The Divine Emperor’s expression darkened, his voice turning cold. “Resented? What was there to resent? A mere flower demon dared to dream of becoming the Celestial Queen of Flowers. The celestial edicts are clear—divine bloodlines are not to be taken lightly. Do you not remember the son of the Lord of Kunlun? His cultivation was forever hindered because of his mortal mother, and in the end, he dragged down the entire Kunlun Clan with him. You are a celestial deity, while she was fated never to ascend to the higher ranks. You went to such lengths to defy the heavens for her, yet you never considered the consequences. She could have at least become a wandering immortal, but instead, she was ensnared by the tribulation of love and fell into the cycle of reincarnation. You are merely reaping what you sowed—did you think I would not know?”
Jin Xiu replied calmly, “Your Majesty’s power is boundless—what could you possibly not know? I would not dare deceive you. Back then, I only wished to lend her a hand because she had great spiritual potential, and our lineage was in decline. The intervention to alter fate was merely an attempt to help her barely attain the rank of a lower immortal. Who would have thought that fate would prove so unyielding? In the end, all I did was give Your Majesty an amusing spectacle.”
The Divine Emperor said, “You may say that, but from what I can see, that girl only ever wanted to become your Celestial Queen.”
Jin Xiu fell silent for a moment before smiling. “Just youthful folly. She grew up under my guidance. Weren’t we the same in our younger days, Senior Brother? There’s no need to dwell on it.”
As fellow disciples who had cultivated together, their bond was akin to that of siblings. Hearing him address him as “Senior Brother” made the Divine Emperor’s demeanor soften slightly.
“Precisely because she was young and ignorant, I did not hold it against her. But after all this, you should understand that the will of the heavens cannot be defied. Though this matter began because of you, had she been resolute in her conviction, she would not have ended up in such a situation. You need not feel overly guilty.”
Jin Xiu remained gentle in his reply. “Your guidance is well received, Senior Brother.”
The Divine Emperor’s displeasure eased. “I had intended to grant her a place by your side—it would not have been impossible. But she refused to yield, failing to see the bigger picture. Now, if you feel indebted to her and wish to help her return to the path of immortality, I will not stand in your way. However, you must always remember who you are. The Kunlun Clan has long set its sights on the Central Heavens. This matter concerns the very heart of our divine lineage. At such a critical moment, you cannot afford to make a misstep and bring disgrace upon our master’s expectations.”
He paused before adding with deeper meaning, “Have you already forgotten the Lord of Kunlun’s tribulation of love? Some things are predestined by the heavens. You may do your best, but you must not force what is beyond your reach—otherwise, you will invite disaster. Just as the mortal realm follows the laws of karma and retribution, your tribulation is something that only you can face. While I can aid you, whether you survive it unharmed depends entirely on yourself.”
The word “retribution” had been spoken without much thought, yet Jin Xiu’s expression changed slightly upon hearing it. It took a long moment before he regained his composure.
“I understand,” he said, his voice steady. “However, when she passed through the cycle of reincarnation, something unexpected happened. As a result, her fate is now unreadable—I find it difficult to be at ease.”
The Divine Emperor showed no surprise, his response indifferent. “Is that so?”
Jin Xiu nodded. “Back then, her fate was uncertain because I interfered, and in doing so, I only made matters worse, causing her to fall into the mortal realm. Now, I wonder if this too is the will of the heavens—perhaps I am meant to help her return to the Celestial Court and atone for my past mistake.”
The Divine Emperor let out a faint scoff. “With your tribulation fast approaching, you still waste your divine power on trivial matters like these?”
Jin Xiu remained unfazed by his sarcasm. “I still seek Senior Brother’s guidance.”
The Divine Emperor studied him for a long moment before letting out a cold laugh. “And just because of this, you are convinced that her fate has changed? There are always things that even the most skilled divination cannot reveal. Perhaps her destiny is tied to someone of great importance within the Celestial Court.”
Jin Xiu froze.
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