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Shi Luoyi spent several days in the most remote part of the Divine Temple. In front of the palace she was assigned to, a massive divine tree grew, its branches adorned with fiery red blossoms.
At first, she didn’t realize she was being mistreated.
As a blade cultivator, her heart was naturally open and optimistic. She eagerly anticipated meeting Bian Lingyu again. Though silenced by the spell, unable to speak, she wandered around, listening and gathering information. Among the women participating in the empress selection, the topic of discussion most often revolved around the Divine Lord.
Whenever she passed through the groves of divine flowers, she would overhear beautiful young maidens of the divine race talking about their lord.
“I’ve heard that Lord Shenjun is extremely handsome. I wonder if it’s true.”
“A few days ago, I saw him returning after sealing away the malevolent energy in the divine realm—still clad in his armor. He is far more striking than the previous Lord Suli. The most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”
Shi Luoyi wholeheartedly agreed. Of course, Bian Lingyu was the best!
“All generations of Divine Lords have deeply cherished their consorts. I heard that the previous lord never married until he was 8,000 years old when he finally agreed to choose an empress. In the end, he chose Xi Yao.” The speaker exchanged a knowing glance. “Though… well, let’s just say the former lord always treated her kindly. The prosperity of the Shuiling clan owes much to him.”
“But our current Divine Lord is aloof. We’ve been here for so many days, yet Elder Houmi hasn’t made any moves. Who knows what kind of woman the Divine Lord truly prefers?”
“I heard that Gongying has also arrived. The Great Priests arranged her quarters closest to the Divine Lord’s chambers. Whenever he leaves or returns, she can see him. Proximity always gives an advantage. Three hundred years ago, when the Divine Lord returned from the Skywalking Abyss, Gongying even accompanied him for a while. Perhaps he holds some special regard for her. As for us, we’re probably just here for show.”
Shi Luoyi: “….” She glanced back at her own isolated palace.
Gongying? This was the first time she had heard that Bian Lingyu had a childhood companion from the divine race three centuries ago. It wasn’t the same kind of feeling as when she had seen Ashou on the tree back then.
But Shi Luoyi didn’t expect this to be just the beginning.
Every day, the temple maids distributed divine flowers and immortal fruits to the participants’ residences. While the others wouldn’t feel hunger, these rare items could enhance divine power and were highly coveted. This was one way the elders of the Divine Temple showed respect to the future empress candidates.
However, while they wouldn’t starve, Shi Luoyi, still mortal, did.
Qingxuan had ensured her survival in the divine realm by providing spirit dew every three months in the illusion. Now that the spirit dew was gone, everyone received their share of food—except Shi Luoyi.
She tried to stop a maid, gesturing wordlessly: Could she have a share?
The maids exchanged glances and replied honestly: “There’s none for you, miss.”
“…” They gave her the worst palace and denied her food. Everyone else received their share—everyone but Shi Luoyi.
Later, new ceremonial robes were delivered to the other maidens.
Shi Luoyi was still wearing the dusty pink gown from the Northern Realm. It was only then that she realized she had been cast aside, left to languish in obscurity like a forgotten, pitiful orphan.
She attempted to leave the palace in search of food, but the guards blocked her path with their weapons: “Please return to your quarters, miss.”
But what was she supposed to do—go back and starve to death?
This couldn’t go on. Shi Luoyi decided to trade with the other maidens for food. Her interspatial pouch was still with her; at least she could exchange some treasures for divine fruits.
But no one wanted anything to do with her. Everyone pulled their companions away, whispering: “She’s the one sent by the Chifeng clan.”
“The person of Qingxuan, the rebel general? Why is she even here in the Divine Temple? She must have some ulterior motive.”
“Don’t talk to her. If something happens, we’ll be implicated.”
Shi Luoyi remained expressionless, putting away her interspatial pouch and retreating to her palace. Before she could enact another plan, Houmi, who had been observing her for days, concluded that Shi Luoyi posed no threat. Finally, he ordered the guards to carry out the Divine Lord’s command: expel Shi Luoyi.
When Shi Luoyi heard the commotion, she was perched on the fiery red divine tree.
She had already scouted the area and knew that from the edge of the tree, she could reach other palaces—though each palace was protected by barriers.
Though she hadn’t eaten properly since arriving, lacked clean clothes, and was ignored by everyone, she hadn’t given up. All she wanted was to see Bian Lingyu.
By now, hunger had left her weak and trembling. Hearing the guards declare that her expulsion was by Bian Lingyu’s order, she sat motionless on the tree for a long while. For the first time, she felt a pang of grievance.
Shi Luoyi took out the clay rabbit from her interspatial pouch and tied it to her waist. Climbing to the top of the tree, she leapt into the air. It was her first time using the clay rabbit, and she had no idea of its true power. She had only intended to quietly slip through the barrier—but the moment she touched it, the barrier shattered instantly.
The guards noticed the breach and bellowed sternly: “Who dares trespass!”
Their voices boomed like ancient bells.
Shi Luoyi was forced to flee for her life within the temple grounds. Now nothing more than a mute girl, she feared that if caught, she might not even get a chance to explain before being killed.
In her mind, she cursed Qingxuan bitterly while frantically fleeing without a clear direction.
The guards pursued her relentlessly.
Shi Luoyi didn’t know how many palaces she had crossed. Seeing no way forward, she climbed onto a lush divine tree and escaped toward another palace.
The scene was absurd—even as a child, she had never done anything like this.
The guards who chased her to this point exchanged uneasy glances: “No! You can’t!”
“Hurry down! You can’t go to the other side.”
Shi Luoyi was puzzled. What was it about the other side that made them so wary?
On the other side, Gongying stood holding a golden porcelain bottle on a jade tray. It was something her grandfather had instructed her to deliver to the Divine Lord that morning.
The pain caused by demonic energy invading the body could be excruciating, and the contents of the bottle could alleviate such suffering to some extent. Gongying had been waiting here early, knowing that after inspecting the Demonfall Pool, Bian Lingyu would pass by.
Gongying had arrived several days ago and was staying in the residence closest to Bian Lingyu’s chambers. However, she wasn’t a candidate for the position of empress. Her grandfather was frail, and she had come to take over the role of Great Priestess.
She hadn’t waited long before Bian Lingyu returned from outside.
Bian Lingyu strode through the halls, his presence commanding awe. Though his divine pearl was shrouded in demonic energy, the purest divine power still emanated from him.
Clad in silver armor, he was followed by Houmi, who prattled on incessantly, speaking to him about various matters.
Bian Lingyu’s expression remained cold and aloof, occasionally responding with indifference.
Gongying approached him, raising the jade tray respectfully: “Lord Shenjun, my grandfather asked me to bring you this Xihé Frost Mist.”
Her head bowed, her demeanor respectful, without the slightest impropriety. Gongying was several hundred years older than Bian Lingyu and had known him since childhood. Three hundred years ago, when he returned from the Skywalking Abyss, no matter how she spoke to him, he gave no response. His body was covered in wounds, lacking the dignity of the Qilin clan, appearing at his most wretched.
Her grandfather had said that if the Divine Lord truly favored her, she could consider becoming empress and helping him purge the demonic energy. But Gongying shook her head inwardly. After several days here, the Divine Lord remained distant, showing no signs of affection toward her.
Deep down, she preferred to fulfill her duties as Great Priestess.
Bian Lingyu’s gaze fell upon the jade tray. His long eyes were cold and dispassionate as he nodded slightly in thanks.
Houmi paused for a moment and chuckled: “Gongying certainly has thoughtfulness.”
The group had barely exchanged a few words when a commotion arose from the other side. Houmi furrowed his brow: “Someone dares to trespass into the Divine Temple.”
Following the sound, all eyes turned toward an ancient divine tree.
It was a “Phoenix Parasol Tree,” not the ordinary parasol trees of the mortal realm, but the kind that phoenixes would only perch upon.
In ancient times, as a gesture of love for his wife, the Qilin sovereign personally planted this divine tree for her. Everyone in the temple held great reverence for this ancient tree—it was a piece of history in the divine realm, planted by Bian Lingyu’s ancestors.
When Houmi saw the young girl sitting on the trunk of the tree, his expression shifted: “How dare she!”
Bian Lingyu raised his gaze and immediately spotted her.
There was no sunrise in the divine realm. Shi Luoyi sat perched on the tree trunk, surrounded by guards below who were shouting at her. Her head was bowed, her expression tinged with anger. The gentle breeze of the divine realm lifted her skirt, wrapping it around the parasol tree. She clung to the trunk, leaves falling gently onto her hair.
It seemed she had realized the importance of the divine tree. Amidst the chaos, where others were nearly fuming with rage, the girl appeared to take some satisfaction in her mischief, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Bian Lingyu stared at her.
Infuriated, Houmi raised his hand, channeling divine power into ropes to yank Shi Luoyi down from the tree.
Shi Luoyi hadn’t expected anyone to forcibly pull her down. She let out a startled cry, realizing she couldn’t break free from the overwhelming divine force.
Just as Houmi prepared to tug again, the divine power was silently severed. Surprised, he turned to see his usually aloof Divine Lord hesitating, his brows furrowed slightly before finally catching the girl falling from the Phoenix Parasol Tree.
Golden-red leaves of the parasol tree swirled around her, eventually settling onto Bian Lingyu as well.
Shi Luoyi hadn’t anticipated being caught. Just moments ago, she had no expectations, but now, just before touching the ground, she found herself falling into another cold, broad embrace.
Surprised, Shi Luoyi looked up to meet Bian Lingyu’s face. His appearance hadn’t changed much, though his demeanor felt more distant and hardened. Bian Lingyu gazed down at her, his long eyebrows slightly knitted, seemingly puzzled by his own actions.
Not only had he interrupted Houmi’s spell, but he also personally caught the intruder causing trouble in the temple.
Behind them, the fallen leaves of the parasol tree scattered messily around. Since their parting at the Wandering Sea, both Bian Lingyu and Shi Luoyi felt as if an eternity had passed.
Finally, she had seen Bian Lingyu again.
Shi Luoyi wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. For the first time, she realized how much she had missed someone—missed this long-absent embrace. With all her strength, she clung tightly to him, nearly crashing into his chest.
Bian Lingyu pressed his lips together, standing stiffly in place. He didn’t push her away or scold her, merely lowering his gaze to look at her.
Houmi was utterly baffled by the situation. He opened his mouth, half-convinced he was dreaming. In the past, the Divine Lord had mercilessly slain traitors, showing no mercy even when they displayed remorse.
Yet here was this mysterious girl, chased to exhaustion by the guards, covered in dirt, and yet Bian Lingyu allowed her to soil his silver armor without complaint.
Unable to suppress her confusion, Gongying finally spoke up: “Divine Lord?”
Her voice jolted both Houmi and Shi Luoyi back to reality. Shi Luoyi lifted her gaze to see the respectful and gentle Gongying standing nearby.
Gongying was also dressed in divine maiden robes. Shi Luoyi became painfully aware of her disheveled state—her clothes torn during her escape, and her hunger having gone unaddressed for days.
She looked at Gongying, wondering if this was the childhood friend who had always been close to him.
The joy in her heart was abruptly doused, replaced by a wave of grievance accumulated over the days of neglect and mistreatment. She pushed lightly against Bian Lingyu, feeling the cold touch of his armor beneath her hands. Shi Luoyi realized she hadn’t moved him.
Bian Lingyu sensed her resistance and furrowed his brows, perplexed by how quickly her mood had shifted.
Only moments ago, upon seeing him, her eyes had sparkled like a sky full of stars, and she had clung tightly to him, stirring an unfamiliar unease within him.
But now, seeing that he still hadn’t released her, she angrily slapped his shoulder—pat, pat—
She silently conveyed: Let me go!
Shi Luoyi’s strikes weren’t forceful. Perhaps because she couldn’t speak, this was her way of expressing anger. Bian Lingyu fell silent for a moment before reluctantly releasing the rebellious “intruder,” allowing her to step down.
Neither he nor Gongying realized that, by now, everyone else had already considered Gongying the presumptive empress.
The pursuing guards dared not step into the palace. They had thought it severe enough that Shi Luoyi climbed the parasol tree, but what they witnessed next was even more shocking: Shi Luoyi slapping the Divine Lord.
Even Xi Yao wouldn’t dare lay a hand on the previous Divine Lord in front of so many people. Xi Yao wouldn’t dare, and no one else would dare watch such a scene unfold.
Everyone’s legs went weak.
Houmi’s aged face turned ashen with fury. How dare she treat the Divine Lord like this! How could she?!
Everyone waited for Bian Lingyu to erupt in anger, but he remained calm. Instead, he looked at the girl before him and, after a long pause, asked softly: “A silence spell? Shall I lift it for you?”
His deep voice, perhaps enhanced by reclaiming his divine soul, sounded even more captivating than before.
Shi Luoyi blinked at him, struggling to maintain her stern expression. How could she stay angry when he acted this way?!
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