The Cangxuan Sect main gate silently stood there as it always had before. An enormous sect protection boundary flickered with a strange light behind it, giving off a strong sense of safety and security.
As Yaoyao walked up the stone steps with Zhou Yuan, she saw several familiar figures to their front. It was Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun, Lu Luo, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others.
Several heads could also be seen peeking out even further along the mountain path, secretly watching the pair.
Yaoyao had not hidden her movements across Cangxuan Heaven. As such, the Cangxuan Heaven factions were well-aware of their route and made sure to always pay close attention to the couple. After all, they were the all-heaven's most powerful and important individuals whose every action could affect the entire all-heaven.
This was something even the Omega Shrine's four prime sovereigns could not match.
“Yaoyao!” Zuoqiu Qingyu shot down like an arrow and gave Yaoyao a big hug. Her eyes were red as she said, “It's so nice to see you again.”
Yaoyao gently patted Zuoqiu Qingyu's back.
Zuoqiu Qingyu released Yaoyao and looked towards the wooden-doll-like Zhou Yuan with complicated eyes. “He hasn't recovered yet?”
Yaoyao gently shook her head.
Zuoqiu Qingyu earnestly said, “Don't worry, Zhou Yuan will definitely get better.”
Yaoyao displayed a slight smile before pulling Zhou Yuan forward to meet Li Qingchan, Chu Qing and the others.
Luluo darted in front of Zhou Yuan, her already large eyes growing even wider as she asked, “Zhou Yuan, I am Luluo. Have you really forgotten me?”
However, the only thing in Zhou Yuan's blank eyes was the reflection of Luluo's adorable face.
Luluo sadly hung her head. The small ice-blue bird on her shoulder softly chirped at her ear to console her.
The others sighed inwardly.
Li Qingchan looked at Yaoyao and said, “It's been tough on you, Yaoyao. Just say the word if there's anything you need in the Cangxuan Sect. Chu Qing is our new sect master.”
Chu Qing rubbed his shiny, bald head with a pained expression. “To be frank, junior brother Zhou Yuan is the most suitable choice for sect master. If he recovers, I'll ask him if he can save me from this terrible position.”
“I want to go to our old cave dwelling.” There was a slight look of reminiscence in Yaoyao's eyes.
Chu Qing said, “Don't worry, that cave dwelling has always been vacant and we've made sure to bar anyone from entering.”
“Thank you.” Yaoyao gratefully nodded before leading Zhou Yuan along the mountain path again, slowly walking deeper into the Cangxuan Sect.
Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others did not say anything else as they silently followed from a distance.
Countless deeply respectful gazes watched the pair ascend the mountain. These gazes belonged to the Cangxuan Sect disciples, many of whom were rather new.
The lady in white so beautiful that anyone would believe she was an immortal that had descended to the mortal realm should be the rumored third god. The rumors had not been exaggerated. Her appearance and presence were truly blessed by the very best the world had to offer, making everything else seem dull and colorless in comparison. The disciples swore that they had never seen such a beautiful lady before. They had previously felt elder Li Qingchan was already at the pinnacle of beauty, but seeing the lady today forcibly pulled their beauty standards to an even higher level.
The tall man beside her was clearly the Cangxuan Heaven master that had come from the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan.
Countless Cangxuan Sect disciples viewed him as their idol and even Zhou Yuan himself might not know how revered he was in their hearts.
The surroundings were very quiet as the man and woman walked up the mountain path. Figure after figure bowed deeply in respect as the couple passed by.
Yaoyao paid them no attention as she slowly walked along the long path with Zhou Yuan, passing by several familiar buildings on the mountains until a certain cave dwelling appeared at the end of her sights.
The cave dwelling was neither the biggest nor the most highly ranked amongst the Cangxuan Sect's numerous cave dwellings. However, it was currently the most special place in the entire sect and many disciples had visited it in the past like pilgrims on a pilgrimage.
It was because many years ago, their senior brother Zhou Yuan had once cultivated here before he became the Cangxuan Heaven master.
He was the sect's most accomplished disciple to date.
In fact, Zhou Yuan's strength had already surpassed their founder, patriarch Cang Xuan.
Yaoyao gazed at the cave dwelling as tenderness flowed out in her crystal-clear eyes. Her usual distant aura vanished completely, replaced by a never seen before gentleness and loveliness.
This cave dwelling was an irreplaceable place for both Zhou Yuan and her.
After leaving the Great Zhou Empire all those years ago, this was where they had lived together, relying and supporting each other.
It was a place that contained their most beautiful memories.
Yaoyao slowly led Zhou Yuan towards the cave dwelling while Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others finally came to a stop. They understood that this small world belonged to the two.
Since this was the stop in their journey, she clearly viewed it as their last hope.
If even this place could not awaken Zhou Yuan, there would likely be no hope left for the all-heaven...
Under countless watching gazes, Yaoyao pulled Zhou Yuan along as they slowly walked into the cave dwelling with Tuntun following at her feet, soon disappearing into its shadow.
Everyone breathed out deeply. Everything will depend on fate.
The first thing that greeted them was the all-too-familiar small cobbled path that led through a pretty stone pavilion. There was also a small stream flowing in the cave that contributed to the cool environment. The lighting was excellent, rays of light shooting through the many cracks and bathing the dancing dust in an ethereal glow.
As they walked along the small cobbled path, a flower garden soon entered their eyes, hundreds of gorgeous flowers vying for attention within.
Every sprout had been personally planted by Yaoyao years ago. These flowers had matured long ago over the years, their bright colors giving a lively atmosphere to the cave's interior.
Yaoyao stood in front of the garden, a slight smile blossoming on her lips as she silently admired the matured flowers.
Soon after, she led Zhou Yuan even deeper into the cave. They walked past another pavilion before her footsteps gradually slowed down and circles of red began spreading in her eyes.
Reflected in her clear, limpid eyes was a peach blossom tree in full bloom. Petals gently sprinkled from the tree, warming the entire cave dwelling.
Yaoyao dazedly stared at the peach blossom tree, covering her mouth as tears began falling from her cheeks.
That year, the tree had also been in blossom, its fresh, bright flowers reflected together with love on the beauty's cheeks.
In this moment, Yaoyao truly wished that everything was merely a dream she was having while leaning against Zhou Yuan under the peach blossom tree.
She did not wish for power nor to be worshipped and respected by the world. Her only wish was to live peacefully with Zhou Yuan.
However, she also understood that this was impossible.
She gently wiped away her tears and led Zhou Yuan under the peach blossom tree, where the ground was covered in petals. No one could know how many of these petals had returned back to the dirt over the years.
“Zhou Yuan, do you still remember...
“You made a batch of alcohol for me that I ultimately named Taoyao Wine. The last jar was buried here under this very tree...
“Back then, I believed that I would be the one to drink this jar of wine in the future and never imagined that…”
A slender finger pointed at the ground, causing the soil to part. She soon saw a wine jar covered in soil silently resting in the ground.
Yaoyao carefully lifted the jar, oblivious to the soil and dirt. She stared at the jar of Taoyao Wine, the tenderness in her smile more intoxicating than any alcohol in this world.
The jar was also reflected in Zhou Yuan's empty eyes as his wooden-doll-like body seemed to tremble a little.
Yaoyao seemed to notice. She looked straight into Zhou Yuan's eyes and smiled, “Want to have a taste?”
A sliver of alluring red appeared on Yaoyao's fair face, her clear-as-lake eyes rippling visibly as she gently bit her lip. In the next instant, her white dress began to turn bright red at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye.
After a few seconds, a phoenix crown and rose cape also appeared on her body, making her so beautiful that it would be impossible to guard against.
She pointed at Zhou Yuan and his clothes also started to change, turning bright red like it had been during the beautiful wedding they once had.
Yaoyao sat down in a kneeling position on the petal-covered ground, before also pulling Zhou Yuan down opposite her in the same position. She gently pried open the wine seal, causing a mellow and rich fragrance to spread. The familiar wine fragrance that had practically been etched into her bones made the smile on her lips blossom, turning impossibly enchanting.
She lifted the jar with one hand, her fair and slender neck raising slightly like an elegant swan.
Yaoyao placed the jar on her lips and took a bold swig. Crystal-clear wine flowed down from the corner of her lips, wetting her clothes.
In the end, she put down the jar with a flushed face, the never seen before alluringness eclipsing every seductive gesture ever done in the world.
Anyone would become drunk on this sight alone.
Yaoyao leaned forward and placed her cold, wine-flavored red lips on Zhou Yuan's mouth. Wine flowed along her tongue and into his mouth.
Zhou Yuan's eyes rippled intensely as if struggling to free himself.
His hands trembled as they slowly wrapped around her waist.
The corners of Yaoyao's lips curled slightly at Zhou Yuan's reaction, before she responded with even more intensity and ferocity.
It was a long while later before their lips parted.
Yaoyao's face was intoxicatingly red. She gazed at the dim light that had begun to gather in his eyes and chuckled softly.
She pulled out her hairpin, causing her black hair to fall like a waterfall. The phoenix crown quickly followed, dropping from her head as the petals on the ground were blown into the air, obscuring her slender and graceful figure.
Yaoyao pounced onto Zhou Yuan. Her red dress slipped off her shoulders, revealing skin as fair as jade as she softly whispered in his ear, “Husband, we seem to have one final ritual left to complete from our wedding day.”
She pushed him down, the dancing petals around them gradually gathering into a peach blossom ball that completely covered the pair.
As the petals danced, two waves of red endlessly heaved and tangled together.
Even the beautiful flower garden seemed to fade into the background as love overflowed in the cave dwelling.
Some distance away, Tuntun covered its eyes with its tiny paws and hurriedly fled the cave dwelling and stationed at its entrance.
The air was filled with dancing petals as the light entering through the cracks gradually turned from the warm rays of the day to the cool moonlight of the night, gently illuminating the peach blossom ball under the tree.
A soft glow slowly danced in the flower ball as Yaoyao peacefully lay on Zhou Yuan's chest. His eyes were tightly shut, but she could sense that the divinity and human side in his body were no longer so violently at odds. The human side was slowly but surely regaining control.
However, as his divinity was suppressed, the divine power in Zhou Yuan's body would also gradually disperse. His body ultimately did not possess the divine bone that could contain divinity, and without a vessel, it would naturally begin to scatter.
When Zhou Yuan properly awakened, his cultivation would fall back to the triple lotus stage.
The red dress half covering her shoulder, Yaoyao's eyes were also closed as she listened to Zhou Yuan's strong heartbeat. She wanted to live in this moment forever.
However...it was only temporary.
Once the Sacred God completed his transformation, no one in the all-heaven would be able to stop him. When that time came...herself, Zhou Yuan, Tuntun...everything would be destroyed.
She was not afraid of death, but if possible, she wished for Zhou Yuan to continue experiencing the beauty of this world.
She propped herself up and gazed at Zhou Yuan's sleeping face as a slight smile appeared on her lips. However, tears began to fall from her eyes again. She soon lay down and bit hard on his chest, leaving a visible mark.
“Zhou Yuan...my divinity has already been absorbed by the Sacred God and I can no longer defeat him. You, however...might have a chance.
“You...might be the only one who can put a proper end to the chaos.
“I originally believed I could hold your hand and embrace destruction together, but I've selfishly changed my mind...Zhou Yuan, I don't want you to die. I want you to live and have a good life.
“You could not become a true god because you lacked the divine bone...
“That's why...Zhou Yuan...
“Allow me to become your divine bone.”
A resolute look appeared in her eyes. Her body began to glow with divine light that tightly wrapped the couple together. Yaoyao gradually transformed into dazzling specks of light that slowly burrowed into Zhou Yuan's body through the bite mark on his chest.
Yaoyao's figure turned fainter and fainter.
She lowered her head and gently caressed Zhou Yuan's cheek one final time as the most dazzling and enchanting smile blossomed on her face. In the end, she softly said, “Zhou Yuan...Yaoyao has no other wish but for your future to be filled with peace and happiness.”
In the next instant, her body completely disintegrated into countless specks of divine light.
Outside the cave dwelling, Tuntun suddenly froze in place and blankly stared at the cave. It seemed to realize something at this moment.
It lunged towards the cave but was immediately sent flying by a wall of light that should not have existed.
Roar!
In its helplessness, it could only repeatedly stomp the ground with all four paws, causing the land and mountains to tremble. In the end, it released a long howl towards the heavens that seemed to shake the entire world, a howl filled only with endless pain and sorrow.