Chapter 1287: A Monumental Lie

What a spectacle!

Everything happened so quickly, so suddenly. Xia Qingyue abruptly took Yun Che's hand, stunning everyone. Before anyone could even react, the two had already entered the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace and vanished into the distance.

The Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace truly lived up to its reputation as the fastest profound ark in the world. In mere moments, it was already a distant speck in the sky, its very light and shadow vanishing without a trace.

The wedding ceremony of the Moon God Emperor and his Goddess Consort... and the Goddess Consort, along with the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace and Yun Che, left. This was an outcome nobody had ever conceived of, much less believed possible, yet it unfolded plainly before everyone's eyes. It was like a sudden, deafening thunderclap and an overwhelming, raging storm, shaking their very souls to their core.

The shock of this scene was absolutely no less than witnessing the nine-stage heavenly tribulation on the Conferred God Stage!

Everyone was utterly frozen in place: profound practitioners from the Eastern Region, Moon God emissaries, various Realm Kings, and God Emperors from the King Realms—including the Star God Emperor, who secretly relished chaos, and even Qianye Ying'er, who had been cloaked in the clouds. All were struck with profound astonishment.

The Moon God Emperor stood motionless, his face gradually beginning to twitch, his body to tremble. His normally serene and majestic countenance took on a horrifying greenish-black hue, quickly contorting into the visage of a malevolent fiend.

He stretched out an arm trembling so violently it seemed on the verge of snapping, pointing in the direction Xia Qingyue had departed. He let out what might have been the most hoarse roar of his life: "Seize... them... back! Seize them back!!!!"

Amidst his hoarse cries, the Moon God Emperor's vision swam, his body swayed, and he nearly toppled to the ground.

His terrifying roar roused everyone as if from a dream. Divine Moon City instantly plunged into pandemonium, with countless figures surging skyward, flying directly in the direction the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace had vanished.

Among them, a golden shadow, like a suddenly streaking meteor, instantly outpaced all other figures. Its speed, astonishingly, was no less than that of the rapidly departing Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace!

Divine Moon City erupted in a clamor. People exchanged bewildered glances, each person utterly horrified, still unable to truly believe what had just transpired.

"How... could... this happen?" Mu Huanzhi stammered, trembling.

"This is bad..." Mu Bingyun muttered to herself.

With a faint smile, the Star God Emperor cast aside his astonishment. "Splendid," he remarked, "truly magnificent."

The Star God Emperor and the Moon God Emperor were in close proximity, and the former's words undoubtedly served to add fuel to the flames. The Moon God Emperor's eyes were bloodshot, as if stained crimson. He pointed at the Star God Emperor, profound energy swirling violently from his fingertips. "Get out... Get out!!!"

"Get out!! All of you, get out!!"

"All of you, get out!"

"Get out!!!!"

The wrath of a God Emperor could shake heaven and earth. Under his hoarse, furious roars, all the jade teapots and goblets on the outer tables shattered. Space itself subtly vibrated, and many young profound practitioners violently coughed up blood, their internal organs severely injured. Some even collapsed on the spot, blacking out.

With the God Emperor in such a rage, who dared to linger? The various star realms scrambled to protect their young profound practitioners, fleeing in panicked haste towards the outskirts of Divine Moon City. In moments, Divine Moon City, bathed in moonlight, devolved into utter shock and disorder.

"Go... quickly!" Mu Bingyun swiftly gathered the disciples of the Snow Song Realm, departing at the fastest possible speed. If the Moon God Emperor were to redirect his wrath towards the Snow Song Realm, it would be too late for them to escape.

Divine Moon City instantly resembled a land ravaged by locusts, with chaos and panic rampant everywhere. Not a single Moon Guard stationed in any area rushed out to maintain order, for they too were utterly bewildered and lost.

This grand wedding ceremony was originally a momentous occasion for the Moon God Realm. It was meant to wash away the Moon God Emperor's past humiliation and proclaim to the world that the Moon God Realm would henceforth be blessed by the Glazed Maiden, much like the Eternal Heaven Realm had been in its prime.

Yet, the ceremony hadn't even begun, and it had abruptly transformed into this scene...

The Goddess Consort he intended to marry was gone, and she had willingly departed with another man.

Not only did it fail to erase the humiliation of Yue Wugou from all those years ago, but it added insult to injury...

One of the four God Emperors of the Eastern Region, the Realm King of the Moon God Realm, had been utterly transformed into the greatest laughingstock in the world...

The Moon God Emperor was engulfed in a furious rage, like a rabid beast.

How could he not be enraged? Even as a God Emperor, his fury was amplified precisely because of his status.

"Let's go," Qianye Ying'er said from above the clouds. She turned, her gaze fixed precisely on the vanishing direction of the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace.

Gu Zhu offered no response; none was needed. The two figures slowly dissolved into the clouds, vanishing above Divine Moon City. Perhaps no one even knew they had been there in the first place.

"To think such a thing would happen..." The Eternal Heaven God Emperor shook his head. Very little in this world could truly surprise him, but the events unfolding before him were so utterly unexpected that he was inexplicably stunned.

The Brahma Heaven God Emperor, however, stopped him. He shook his head and said, "The Moon God Emperor is currently consumed by rage. Any attempts at consolation would be futile and might only make him lose control even further. It's best to ensure the safety of the profound practitioners and wait for him to calm down in a few days before discussing this matter further."

The Eternal Heaven God Emperor paused, then nodded in agreement.

Across the vast cosmos, the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace sped at its absolute limit.

Inside the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace, the space was vast and exceptionally opulent. A brilliant light, whose source was unknown, illuminated the interior, making it resemble Divine Moon City itself beneath the divine moon.

But Yun Che had no inclination to appreciate the wondrous Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace. He stared blankly at Xia Qingyue, who was so close, his mind a chaotic jumble.

His hand was still clasped with Xia Qingyue's, but her jade-like hand was exceptionally cold, chilling him to the very core.

Not only was it cold, but it was trembling slightly. Her entire body was shaking... and the tremors were growing increasingly violent.

He stared blankly at Xia Qingyue, just like everyone else, utterly unprepared for her to make such a choice.

"Qingyue... you..."

He finally spoke, but no sooner had the words left his lips than Xia Qingyue suddenly trembled violently. A mouthful of crimson blood gushed out, splattering across her moon-white robes, and her body slowly sagged.

"Qingyue!!"

Yun Che was greatly alarmed and swiftly reached out to support her.

The body in his arms was exceptionally soft and delicate, conveying a pitiful and heartbreaking vulnerability. She trembled like a kitten caught in a winter snowstorm. He looked at the dazzling crimson stains on her moon-white robes... that was heart's blood...

It was blood forced from her heart, something that only occurred under extreme pain or profound rage.

"I'm fine," she murmured softly, yet she did not pull away from Yun Che's embrace. Her head rested against his chest, her beautiful eyes gently closed, and the trembling of her body finally subsided somewhat.

The crimson bloodstains on her moon-white robes pricked at Yun Che's heart and soul with every passing moment. He asked nothing, simply holding Xia Qingyue tighter. Apart from that one occasion in the Heavenly Pool Secret Realm, this was the first time they had been so intimately close.

Amidst the God Emperor's furious rampage, who dared to approach?

He could not have imagined this outcome, nor could he believe or accept it. He moved with an aura of utter chaos, his steps stumbling. Wherever he went, his terrifying malevolent aura was so potent that even the Moon Gods dared not draw near.

BOOM!!

He blasted open the palace doors with a single palm strike. Stepping inside, he saw a figure clad in red.

It was a woman, dressed in a grand crimson wedding gown, adorned with luxurious pearls and jade. Though her face bore the marks of time and hardship, she was still breathtakingly beautiful. Yet, her jade-like countenance was excessively pale, like a white candle flickering out.

Upon seeing her, the Moon God Emperor's eyes felt as if pierced by needles. His uncontrolled fury was suddenly tinged with panic. "You... how are you here?"

As he spoke, he swiftly waved his hand, and an isolating barrier instantly sealed the crumbling palace entrance, blocking all light and sound.

"I saw everything... cough... cough, cough..." the woman murmured softly. Yet, no sooner had the words left her lips than she was wracked by a painful coughing fit, her face growing even paler.

The Moon God Emperor quickly stepped forward, cradling the woman in his arms. A streak of white light coalesced in his hand, which he then pressed against her chest.

Gradually, her complexion improved somewhat. She leaned quietly in the Moon God Emperor's embrace, her palm also resting on his chest, gently stroking him.

Feeling the warmth against his chest, the Moon God Emperor's tumultuous emotions gradually settled. In all the world, only she possessed the ability to calm him so swiftly from such a profound rage.

"Why would Qingyue do this?" The Moon God Emperor shook his head, his face still contorted in pain. "Why... doesn't she understand the consequences of such an act?"

Her decision not only turned him into the greatest laughingstock in the Eastern Divine Region, but his hopes, along with their final shared wish, were also utterly dashed.

"Because... she didn't want her husband... to suffer the same fate you did back then..." the woman in red said softly.

"Even if she still harbors feelings for that boy, she could have simply explained through a sound transmission!" the Moon God Emperor roared. "Just a few words would have let him know... why she acted this way!"

The woman in red gently shook her head. "He might know... but would the rest of the world...?"

The Moon God Emperor froze.

"I never imagined she would face such a painful choice, just as I did all those years ago." Her voice was incredibly soft, and her gaze gradually became desolate. "Could this... also be... a cycle of fate...?"

"She is not in the wrong. It is not wrong for you to blame her, or even to hate her. And that child named Yun Che, he is not in the wrong either... The only one at fault is fate itself..." she said, then chuckled softly. "Wuya, for all these years, we worried over her, believing her personality to be somehow incomplete. Yet, it turns out that in her heart... there has always been someone for whom she would willingly do this... Shouldn't we... shouldn't we be happy for her?"

The Moon God Emperor remained silent.

"Godfather, Qingyue has a request... Please, Godfather, bestow the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace upon Qingyue..."

"Godfather, Qingyue has something she implores you to remember: in the future, no matter what transpires, Qingyue... will never betray the Moon God Realm."

"Qingyue only wants Godfather to forever remember this statement... No matter what happens in the future, please recall these words."

As his reason gradually returned, Xia Qingyue's words, which had seemed peculiar at the time, echoed in his mind. His heart stirred violently, then felt a sharp pang of pain.

So... that was it...

"Heh... heheh... heheheh..." The Moon God Emperor gripped his forehead, his fingers slowly tightening, and a bitter laugh escaped him. "Ultimately, all of this is my fault... If not for my own pride, how could I have allowed Qingyue to bear all of this...? Heh... this so-called Moon God Emperor... from beginning to end... has been nothing but a coward... a coward..."

"She will return," the woman in red said. "Once you calm down, she will return."

The Moon God Emperor nodded slightly. In his hand now rested a jade stone shimmering with a faint white light.

"Wuji... stop pursuing them. Return at once."

Inside the Moon-Stealing Immortal Palace.

"The very first day I arrived in the God Realm, I encountered the Moon God Emperor."

Xia Qingyue's mood seemed to have settled somewhat, her gaze regaining its serene, profound-pool like tranquility. In a calm voice, she began to recount her story to Yun Che: "At that time, I had no idea what kind of world this was. My power here was incredibly insignificant, as if I had suddenly fallen into a boundless cage where I was at the mercy of others."

Yun Che could well imagine Xia Qingyue's predicament at that time. Back then, her profound energy had only just entered the Sovereign Profound Realm. Such power was considered absolute on the Azure Cloud Continent, but in the God Realm, it was pitifully weak. Moreover, Xia Qingyue's immortal beauty would surely attract nightmarish misfortunes. Alone at that time, she was undoubtedly facing utter despair from all directions.

"When I had fallen into despair, on the verge of severing my own heart meridian, it was the Moon God Emperor who saved me. He brought me to the Moon God Realm... the most sacred place in the entire God Realm. He showed me immense care, and at the time, I assumed he had ulterior motives, until... I finally saw my mother."

"Your... mother?" Yun Che's eyes widened. "The mother you've been searching for... she's from the Moon God Realm!?"

"My mother and I bear a strong resemblance, and I also carry her aura. The moment he first saw me, he surmised that I was her daughter. That's why he saved me, and allowed me... to finally see my mother again."

"So, you married him as a way to repay his kindness?" Yun Che asked.

Xia Qingyue slowly turned, and in the depths of her calm, unreadable eyes, a heartbreaking glint flashed. "You misunderstand me," she said softly.

Facing this woman who had abandoned the Moon God Emperor for his sake, whose heart's blood had gushed forth due to him, Yun Che's heart constricted abruptly. He quickly interjected, "I... I didn't mean that... I just..."

"He is my godfather," Xia Qingyue whispered.

Yun Che stared, utterly stunned. "Your... godfather?"

Godfather... father...

The Moon God Emperor... is Qingyue's godfather!?

But... how could that be...?

"Could it be..." Yun Che naturally mused. "This wedding ceremony was merely a formality for the world to see? To use your 'Glazed Heart' to cleanse his—your godfather's—past humiliation?"

"No..." Xia Qingyue shook her head. "He is my godfather, an elder whom I revere as a father. To marry him, even in a formal capacity, would be a violation of heavenly principles and human ethics. My godfather would not accept it, my mother would not accept it, and neither could I."

"This wedding ceremony was fundamentally a colossal lie. And this colossal lie wasn't merely for the world to witness; more crucially, it was for the Moon God Realm itself."

"What??" Yun Che was dumbfounded. "For the Moon God Realm to see? How was that to be understood? The Moon God Emperor was the ruler of the Moon God Realm; what could he possibly need to 'perform' for his own controlled star realm with such a grand spectacle?"

"And the one who ultimately completed the wedding ceremony with my godfather was not me, but my mother."

Her voice carried clear anguish in those last few words.

Yun Che was utterly frozen in place. "You... you said... your mother? What in the world... are you... saying?"

Xia Qingyue's few brief sentences echoed in his mind repeatedly, yet no matter how he tried to reconcile them with his understanding, he simply couldn't comprehend their meaning, much less grasp their implications.

"Would you like to hear a story?" Xia Qingyue closed her eyes, her voice growing softer and softer. "A very long... very sorrowful... very despairing story."