Chapter 1135: Prelude to the Wedding |
Tang San smiled. "How does it feel?"
"This… this feels incredible! If I had this kind of energy to cultivate with earlier, then in a couple of years, I would've even challenged the Crystal Demon Emperor!"
Tang San said with a smile, "Do you remember when I told you about the divine realms? In a divine realm, this kind of energy is everywhere, but ten times richer than what you're feeling now and even stronger. It's called immortal spirit energy. In this plane, this is the best I can manage. I can't let it leak out, and I can't let the plane itself notice it. But I promised you, and I will fulfill my promise: One day, I'll take you to a divine realm. That's the world closest to eternity, filled with true immortal spirit energy that will elevate your existence beyond imagination."
The White Tiger Demon Emperor quietly absorbed the lesser immortal spirit energy around him, unable to find words.
Once, this youth before him had been as weak as a bug in his eyes. But his talent, eloquence, the yearning he evoked for worlds beyond, and his role in his granddaughter's future had convinced the old tiger.
Now that he felt the beauty of immortal spirit energy firsthand, it was as though a great door to another world had been opened for him, and the world beyond was something he deeply desired to experience for himself.
"Thank you, Tang San. I understand now." The White Tiger Demon Emperor nodded to him, and even bowed slightly.
Tang San only smiled, not stepping aside. In terms of true age and experience, the White Tiger Demon Emperor was far beneath him.
"I will keep my word. But today, I'll have to trouble you to perform your familial duties."
Tang San nodded lightly and looked up toward the first floor ceiling of the Life Tower. "Indeed… It's not far now."
Looking as bashful as she'd ever been, Mei Gongzi let go of Tang San's hand and walked to her grandfather's side.
The White Tiger Demon Emperor took a deep breath, gazing at his stunning granddaughter. "Before, I thought you were lucky. Now I think… Perhaps I am the lucky one. Lucky to be your grandfather, lucky to have such a grandson-in-law, and lucky to be able to see the world beyond. I never thought I'd get to experience that in my lifetime…"
Mei Gongzi looked up and smiled. "That's called fate, isn't it?"
The White Tiger Demon Emperor grinned. "Isn't it just? Well, boy, I'm off. Tomorrow, when you come to fetch the bride, you'd better be ready. It won't be easy! Hahaha!" Although he was reluctant to leave the immortal spirit energy behind, he still left the Blue Gold Palace with Mei Gongzi in tow.
As he watched them leave, Tang San's smile slowly faded, his eyes filling with countless emotions.
In his previous life, he had not given her a grand wedding. This time… perhaps it was a way to make up for that regret.
Little Mei, Xiao Wu… we can truly be together again.
Yes, the White Tiger Demon Emperor had come to take Mei Gongzi because tomorrow was their wedding day. As the bride, she could hardly spend the night before with the groom; she would naturally stay at her family's residence. Tomorrow, Tang San would personally go to the White Tiger Palace to fetch her.
***
The day of joy was almost here.
Throughout the Ancestral Court, joy was in the air.
In a quiet corner of a secluded little tavern, a figure in a gray cloak had been waiting for some time. Before them sat a mug of ale, untouched.
Suddenly, a soft light flared, and in the next moment, a figure appeared on the other seat at the table.
Sensing the newcomer, the gray-cloaked figure trembled slightly.
If, the last time they met, they could still faintly sense traces of the other's presence, this time, they could feel nothing at all.
What kind of person is this…
Before today, they hadn't been certain. But now, they were almost sure: The one before them could only be an Emperor. They were a master of shadows, and they knew that, if someone could hide their presence to such a degree… that someone had to be an Emperor.
"Are you ready?" the newcomer asked in a completely ordinary voice. The voice was different every time, but the gray cloak was absolutely sure that it was always the same person.
"Ready. Payment?" the gray cloak asked.
The newcomer passed over a storage ring. The gray cloak took it and slipped it onto their finger. A moment later, their aura clearly relaxed.
"All of it now? Aren't you worried? Last payment is due when work is complete."
"I may not have the time to meet you afterward, so I'm giving you everything now. I don't think I have anything to worry about. If the Shadowfiend clan didn't have this modicum of integrity, you would have been wiped out long ago. Anyway, here's the final mission. All you need to do is place these two things in that location."
As he spoke, the newcomer handed over two disk-shaped objects.
"It will be done," the gray cloak replied.
The next moment, the newcomer vanished silently, leaving the gray cloak almost dazed. It was as if no one had ever been there.
They looked down at the two disks in their hands, then carefully stowed them away. Then, their silhouette softened, melting into a faint shadow, and disappeared noiselessly into the darkness.
***
It was early morning. The sky was thick with white clouds, and without sunlight, the air felt cool and damp.
Though the sun had yet to rise, the streets were already packed. Bathed in the light drizzle, the faces of both demon and nymph races shone with happiness. This was, quite literally, the water of life! Under its touch, they felt their bodies constantly evolving.
Today's rain had begun early and was heavier than usual. Every raindrop striking the ground sent up rich waves of life energy. All who bathed in this nourishing aura felt revitalized, brimming with energy.
They all understood: This was a gift from the Second Crown Prince! And only by offering heartfelt blessings could they be worthy of it!
Today was the wedding day of the First and Second Crown Princes!
The crowds moved of their own accord toward Council Mountain.
***
In the Celestial Fox Palace, the Celestial Fox Demon Emperor sat quietly in the main hall, gazing into the distance.
For the Ancestral Court, today was another momentous day. The union of two Crown Princes would undoubtedly shape the future course of the Court, affecting the balance between races and Emperors, and opening countless possibilities for the future.
A wedding of such grandeur had not been seen in the Ancestral Court for millennia. But in recent times, was this the only extraordinary event to occur?
Ever since Mei Gongzi's evaluation, an event that shook the Court and marked an unprecedented blow to the Celestial Fox Sacred Mountain, everything had begun to change. A woman with human blood had become the leader of the Peacock Demon clan and ruler of Kali City.
Then came the fall of the Crystal Demon Emperor. In nearly two thousand years, no Emperor had perished. Her fall directly shifted the balance of the Ancestral Court.