Chapter Six
1002 Words
The Heavenly Beast trembled.
Its enormous body lay pressed against the jade ground as if an invisible mountain rested upon its back.
Thousands of immortals watched in stunned silence.
The beast that had slaughtered countless heavenly soldiers…
Could not even lift its head.
Mo Xuanyuan stood before it with one hand raised.
His black robes fluttered gently in the wind.
His expression never changed.
He looked almost…
Bored.
“Kneel.”
His voice echoed once more.
CRACK!
The beast’s front legs shattered beneath the overwhelming divine pressure.
It let out a heart-rending cry.
The entire Jade Palace shook.
Bai Lingxi felt her heart pounding wildly.
How powerful…
No wonder everyone feared him.
He did not need a sword.
He did not need armor.
He did not even move.
Heaven itself obeyed him.
…
The beast suddenly roared.
Black flames erupted from its body.
Its six crimson eyes glowed brighter.
With one desperate burst of strength…
It broke free.
The heavenly generals cried out.
“My Lord!”
“It has broken the suppression!”
The beast ignored every immortal.
Its hatred focused on only one person.
Bai Lingxi.
Its enormous jaws opened.
It charged.
She froze.
Again…?
Why is it always me?
Just as the beast reached her—
A flash of black crossed her vision.
Mo Xuanyuan appeared before her once more.
Without turning around, he casually raised two fingers.
The beast collided with an invisible barrier.
BOOM!
The impact sent shock waves across the palace.
Clouds scattered.
Jade pillars trembled.
Yet…
The man in black never moved an inch.
His sleeves did not even flutter.
The beast screamed in agony.
Mo Xuanyuan’s voice remained calm.
“Presumptuous.”
His fingers lowered.
The beast was instantly crushed into the ground.
A gigantic crater spread across the palace courtyard.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then…
The creature dissolved into countless particles of light.
Gone.
As though it had never existed.
…
Lingxi stared blankly.
“That’s…”
“Impossible.”
An elderly immortal standing nearby smiled faintly.
“No.”
“That…”
“…is why he is called the God of War.”
…
Mo Xuanyuan finally turned toward her.
Their eyes met.
She expected praise.
Or perhaps concern.
Instead—
“You are a burden.”
Lingxi’s eye twitched.
“What?”
“If your reaction speed remains this poor…”
“You will not survive one day in Heaven.”
Her jaw dropped.
“I almost got eaten!”
“You were.”
“And whose fault was that?”
“My… mine?”
“You stood still.”
“I couldn’t move!”
“You hesitated.”
“I was terrified!”
“Hesitation kills.”
Every sentence was colder than the last.
Lingxi clenched her fists.
“You know what?”
“I don’t like you.”
A heavenly attendant dropped the scroll he was carrying.
The sound echoed embarrassingly loudly.
No one…
Had ever told the Imperial Jade God of War that they disliked him.
Mo Xuanyuan merely looked at her.
“I know.”
His answer caught her completely off guard.
“You…”
“You know?”
“You’ve made it obvious.”
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
How infuriating.
She had prepared an entire speech.
He ruined it with two words.
…
At that moment, an elderly woman approached slowly.
Her silver hair was tied with crimson silk.
She carried a wooden loom no larger than her palm.
Every immortal immediately bowed.
“Greetings, Lady Mingyuan.”
Lingxi blinked.
Who is she?
The old woman smiled kindly.
“You must be Bai Lingxi.”
“There is no need to fear.”
Her voice was warm.
Like a grandmother’s.
Lingxi instinctively relaxed.
Until the old woman’s eyes landed on their wrists.
Her smile vanished.
For the briefest moment…
Pure terror flashed across her face.
The thread…
It had appeared again.
Thin.
Crimson.
Invisible to everyone else.
It connected Bai Lingxi’s wrist…
To Mo Xuanyuan’s.
Lady Mingyuan’s breathing became uneven.
Impossible…
It has become stronger.
After all these years…
She quickly lowered her head before anyone noticed.
“My Lord.”
“I wish to speak with you.”
Mo Xuanyuan nodded once.
“Later.”
The old woman wanted to protest.
She looked once more at the glowing thread.
Then at Bai Lingxi.
A strange sadness filled her eyes.
She whispered so softly that only she could hear herself.
“Heaven…”
“…why have you allowed them to meet again?”
…
That evening…
A young celestial maid led Lingxi through the eastern wing of the Jade Palace.
“This will be your residence.”
Lingxi looked around.
Her jaw slowly fell open.
“This…”
“ Is this for me?”
The room was larger than her entire courtyard back at the Azure Cloud Sect.
Silk curtains drifted in the breeze.
Ancient paintings adorned the walls.
A crystal window overlooked an endless sea of clouds.
A small garden bloomed with glowing jade orchids.
“It’s beautiful…”
The maid smiled.
“His Majesty personally chose it.”
Lingxi frowned.
“He did?”
“Yes.”
“But…”
The maid hesitated.
“He also ordered something else.”
“What?”
The maid coughed awkwardly.
“From tomorrow onward…”
“You will begin cultivation under Lord Xuanyuan.”
Lingxi brightened.
“Really?”
The maid nodded nervously.
“Training begins…”
“…every morning.”
“What time?”
The maid swallowed.
“Before sunrise.”
“That’s not too—”
“The first session begins…”
“…at the Third Watch.”
Lingxi blinked.
“The Third Watch?”
The maid nodded sympathetically.
“That is…”
“…three o’clock in the morning.”
Silence.
Then—
“HE’S INSANE!”
Far across the Jade Palace…
Standing alone beneath the moonlight…
Mo Xuanyuan looked toward the eastern residence.
For the first time that day…
The corner of his lips lifted ever so slightly.
Almost…
A smile.
- Writer
