After a tense tug-of-war between the Dark Goddess and Lin Tang, it was ultimately the Dark Goddess who compromised. She paid a hefty price, compensating him with a hoard of precious spiritual materials and Spiritual dicines before taking the Junior Commander of the Stars, who looked as if she'd been completely broken, and whisking her away.
Before leaving, the Junior Commander of the Stars numbly looked up at Lin Tang, her eyes now empty of hatred. She had never imagined that forcing a group of villains to call Long Tianji a dog would co at such a terrible price. She had truly and painfully learned the aning of the saying, "Disaster sprouts from the mouth."
They returned to the Yaochi Heavenly Palace, bringing Ning Yuexi along with them.
In the Senior Commander of the Stars' room, the Dark Goddess tossed the Junior Commander of the Stars onto the floor.
"Ruoruo! Are you alright? It hasn't been that long! How are all your clothes gone? And what are these blood-red markings all over you…" The Senior Commander of the Stars rushed forward, squatting down to embrace her.
Ning Yuexi's eyes widened. She quickly found a blanket and draped it over the Junior Commander of the Stars.
Previously, the Junior Commander of the Stars would have shoved Ning Yuexi away while scolding her for the "fake sympathy." Now, however, she just shrank into herself like a frightened quail, silent as the grave.
"Your Majesty, she…" the Senior Commander of the Stars cried out in sorrow. Thinking Ruoruo had been driven mad by Long Tianji, she looked pleadingly at the Dark Goddess, hoping she would intervene.
The Dark Goddess, still fuming over being extorted by Lin Tang yet again, snapped irritably, "It's a miracle of miracles that Long Tianji even managed to reach the Nascent Soul Stage. With how thin the Spiritual Energy in the mortal realm is, it's almost impossible for him to advance further. That makes the National Fortune his single most important source of power. The Junior Commander of the Stars forced his followers to betray and insult him, which was like touching a dragon's reverse scale. She's lucky she wasn't killed! I already warned you all not to disrespect Long Tianji again. Everything that happened today was her own doing! I saved her this ti. If there is a next ti, I will not intervene. You have all been warned!"
Having said that, she pointed a finger. All the blood-red markings on the Junior Commander of the Stars' body vanished. Then, she went back to sleep.
The Senior Commander of the Stars bowed deeply in gratitude as she saw her off. Then, holding the Junior Commander of the Stars, she sighed. "Ruoruo, you were so foolish!"
Finally regaining so of her composure, the Junior Commander of the Stars forced a bitter smile. "I won't cause any more trouble for any of you."
Ning Yuexi's heart sank. She hadn't expected the consequences of forcing so of Long Tianji's followers to turn on him would be so severe. No wonder he was so angry… But if most people in Central Earth beco dissatisfied with him in the future, won't that put him in even greater danger?
Although she was still furious with Lin Tang for marrying another woman behind her back, she couldn't sit still. She secretly sent him a ssage to ask about it.
"Oh? Is that what that old hag thinks?" Lin Tang scoffed. She thinks I'm clinging to the National Fortune as my only lifeline? Pfft! So little faith in ?
From the very beginning, Lin Tang had only ever seen the National Fortune as a supplentary tool. It was nice to have, but he wouldn't be lost without it. He was determined never to beco dependent on it. His own cultivation was what he valued most.
"Do you have a way to keep making breakthroughs?" she asked.
"Not at the mont!"
"…And you're not worried at all?"
"Can worrying solve anything? No! We'll cross that bridge when we co to it. Don't worry about . Your priority should be breaking through to the Foundation Establishnt Stage."
"Hmph! You're making so angry I could die! How am I supposed to break through when I'm in this state? A breakthrough, my ass!"
Lin Tang sighed. "I have a feeling the invasion from the Underworld is close. If you can't break through, my only option will be to wait for the Dark Goddess to possess your body, and then I'll just have to figure out a way to make *her* my wife."
Ning Yuexi was utterly speechless. Listen to him! Is he even human?! What a complete scumbag!
Jiang Mulu had already learned from Lin Tang that between him and his second dharma body, only one of them needed to focus on cultivation. The other could just relax and do nothing at all. Besides, the Spiritual Energy in the mortal realm was severely depleted. Even if he wanted to cultivate twenty-four hours a day, it was impossible. As the saying goes, even the most skillful housewife can't cook a al without rice.
Since he didn't need to cultivate constantly, taking up a little of his ti to go on a honeymoon together wouldn't be too much to ask, right?
When Jiang Mulu timidly proposed the idea, Lin Tang was dumbfounded. "We're married, so going on a honeymoon is perfectly normal. You don't have to be so timid about it, okay? You make it sound like I'm so kind of bully! Now, tell , where do you want to go?"
"Um, I saw the Dark Goddess's divine incarnation last night, and I never realized she was so beautiful. You said she created the Yaochi Heavenly Palace, so for our first stop, why don't you take there to check it out?" Jiang Mulu suggested.
As a modern woman educated in science and mathematics, she found it hard to comprehend how an independent space like the Yaochi Heavenly Palace could exist outside the known space of Central Earth. What supported it? Why could the sun from the mortal realm shine into it? How did the air circulate? And wouldn't the people living there, without computers, televisions, phones, or the internet, be incredibly bored?
"Alright, I'll take you there!"
To the current Lin Tang, visiting the Yaochi Heavenly Palace was as simple as going ho. He acted without a shred of restraint. After a few teleports and a short flight, they arrived at the summit of the Heavenly Mountain.
The peak was covered in white snow, and a fierce, cold wind raged. With the protective barrier Lin Tang had already raised, even the physically frail Jiang Mulu was shielded from the biting cold.
"Wow, the scenery is beautiful!" she exclaid, her face alight with wonder as she gazed out at the mountains and lakes. As a wealthy young lady with a delicate constitution, she had never personally visited many of Central Earth's famous landscapes. Seeing them on a screen felt unreal; it couldn't compare to the breathtaking impact of being there in person.
"The Yaochi Heavenly Palace is just up there?"
"That's right. I'll take you in."
Lin Tang wrapped an arm around her slender waist and stepped into the void. They squeezed through a crack in space and entered the Yaochi Heavenly Palace.
"It's beautiful in here! Are these the original inhabitants? Wow, that must be the Senior Commander of the Stars! Her figure is incredible!"
The Senior Commander of the Stars was left speechless. She had just managed to soothe the Junior Commander of the Stars to sleep. When she stepped out, she saw Lin Tang with a girl who had appeared out of nowhere, gaping and shouting like she'd never seen anything before. And was she pointing at *her* body? The audacity!
"Miss, please show so respect!" she said coldly.
"Er, is complinting your figure disrespectful?" Jiang Mulu blinked.
Lin Tang leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Don't be surprised. This woman has lived in seclusion here her entire life, like a sheltered lady from an ancient, wealthy family—very feudal and conservative. Let tell you, with soone like her, if I so much as glanced at her undershirt, she'd make a huge scene about either dying or marrying ."
The Senior Commander of the Stars was bewildered. What utter nonsense! Does he think I'm so kind of fool who would marry so easily? Don't think for a second that just because you look like you're in your thirties you have so irresistible charm. If you really saw… I would rather bite my tongue and die than let you have the satisfaction!
"State Preceptor Long, Her Majesty has already made concessions and paid compensation. You also agreed to let the matter with Ruoruo go. Why have you co looking for trouble again?"
"Not at all. I'm just bringing my wife for a tour and to pay a visit. Are we not welco?"
"Your wife? Just a few days ago, weren't you calling Ning Yuexi your wife?"
"I'm the State Preceptor. Is there a law against having two or more wives? If I don't get special privileges, what's the point of being the State Preceptor?"
Shaless! the Senior Commander of the Stars cursed inwardly, not daring to say it aloud.
Just then, she saw Ning Yuexi approaching. Relieved, the Senior Commander of the Stars quickly made an excuse to slip away. Out of sight, out of mind.
Ning Yuexi's gaze was heavy as she looked at Lin Tang, then glanced at Jiang Mulu. Is she here just to flaunt her position? A princess through and through, how imperious. Frustrated, she had no desire to interact and also turned to leave.
"Sister Ning, please wait!" Jiang Mulu hurried forward to stop her.
"I ca here specifically to see you, Sister Ning, and to apologize," she said with a sincere expression. "I knew our husband was ant to be with you for life, but I still used his need to activate the National Fortune as leverage to make him marry . It was all my fault."
Ning Yuexi froze. The National Fortune... the one the Dark Goddess said was so important... she helped activate it? Right. She's a princess. It makes sense that she would be the one to activate the National Fortune! So that's how it is... Although Lin Tang claims he doesn't care about the National Fortune, without its protection, he wouldn't even have the right to face the Dark Goddess head-on, let alone fight masters from the Underworld!
She fell silent, realizing just how vital Jiang Mulu was to Lin Tang. Marrying her had been a strategic necessity. Perhaps she shouldn't be so hung up on it. But… she was still so mad!
"Are you suggesting that if I don't accept this gracefully, I'll be the one making a scene? That the fault will then be on ?" Ning Yuexi asked softly.
"Eh?" Jiang Mulu paused. "I didn't an that."
"But that's what it feels like you an!" Ning Yuexi's tone was icy.
Jiang Mulu t her gaze, and for a mont, sparks seed to fly between them. After a few seconds, a smile spread across Jiang Mulu's face.
"Alright, I'll stop pretending. I'll be blunt: that was exactly my plan!" she said, her expression shifting. "A great calamity is upon us, and a powerful enemy is at our gates. We must use any ans necessary to survive. I helped our husband activate the National Fortune to make him stronger so he can survive. If he is strong and alive, he can protect and countless others. Just like you—weren't you prepared to sacrifice yourself, and even abandon our husband, to protect others? We are both acting for the greater good. Shouldn't we try to understand one another?"
"Ha?" Ning Yuexi was at a loss for words. This princess was certainly sharp-tongued, twisting logic to her advantage.
"Alright, I understand. Are you satisfied?" Ning Yuexi said, her face still cold. She then turned to Lin Tang. "And what about you? Are you enjoying having a wife on each arm?"
"For the sake of all the people in this world," Lin Tang began with a sigh, his voice filled with feigned piety, "what is the re tornt of having a wife on each arm to ? If it could save more innocent lives, I would gladly marry a dozen more…"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried far. Everyone heard him. They were all profoundly shocked. How could a person be so utterly shaless?
Even the Junior Commander of the Stars, who had just fallen asleep, was startled awake. Hearing his words, she nearly had another breakdown.
If shalessness were a asure of power, then without a doubt, Long Tianji was already number one in the world!
Even the Dark Goddess was disturbed.
"...Long Tianji! Do not corrupt the pure souls of my people! Get out of my sight this instant!"
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