Volume 1: Meeting as Strangers

Chapter 1: The Six Desires Heaven (1) 

Yao Yin had always been having the same dream.

In her dream, she wore a red dress and stood side by side with a man dressed in dark robes. His presence was majestic, exuding an aura that commanded respect without effort, overshadowing everything around him. His knee-length black hair shimmered under the moonlight, and his entire appearance was both mesmerizing and otherworldly.

They stood at the highest point of the thirty-third level of Lihen Heaven, overlooking countless palaces surrounded by ethereal mist. Their gestures radiated understanding as if they were surveying the world and commanding its destiny. Although Yao Yin didn’t know who he was, she vaguely recognized their location as the residence of Emperor Haoyue—Zhusheng Palace’s main hall, Chenhui Hall.

...

“This lazy woman is dreaming again!” Bishui looked at Yao Yin sleeping contentedly on the bed, anger welling up inside her. Without hesitation, she picked up the water jug from the table and poured all the cold water onto Yao Yin’s face.

The chill jolted Yao Yin awake.

When she woke up, everything was different.

There were no luxurious clothes in reality, nor was she in Lihen Heaven.

The icy tea soaked through the bedding, enraging Yao Yin. She pointed toward the window where snowflakes danced and roared, “You’ve gone too far!”

Bishui didn’t even lift an eyelid, continuing to tidy her own bed.

“What time is it? You extinguished the heater, left the windows wide open, and drenched me with cold water. What were you thinking?”

“Who told you to daydream all day? Don’t rely on your looks to overestimate yourself. I know you think you’re destined to be the Empress of Heaven, but can you focus on passing this female official exam first and ascending to Liuyu Heaven before dreaming about it? Did you forget that Emperor Haoyue never descends below Liuyu Heaven? Seeing your fallen state makes me furious.”

“You... My affairs are none of your business! Not everyone wants to become the Empress!”

“Hilarious. Weren’t you drooling over portraits of Haoyue every day in the past? Now you say you don’t want to? How fake. Moreover, even some men across the three realms desire to marry Haoyue. Dare you deny that you don’t?” Bishui sneered, lighting a delicate hand warmer as she spoke. Then, wrapping herself in a fox fur cloak, she walked out. “There’s a saying: If you know you can’t have something, claim you don’t want it. On the surface, it appears indifferent, but in reality, it’s just a game of playing hard-to-get. Women like you are a dime a dozen. I advise you to have some self-awareness. Instead of dreaming, study more diligently and ascend to Liuyu Heaven sooner, then you might get a chance to see Emperor Haoyue’s true form.”

“Mind your own business.” Yao Yin didn’t care about so-called ambition; she only cared about her current misfortune. “Close the door, will you? Hey—” Irritated, Yao Yin gritted her teeth, “You did that on purpose! Absolutely on purpose!”

Bishui pretended not to hear, gracefully disappearing down the corridor with a calm smile. Early birds catch the worms. Though she was the last to join, her performance was outstanding. Every second of her time was precious and shouldn’t be wasted on such trivial people.

The two represented opposite extremes among their peers.

Yao Yin had joined Master Liseng’s discipleship a few years earlier, but Bishui insisted on being called Senior Sister. Yao Yin didn’t argue, obediently addressing her as such, originally expecting her to take care of her. However, Bishui’s attitude became increasingly hostile.

Placing the lowest-performing Yao Yin with a top student under one roof clearly showed Master Liseng’s intentions. But after three years, the two remained like parallel lines, completely unaffected by each other. Bishui continued striving for progress while Yao Yin stayed relaxed and casual. Bishui grew increasingly disdainful, often muttering, “You don’t deserve to live in Qingjing Heaven.”

Indeed, Qingjing Heaven was the lowest level of the thirty-three heavens, and everyone was desperate to climb higher.

Except Yao Yin.

On this ordinary land, she felt comfortable and enjoyed everything.

Snowflakes drifted in with the biting wind. Yao Yin shivered and reluctantly crawled out of her warm bed, barefooted, tiptoeing to close the door. Beneath her thin nightgown lay an equally frail body. In moments, her nose turned bright red from the cold, adding a touch of vulnerability.

Yao Yin was stunningly beautiful, especially when she smiled, revealing two sweet dimples. Her crescent-shaped eyes seemed to hold water, giving off a warm yet slightly mischievous vibe. Her gaze captivated and bewitched, embodying both innocence and mischief. Orphaned since birth, she was merely a fruit growing on a common phoenix tree in Qingjing Heaven. After a hundred years of blooming and another hundred of bearing fruit, she emerged a hundred years later.

At that time, Master Liseng had just been demoted to Qingjing Heaven, drowning his sorrows in wine with friends. Right then, Yao Yin landed squarely on his head. Her broad grin made Liseng instantly fond of her, exclaiming he’d found a phoenix, thus naming her Yao Yin. Though no phoenixes ever nested on those phoenix trees in Qingjing Heaven, it remained a beautiful wish.

Countless fruits hung from the trees, producing numerous immortals, yet only Yao Yin fell directly onto Master Liseng’s head. This, she believed, was the best proof of her uniqueness—a fact she occasionally bragged about, though others dismissed it.

And indeed, Master Liseng doted on her immensely.

She was the highest-ranking female immortal in Qingjing Heaven, whom everyone respectfully addressed as “Supreme Immortal.” Under her tutelage, students learned governance and wisdom, aspiring one day to ascend to the upper heavens and secure a position near Emperor Haoyue.

But Yao Yin differed from others. She harbored a secret. Bishui knew only half of her dream—the universal aspiration shared by all celestial maidens—but then the scene shifted: smoke rose, fires spread.

The heavenly palace plunged into flames. The immortal from her dreams was ambushed by rebels and perished in Cangyuan Abyss. Believing the man couldn’t survive without her, she traded with passing ghost tribes, sacrificing greatly to reclaim three days of life. Rushing back to the palace, she was met instead by the man’s merciless dagger, plunging straight into her heart.

Here, the dream abruptly ended.

Outside the window, signs of life gradually resumed. Fellow disciples had risen and begun their morning practices.

Yao Yin felt dazed.

Since gaining consciousness, she’d been plagued by this recurring dream. Over the years, she scoured Qingjing Heaven’s archives but found no records of this battle. Regarding Haoyue’s ascension, history books simply noted four words: following divine mandate. No one could specify how long he ruled. Reflecting further, Yao Yin wondered if the man in her dream wasn’t Haoyue, known for his striking silver hair that sparkled brilliantly—unlike the jet-black hair of her dream figure.

Yet, apart from Haoyue, who else deserved to stand in Zhusheng Palace?

Whether fortunate or unfortunate, she couldn’t tell. Each awakening left her drenched in sweat, thoughts lingering for hours. Such nightmares had haunted her for decades. Was this her destined end?

Reality reminded her it was merely a dream. She was just a small, unnoticed figure, quietly struggling at the bottom of the thirty-three heavens, leading a simple, peaceful existence.

However, these relentless nightmares awakened her caution. From then on, she inwardly resolved to avoid any contact with Haoyue. The admiration and infatuation others harbored towards him vanished entirely since her dreams began. Occasionally seeing his portrait now, she perceived beneath his gentle smile a dark, decaying heart—akin to a painted demon.

Yao Yin chuckled wryly. If she voiced these thoughts, Haoyue’s fans would likely tear her apart.

Success, they say, requires one part talent and ten parts effort. When she realized her master’s teachings came naturally to her—mastering spells effortlessly—she saw no reason to strive further. She understood the danger of standing out and preferred the safety of mediocrity, unwilling to leave Qingjing Heaven. Life here was tranquil and pleasant; she lived freely.

Looking at her wardrobe, her two gray robes worn year-round had faded from countless washings. Outside, heavy snow fell, and today’s biting winds gave her only sighs to express her discontent.

What choice did she have, lacking money, connections, and beauty?

Having something to wear was better than nothing. Resigned, Yao Yin put on her thin clothes and patched-up cotton shoes, finishing her grooming as the snow stopped and dawn broke. The gentle morning sun warmed her slightly. Calmly, she headed to the main hall.

“Yao Yin,” Master Liseng greeted sternly upon seeing her. “You’re early.”

Dozens of heads in the hall turned to stare at her.

“Hehe, Good morning, Master.” Yao Yin scratched her head, smiling amiably.

“Kneel!”

As if prepared, Yao Yin knelt immediately, knees hitting the ground without flinching, feigning innocence. “Master, what’s wrong?”

“What happened to all the lessons I taught you? What did you write on this exam?” Liseng threw a stack of papers in front of Yao Yin, fuming. “If you don’t care about living, don’t drag me down with you.”

The pristine paper bore bold strokes of four large characters: “Shameless Haoyue.”

These four words catapulted Yao Yin to fame. Her name, once obscure, spread throughout the realms. Fortunately, Master Liseng intercepted the exam papers promptly; otherwise, news reaching the upper realms would have brought disaster to his entire sect.

The papers circulated in the hall, drawing laughter. Some derided her stupidity, others mocked her audacity. Only Bishui remained unfazed, engrossed in her book.

“Master, I truly don’t want to be an official. I don’t want to leave you. All these exams confuse me.” Liseng’s expression softened slightly. Seizing the moment, Yao Yin coaxed, “I’m happiest with you. I don’t want to go above; I want to stay with you forever.”

Liseng sighed. “It’s precisely because I’ve spoiled you that you’ve turned out this way.” She was helpless against Yao Yin. From the moment she first saw those astonishingly beautiful, clear yet mischievous eyes, she knew she was ensnared. One glance told her: a golden fish isn’t meant for a pond. Yet, three centuries passed without improvement. Each encounter made her doubt her initial judgment.

Impossible. Though lazy, young Yao Yin was once sharp-witted, hailed as a prodigy. There was no reason for overnight dullness. The sole explanation was inherent laziness, desiring a life of ease.

Liseng wouldn’t let her have her way. Youthful ignorance led to naivety, unaware of the grandeur beyond. If fellow disciples soared high, Yao Yin might resent her forever. Like herself, brimming with talent yet unjustly confined to Qingjing Heaven, eternally discontented.

She must guide her disciple correctly.

“I’m not incapable of keeping you, but confining you here would waste your talents. With your capricious nature, staying nearby poses risks. Three days hence, there’s a makeup exam. You must attend. Treat it frivolously again, and my doors are closed to you.”

“Master…” Yao Yin felt a headache brewing.

“No negotiation. Take the exam or leave—it’s your choice.” Liseng pleaded earnestly to give Yao Yin another chance. Refusal would disappoint deeply. Closing her eyes, she ignored Yao Yin’s pleading gaze and departed with a flick of her sleeve.

Fellow disciples viewed Yao Yin with mixed feelings: sympathy, envy, but mostly anger. Why should someone committing such a grave error escape punishment and receive another chance?

Yao Yin paid no heed to the piercing stares. Neither crying nor protesting, she calmly knelt in the hall all day, seemingly indifferent to surrounding mockery.

Three days later.

Yao Yin opened her eyes to dusk. Letting herself sleep till then, she dressed and washed leisurely, packed her meager belongings, intending to bid farewell to her master.

She preferred expulsion over ascending to Liuyu Heaven.

Turning her room upside-down, Yao Yin couldn’t find her immortal token—a badge required wherever she went. Losing it meant she couldn’t remain in the celestial realm.

Just as Yao Yin fretted, Bishui entered, exhausted, tossing her a translucent gray stone—her lost token.

“For calling me Senior Sister all these years, consider this a favor. Plus, testing my abilities,” Bishui raised her brows proudly. “No need to thank me. I just don’t want to see you anymore. Living with you might infect me with your incompetence.”

Confused, Yao Yin didn’t understand until she saw her delighted master. Mentally, she thanked Bishui wholeheartedly. Bishui had taken Yao Yin’s place in the official exam and accidentally topped the rankings. Liseng’s sect producing a top scholar caused another sensation in Qingjing Heaven.

Yao Yin decided to change her daily morning routine to cursing Bishui.

Thrilled, Master Liseng gifted her a cherished Snow Jade Toad, which could boost cultivation significantly. After a night of earnest advice, teacher and student tearfully parted ways. Ostensibly reluctant, they swiftly sent her to Liuyu Heaven overnight. Liseng sighed in relief, finally passing the burden to someone else, hopefully extending her lifespan.

Dawn barely broke, roosters hadn’t crowed yet.

Alone at Liuyu Heaven’s gate, Yao Yin faced the gaunt, stern Water Immortal, tears welling but unshed.

“Greetings, Supreme Deity. I am Yao Yin.”

Shui (Water) scrutinized her. “So you’re the Yao Yin who wrote ‘Pure Serenity Ode’?”

Yao Yin forced a laugh. “…I’m the Yao Yin who wrote ‘Shameless Haoyue.’”

Shui’s expression remained unreadable. “Your reputation precedes you. Long admired.”

Yao Yin chuckled dryly. “Never expected a Supreme Deity to make sarcastic jokes.”

Shui glared at her, falling silent.

Intimidated by his stern aura, Yao Yin lowered her head and silently followed him through the heavenly gate.

Entering Liuyu Heaven, deep as the ocean, Yao Yin feigned composure but trembled within, mentally cursing Bishui repeatedly.