermit sitting nearby had his wine cup suspended in mid-air.
The fairy maid carrying the fruit platter stopped in her tracks. One of the fruits on the platter rolled off and tumbled under the table.
Qiguan Yuan spat the grape seeds into his palm and placed them on the table.
Then he slowly picked up the handkerchief next to him and began to wipe his fingers.
The handkerchief was plain white, and after wiping, it had faint stains of fruit juice.
A smile remained on his lips the entire time.
Xiu Yun Yin's gaze remained fixed on Qiguan Yuan.
He looked at Qiguan Yuan, seemingly trying to confirm whether Qiguan Yuan was displeased by his words.
Even after confirming that there was nothing there, his gaze remained fixed on the object.
Xiu Yun Yin barely glanced at Ling Xiao, who was standing in front of him.
Ling Xiao took Qiguan Yuan's silence as a sign of weakness.
He took another half step forward, his boots thumping heavily on the ground.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Ling Xiao's voice rose a little higher. "Could it be that you two are only good at matchmaking and can't even speak properly? In that case, why don't you let me see the power of the Primordial God?"
He patted the sword at his waist, the brass ring on the scabbard jingling. "Let's spar."
A colleague next to him reached out to Ling Xiao's sleeve, but was slapped away.
The Heavenly Emperor at the head of the table narrowed his eyes slightly, picked up the wine cup in front of him, and did not speak to stop him.
Qiguan Yuan put down the handkerchief.
He folded the handkerchief and placed it on the table, then propped his chin up and tilted his head to look at Ling Xiao.
Silver hair slipped down his shoulders and spread across his dark red sleeves, the contrast between red and white making him stand out.
"Are you sure?" Qiguan Yuan asked.
The voice was languid.
Those eyes reflected Ling Xiao's figure, but their gaze was unfocused, as if they were looking at an insignificant object.
Ling Xiao was completely enraged by that look.
He has fought for eight hundred years and has seen all kinds of opponents, but no one has ever shown such an expression when facing him.
"Of course I'm sure," Ling Xiao said through gritted teeth.
Qiguan Yuan yawned slightly, covered his mouth with his hand, and then braced himself on the table with both hands, preparing to stand up.
A hand pressed down on his shoulder.
Qiguan Yuan turned back.
Xiu Yun Yin produced an oil paper package from somewhere. When he opened it, he found amber-colored candied fruits inside, each one glistening with a crystal-clear luster. The sweet aroma wafted out, dispelling the stench of alcohol at the banquet.
"I've taken care of it." Xiu Yun Yin's voice was very soft, only Qiguan Yuan could hear it.
Qiguan Yuan's eyes lit up. He reached out and took the candied fruit, then nestled back into his seat.
With fluid movements, he had already picked up a candied fruit and popped it into his mouth in the blink of an eye.
"Okay." Qiguan Yuan's voice was muffled, his cheeks puffed out. "Hurry up and finish, I'm sleepy."
Xiu Yun Yin nodded and stood up.
He was about half a head taller than Ling Xiao.
"Only those who defeat me are qualified to challenge the Yue Lao," Xiu Yun Yin said.
Ling Xiao was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, "You? Someone who manages marriages?"
Xiu Yun Yin did not respond to the taunt; he simply stood there quietly.
A nearby immortal couldn't help but whisper, "General Ling Xiao, this Moon Official Immortal Lord is Primordial God..."
Ling Xiao waved his hand, interrupting the man.
He didn't want to wait any longer. The anger at being ignored by Qiguan Yuan was simmering in his chest, and he just wanted to vent it on someone.
"Perfect, I'll warm you up first."
Xiu Yun Yin and Ling Xiao walked one after the other towards the Jade Pool.
The immortals automatically parted to the sides, clearing a large area.
Ling Xiao drew his battle sword from his waist.
The moment the blade was drawn, a flash of cold light appeared, and a faint trace of blood flowed along the edge.
This sword had been with him for eight hundred years, and had slain countless demons; the malevolent energy on the sword had solidified into a tangible form.
"This sword has been with me for eight hundred years, and has slain countless demons."
Ling Xiao held his sword horizontally in front of him, looked up at Xiu Yun Yin, and asked, "Where is your weapon?"
Xiu Yun Yin did not answer immediately.
He glanced back.
Qiguan Yuan was holding a packet of candied fruit, popping one into his mouth after another, his cheeks puffed out the whole time.
Noticing Xiu Yun Yin's gaze, Qiguan Yuan raised his hand and made a gesture.
He put two fingers together and waved them outwards.
Xiu Yun Yin nodded slightly and withdrew his gaze.
He raised his right hand, his five fingers loosely clenched.
A beam of moon-white light emanated from his palm.
The light was initially gentle, but then grew brighter and brighter, like a full moon falling upon the Jade Pool.
A heavy, oppressive feeling filled the air.
The light coalesced, and a long scythe gradually appeared.
The handle is about six feet long, and the whole piece is made of moonstone.
White with a very faint bluish-gray tinge.
Silver threads could be faintly seen flowing within the stone, flickering with Xiu Yun Yin's breath as if they were alive.
The sickle blade is wide and thin, with a sharp curve, and the edge gleams with a cold light.
At the junction of the sickle and the long handle is a hollowed-out silver official seal, on which are engraved two ancient seal characters.
Su Yao.
This official seal is the linchpin of the entire weapon. The Power of Moonlight surges from the seal, spreading along the scythe and the handle, forming visible silver ripples.
The moment the long scythe fully materialized, a powerful Power of Moonlight emanated from its body.
That power contained a rich Power of Marriage, gentle yet irresistible, like an invisible net enveloping the entire Jade Pool.
Everyone swept by this force couldn't help but think of the words "cause and effect" and "fate".
The entire Jade Pool was deathly silent.
The immortals who had been whispering just moments before all fell silent.
The elderly immortals exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.
That's my signature weapon.
The signature weapon of an Primordial God.
This level of pressure and this level of power fluctuation is something that an ordinary subordinate could never possess.
The fairy maid, who was pouring wine, suddenly trembled, spilling the wine all over the table.
The expressions of Ling Xiao's military colleagues behind him changed drastically, and some of them subconsciously took a half step back.
The Heavenly Emperor at the head of the table slightly raised his eyelids, glanced at Plain Radiance Punishment Scythe, and continued drinking without pausing.
Qiguan Yuan paused for a moment while eating the candied fruit.
Those fox-like eyes lit up, their gaze following the blade of the long scythe until they reached the official seal.
His head tilted slightly, his lips moved, and he let out a barely audible exclamation of admiration.
"... it's beautiful."
Then he popped the candied fruit into his mouth, shifted to a more comfortable position, rested his elbows on the table, and slumped his chin on the back of his hand, striking a pose as if he were intently watching a show.
Ling Xiao was momentarily stunned by the oppressive aura of Plain Radiance Punishment Scythe, and his fingers gripping the hilt trembled slightly.
He gritted his teeth to suppress his instinctive fear, and his fighting spirit burned even brighter.
He crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, how could he be afraid of someone who cares about such trivial matters of love and romance?
He swung his knife.
The dark blade, imbued with a chilling aura, whistled as it sliced through the air, aiming straight for Xiu Yun Yin.
Xiu Yun Yin gripped his long sickle tightly.
The Power of Moonlight flowed through the official seal into the scythe, causing the blade to shine brightly with silver light, illuminating half of the Jade Pool.
The Plain Radiance Punishment Scythe across, leaving a crescent-shaped arc of silver light in its wake.
Within the arc of light, countless fine, thread-like rays flickered—the power of the Thread of Fate, each one intertwined with cause and effect.
Ling Xiao raised his sword to parry, the sword clashing with the scythe, producing a clear, metallic clang.
Ling Xiao was knocked back ten feet.
His feet plowed two deep furrows into the ground, shattering the jade floor and sending fragments flying.
By the time he regained his balance, his hand was already split open, and blood was dripping down the hilt of the knife, drop by drop, onto the ground.
He hadn't even had time to catch his breath.
Xiu Yun Yin's second attack has arrived.
The Plain Radiance Punishment Scythe cleaved down vertically, and the Power of Moonlight transformed into a silver ribbon that fell straight down from mid-air.
Ling Xiao had no time to think and raised his knife to parry again.
The sword shattered into pieces the instant it touched the scythe.
The battle blade, forged from eight hundred years of malevolent energy, shattered into countless pieces like a thin sheet of ice before the Plain Radiance Punishment Scythe, scattering them all over the ground with a clanging sound.
Ling Xiao was sent flying, tumbling twice in mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground.
His back slid a long way across the ground, knocking over two small tables and scattering fruit plates and wine jugs all over the floor.
A long crack appeared on the armor, extending from the right shoulder to the left waist.
Two shots.
With just two strikes, a renowned general in the Heavenly Realm was utterly defeated.
Xiu Yun Yin stood with his sickle sheathed, his white robes spotless.
The Plain Radiance Punishment Scythe trembled slightly in his hand, its silver threads flickering as if it were breathing.
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned in the same direction.
Qiguan Yuan.
If the Moon Official is this powerful, then what about the Yue Lao?
For such a powerful figure to willingly serve as his subordinate, and to utter words like "he is mine," how terrifying must the Old Man of the Yue Lao's own strength be?
Qiguan Yuan was picking up the last candied fruit from the paper packet when he suddenly realized that everyone was looking at him.
He blinked, the candied fruit in his hand hovering in mid-air, his expression utterly innocent.
"Why are you looking at me? I didn't hit him."
Then put the candied fruit in your mouth.
Just then, Ling Xiao, who was lying on the ground, moved.
His right hand was covered in blood and he couldn't lift it. He drew a short blade from his waist with his left hand.
No one knew that he had such a weapon hidden at his waist.
The blade of the short weapon gleamed with divine power; it was a hidden weapon tempered with divine might.
He suddenly lashed out.
With his left hand gripping a short blade, he aimed straight for Xiu Yun Yin's face.
They were too close.
The two were less than ten feet apart when Ling Xiao suddenly launched his attack, catching everyone off guard.
Xiu Yun Yin noticed it. His expression remained unchanged, and he slightly raised his right hand, preparing to deflect the attack.
A red line appeared silently.
Slender, bright red, like a red mark blown by the wind.
It gently wrapped around Ling Xiao's left wrist, the movement as tender as a lover's caress.
The red thread circled his skin, neither too tight nor too loose.
Then Ling Xiao's entire left arm turned to ashes.
That arm looked as if it had been weathered for a thousand years, crumbling into powder bit by bit from the fingertips, silently dissipating into the air.
He didn't even have time to feel the pain. When he looked down, there was nothing left where his arm should have been; the empty sleeve swayed in the wind.
The short blade landed on the ground with a crisp sound.
Everyone looked towards the other end of the red line.
Qiguan Yuan remained seated with his head propped up, one hand resting on the table, and the other end of a red thread still wrapped around one of his fingers.
The Dust-Settling Red Cord that had been twirling in his fingers just now.
"A sneak attack isn't good," Qiguan Yuan said casually. "I'm quite satisfied with my Moon Official's face; you can't afford to pay for it if you ruin it."