Chapter 1450: Great Wedding

The grand wedding arrived quietly, watched by countless eyes from all the heavens. Although the event was eagerly anticipated by countless people in Cangxuan Heaven and even across all the realms, the ceremony itself was not ostentatious. The royal palace was sealed, and only a select few of Zhou Yuan's close friends and key officials from the Great Zhou Dynasty were invited.

Under the night sky, the Great Zhou Royal Palace was bathed in a sea of celebratory red. Red candles flickered everywhere, lanterns and colorful decorations adorned the grounds, and the resounding beat of gongs and drums echoed throughout the city. Countless city residents gazed curiously towards the palace, for by the hour, the wedding ceremony must already be underway.

Inside the grand hall, guests lined the red carpet, their eyes wide with admiration as the radiant couple made their way down the aisle. Naturally, most of the captivated gazes were directed at the bride.

At this moment, Yaoyao wore a long, vibrant red gown, adorned with a phoenix crown and embroidered ceremonial robes. The brilliant red accentuated her exquisite beauty, making her appear utterly enchanting. Her eyes, usually serene and detached, now shimmered with a dazzling radiance, outshining even the stars. Her exquisitely beautiful face, already captivating enough to enthrall an entire nation, was now tinged with a delicate blush, as tender as a budding flower. At this moment, many experienced guests in the hall felt a collective sense of breathtaking wonder, utterly stunned by her resplendent beauty. Such a being was truly unparalleled in the world.

"Oh my, she's so beautiful it's unbearable," murmured Zuoqiu Qingyu, her beautiful eyes shining brightly as she gazed at Yaoyao, who looked incredibly enchanting in her phoenix crown and robes. If Luoluo hadn't held her back tightly, she would have undoubtedly rushed forward. In their minds, Yaoyao had always exuded a serene and detached aura, rarely displaying overt girlishness. Yet, at this very moment, Yaoyao presented undoubtedly the most vibrant and expressive side that Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luoluo had ever witnessed. She was like a fairy from the Moon Palace, having descended to the mortal world.

"Sister Qingyu, if you go up now, they'll beat you to death," Luoluo cautioned.

Zuoqiu Qingyu covered her chest with a small hand, lamenting with a pained expression, "A beautiful swan has been taken by a toad."

Luoluo, her clear, dark eyes wide, retorted, "Zhou Yuan isn't a toad, is he? He looks quite handsome today! And at his level, whether someone is handsome or not is far too superficial."

Zuoqiu Qingyu paused, glancing at Zhou Yuan, who stood beside Yaoyao. While he certainly didn't possess Yaoyao's captivating beauty, having now ascended to the Saint stage and wielding the authority of the Cangxuan Heaven Master, Zhou Yuan exuded a calm, mountain-like presence that naturally instilled a sense of awe and pressure in others. The young companion they had met years ago in the Saint Remains Region was now a prominent figure across all the heavens.

With a sigh, she turned her head to Li Chunjun and Zhen Xu, who were standing nearby, and said disapprovingly, "On such a joyous day, one of you has a wooden face and the other is expressionless. You're both quite unlikable, aren't you?"

Ning Zhan couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Zhen Xu rubbed his pale, grim face with a helpless expression, forcing a smile. Li Chunjun, his eyes wrapped in black cloth, seemed to be gazing in the direction of Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "I don't know why, but I always sense a hidden weight and sadness about them."

"Bah, bah, don't say such things! It's just child's talk, child's talk!" Luoluo quickly put her small hand over Li Chunjun's mouth.

Li Chunjun was speechless.

On the other side, the Cangxuan Sect members, led by Chu Qing and Li Qingchan, were also gathered, their eyes fixed on the newlyweds as they walked down the red carpet.

"When they first arrived at the Cangxuan Sect," Li Qingchan began, her red lips slightly parted, "I couldn't understand why someone as outstanding as Yaoyao would be so intimately connected with Zhou Yuan."

"I didn't quite understand it either," Ye Ge said, nodding with a bitter smile. When he first saw Yaoyao, he was instantly captivated; it was love at first sight. Yet, Yaoyao showed him no interest whatsoever, focusing all her attention on Zhou Yuan, which had caused Ye Ge considerable heartache back then.

Li Qingchan smiled. Her own personality was quite composed and cool, somewhat resembling Yaoyao's, though her coolness was more on the surface, whereas Yaoyao's detachment stemmed from a deeper, indifferent aloofness.

"I even felt a bit of injustice for Yaoyao back then," she continued, "because at that time, Zhou Yuan truly seemed to be holding her back in my eyes. But looking back now," she said with a hint of emotion, "it seems I simply didn't possess Yaoyao's foresight."

The others nearby nodded in agreement. Indeed, it wasn't just Li Qingchan; who among them at that time could have ever imagined that Zhou Yuan would one day become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven?

As everyone reflected, Chu Qing, whose bald head glinted under the hall's candlelight, interjected with a mix of regret and worry, "Junior Brother Zhou Yuan's abilities are certainly undeniable. But why, at such a young age, would he be so intent on marrying? Women are troublesome creatures; one shouldn't get involved with them!"

The area instantly fell silent, and black lines appeared on the foreheads of Li Qingchan, Ye Ge, Kong Sheng, and the others. They all glared at him and collectively snapped, "Shut your mouth!"

Inside the grand hall, soft laughter and chatter continued, as all eyes converged on Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. The two walked hand-in-hand down the red carpet, accepting the blessings offered by familiar faces, and responding to each with a warm smile.

At the end of the red carpet, three figures sat poised. These were Zhou Qing, Qin Yu, and Cang Yuan, representing the elders of both sides. After a series of intricate rituals, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao knelt before them. They exchanged a look, their faces reflected in each other's pupils, as if engraving the image deep within their hearts.

Finally, without a word, they accepted cups of tea and offered them to the three elders. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were beaming, their joy unconcealed. They took the tea and drank it in one gulp. Cang Yuan held his teacup, gazing at the couple before him. Though a faint smile touched his aged face, a trace of sorrow lingered in his eyes.

"As your master and elder," Cang Yuan said slowly, "I wish for you both to be safe, to live long, and for all your wishes to come true." He then raised his cup and drank the tea.

Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao bowed once more.

Inside the royal palace, countless fireworks soared into the sky, accompanied by booming drumbeats that resonated throughout the city.

In the bridal chamber, red candles cast a soft, flickering glow. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao lay on the spacious bridal bed. After a series of ceremonial procedures, they had finally entered the bridal chamber. After dismissing the maidservants, they simply lay quietly on the bed, seemingly savoring the tranquil atmosphere.

After a long while, Zhou Yuan finally turned his head to look at her flawless, jade-like face. "It must have been quite a bother, wasn't it?" he asked.

Yaoyao pressed her lips together and chuckled softly. "But I truly loved it," she replied. She took Zhou Yuan's hand, lacing her fingers with his. "Zhou Yuan, I'm sorry," she said. "I never told you about the Severing God Curse Poison before. I just wanted to seize this time to genuinely be with you."

Zhou Yuan shook his head and remained silent for a long moment. "How much time is left?" he asked.

"Perhaps, very soon," Yaoyao murmured. They were referring, of course, to the imminent activation of the Severing God Curse Poison within Yaoyao. Once it erupted, it would trigger her divine essence to activate self-preservation, causing her to enter a temporary sealed state. When this seal eventually broke, her divine nature would be completely restored. What would emerge then would be the Third God.

Yaoyao suddenly turned, leaning onto Zhou Yuan's chest, her dark hair falling gently onto his face. A charming blush, unlike any he had seen before, bloomed on her jade-like countenance. She whispered, "While there's still time, I want to give myself to you."

Zhou Yuan shook his head. "I don't want this to feel rushed," he said. "And this isn't a true farewell, is it? Or do you believe we won't have another chance?"

Yaoyao gazed at Zhou Yuan's face. In her clear, ethereal eyes, tears suddenly welled up, then traced paths down her cheeks, falling onto Zhou Yuan's face. This was the first time Zhou Yuan had ever seen Yaoyao cry. In that instant, he felt a truly heart-wrenching pain. He forced a smile, extended his hand, and gently wiped the tears from Yaoyao's cheeks.

"Zhou Yuan, I'm sorry," she whispered. "I've brought you a fleeting, illusory relationship."

Zhou Yuan sat up, cupping Yaoyao's face in his hands. His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "Yaoyao, I'm not one to give up easily. No matter what you become in the future, I will never abandon you. I will always be by your side; I will make sure that whenever you look up, you will see my presence. So, I also want to ask you, no matter what... please don't give up."

Clear, crystalline tears streamed continuously down Yaoyao's cheeks. At this moment, she displayed a vulnerability he had never seen before. The woman who had once remained completely unfazed by any crisis, unperturbed by any turn of events, now, at this very moment, displayed the true vulnerability of a young woman.

Finally, she stopped her tears, and a smile blossomed on her flawless, jade-like face. "Zhou Yuan," she said, "I want you to lift my red veil." She desired a complete ceremony.

The red veil draped down, concealing her incredibly beautiful face, which made even the red candles seem dim. Zhou Yuan extended his hand. To his surprise, he found it trembling slightly. It was remarkable, considering he had never felt such a sense of panic, not even when battling the ancient Saints of the Saint Race. His hand slowly lifted the red veil. He gazed at her tear-streaked face, then lowered his head and deeply kissed her red lips. Yaoyao responded to him with an intensity and passion he had never experienced before.

It was at this very moment that streaks of light patterns suddenly emerged on her delicate body, each imbued with vast, ancient fluctuations. The light patterns spread gradually like ripples, and wherever they touched, it was as if everything was being covered in amber.

Zhou Yuan's body trembled as he felt the soft tenderness of her lips. His eyes tightly closed, he seemed to see, in the darkness, a distant memory: a young boy, his eight meridians not yet open, stepping with a nervous yet expectant heart from the ancestral shrine into that unfamiliar space. There, beneath a lush, green tree, a slender girl in green robes leaned against the trunk, her bright eyes quietly gazing at him. It was a first encounter, and so the story began.

Tears streamed from the corners of Zhou Yuan's eyes, and he felt the tender lips he was touching suddenly turn cold. A tremendous sorrow welled up and roared deep within his heart, like a wounded beast.

Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Yaoyao before him, his eyes red-rimmed, and a pained, low growl escaped his throat. Yaoyao before him seemed to be covered by an amber-like crystalline layer, upon which flowed a mysterious aura that made even Saints tremble. Zhou Yuan extended his hand and touched Yaoyao's cheek, which was covered by the amber crystalline layer. Upon contact, the mysterious power on the layer instantly crushed Zhou Yuan's palm, and blood streamed down the amber amidst mangled flesh. Yet, Zhou Yuan did not release his hand, for the pain in his palm was not even a fraction of the agony in his heart.

"Yaoyao, I won't give up... I will wait for you, I will always wait for you. Until you remember again."

On the roof of the bridal chamber, Tun Tun, who had been quietly lying there, let out a sorrowful roar. Then, amber crystalline layers began to emerge on its body, gradually encasing it entirely. From a distance, it looked like a stone statue against the night sky.

The man, woman, and beast who had first met years ago — now only one figure remained, swaying in solitude and desolation.