Chapter 1281: The Fuse

After Jin Yue finished speaking, she suddenly felt an eerie silence descend upon the world. Even the air seemed to congeal, completely ceasing to flow.

She looked up in confusion, seeing Xia Qingyue's motionless back and a long period of silence.

"Empress Goddess?" she tried to call softly.

The only response was still a suffocating silence.

An inexplicable unease suddenly rose in Jin Yue's heart. She moved her lips, but for a moment, dared not utter another sound.

After an unknown period, Xia Qingyue's voice finally reached her ears: "Repeat what you just said."

"Ah... yes," Jin Yue quickly responded, repeating nervously: "Young Master Yun Che said: 'This is a wedding gift from Flowing Cloud Xiao Che to Her Highness.'"

Her heart pounded, her voice filled with apprehension, fearing she might utter a single wrong word.

"Where is he?" she asked.

"He?" Jin Yue was a bit flustered due to her nervousness: "Is Your Highness referring to Young Master Yun Che?"

"He... he is in the outer seating area," Jin Yue replied even more nervously. At that moment, she suddenly recalled Xia Qingyue's reaction when she first heard the name "Yun Che," and her heart suddenly lurched.

Xia Qingyue turned around, her beautiful eyes falling upon the jade box Jin Yue held close to her chest: "Jin Yue, give that to me."

"...Yes." Jin Yue stepped forward, carefully placing the jade box into Xia Qingyue's hand.

Her demeanor was as indifferent as ever, but as the jade box was handed over, Jin Yue seemed to see her jade-like fingers trembling slightly.

The jade box was made of Moon Essence Stone, gleaming white and flawless. When Xia Qingyue held it in her hand, it appeared dim against the luster of her skin, which was even more radiant than white jade.

The jade box was opened, and it was empty.

"It's empty inside," Xia Qingyue said softly.

"Huh?" Jin Yue froze, then quickly looked up at the jade box, her face immediately draining of color. She urgently exclaimed, "H-how could it be empty? I personally saw Young Master Yun Che put something inside, and... and this jade box has been in my possession the entire time; no one has touched it..."

"...What did he put inside?" Xia Qingyue asked, her slender fingers gently stroking the inside of the jade box, her moon-like brows subtly twitching.

"It was... it was a folded paper scroll. This servant... truly saw him place it inside..." Jin Yue trembled with nervousness.

Xia Qingyue was silent for a moment, then gently closed the jade box: "There are traces of spatial distortion on the edge of the jade box. The item inside was snatched away by someone using incredibly advanced spatial power."

She showed no surprise, no panic, no anxiety or anger. From beginning to end, she remained incredibly calm and composed, as if her emotions could never be stirred.

"Ah?" Jin Yue's lips parted wide, completely bewildered.

"You may withdraw." She turned away.

"Your... Your Highness..."

"Withdraw. This is not your fault." Her voice showed no emotion, at least, no trace of blame.

"Yes... this servant takes her leave." Jin Yue retreated two steps and left uneasily.

The Profound Moon Immortal Palace became calm once more.

She stood there silently, slowly closing her eyes. As her beautiful eyes closed, the world within the Profound Moon Immortal Palace immediately lost its most dazzling radiance.

In the silent world, she stood still for a very long time, as if time had come to a prolonged halt.

Until a set of footsteps broke the tranquility.

"Heh heh, Qingyue, it's about to begin. Get ready."

The Moon God Emperor walked over, a genuine smile on his face. This was perhaps the happiest day of his life.

At the sound of the Moon God Emperor's voice, Xia Qingyue opened her beautiful eyes and slowly turned around: "Adoptive Father, Qingyue has a request?"

"Oh?" The Moon God Emperor looked surprised.

"Please bestow the Profound Moon Immortal Palace upon Qingyue, Adoptive Father." She spoke slowly, each word as light and ethereal as a wisp of cloud.

"Hahahaha," the Moon God Emperor burst into laughter, a rare look of excitement even appearing on his face: "Qingyue, in all these years, this is the first time you've ever asked me for anything. Good, this is truly wonderful!"

"It won't be long before the entire Moon God Realm is yours, let alone a mere Profound Moon Immortal Palace!" Xia Qingyue's request made the Moon God Emperor's already excellent mood even better: "Since you want it, I shall give it to you now."

Before his words had faded, the Moon God Emperor waved his hand, and a brilliant white divine light flared up on his body, then detached itself. Instantly, the radiant light within the entire Profound Moon Immortal Palace dimmed.

The Moon God Emperor's hand gesture changed, and this divine light flew towards Xia Qingyue, merging into her form. Almost at the same instant, the briefly extinguished light shone brightly once more, illuminating the inner world of the Profound Moon Immortal Palace with a brilliant white glow.

The Profound Moon Immortal Palace was recognized in the God Realm as the fastest profound ark and also the Moon God Realm's most supreme treasure. It had always belonged solely to the Moon God Emperor. Yet now, with just a single word from Xia Qingyue, he bestowed it upon her without hesitation, and even with joy.

"Thank you, Adoptive Father, for fulfilling my wish." She curtsied slightly.

"Heh heh, as long as you like it. With me, you never need to say thank you." The Moon God Emperor smiled faintly and turned away: "The wedding ceremony will begin in half an hour. Prepare yourself well. This will surely be the most important day for the Moon God Realm in many years."

"Adoptive Father," Xia Qingyue suddenly spoke, stopping the Moon God Emperor who was about to leave: "Qingyue has a sentence for you to always remember."

"...Oh?" The Moon God Emperor turned his gaze, a puzzled expression on his face. He clearly felt that Xia Qingyue was somewhat unusual at this moment, but perhaps due to the day's atmosphere, he wasn't overly surprised.

"In the future, no matter what happens, Qingyue... will never fail the Moon God Realm."

After saying these words, she closed her eyes. Perhaps she didn't want the Moon God Emperor to see the turbulent light deep within her eyes.

"..." The Moon God Emperor raised an eyebrow: "Qingyue, you..."

"Qingyue merely wishes for Adoptive Father to always remember this statement... No matter what happens in the future, please remember this," she continued, each word very soft, as if from a dream.

Although puzzled, the Moon God Emperor paused for a moment. He ultimately didn't press for answers, instead smiling with contentment: "Qingyue, with your words, even if 'that prophecy' of the Heavenly Mystery Realm were to come true tomorrow, I would have no regrets."

The Moon God Emperor left. Xia Qingyue remained standing in place, her eyes tightly closed, and she did not open them for a long time.

Her world was half endless pallor, half boundless void. She stood alone at the nexus of these two worlds... Gradually, even her figure was swallowed by the two worlds, leaving behind only a pale emptiness.

***

Star God Realm, Heavenly Slaughter Star God Hall.

"Sister!"

Caizhi's ethereal voice drifted from afar, and when she appeared before Jasmine, her small face was still flushed with excitement.

"What has you so excited?" Jasmine glanced at her.

"Sister, I finally know who the Moon God Realm's new Empress Goddess is! She's actually someone with an 'Ice Snow Glazed Heart'!" Caizhi exclaimed excitedly, "The legendary Glazed Heart! It has actually appeared again!"

Jasmine's reaction was utterly cold: "Is that so? Hmph! No wonder that old scoundrel Yue Wuya..."

Jasmine's words abruptly stopped mid-sentence. She turned her gaze and asked, "Do you know what the Empress Goddess's name is?"

"Of course I know," Caizhi nodded: "The Moon God Emperor calls her 'Qingyue.'"

"..." Jasmine's entire body stiffened abruptly, then she suddenly stood up.

"Ah!?" Jasmine's sudden turbulent aura startled Caizhi greatly: "Sister, what... what's wrong?"

Jasmine's brows furrowed deeply to their extreme. She reached out and tightly grabbed Caizhi's arm, instantly pulling her up: "Follow me!"

"Huh? To... to where?"

"To the Moon God Realm!"

***

The time for the wedding ceremony to begin was drawing closer, and the various powerful figures of the Eastern Divine Region were all eagerly awaiting it.

At this moment, two figures walked side by side into the outer seating area.

Millions were seated in the outer area, with boisterous chatter and chaotic auras. However, the arrival of these two instantly drew countless gazes.

This was because the Moon God Robes they wore bore platinum divine moon patterns, exuding an invisible noble aura and formidable pressure.

Although everyone seated in the outer area was a top-tier figure among their peers in their respective star realms, each possessing extraordinary status, these two walked among them with their heads held high and gazes slanted upwards, showing undisguised disdain for everyone around them.

They were like two emperors who had proudly descended to the mortal world, looking down upon commoners.

Wherever they went, the nearby strong practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region stiffened.

In the distance, watching the two walk by, a young profound practitioner muttered discontentedly: "Who are those two? They look so arrogant."

"Don't speak nonsense!" The elder beside him hastily suppressed his voice as quickly as possible, saying in a low voice: "Those two are Imperial Sons!"

"Impe... Imperial Sons!?" The young profound practitioner was greatly astonished.

"The Moon God Robes they wear, and the divine moon patterns on them, are symbols of the God Emperor's sons," the elder said in a deep voice: "Their life auras are only around a hundred years old; they should be the Moon God Emperor's two youngest sons!"

"Strange, what are these two Imperial Sons doing in the outer seating area?"

The two were similar in build. The one on the left had narrow eyes and a stern face that carried an air of authority. The one on the right always had a smirk on his lips, his face bearing an almost innate arrogance. Both had life auras of around a hundred years, but the profound energy emanating from them made everyone tremble in awe.

Divine Sovereign Realm, third level!

A Divine Sovereign at a hundred years old was an undisputed genius, even in a King Realm. Moreover, they were the immensely noble sons of the God Emperor!

Imperial Son Yue Huan, number 361!

Imperial Son Yue Jinxi, number 362!

In the outer seating area, which was comprised mostly of people from mid-tier and lower-tier star realms, these two, both in terms of profound energy and status, were nothing short of emperors descended from the heavens. Wherever they went, the profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region were all inwardly shaken and fell silent.

At the same time, they wondered why these two would come here.

The two passed through rows of seats, under countless open and hidden gazes, arriving at the seats of the Snow Song Realm and the Blazing Heaven Realm, then stopped behind Yun Che.

"You, are you Yun Che?"

The Imperial Son Yue Jinxi, with an arrogant expression, sized Yun Che up and down, narrowing his eyes slightly. As for everyone around Yun Che, he completely ignored them.

Yun Che turned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two, and said indifferently: "That's me."

"Hmph, I thought a famous figure like you, the 'Number One Conferred God' and 'Son of the Heavenly Way,' would be in the main hall or outer hall," Yue Jinxi said, "I didn't expect you to be in the outer seating area. It took this prince quite some searching to find you."

"However, given your background, being seated here is quite appropriate."

As Yue Jinxi spoke, every word, every glance, and every expression conveyed arrogance. As the son of a God Emperor, he naturally had more reason and qualification to be arrogant than anyone else. Even Yun Che's status as the "Number One Conferred God" seemed to only warrant a second glance in his eyes.

He heavily emphasized the words "this prince," intending to remind Yun Che of his identity.

Yun Che's gaze swept over the divine moon patterns on their robes, then he didn't look at them again. He slowly refilled the jade cup in his hand and asked Huo Rulie: "Who are these two idiots?"