Chapter Sixty-One: The Birth of the Lich, Chen Xing's Grand Wedding

On the island, the group played mahjong while He Qian casually took a spirit fruit from Xiao Yao and asked her sister He Ying, “Sister, after all these years, why haven’t you ever mentioned letting Xiao Xing and Xiao Yao, or Nuwa, get things done? Aren’t you anxious to have grandchildren?”

He Qian’s question was offhand, not something she dwelled on, and the other girls didn’t understand what “get things done” meant. Yet when He Ying heard it, her eyes lit up, and she swiftly pushed aside her mahjong tiles and clapped her hands, exclaiming, “How could I have forgotten about this? Even immortals need to get married!” With that, she turned and hurried away, shouting as she went, “I’m going to talk it over with your brother-in-law!”

Her sudden action stunned the girls. Then a shriek rang out: “My Thirteen Wonders! Sister, you did that on purpose!” The group looked over; it was He Qian.

Once He Qian calmed down, Xiao Yao curiously sidled up, asking, “Auntie, what are we supposed to do with Brother that makes Mom so anxious?”

He Qian pulled Xiao Yao into her arms. “It’s something that will make you and Chen Xing be together forever! Are you happy?”

Xiao Yao grew even more puzzled. “But I’ve always been with Brother. What else needs to be done?”

Seeing Xiao Yao’s confusion, He Qian was at a loss for words.

Nearby, Nuwa guessed something, her cheeks flushed, but she still sat elegantly, listening to their conversation.

On the small mountain where Chen Xing first returned perfected and met the two girls, Pangu stood quietly, gazing toward Buzhou Mountain, his eyes filled with complexity, a hint of joy, and a touch of helplessness…

In the vast Wilds, upon the sun star formed by Pangu’s left eye, two innate great deities had been nurtured over countless cycles and emerged already before the catastrophe of the Dragon and Phoenix. One was Di Jun, born of the Golden Crow, with profound origins and accompanied by the River Chart and the Luo Book, both supreme innate treasures of great power.

The second was Taiyi, also of the Golden Crow lineage, whose birth was accompanied by the Chaos Bell, one of the three treasures of creation, marking his deep fortune. Because he was born a little later than Di Jun, he regarded Di Jun as his elder brother.

From their emergence, the two sensed the sinister energies surging throughout the Wilds. During the great calamity, all beings fought fiercely, blood soared to the heavens, slaughter filled the plains, and the battles among quasi-saints left them fearful. With only the Daoist Golden Immortal cultivation, they dared not venture into the Wilds, choosing instead to cultivate on the sun star, waiting until their strength grew before setting out.

Meanwhile, at the foot of Buzhou Mountain, a tremendous roar split the earth, and an ancient palace burst forth from ten thousand fathoms below, appearing atop the Wilds. From within, twelve streams of blood energy shot skyward, fierce and murderous, drawing the attention of many deities who began calculating which beings had emerged.

This palace was formed from Pangu’s heart and nurtured twelve innate deities who established the Witch Tribe, calling themselves the Twelve Ancestor Witches.

The first appeared as a yellow sack, red like blazing fire, six legs and four wings, faceless and chaotic; he was Emperor Jiang, the Ancestor Witch of Space.

The second was green as bamboo, with a bird’s body and human face, riding two dragons; he was Ju Mang, Ancestor Witch of Wood.

The third had a human face and tiger body, adorned with golden scales, wings sprouting from his shoulders, a snake through his left ear, riding two dragons; he was Ru Shou, Ancestor Witch of Metal.

The fourth had a snake head and human body, clad in black scales, standing atop a black dragon, with a green python coiled around his arm; he was Gong Gong, Ancestor Witch of Water.

The fifth had a beast’s head and human body, covered in red scales, fire serpents through his ears, riding a fire dragon; he was Zhu Rong, Ancestor Witch of Fire.

The sixth had eight heads with human faces, tiger body, ten tails; he was Tian Wu, Ancestor Witch of Wind.

The seventh held a snake in his mouth and another in his hand, with a tiger head and human body, four hooves, long elbows; he was Qiang Liang, Ancestor Witch of Thunder.

The eighth had a human face and bird’s body, green snake hanging from his ear, holding a red snake; he was Yue Zi, Ancestor Witch of Lightning.

The ninth had a human face and snake body, completely crimson; he was Zhu Jiuyin, Ancestor Witch of Time.

The tenth had a human face and beast body, ears like dogs, green snake hanging from his ears; he was Shebishi, Ancestor Witch of Heavenly Arts.

The eleventh was a ferocious giant beast, his body covered in bone spikes; he was Xuan Ming, Ancestor Witch of Rain.

The twelfth had a human body and snake tail, seven hands on his back, two hands on his chest, both grasping soaring serpents; he was Hou Tu, Ancestor Witch of Earth.

These Twelve Ancestor Witches were born from twelve drops of Pangu’s heart blood fused with endless earth-killing energy after the creation of the world. They revered Pangu as their father god, and due to their extraordinary origins, they emerged as Daoist Golden Immortals.

Unfortunately, while being nurtured, they were corroded by endless earth-killing energy and could not cultivate their primordial spirits, focusing only on refining their bodies. Thus, each possessed an invincible physique but lacked understanding of the Heavenly Way and timing.

Obsessed with physical cultivation and driven by their immense appetites, they hunted wildly throughout the Wilds, slaying countless beings, including many who had already taken shape. The land was filled with terror, all living things fearing to be hunted by the Witch Tribe, avoiding their territory, daring not to protest. This sowed the seeds for the great conflict between the Witch and Demon Tribes.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred years had passed since the Ancestor Witches emerged.

On Fangzhang Island, celebration filled the air. Countless island creatures bustled about, carrying spirit fruits and delicacies to dozens of stone tables. The buildings were festooned with lanterns and banners, radiating joy.

Fat Zhu barked orders to everyone, his voice booming. Two little girls darted through the crowd, holding skewers of candied spirit fruits, laughing as they ran. They were Chen Xing’s beloved younger sister Chen Mi and her best friend Little Rabbit.

Because Chen Xing had infused Chen Mi’s body with the vital purple energy of the Dao, freezing the flow of time within her, she remained childlike despite having reached the Daoist Golden Immortal realm. Unless she later attained the quasi-saint level, the constraints of time would not break—a situation reminiscent of Xiao Yao’s experience.

Originally, Chen Xing wanted Pangu to break this restriction directly, but Chen Mi refused, insisting she wanted to grow up alongside her best friend Little Rabbit. Helpless, Chen Xing let her be.

Today was the day Chen Xing’s parents had arranged for him to marry Xiao Yao and Nuwa. Everyone wore bright red, festive attire, their joy evident. Fuxi and Pangu exchanged glances, looking at their own red robes and smiling wryly.

When the islanders first learned of Pangu’s identity, they were amazed and a little reserved before him—after all, he was the creator of the Wilds! But Chen Xing managed to smooth things over.

As time went by, everyone grew accustomed to Pangu’s presence. Sometimes Fat Zhu would jest, demanding Pangu call him “Uncle Master,” which left Pangu awkward but obliged, since Fat Zhu truly was Chen Xing’s childhood friend.

As the crowd busied themselves, a loud voice suddenly rang out, “The Phoenix Clan’s little princess and two young masters have arrived! Congratulations to Young Lord Chen Xing and Xiao Yao Nuwa on their wedding day!” The speaker was Niu Zhengwei, appointed by Chen Xing’s mother as the greeter—a fitting role, given his booming voice.

Everyone turned to see Feng Ling’er leading two little boys, carrying several gift boxes.

Upon hearing Feng Ling’er had arrived, Chen Xing and Nuwa Xiao Yao emerged from the building. Chen Xing wore the attire of a groom from ancient China, looking spirited and handsome. Xiao Yao and Nuwa, in phoenix crowns and splendid robes, appeared even more stunning.

Seeing Feng Ling’er, Xiao Yao and Nuwa hurried to greet her, pulling her aside to chat happily. Feng Ling’er glanced at their attire, her eyes tinged with envy.

Witnessing this familiar scene, Chen Xing felt deeply moved. His mother, wanting everyone on the island to join in the festivities, had transplanted Earth’s wedding customs here. Preparations for the wedding had taken nearly a hundred years—a near miracle, and almost overwhelming for Chen Xing.

As Chen Xing was lost in thought, the greeter Niu Zhengwei shouted once more, “From Jade Capital Mountain, Hong Jun sends the youths Hao Tian and Yao Chi to offer congratulations to Fellow Daoists Chen Xing and Xiao Yao Nuwa on their union!”

In truth, such congratulatory phrases didn’t exist in the Wilds, but Chen Xing’s clever mother had taught Niu Zhengwei to use them regardless of who arrived, for the sake of celebration.