Chapter Eighty-Two: The Marriage Complete

“Clang!”

The green bamboo was verdant and upright, its entire body like jade, sparkling and translucent. When the Yellow Toad Taoist struck with it, a metallic resonance rang out, and a wave of divine radiance surged skyward, tearing open a gaping green chasm across the cosmic starry sky.

This chasm split the heavens, vast enough to make one's soul tremble—not thousands, not billions, but five hundred billion lengths in extent!

Feng Shuang, with a swift sidestep through the void, dodged aside, yet a million strands of bamboo light erupted instantly, fine and relentless, swiftly pursuing him along his trajectory.

Feng Shuang's brow furrowed. That green bamboo was a rare treasure; its stalk was indestructible, and the few leaves it bore could not be underestimated. Its murderous aura was intense and extremely difficult to contend with.

With a cold snort, white flames blazed across his body, incinerating and annihilating those rays in an instant.

“Boom!”

At that moment, Ancestor Tian E cast a frosty gaze at the Yellow Toad Taoist. Though locked in fierce combat with the True Dragon, he unleashed a claw of unimaginable might, its shadow so vast it threatened to crush the very stars.

Seeing this, the Yellow Toad Taoist swept the bamboo horizontally, its tip flashing, unleashing boundless divine light—a sharp green edge, like a blade, slashed at Tian E’s colossal claw.

At the instant of impact, energy boiled forth, explosive flames erupted across the heavens, and dazzling currents of law fell and surged anew, so bright that none could bear to look.

“Impressive,” Feng Shuang whispered excitedly.

Such a bamboo staff could shatter the heavens and earth, even tear apart stars. Should a cultivator of equal standing be struck head-on, injury would be inevitable.

“If you had mastered a law of the void, I might truly have to fear you. But you haven't!” Feng Shuang’s eyes gleamed, radiating heat, his blood surging wildly.

“Kill!”

Battle intent flared within Feng Shuang, surrounded by a rain of brilliant blue flames, charging straight at the Yellow Toad Taoist.

To confront a fellow cultivator head-on—this was a first for him. He meant to savor every moment.

…

The Starsea Sky.

Yu Chu Sect, one of the two peak powers of the Starsea, renowned far and wide.

Within the Yu Chu Divine Domain, among myriad constellations, stood a magnificent holy temple. The hall was tranquil, its exquisite white jade walls adorned all around, aglow with misty lights, like clouds or flowing water.

At the center rested a lotus pool, beside which sat a figure shrouded in gentle haze—a small, delicate silhouette, one flawless white foot dipped in crystal dew, toes a faint pink, exuding exquisite beauty, lightly stirring the water of life within the lotus pool, sending ripples dancing.

It was likely a young woman, her age not great.

Her aura was deeply mysterious, her upper body veiled in misty light, barely discernible.

“At last, it’s clean.”

A relaxed voice sounded, alluring yet pure and beautiful, enough to make one’s bones melt. Just hearing this voice, countless men would gladly brave fire and water for her.

“Dan Ya, Mother has passed the sect leadership to you. When will you marry me?”

Not far from the lotus pool stood an old man and a child. The speaker was the smaller one, with delicate features and fair skin, though his head was bare—a little bald boy.

He gazed at the mysterious figure by the pool, clutching a steaming purple sweet potato, eating messily while blinking, a bit still smeared at the corner of his mouth.

At his words, the gentle silhouette stiffened, her relaxed mood dissipating like smoke.

The atmosphere of the holy temple subtly shifted.

The old man beside the little bald boy kept his eyes on his nose, his nose on his heart, showing no expression, pretending not to hear a thing.

“Little country bumpkin.”

Her lovely voice turned cold.

She seemed quite displeased; her jade foot in the lotus pool chilled slightly, and her tone, clear as a spring, rang out melodiously: “The situation in Yu Chu Sect is far from favorable. Above, we’re suppressed by the Starsea Sacred Mansion; below, the thousand domains each assert their own rule. For three cosmic cycles, we haven’t received a single starsea stipend. Instead of striving for progress and revival, you think only of other matters?”

“I don’t care. Before Mother left, she said you’re my little wife. I must marry you first—then I’ll think about anything else. We should hurry and get married.

Also, stop calling me a country bumpkin. We grew up together as childhood friends. Just call me Zhi Qian, as before.”

The little bald boy grinned, speaking merrily and without the slightest awkwardness.

“Little wife?”

The gentle silhouette’s voice chilled further, a mysterious cosmic aura unfurling, causing the entire holy temple, forged of divine gold, to tremble.

Outside, the star domain quaked.

A star extinguished, instantly becoming a massive ice crystal. Many disciples of Yu Chu Sect felt a chill in their hearts—surely that one had angered their sect leader again.

“So fierce, not cute at all.”

The little bald boy grumbled, adding, “You weren’t like this before. It’s just a sect leader’s seat—look how proud you are, and it was my mother who passed it to you.”

With that, he took another angry bite of sweet potato.

“Hoo~”

The mysterious, hazy figure drew a deep breath, as if suppressing her impulsive feelings to calm herself. Then she instructed the old man beside the little bald boy, “Take this little country bumpkin to the Ancient Yu Cultivation Domain for some training.”

The old man’s wooden face changed instantly, a smile spreading as he replied respectfully, “Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Wait.”

The little bald boy protested, “Dan Ya, we aren’t married yet! Why are you sending me to the Ancient Star Domain?”

The old man, hearing this, fell silent again.

These two were always at odds—it wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last. He knew well that he couldn’t afford to offend either. Experience taught him that, at such moments, it was best to feign ignorance.

Beside the lotus pool, atop the jade steps, the hazy figure rose lightly, her jade-like arms crossed upon her snow-knees, infinitely graceful.

She spoke calmly: “The Starsea is currently pacifying disasters there, accumulating merit. Yu Chu Sect follows the decrees of heaven, inheriting from the New Universe to this day, yet we’ve gradually declined. Now, more than ever, we must not fall behind. Going to pacify disasters there will only benefit you.”

“But—”

The little bald boy was about to say more.

“But what? But you want to marry me?” The female sect leader spoke evenly. “Think about it. Are your age and cultivation worthy of me?”

“Dan Ya, age isn’t an issue, and strength even less so,” the little bald boy’s eyes brightened, finally reaching the heart of the matter.

The sect leader pursed her lips.

After a long pause, her voice rang clear: “Fine, I promise you. When your hair grows in and you reach the level of a cultivator, I’ll marry you. Until then, don’t bother me about this again, and don’t mention it! Understood?”

“A cultivator—how long will that take?” The little bald boy’s face fell, bargaining, “Dan Ya, can’t you cut me some slack? You’re my little wife anyway, sooner or later makes no difference.”

“Later, then,” the sect leader replied coolly.

The little bald boy: “…”

The old man gave an awkward chuckle, trying to persuade, “Young Master Zhi Qian, the sect leader has already made a concession. Perhaps we should…”

The little bald boy frowned, asking, “Old Yuan, how long will it take me to reach the level of a cultivator?”

“Well… the shortest, a month? The longest… hard to say…” Old Yuan looked skyward, making up an answer.

“A month—that’s not bad!” The little bald boy’s eyes lit up. If it’s just a month, he’d be back soon to marry Dan Ya.

“Ahem, ahem.” Old Yuan coughed hard. What nonsense—a month to become a cultivator? Even a hundred million years would be exceptionally swift.