Chapter 1264: Undercurrents Among the Star Gods
“Ah?” Cai Zhi looked surprised. “Why?”
“No reason. Just teach him.”
“But the Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture is extremely difficult to cultivate. The first sword he learned is the simplest one. The later swords, without the foundation of Celestial Wolf Divine Power, are nearly impossible to master. Even if he somehow does master them, without Celestial Wolf Divine Power to drive them, they would be empty forms without spirit.” Cai Zhi said very seriously. After all, she was the one in this world who understood the Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture the best.
Mo Li remained unmoved. “I said, just teach him.”
“Hmm… but even if he really masters all of it, what difference does it make?” Cai Zhi still didn’t understand. “The Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture absolutely cannot be passed on to outsiders. If Father and the others find out, it will only bring big trouble for Brother-in-law.”
“The times have changed. I have my own methods for this, so you don’t need to worry.” After Mo Li finished speaking, her gaze suddenly shifted toward the direction of the hall entrance, and her eyes turned instantly icy cold.
“He’s in the nearest Star Dust Hall. Go there now, and I’ll drive this old villain away.”
With a flicker of red, Mo Li vanished from before Cai Zhi.
“Oh…” Though filled with doubts, Cai Zhi obediently agreed.
……………
Before the Tiansha Star God Temple, Star Feather knelt in prostration. Before him stood two tall figures. They had no fluctuations of profound energy at all, yet they exuded an invisible pressure that made people dare not look directly at them.
Star God Emperor Xing Juekong.
Tianyuan Star God Tu Mi.
Star Feather’s entire body was tense, motionless. He knew that the Star God Emperor never set foot inside the Star God Temples—not because he didn’t want to, but because he was always shut out every time. And now, arriving suddenly with the Tianyuan Star God… the reason was obvious.
A red shadow flickered, and Mo Li stood before the temple. Facing the Star God Emperor, her gaze was icy cold, without even a trace of emotion. She said coldly, “Old villain, what are you doing here!”
The Star God Emperor was long accustomed to Mo Li’s treatment. He showed no anger, and said calmly, “I’ve come to take Yun Che away. I have some questions to ask him.”
“Oh?” Mo Li’s starry eyes narrowed, and she let out a very soft sneer. “A man of low birth, with a cultivation barely at the Divine Spirit Realm, yet he actually requires you, the dignified Star God Great Emperor, to personally come and invite him? How very rare indeed. When did you, a shameless old villain who doesn’t even have the most basic trace of humanity, become so approachable!”
Every word Mo Li spoke carried sharp mockery. The Star God Emperor’s expression did not change, but his brows twitched slightly. The Tianyuan Star God Tu Mi sighed and said, “Your Highness, this Yun Che is no ordinary person. Our king…”
“Shut up!” Mo Li’s cold shout cut the Tianyuan Star God’s words short. She didn’t even look at Tu Mi and said coldly, “Heh, old villain, without asking me a single word, you declared in front of the entire Eastern Divine Region that you brought Yun Che back so that I would personally teach him Star God Remnant Shadow. Although your presumptuous decision disgusts me… well, you were lucky this time. This kid called Yun Che pleases my eye. As you wished, I have already started teaching him Star God Remnant Shadow, and I will continue until he thoroughly comprehends it!”
“But before that, no one is to disturb him! Are you satisfied!?”
The last sentence was spoken very heavily by Mo Li, carrying a strong warning.
The Star God Emperor frowned, his voice still without any fluctuation: “It’s naturally best if you are willing to teach him personally. I just have some questions to ask him. Within one day, I will have someone send him back.”
“One day?” Mo Li sneered. “I’ll say it again: until he thoroughly comprehends Star God Remnant Shadow, no one is to disturb him! Not even one day, not even half a moment!”
After saying this, Mo Li flicked her red sleeve and turned around coldly.
“Stop!” The Star God Emperor’s brow sank. “This matter is extremely important. Do not be willful! Bring Yun Che out immediately!”
“Then you can try!” Mo Li did not turn back, but the surrounding air suddenly turned bitterly cold, chilling to the bone.
The Tianyuan Star God Tu Mi reached out and grabbed the Star God Emperor, shaking his head slightly, then said gently, “It was originally our king’s wish for Your Highness to personally teach Yun Che Star God Remnant Shadow. Your Highness’s regard for him is naturally for the best.”
The Star God Emperor’s expression shifted slightly, but in the end, he said no more.
“Oh, by the way, let me tell you something else.” Mo Li suddenly spoke coldly. “I intend to betroth Cai Zhi to Yun Che. Understood?”
“What!?” Both the Star God Emperor and the Tianyuan Star God were startled at the same time.
Mo Li’s brows moved slightly. She knew this statement would surprise them, but their reactions were far more intense than she had anticipated.
The Star God Emperor took a step forward, his face full of fury. Mo Li’s sudden words were earth-shattering to him: “That’s… utter nonsense!”
“Oh? Are you unwilling?” Mo Li slanted her brows and spoke coldly.
“Hmph, how could I possibly agree to such an absurd matter!” the Star God Emperor said in a deep voice. “Cai Zhi… betrothed to Yun Che? How could you have such a ridiculous idea!”
“Old villain, it seems you’ve gotten one thing wrong,” Mo Li sneered. “I am ‘telling’ you about this matter, not seeking your opinion!”
“I am her father. Her marriage matters are to be decided entirely by me!”
“Her father?” Mo Li’s starry pupils were full of mockery. “Do… you… even… deserve… to be!?”
The Star God Emperor’s face stiffened. He choked for several seconds before speaking: “Cai Zhi is not only my daughter but also a Star God under my command. No matter what, she must obey my orders! I absolutely will not permit this!”
Mo Li crossed her arms, narrowed her eyes, and said leisurely, “How strange. Although Yun Che is of low birth, he is now the most sought-after figure in the entire God Realm. The ‘Son of Heaven’s Path’ in the prophecy of the Heavenly Mechanism, and bearing the so-called True God prophecy. The Dragon Emperor wants to adopt him as a son, the Zhou Tian God Emperor wants to take him as a personal disciple, and the Fantian God Emperor can’t wait to marry Qianye Ying’er to him… yet my first reaction when I say I want to betroth Cai Zhi to him is such strong opposition from you?”
The Star God Emperor’s expression shifted slightly, only to be quickly suppressed by him. “Yun Che’s future is indeed immeasurable. If we can keep him in the Star God Realm, it would naturally be a good thing. However, Cai Zhi is still young, far from the age of discussing marriage. She has only recently inherited the Celestial Wolf Divine Power, and it hasn’t fully merged yet. How can she be distracted by such matters!”
“Furthermore, Cai Zhi is both a Star God and my daughter. Her lifelong matter is a grand event for the entire Eastern Divine Region and must be handled with utmost prudence. Although Yun Che is gifted, you know nothing of his background or character… how can you be so hasty!”
The Tianyuan Star God’s gaze flickered… At the status level of the Star God Emperor, every word should be precious as gold, yet he had explained so much at once, which was already revealing a certain “flaw.”
Mo Li was completely unmoved. Her eyes were like cold blades as she spoke slowly: “Old villain, I have already decided on this matter. No matter how many reasons you have, you cannot interfere! I will betroth Cai Zhi to Yun Che before the memorial tablets of Mother and Aunt. There is no need for you to announce it to the world, no need for grand banquets, and even less need for your approval or presence—because you are unworthy! I told you specially, and that is already giving you immense face!”
“You…” The Star God Emperor’s hair stood on end, enraged. But his arm was suddenly grabbed tightly by a hand. The Tianyuan Star God stepped forward and said with a chuckle, “This matter is too sudden; no wonder our king is so agitated. However, thinking more carefully on Your Highness’s move, it is actually a rare and beautiful thing. Yun Che’s Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation body is unprecedented since ancient times. As for appearance, cultivation, and status, among the women of the Eastern Domain, none can surpass the Fandi Shennü. Even she wants to marry Yun Che but cannot. If Cai Zhi can form a good destiny with Yun Che, it would naturally be a good thing for our Star God Realm.”
The Star God Emperor’s brows moved greatly. He gave the Tianyuan Star God a deep look and finally said no more.
“However, even the Fandi Shennü was rejected by Yun Che. If Your Highness wishes to do this, I fear the biggest obstacle is not our king, but Yun Che.”
“Hmph, that’s none of your concern!” Mo Li said coldly. “Yun Che has already agreed!”
“…?” The Tianyuan Star God showed surprise.
“Yun Che wields a heavy sword as his weapon. The strongest heavy sword technique in the world is undoubtedly the ‘Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture.’ I told him that if he marries Cai Zhi, he can learn the ‘Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture’ from her. How could he have any reason to refuse!”
The Star God Emperor’s expression changed again, and when he spoke, it was almost a growl: “The Celestial Wolf Prison God Scripture is a divine art of the Celestial Wolf. It cannot be passed on to outsiders. That’s utterly…”
“The third condition for me to cooperate with the ‘Ceremony’ is that you keep your mouth shut about this matter forever!” Mo Li’s gaze turned even colder. “Old villain, you had better recognize clearly: the initiative for the ‘Ceremony’ is not in your hands, but in mine! If you dare to go back on your word, I have countless ways to turn your ambitions to ashes forever!”
Before the Star God Emperor could utter a single word in response, Mo Li’s figure flickered and vanished before them with a fleeting gust of cold wind.
The gate of the Tiansha Star God Temple remained tightly shut, refusing entry to anyone… even the Star God Emperor.
“This is an outrage!” The Star God Emperor’s face twisted as his whole body trembled. In all the world, only Mo Li could make him so furious yet unable to vent it.
“Star Feather, withdraw. Not a single word of what was just said must be leaked,” said the Tianyuan Star God.
Star Feather remained silent and retreated far away.
“Sigh.” The Tianyuan Star God Tu Mi let out a light sigh and said, “My king, you are angry.”
“Why didn’t you stop me from interfering? You know very well that Cai Zhi…” The Star God Emperor only spoke half his words, his chest heaving heavily.
“The ‘Ceremony’ is approaching. We have waited for this day far too long,” the Tianyuan Star God said slowly. “This ‘Ceremony’ concerns not only our king but also the future of the Star God Realm. There can be no mistakes.”
“Now, there is less than a year left before the ‘Ceremony.’ Everything is ready. The Fantian God Emperor wants to marry his divine daughter to Yun Che—that is known throughout the God Realm. If you oppose the betrothal of Cai Zhi to Yun Che too fiercely, it might arouse suspicion in Mo Li. If she thus discovers that the ‘core’ of the ‘Ceremony’ is Cai Zhi, everything will be ruined.”
“…” The Star God Emperor was silent.
“Before the ‘Ceremony’ that concerns our king and the future of the Star God Realm, everything can be conceded. Any factor that could cause an accident must absolutely not exist.”
The Star God Emperor’s chest rose and fell more than a dozen times before he finally calmed down. He closed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, “You are right. Everything other than the ‘Ceremony’ is trivial!”
Tu Mi nodded and said, “There is one more matter: the divine power of the Tian Du Star God has been returned to its place. It is time to start looking for the next compatible one.”
“That matter can also wait until after the ‘Ceremony.’”
The Star God Emperor turned around. He no longer insisted on taking Yun Che away and directly left.
The Tianyuan Star God looked up at the starry sky above. In his old, deep eyes flickered a divine light that could pierce through ages: “The ‘hour’ is near. If the ‘Ceremony’ succeeds, our king will descend upon the world, unmatched. The Star God Realm will also become a star that shines over all worlds.”
“This day… has finally arrived…”