Chapter 193

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/

Chapter 193: Holding Hands Together

On May 23rd, the year 96,565 of the Tianwu Era, a day of monumental significance, destined to be etched into the annals of Tianwu history.

This day marked the grand wedding of Ming He, the revered leader of the human race, and Qin Chu Yi, the esteemed leader of the Qin Clan from the Ancient Clan, with the marriage contract ceremony held at the Imperial Palace.

Heaven and Earth stood as witnesses, with the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, stars, and clouds, alongside every living being of the Tianwu Continent, offering their most heartfelt blessings.

This year, Ming He, at the age of twenty-nine, ascended to the Emperor realm, her sword cleaving the heavens and the earth, dispelling the dense mists to herald the dawn of the Tianwu Continent.

The landscape was a tapestry of clarity and vitality, with harmonious winds and a serene atmosphere; the majestic mountains and expansive oceans painted a picture of enduring beauty, brimming with the hope of rebirth after the ravages of war.

It was a time of clear skies and a radiant future, where every glance was met with the dazzling sunlight casting enchanting shadows, arcs that resonated with the soul.

The Tian Yan Tribe clan leader had fallen, their army vanquished by the sword shadows effortlessly summoned by Ming He, as the human race’s formation masters, led by Nineteen, reached for the heavens, uniting all formation seals with unparalleled might.

The path from the battlefield of the heavens to the Tianwu Continent was severed, granting human cultivators complete freedom, no longer bound to the life-and-death struggles of the battlefield.

Beings from the myriad worlds could no longer enter the Tianwu Continent, while human emperors could traverse the void freely, a cause for great rejoicing.

The wedding ceremony for Ming He and Qin Chu Yi should have taken place much earlier, as they had already formed a Dao partner bond and shared a deep understanding long ago.

The delay was due to the human cultivators, who had suffered grievous injuries, only now beginning to recover.

Fu Yao, Lord of the Imperial Palace, had been on the brink of death in that bloody battle; had it not been for Ming He’s timely ascension to the Emperor realm, the Power of Faith from the heavens would not have sustained her life.

Additionally, there was Qing Long, the former top formation master and Fu Yao’s Dao partner, Qin Ling, the ancestral figure of Qin Huang Mountain, Dong Jian Ping, the Lord of the Eastern Region, Mu Xuan Ye, the Left Envoy of the demon race, and Feng Xin, leader of the Phoenix Clan…

Under the Floating Life Formation, the injuries of Earth Emperor realm cultivators were the most severe, making recovery a daunting task.

Years passed like fleeting shadows before such grave injuries, thus this wedding ceremony was not merely a union of Ming He and Qin Chu Yi, but a symbol of life and hope.

It signified the end of suffering and the arrival of sweetness, the dawn breaking through the darkness.

Hence, the grand and solemn preparations were entirely fitting.

Half a month prior to the appointed time, the Imperial Palace was adorned with lights and red silk, as cultivators from all corners brought gifts they had eagerly sought out.

There were luminous crystal orbs, casting seven splendid colors, said to be crafted from the bones of the giant spirit dragon of the West Sea.

There were three thousand cloud silk threads, light as mist, rumored to be woven from the silk of the spiritual creature of the North Sea.

…

In essence, the finest and most beautiful items were presented, as the cultivators expressed their deep admiration and affection for their ruler and Qin Chu Yi, their joy surpassing even their own wedding celebrations.

Assuming they had partners, of course.

However, this was of little concern to Ming He; she placed her complete trust in Fu Yao and Qing Long, entrusting them with all wedding preparations.

On the eve of the grand wedding, she floated on clouds, with the little beast Chirp Chirp resting lazily on her shoulder, skillfully navigating the mountains and sneaking into Qin Huang Mountain.

Revisiting familiar grounds, the world had transformed, and Ming He felt a surge of emotions.

She blinked and suppressed her slightly turbulent feelings as she avoided the vigilant guards and stepped lightly through the eaves, her body upside down as she appeared at the bamboo window of the hall where Qin Chu Yi resided.

“Senior Sister!” Ming He exclaimed with a cheerful smile, her tone bright and clear, yet laced with a hint of mischief, startling the woman engrossed in reviewing the jade slip at her desk.

Qin Chu Yi held a jade slip between her fingers, lifting her gaze to Ming He with a mix of helplessness and joy, her voice instinctively softening, “What brings you here?”

“I’m here to play with you, of course.” Ming He nimbly climbed through the window, standing next to Qin Chu Yi, brushing off nonexistent dust from her clothes, and then bending down to take the jade slip from her hand, her expression serious and slightly displeased. “We’re getting married tomorrow, and how can you still be focused on the jade slip?”

Her face displayed visible dissatisfaction, clearly indicating she needed some coaxing.

Qin Chu Yi chuckled softly, her finger gently poking Ming He’s cheek, savoring the softness. Her lips naturally curved into a smile as she guided Ming He to sit beside her on the beauty couch. "But I’m marrying you. What more do I need to prepare?"

In the cultivation world, arranged marriages were not uncommon. Often, the betrothed from noble families had never met, leading to inevitable anxiety and unease. But Qin Chu Yi’s marriage was to Ming He. They had met in humble circumstances, fought side by side in moments of peril, and shared countless intimate experiences. For them, marriage was merely a ceremonial declaration to Heaven and Earth.

That was Qin Chu Yi’s perspective. She had never placed much emphasis on formalities. As long as Ming He’s heart held her, and only her, that was sufficient.

"Besides, our ancestor is severely injured and only recently started to recover. My father and brother are occupied with patrolling the five regions. I’ve just assumed the role of clan leader, and the Ancient Clan still has many matters demanding my attention. I truly can’t spare the mental energy to feel anxious."

Qin Chu Yi rested her head on her hand, a subtle weariness in her expression. Lately, she had been so swamped that she wished she could split herself in two.

But now, seeing Ming He, all that fatigue naturally dissipated, replaced by a joy that seemed to respect the grace of the Emperor, leaving only delight shining in her eyes.

Ah, Ming He of the Emperor realm!

Qin Chu Yi gazed at the woman beside her, whose sharpness was softened by a radiant warmth. For a moment, she felt a pang of nostalgia, recalling the small cultivator in blue clothes she had seen long ago in the valley.

She had only just reached the peak of the Earth Emperor Realm; when would she break through to the Emperor realm?

Although the war had temporarily subsided, Qin Chu Yi knew that the Tianwu Continent could not afford to stagnate. The Imperial Palace harbored ambitions to venture into the myriad worlds.

The human race had endured beatings for thousands of years and had shown patience for just as long; their struggle would never stop at merely successful defense.

Blood debts could only be repaid in blood. The demon royal family’s left and right envoys, led by Mu Xuan Ye and Zhou Yi, along with the right envoy of the demon race and the domain leaders of the human race’s western and southern regions, had already been sent by Mo Xiao, Ji Wu Xu, and Fu Yao to scout the territory.

As she pondered this, she was momentarily dazed, rising to sit back at the white jade table, unconsciously picking up a jade slip with her fingers. Her thoughts were: Only after dealing with matters of the Qin Clan could she free up time to train. Once she reached the Great Emperor realm, she could devote time to accompany Ming He to explore this world revealing starlight.

Ming He simply observed her Senior Sister as she sat back down, returning to her serious demeanor with her head bowed, as if she did not exist.

It appeared that Qin Chu Yi had genuinely overlooked her.

Ming He: "…" How frustrating!

She stood up with a thud, reaching over to take the jade slip from Qin Chu Yi’s hand, then wrapped her arms around the woman’s waist. With a thought, she had appeared in the clouds above Qin Huang Mountain.

Qin Chu Yi looked up, blankly gazing at the beautiful scene of flowing clouds and colorful rays enveloping her. She turned to Ming He, somewhat dazed, and said helplessly, "Ming Xiao He, don’t mess around. I—"

Ming He pressed her finger against Qin Chu Yi’s lips, silencing her, her eyes warm and smiley. "Just give me an hour, Senior Sister."

An hour.

Under the mesmerizing gaze of those starry eyes, Qin Chu Yi felt powerless to resist. She hesitated for three seconds between Ming He and that stack of important jade slips that could wait a little, then wrapped her arms around Ming He’s neck affectionately. "What do you want to do?"

Ming He looked ahead without bowing her head, only tightening her embrace around Qin Chu Yi’s waist. Her voice was clear and resolute: "I want to take you to a place."

A place she wanted to show her Senior Sister.

"What place?" Qin Chu Yi asked curiously.

Ming He smiled and shook her head, choosing not to answer, only quickening her pace. In an instant, they descended from the clouds, her tone light as she said, "We’re here."

She let go of Qin Chu Yi, looking up at the towering mountains shrouded in dark clouds and magical mist before turning to meet Qin Chu Yi’s puzzled gaze.

"This is—Shura Mountain!"

Shura Mountain, located in the land of the demon race in the western region, was the most important territory of the demon royal family, a forbidden area that ordinary demons could not step into. It held the most core inheritance and beliefs of the demon race, holding significance akin to the Imperial Palace for the human race.

Even though the demon race and the human race had formed an alliance, with Demon Lord Mo Xiao admiring the human race’s Sword Pavilion leader, Nineteen, they were not to be compared.

This was simply a distinction of two different levels.

So, why did Ming He bring her here?

Ming He remained silent, taking Qin Chu Yi’s hand as they walked into the defensive circle at the foot of the mountain. When the demon guards approached, she tossed them a black disciple token and continued forward. She stopped in a secluded corner among the rocky outcrops and said softly, "Senior Sister, please wait for me here."

Qin Chu Yi frowned, gripping Ming He’s arm. "This is Shura Mountain, a place where all demonic energy and evil forces in the world converge."

The demon race thrived in darkness, and while they were less suppressed by Heaven and Earth compared to other non-native beings, the forbidden areas of the demon race naturally repelled all righteous energy. Even with Ming He’s cultivation at the Emperor realm, venturing alone into Shura Mountain would be perilous.

After all, righteousness and evil could never coexist, and Shura Mountain suppressed the cultivation of all non-demon beings.

She could get hurt.

Ming He smiled and nodded. "I know."

She gently placed the Little Black Beast Chirp Chirp on Qin Chu Yi’s shoulder, her voice soft. "Senior Sister, wait for me here."

"I have something I want to give you."

With that, Ming He lightly tapped her toes and swiftly glided past the withered trees, her figure soon vanishing into the heavy shadows. Qin Chu Yi barely had time to react.

Absently, she touched the Chirp Chirp on her shoulder, pondering Ming He’s words. She glanced up at the drooping branches above, and a fleeting thought crossed her mind, causing her heart to skip a beat.

Shura Mountain, a gift? Could it be that Ming He was going to give her something—

Qin Chu Yi clenched her fists, her gaze fixed on the swirling black fog that enveloped the misty peak. She longed to follow Ming He but knew her cultivation was insufficient, and she would surely be injured. Reluctantly, she stayed put.

Time passed, and eventually, a familiar, graceful figure reappeared in Qin Chu Yi’s sight. She looked up and saw the young sword cultivator, her blue clothes tattered and stained with faint traces of blood.

Her disheveled black hair was strewn with leaves, her palms bore delicate wounds, and her cheeks were marked by scratches from the foliage. Standing beneath the shadowed treetops, her eyes shone brightly as she held out a radiant bouquet of flowers. "For you, Senior Sister."

Qin Chu Yi blinked in surprise and lowered her gaze to the flowers, their vibrant red hue glowing amidst the oppressive haze. A hint of green at the heart of the bouquet made it hard to believe such symbols of life and hope could thrive in the depths of Shura Mountain.

This bouquet was called the Branch Break Flower.

Qin Chu Yi accepted the flowers from Ming He’s hands, her eyes meeting Ming He’s smiling gaze. Despite having guessed the reason, she couldn’t suppress the surge of emotion.

Tears welled in Qin Chu Yi’s eyes as she looked at Ming He through blurred vision, knowingly asking, "Why do you give me the Branch Break Flower?"

Ming He lowered her gaze, her ears tinged with red. But when she looked up again, her eyes were filled with determination and resolve.

There was no one else around, yet her solemn demeanor seemed like a vow to the entire world. "Senior Sister once told me that the Branch Break Flower is given to a Dao partner as a proposal. Presenting it to a girl signifies the intention to betroth her."

"I sincerely wish to marry you, Senior Sister."

"I want to walk the path ahead together with you."

"Whatever other Dao partners possess, my Senior Sister deserves as well."

Qin Chu Yi held back her tears, her voice trembling with emotion. "But the Branch Break Flower is so rare, and you’ve already given me one."

"It is indeed rare," Ming He acknowledged with a nod.

This flower grew above the clouds and could move on its own. The vastness of the world made it impossible to predict where it might appear next. Even for Ming He, who had reached the Great Emperor realm, finding it in a short time was no easy feat.

However, it was born from the love story of a human boy and a demon girl, so Ming He had consulted Mo Xiao and learned that the Branch Break Flower grew deep within Shura Mountain.

But the magical mist in the depths attacked all who entered, friend or foe alike, making it impossible for Mo Xiao to retrieve it for Ming He.

"The previous Branch Break Flower doesn’t count."

Ming He’s expression was earnest and solemn. "At that time, Senior Sister and I hadn’t yet shared our feelings, nor had we spoken of forming a Dao partner bond. It couldn’t truly count."

The sword cultivator’s pale face was etched with seriousness; every gesture conveyed to Qin Chu Yi just how significant this moment was to her.

“Senior Sister,” Ming He smiled softly, her lips curving as she met Qin Chu Yi’s moved gaze. “This bouquet of Branch Break Flowers is the one I truly wish to give you, even though it will only last for half an hour.”

It wasn’t plucked from the sea of flowers in the sky, nor was it a chance encounter. Thus, it could only exist in this world for half an hour. Once removed from the depths of Shura Mountain, steeped in demonic energy, it would fade away.

Yet, Ming He felt that only by presenting it to Qin Chu Yi would their Dao partner bond feel complete.

Rituals had never mattered to Ming He before, for there had never been a Qin Chu Yi in her life.

“What did you promise Mo Xiao in return?” Qin Chu Yi asked, her voice trembling slightly as she fought back tears, unwilling to let them blur her view of Ming He.

Shura Mountain was a forbidden zone for the demon race. Even if Mo Xiao agreed, the other elders of the demon race would never permit the human lord to enter so easily.

Ming He shrugged casually. “It’s nothing much. Just that when Nineteen perfects her space gate formation, I’ll be the one to test it.”

Nineteen was a formation master, and her pursuit of formation mastery was lifelong. In the past, she had always tested her own creations, which led her to the Shura Hall in her youth, where she met Mo Xiao.

After losing her cultivation, Mo Xiao became the test subject for Nineteen’s formations.

While other formations were manageable, the space gate formation was unpredictable. The last time Mo Xiao used it, she ended up in a strange secret realm and barely made it back.

Nineteen still needed one final test to perfect the space gate formation.

“It’ll be fine,” Ming He reassured Qin Chu Yi gently. “I’m an Emperor Realm Practitioner. No matter how strange the formation is, I can protect myself.”

“It’s not that simple!” Qin Chu Yi shook her head, clutching Ming He’s collar.

The Tianwu Continent was riddled with secret realms, each harboring unknown dangers capable of overwhelming even Emperor Realm Practitioners. How could it be foolproof?

But to Ming He, the Branch Break Flower was worth the risk.

Qin Chu Yi looked down at the bouquet in her hands, its weight feeling like a thousand pounds. Yet, her heart soared with joy, the vibrant colors of the flowers captivating her endlessly.

She gazed at the bouquet for a long time, etching the moment into her memory. As the Branch Break Flower began to fade, she tugged at Ming He’s collar, and a single tear finally fell.

Then, cradling Ming He’s head, she kissed her cold lips, still tinged with the chilling scent of blood. Their figures intertwined, hearts pounding in unison.

On the day of their grand wedding,

Ming He donned a radiant red robe, brighter than the rosy hues of the sky. The hem of her robe bore the intricate embroidery of the Branch Break Flower, and her black hair was tied up neatly, exuding elegance. At her waist hung a circular jade pendant, and she was surrounded by Nineteen, Mo Xiao, Lou Qing Shang, and Mu Nan Zhi as they made their way to the Imperial Palace.

Qin Chu Yi stood at the center of the grand hall, her crimson wedding dress enhancing her radiant beauty. Her hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, and she wore a matching circular jade pendant. The Branch Break Flower pattern on her robe seemed to dance, while Zhan Qing Yi followed behind, holding another bouquet of the flowers.

As women, they had no need for red veils. Their gazes met, filled with unspoken affection, sparkling like starlight.

Under such dazzling brilliance, Fu Yao, Qing Long, Nineteen, and Mo Xiao felt almost overwhelmed. Mo Xiao’s gaze lingered on Nineteen, her eyes filled with longing—she, too, wished to marry.

After the traditional rites of bowing to Heaven and Earth, Ming He turned and bowed in unison with Qin Chu Yi. Nineteen then stepped forward, shooing away the playful crowd eager to disrupt the wedding night. Ming He held one end of the red silk, leading Qin Chu Yi into the palaces deep within the Thousand Layers Spirit Mountain, suspended among the clouds.

According to Zhan Qing Yi, the marriage contract ceremony had been held at the Imperial Palace, Ming He’s domain, so the wedding chamber naturally belonged to the Qin Clan.

Thus, Qin Chu Yi had chosen the Thousand Layers Spirit Mountain.

Ming He had no objections.

Her heart swelled with emotion.

When the Thousand Layers Spirit Mountain first appeared, Ming He had been shamed and surrounded by enemies, unable to step into that gathering of geniuses.

She had never imagined that this place, rivaling Zichan Cave, would become Qin Chu Yi’s spiritual artifact—and the site of their wedding chamber, witnessing their most glorious union.

Deep within the palaces of the Thousand Layers Spirit Mountain,

Ming He and Qin Chu Yi sat side by side on the vibrant red wedding bed. Ming He looked up at Qin Chu Yi, adorned in her wedding finery, and felt her heart race. Finally, she uttered the timeless words: “Senior Sister, you look breathtaking today.”

Qin Chu Yi smiled softly, extending her hand and opening her palm. With a playful glint in her eyes, she teased, “Don’t you have something to give me?”

Ming He’s heart raced even faster. She clutched the shimmering light in her palm, her words stumbling slightly. “Senior Sister… how did you know?”

Qin Chu Yi’s smile deepened. She poked Ming He’s cheek, her tone light and teasing. “I know everything about Ming Xiao He. So, you’d better be careful.”

Seeing Ming He’s slightly dazed expression, Qin Chu Yi laughed softly, then gently pried open her palm to reveal a dazzling, multicolored ring. “A storage ring?”

Ming He shook her head, her ears tinged with red. She took the ring from Qin Chu Yi’s hand and, with a shy smile, said, “It’s a ring, but not a storage ring.”

She took Qin Chu Yi’s left hand and slid the radiant ring onto her finger, its brilliance reflecting the bright light. “Senior Sister knows I’m not from this world.”

“In my original world, giving a girl a ring—”

She paused, her voice steady. “Means to hold your hand and grow old together.”

“Wearing this ring means Senior Sister will always be with me.” Until death do us part.

This ring, crafted by her own hands, symbolized a lifetime together.

As she spoke, Ming He smiled at Qin Chu Yi, whose lips curled in joy. Leaning in, she kissed her cheek softly, her voice low and tender. “Senior Sister, it’s time to rest.”

A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold. She would only marry once in this life, and she wouldn’t waste a single moment.