Chapter 1476: The Sorrows of the World

In the deepest part of the palace, permeated by cold air and feeling even more desolate, the gate that had been tightly shut for many years slowly opened, and a slender figure gradually emerged.

The figure was still adorned in the traditional phoenix crown and ceremonial robes from that night. Her slender and graceful figure, as she moved with light steps, outlined captivating curves.

As one's gaze moved upwards, a beautiful face, as fair as jade, came into view. That face remained exceptionally peerless, enough to dim all the colors in the world.

Her small, rosy lips shimmered faintly. Her delicate, upturned nose, with a bridge that sloped like distant mountains, made her entire face appear more defined and refined. Moving further up, one came to her eyes.

The familiar feeling from before finally changed here.

In the past, her eyes, though cold and indifferent, yet as her gaze shifted or rested upon certain individuals, they still held a rare hint of warmth.

However, at this moment, those beautiful eyes were like the depths of a profound starry sky, endless and unfathomable, and simultaneously evoked a sense of awe, even terror, emanating from the depths of one's soul.

There was no human emotion in those eyes; it was as if all things in heaven and earth were indistinguishable to her.

She merely stood there, and this world seemed to tremble slightly, as if uttering a sound of submission.

Here in the Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan was originally the Celestial Master, wielding authority over heaven and earth. But if he were here now, he would find that his authority seemed to be restricted in some way.

It was a restriction based on status.

This feeling was akin to a powerful provincial official wielding unchecked authority in a region; but when the emperor arrives one day, that so-called authority is naturally suppressed.

Zhou Yuan was merely the Celestial Master. The person before him, however, was a born deity.

She was not Yaoyao, but...the Third God.

Her eyes, devoid of any emotion, surveyed her surroundings. Then she lowered her gaze to the vibrant red gown she was wearing. She gracefully bent a slender finger and lightly flicked it.

The next moment, the gown she was wearing instantly began to fade, the vivid red completely vanished, and it transformed into a pristine white gown, untouched by dust.

Moreover, it wasn't just her gown that faded. All red objects within the area vanished, turning into nothingness.

That sensation suggested she did not particularly care for that color.

At this moment, a shadow suddenly loomed overhead. As the earth rumbled, a gigantic beast, roughly dozens of feet in size, leaped down, landing behind her.

The giant beast was clad in purple-gold scales, with ancient patterns faintly visible on each. Its appearance was noble yet imbued with fierce malevolence. Black mist swirled with each breath it exhalEd, and wherever it passed, it seemed even the void was swallowed and swept away.

Its beast eyes were sharp and awe-inspiring. A terrifying pressure faintly emanated from it, causing the very void to collapse.

That familiar appearance was none other than Tuntun!

However, compared to before its slumber, it had evidently undergone a terrifying transformation. The pressure it exuded was no less than that of a Three-Lotus Saint.

But in its beast eyes, there was no longer the cunning or playfulness of before. Instead, they were filled with an intense malevolent aura, befitting its renown as a primordial sacred beast.

Now, it was no longer Tuntun; it was the renowned Ancestral Glutton!

The Third God glanced at the Ancestral Glutton. Then she stepped out of the flower garden, no emotion visible on her exquisitely beautiful face.

The deity and the beast exited the sealed area. Outside, they saw numerous terrified palace guards.

At the very front of the guards were Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, who had rushed there upon hearing the report.

When they saw Yaoyao emerging, their faces initially lit up with great joy. But immediately, they sensed something was wrong, and their expressions of joy gradually faded.

Qin Yu could not help but speak out, "Yao..."

But before she could finish, she was pulled back by a somewhat solemn Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing gazed at Qin Yu and slowly shook his head at her.

Qin Yu bit her lip tightly. Her eyes became red, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

The Third God, having emerged from the flower garden, did not seem to notice any of this. Or rather, since her emergence, her gaze had not once fallen upon the crowd; her attention seemed to be on this world itself.

Then she stepped forward with her elegant foot. Her foot was delicate and small, like a flawless, perfect creation. As her foot landed, her figure gracefully departed, vanishing from sight.

Behind her, the Ancestral Glutton let out a low roar that shook heaven and earth. It shook its massive head, then turned to glance at the palace. A hint of confusion seemed to flash in its beast eyes, for at that moment, it vaguely sensed a feeling of reluctance to part.

That feeling was as if it had lived there for a very long time.

But in the end, it still ascended into the sky. Only its low roars echoed ceaselessly over the Great Zhou City.

As the deity and the beast departed, all the guards in the area collapsed, drenched in sweat. Their eyes were filled with terror, for when they had seen that figure earlier, they felt as if even their own souls no longer belonged to them. At that moment, if the figure had willed it, perhaps with a mere thought, they would have utterly perished.

Zhou Qing and Qin Yu managed to remain standing, but they paid no attention to their fear. Qin Yu, her eyes red, asked, "What happened? Yaoyao, she..."

Zhou Qing shook his head. "She is not Yaoyao."

Zhou Qing sighed, his face seemingly having aged significantly. "You know Yaoyao's identity, so you should have guessed. The one who just left was not Yaoyao. She is...the Third God, as Elder Cang Yuan and the others have spoken of."

"She is a supreme deity, not our daughter-in-law, Yaoyao."

Zhou Qing's words pierced Qin Yu's heart like a carving knife. After a moment of stunned silence, she finally burst into heartbroken sobs.

"How could this happen...?"

"Where is my Yaoyao?"

"And Yuan'er, he's out there fighting bloody battles, resisting the Saint Race. If he knew Yaoyao was gone and this Third God had appeared, how heartbroken would he be?"

Tears streamed down Qin Yu's face like rain. As Zhou Yuan's mother, she knew all too well the depth of his feelings for Yaoyao. But now, this Third God clearly had no emotions; the love and hatred of mortals evidently held no relevance to her.

If Zhou Yuan were to learn of this, how pained and heartbroken would he be?

In the world, could there be anything more bitter than this?

As a mother, her heart was with her son. At this moment, Qin Yu's cries became hoarse.

Zhou Qing also lifted his head. At such a moment, even he, with his temperament, had red eyes. Finally, he gnashed his teeth and cursed, "Damn this cruel heaven! Why must it treat my son so harshly?!"

Yet they also understood that no matter how much they wept or raged, the affairs of this world would not change. For now, they only wished their son could return to their side. As for the future destiny of this world, let it go to hell.

At worst, they could all perish together. Why should their son alone bear such suffering and pain?