Scattered immortals weren’t allowed to freely enter the Heavenly Realm. But if he could help her gain the status of a lesser celestial before returning to his post, she could justifiably serve in the Heavenly Court by his side. Perhaps her vague fate wasn’t a threat—but a turning point.
After a pause for thought, he asked her quietly,
“Xiao Cha, if facing one more tribulation could save you five hundred years of cultivation and grant you the chance to become a lesser celestial, would you be willing?”
She blinked, puzzled. “Why would I want to become a lesser celestial?”
He replied patiently, “Only lesser celestials are allowed to serve in the Heavenly Court.”
Still confused, she asked, “But why would I want to serve there?”
He explained gently, “Because I come from there. I’m only temporarily staying at the Flower Dawn Palace. Eventually, I’ll have to return.”
She hesitated, then asked cautiously, “Were you… sent here?”
She had tactfully avoided saying banished—of course he understood what she meant. Amused and slightly moved by her careful concern, he joked:
“Yes. I made a mistake, so I was sent here as punishment.”
She was originally just a thousand years away from becoming a low-ranked celestial herself. Hearing this, she fell silent for a long while. Then, murmuring softly, she asked:
“Lesser celestials need fifty thousand years of cultivation… Can’t you stay here with me instead?”
He shook his head.
Disappointed, she said, “So I have to become a lesser celestial to follow you?”
He nodded. “If you’re not a lesser celestial, you can’t move freely in and out of Heaven. But if you succeed in this next tribulation, you’ll receive the opportunity and shorten your cultivation by five hundred years.”
“Then I’ll do it,” she replied reluctantly. But in the next instant, she flung herself into his arms and added cheerfully, “I’ll listen to you—just hug me first!”
He didn’t move. “Later.”
She pulled away, pouting, “Then I won’t go.”
He sighed. “It’s a rare opportunity. Why turn it down?”
“So you arranged all this? You really want me to become an immortal quickly?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck again and whispered,
“Don’t worry—I won’t make you wait too long. Now hug me!”
“I’m two hundred thousand years older than you,” he said, amused.
“Doesn’t matter! I’d still like you even if you were three hundred thousand years older!”
So bold and reckless—this little demon. He sighed inwardly and finally embraced her.
As if to trouble him on purpose, she said,
“Let’s go outside. Look at the stars with me.”
“There are no stars out right now.”
“Then let’s just sit out there. It’s nighttime—no one will see us.”
Sure enough, there were no stars. Dawn was near. The early morning breeze blew softly as he held her in his arms, the two of them sitting together under the corridor eaves, gazing at the still-dark sky.
“Lord Divine.”
“Mm?”
“I don’t really like cultivating. The last few times, I almost didn’t survive my tribulations. I only got through them because I thought of you.”
“Is that so?” He smiled.
She was silent for a moment, then wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered,
“As long as you’ll wait for me, I’ll cultivate for another fifty thousand years.”
He looked at the small face nestled in his arms and said,
“Fifty thousand years of cultivation is nothing. What truly matters is whether you can obtain the destiny of a lesser celestial.”
“Then how do I face my trial? Another thunderstrike?”
“No,” he replied, “just one journey to the mortal world will do.”
“The mortal world?” Her eyes lit up. “When?”
“The sooner, the better.”
Noticing her delight, he frowned and warned,
“This journey is a tribulation. You must not indulge in worldly thoughts, and absolutely must not fall in love with a mortal. If you do, you’ll bring calamity upon yourself. Do you understand?”
She looked at him for a long moment, then said softly with a hint of grievance,
“I’m going to be your Divine Consort someday. Why would I fall for a mortal?”
If before, his feelings had been a mix of curiosity and affection, now hearing her say it again, his heart was filled with conflicting emotions—and a deep sense of foreboding.
“You’re determined to become my consort?” he asked.
She was sensitive. Picking up on the uncertainty in his tone, she replied,
“You promised me.”
He fell silent.
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