The Meaning of Heavenly Marriage

Inside the Sanqing Hall, clouds swirled and incense wafted gently.

At this moment, Sanqing and Xuanbao were having a BBQ in the Sanqing Hall, with various innate spiritual fruits on plates, and Xuanbao was grilling small barbecue items...

Laozi sat cross-legged on a futon, holding a whisk, his gaze calm as still water; Yuanshi Tianzun sat upright on a jade platform, his fingertips lightly touching the rim of a cup, as if deducing the secrets of heaven; Tongtian Jiaozhu leaned against a cloud bed, a smile playing on his lips, his brows still bearing the exhilaration of the grand competition. Xuanbao stood by, pouring tea and wine for his three masters, his movements composed and his demeanor serene.

"This grand competition is well arranged," said Yuanshi Tianzun first, his voice clear and melodious, like jade striking each other. "The literary discussions focus on the Daoist heart, while the martial arts contests test supernatural abilities. The balance is excellent, and the rules are clear. Xuanbao, you have put in a lot of effort."

Xuanbao smiled and said, "It is my duty as a disciple. The three sects share the same origin. It is a great event for Kunlun to see fellow disciples exchanging ideas and demonstrating their strengths."

The Tongtian Sect Leader laughed heartily, took a bite of roasted meat, accepted the spirit wine handed to him by Xuanbao, and took a sip: "Delicious! Spirit wine is still the best to my liking."

"Speaking of which, especially that girl Jin Ling, who overcame skill with brute force and directly confronted the Jade Cauldron's Myriad Swords Slaughtering Immortal Formation, showed some of my own prowess. And those two lads, Duo Bao and Yun Zhongzi, had treasures flying everywhere, dazzling the eyes—it's just that Yun Zhongzi's imitations were ultimately lacking in refinement. I'll have to give him some pointers on the real art of weapon forging later."

Yuanshi: ...Then I'll go!

Laozi raised his eyes, his gaze gentle, and looked at Xuanbao: "Although the competition is over, the path is endless. After this, how are the disciples of the three sects feeling? Will they become arrogant, or harbor resentment?"

Xuanbao pondered for a moment before answering truthfully: "Master, in my observation, the victors showed no arrogance, but rather reflected on their shortcomings; the losers also showed no resentment, but rather pondered and improved themselves during the observation. Especially in the final comprehensive evaluation, the difference between the three sects was negligible, which made all the junior brothers and sisters realize that there are three thousand great paths, each with its own unique way, and that strength and weakness are not constant. The camaraderie among fellow disciples seems to have become even stronger after this experience. There has also been a noticeable increase in those who privately exchange Daoist teachings and share their insights recently."

"Good." Laozi nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. "The foundation of the three sects lies in unity. The great calamity is approaching, the secrets of heaven are obscured, and the primordial world may be in turmoil. We, the disciples of the Three Pure Ones, must join hands and move forward together in order to protect our lineage amidst the calamity and find a glimmer of hope."

The atmosphere in the hall tensed slightly upon hearing the mention of "the Great Calamity." Yuanshi Tianzun put down his cup, his expression solemn: "What you say is absolutely right, elder brother. Since Hongjun merged with the Dao, the operation of the Heavenly Dao has become increasingly unpredictable. Recently, I have observed the stars in the heavens and deduced the primordial fortune. I have noticed a hidden aura of calamity spreading from the west, and the calamity is gradually rising. Although it has not yet taken shape, we must be wary of it."

The Tongtian Sect Leader also suppressed his smile, his brows furrowing slightly: "Those two in the West have been making frequent moves lately, recruiting many disciples and passing down many unorthodox cultivation methods similar to the 800 heretical sects. Their ambitions are not small. Moreover, the Heavenly Court of the Demon Race has now regained its fortune, and the Witch Race has occupied the land and gained a lot of merit by managing the ley lines. The situation of the two powers vying for power has already taken shape."

Xuanbao listened quietly. Although he knew the direction of the "plot," this primordial world had long been unrecognizable because of him. Now, the Three Pure Ones were on good terms, and their disciples were harmonious, which was quite different from the "original story." The specific evolution of the Great Tribulation was also difficult to predict.

Suddenly, the Three Pure Ones, who were chatting and laughing, seemed to sense something. "Xuanbao, go out and greet Junior Sister Nuwa."

Xuanbao was slightly taken aback, then quickly understood, accepted the order, and hurried out of the Sanqing Hall. Outside the hall, auspicious clouds swirled, and the Goddess Nuwa, dressed in a five-colored robe and holding a red embroidered ball, gracefully approached. Xuanbao hurriedly stepped forward, bowing respectfully: "Greetings, Sister Nuwa! Your presence is an honor to Kunlun Mountain." Nuwa smiled gently, her voice soft and melodious: "Little brother, you certainly have a silver tongue. However, I have come here for two reasons: first, to congratulate Brother Sanqing on the successful completion of the Grand Competition; and second, to discuss something with you."

Xuanbao led Nuwa into the Sanqing Hall. The clouds swirled slightly as the saintly Nuwa descended, adding a touch of vitality to the fragrance. Nuwa wore a plain cloud-patterned robe, her face compassionate and holy. A red embroidered ball hung beside her, radiating a soft glow and a faint aura of predestined love.

"Greetings, three senior brothers." Nuwa nodded in greeting, her voice gentle.

The Three Pure Ones rose to greet them. Tongtian, being the most straightforward, asked curiously, "Junior Sister Nuwa, have you come to discuss something? What is it?"

The rest of the group turned their gaze to Nuwa, waiting for an answer.

Nuwa nodded slightly, her fingertips gently tracing the red light flowing across the surface of the embroidered ball: "Indeed. This treasure has been giving frequent warnings recently, indicating that an opportunity seems to be closely related to the future destiny of the primordial world."

Seeing Nuwa pointing to the red embroidered ball, Xuanbao knew the reason for his destiny. Wasn't this the celestial marriage merit beckoning him? In the original story, Dijun married Xihe and Changxi, these two goddesses of the moon. He himself had met Xihe and Changxi once in the Zixiao Palace, and thus received a primordial spiritual treasure. However, the demon race of today is very different from the original demon race, and Xuanbao didn't want Xihe and Changxi to follow the same path…

As Xuanbao was reminiscing about his past with Xihe and Changxi, Nuwa continued, "This opportunity is related to the Heavenly Court of the Demon Clan and involves Dijun."

Yuanshi Tianzun frowned slightly, pondering, "Dijun is the Heavenly Emperor of the Demon Race; a single move by him affects the whole situation. I wonder where this opportunity lies?"

Nuwa parted her lips slightly: "The red embroidered ball indicates that this opportunity is related to the two Yin Goddesses, Xihe and Changxi." The Tongtian Sect Leader's eyes lit up: "So that's how it is..."

Lao Tzu's gaze was calm: "This matter requires careful handling; one should not be hasty."

Xuanbao's heart stirred slightly; he knew this opportunity was undoubtedly a heavenly marriage. After a moment's thought, he stepped forward and bowed to Nuwa, saying, "Sister Nuwa, I may know something about this matter."

Nuwa looked at Xuanbao in surprise: "Oh? My little brother knows about this too?"

Xuanbao said calmly, "Back in the Zixiao Palace, I had the honor of meeting two fellow Daoists, Xihe and Changxi. I even received a Moon Essence Pearl from Changxi, and thus gained some understanding of the two goddesses of the Taiyin Star. The red embroidered ball is a warning, presumably sensing the stirrings of fate; this is an omen of a heavenly marriage." Xuanbao didn't hide anything and directly revealed the matter of the heavenly marriage. The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa are both sages, so upon hearing about the heavenly marriage, they naturally understood the cause and effect involved.

"A heavenly marriage?" the Three Pure Ones exclaimed in unison, each with a clear understanding in their eyes.

Nuwa nodded gently: "Brother Xuanbao is indeed intelligent, and this is a match made in heaven. The red embroidered ball is a magical treasure for marriage, and it senses that the Heavenly Emperor of the Demon Clan and the Goddess of the Moon are destined for each other. If this matter can be accomplished, it will benefit the Heavenly Way and bring merit."

Yuanshi Tianzun frowned slightly: "Dijun marrying the Goddess of Taiyin can consolidate the fortune of the Heavenly Court, but at present, the demon race is at odds with all races. This move may exacerbate the conflict in the prehistoric world and may not be a good thing for the Great Tribulation."

The Master of Tongtian then said, "Since it is an opportunity ordained by Heaven, it must have a profound meaning. However, my Kunlun sect has no close relationship with the demon race, and we even have some enmity towards them. How should we intervene in this matter?"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Xuanbao said, "My three masters, Sister Nuwa, I have a plan, but I don't know if I should tell you."

All eyes turned to Xuanbao, and Laozi said gently, "Xuanbao, please speak freely."

Xuanbao composed himself and slowly said, "This celestial marriage will indeed stabilize the Heavenly Court's fortune and benefit the Heavenly Dao. However, I believe we shouldn't be fixated on 'Di Jun.' To put it bluntly, the demon race is universally hated these days. Involving the two Yin Goddesses, Xihe and Changxi, in this conflict, while in accordance with the Heavenly Dao, may not be entirely satisfactory. In that case, why not slightly adjust the celestial marriage arrangement?"

Nuwa pondered for a moment: "How should we adjust it?"

Xuanbao said, "The essence of a celestial marriage lies in 'harmony of Yin and Yang, stabilizing Heaven and Earth.' We can find another suitable person in the prehistoric world to form a celestial marriage with Xihe and Changxi. For example... 'Uncle-Master Fuxi.' If we can facilitate this auspicious union, we will not only gain merit but also forge a connection between the Taiyin Star and our Kunlun, enhancing our influence in the prehistoric world. Moreover, choosing a different person can also prevent Xihe and Changxi from falling into the current complex situation of the demon race."

Upon hearing this, both Sanqing and Nuwa fell into deep thought. They exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat awkward, realizing that constantly exploiting Fuxi was indeed not a good thing.

However, Nuwa was the first to nod: "This plan is feasible. It not only conforms to the celestial marriage opportunity but also allows for flexibility." Yuanshi also said: "In this way, it will benefit all parties." Tongtian Jiaozhu laughed: "Good! Let's do it this way. Xuanbao is a smart kid." Only Laozi remained silent, but did not object.

At that moment, Fuxi, who was teaching the people of the human race how to hunt and fish in the human tribe, suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if something important about him was about to happen!