The Big Wedding (1)
Lin Qianshuang glanced at Xuan Luowan in the mirror, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. “It’s not a real wedding,” she mused, “so why is this cunning fox smiling so happily?” A pang of sadness washed over her. Once Xuan Luowan became the Demon Empress, she would be able to retrieve the Cold Cicada Zither from the forbidden land, but their time together would be over.
Lin Qianshuang would journey to the human cultivation realm, while Xuan Luowan would return to the beast cultivation realm. This farewell might be their last.
Lin Qianshuang squeezed Xuan Luowan’s hand, cherishing their friendship. She had struggled to break through the Yuan Condensation stage, even considering giving up cultivation altogether. Cultivation was a grueling test of mental strength, more demanding than any exam or job search. Without Xuan Luowan’s companionship and encouragement, Lin Qianshuang might have succumbed to despair. Their bond was unbreakable, as close as sisters. Xuan Luowan’s hand returned the squeeze, radiating warmth and comfort.
Lin Qianshuang smiled at Xuan Luowan, then turned to the mirror, her reflection adorned in a wedding dress. A deep breath escaped her lips, her heart pounding with nervous anticipation. The coronation ceremony was imminent, and this wedding banquet would be a battlefield. She dabbed a touch of crimson lipstick onto her lips, her eyes gleaming with a hidden intensity. The time for action was near.
The Demon Emperor, after ruling the Demon Cultivation Realm for a century, finally declared a Demon Empress. However, this was not Bai Wan, the former Demon Emperor’s daughter, whom everyone had anticipated. Instead, it was Lin Qianshuang, Han Shengyao’s disciple, who’s master had relinquished her position as a Saint.
It was said that she had secured the support of the three major Demon Sects within a mere few months, and her cultivation potential surpassed all others. In just half a year, she had achieved the Demon Infant stage.
The Jiuchong Demon Palace was abuzz with celebration, adorned with vibrant red wedding decorations. Demon Cultivators from across the realm had assembled, with the leaders of the three major Demon Sects seated in the honored positions, awaiting the arrival of the Demon Emperor and his new Empress.
A grand staircase descended from the first level of the Demon Palace to the fifth, suspended in the air. Thousands of jade steps were covered in the vibrant purple Xiang Magic Orchids, unique to the Demon Realm. Clusters of red and purple flower balls lined the sides, and lanterns emblazoned with the character Xi (meaning double happiness) floated gently in the air.
Lin Qianshuang, her face partially veiled with a thin red gauze, walked up the staircase, her heavy and ornate headdress pressing down on her neck. The thick train of her dress trailed behind her, creating a ripple of crimson with each step. She struggled to keep her head up, her neck aching from the weight of the headdress. The steps seemed endless, like climbing a towering mountain. Her pace slowed, but she quickly recovered and matched the Demon Emperor’s stride.
As they reached the main hall of the Demon Palace, a woman in a wedding dress stood waiting. Xuan Luowan, her eyes fixed on Lin Qianshuang, lifted the red veil covering her face.
The Demon Emperor, frowning at Xuan Luowan’s similar attire, said, “Xiao Wan, today is my wedding to the Left Protector. Why are you dressed like this? Stop making a scene.”
Xuan Luowan, a playful smile on her face, approached Lin Qianshuang and embraced her, whispering, “I’m not joking, Your Majesty. Today is not just your big day. I’m also marrying the one I love.” She then kissed Lin Qianshuang’s cheek, her voice laced with affection.
Lin Qianshuang, holding Xuan Luowan in her arms, tossed her heavy headdress to the floor. She shed her outer robe, then condensed a long sword of demonic energy in her hand, pointing it directly at the Demon Emperor. Her voice, firm and resolute, echoed through the hall: “Your Majesty, Bai Wan and I are bound by a love that transcends all boundaries. With everyone gathered here today, I challenge you to a duel for the throne!”
A collective gasp swept through the assembled guests. Many dropped their chopsticks in shock, stunned by the audacity of the new Demon Empress.
The situation was unprecedented. The Demon Emperor, in the midst of his wedding ceremony, was being challenged by his own Empress, who sought to claim his throne and marry the former Demon Emperor’s daughter, Bai Wan.
It was a public humiliation, a fire in the heart of the Demon Emperor’s palace, fueled by the two women he held dearest.
The Demon Emperor, momentarily speechless, finally recovered with a forced smile. “You two have been at odds for so long, why are you playing this game today?” he asked, trying to maintain his composure.
He turned to Su Qing, his Right Protector, and said, “Take Xiao Wan back to Yanbo Hall. I will visit her tomorrow.”
Su Qing, without a word, cast a wary glance at the Demon Emperor before approaching Lin Qianshuang. “Master, what are your orders? Miss Bai needs to be protected.”
“Su Qing,” Lin Qianshuang instructed, “take Xiaowan aside. The coming battle will be fierce, and I don’t want her to be caught in the crossfire.”
The Demon Emperor listened to the conversation between Su Qing and Lin Qianshuang, instantly understanding the situation. He then glanced at the Three Demon Sect’s heads seated at the table. They watched the unfolding scene with a calm composure, as if already privy to the truth.
Seeing the growing gloom on the Demon Emperor’s face, Lin Qianshuang smirked slightly and said, “Your Majesty, you’ve ignored my challenge for so long. Are you afraid?”
The Demon Emperor, furious, turned to Lin Qianshuang and Xuan Luowan, his eyes wide with rage. “You dare conspire against me!”
His gaze lingered on Lin Qianshuang, a flicker of hope still burning in his heart. “Shuang’er, what is the meaning of this? You’ve rallied the three sects, all for the sake of a woman I’ve used? I promised you the position of Demon Empress. Rest assured, I will never allow anyone to threaten you.”
Lin Qianshuang advanced towards him, her voice dripping with icy disdain. “Are you deaf or blind, Your Majesty? If you refuse to fight me, then relinquish the throne. I will not hesitate to harm you.”
The Demon Emperor, staring in disbelief at Lin Qianshuang and Xuan Luowan, suddenly erupted into a manic grin. “Shuang’er, do you think I’m so enamored with you that I wouldn’t dare to hurt you? I will crush you, make you submit, and force you to be my woman again, to serve me for the rest of your life!”
The Demon Emperor’s words had barely left his lips when he swung the Cosmos Orb, a powerful magic weapon, towards Lin Qianshuang.
Lin Qianshuang, without a moment’s hesitation, popped a magic core into her mouth and charged forward, dodging the Cosmos Orb’s impact. She then countered with a swift swing of her sword, aiming for the Demon Emperor.
Xuan Luowan, standing beside Su Qing, watched the fierce exchange between Lin Qianshuang and the Demon Emperor. Their figures blurred, leaving behind deep marks on the ground with each clash of their magic weapons. Xuan Luowan knew Lin Qianshuang’s strength well and wasn’t worried, especially since Lin Qianshuang had just absorbed a potent magic elixir.
The battle was a spectacle of the power from cultivators who had condensed their Demon Infant, leaving many demon cultivators bewildered. Then, in a blinding flash of sword light, the Demon Emperor stumbled back, coughing up blood. Lin Qianshuang’s sword lay across his neck, mere millimeters from his throat.
Lin Qianshuang knelt before the defeated Demon Emperor, her voice cold and sharp. “Ye Heng, you murdered the previous Demon Emperor. The reports of his death were lies. You were stuck at the Golden Core stage, desperate to reach the Demon Infant level. To achieve this, you devoured the previous Demon Emperor’s soul and magic core, stealing his thousand years of cultivation.”
“Despite your actions, your merits are tainted with evil. You fear the tribulation that comes with advancing further, so you remain stagnant as a Demon Infant. Now, you can’t even defeat my own, albeit accelerated, Demon Infant strength.”
Lin Qianshuang, a mocking smile playing on her lips, flashed the identity jade slip on her wrist. “Your Majesty, this jade is linked to my master. She can hear everything I say. She has heard everything I just revealed. What else do you have to say?”
Standing up, Lin Qianshuang tossed the silver ring at Ye Heng’s feet. She looked at the fallen Demon Emperor with a hint of regret. “My master keeps making mistakes. She fell for a murderer, and she loves a disciple who loves another. I feel sorry for her.”
Lin Qianshuang’s words sparked a commotion among the guests. The Demon Emperor’s panicked expression revealed the truth for all to see.
Some demon cultivators even stood up to denounce the Demon Emperor’s actions. No matter their path, killing one’s master was the most despicable act. And the one who committed this crime was the very Demon Emperor they had revered.
The Demon Emperor, watching his authority crumble, realized the futility of his efforts. He had been lost in the Demon Cultivation world for centuries, his people’s hearts alienated. Now, he was powerless to salvage the situation.
He rose, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Lin Qianshuang. “You have no right to speak about the saint and me. So what if I killed the previous Demon Emperor? He obstructed me at every turn, even pushing the saint, who had once loved me, further away. I had long grown to despise him. Besides, I promised that if I ascended to the throne and married the saint, he would have to be eliminated.”
Lin Qianshuang’s face twisted in disdain. “I never saw that you harbored such feelings for Master. And what about Bai Wan? Are you saying that while you loved Master, you somehow fell in love with Bai Wan as well?”
The Demon Emperor was speechless. He clearly remembered his deep love for Han Shengyao. When had everything changed?
He vaguely recalled their childhood. Despite their arguments over the years, she had always looked out for him. It was he who had been blinded by jealousy and ambition.
He had gradually pushed away the woman who loved him deeply and always considered his well-being.
If Han Shengyao still held the position of the Holy Maiden of the Demon Realm, he might have had a chance, but she had already left him.
Consumed by regret, the Demon Emperor sank to the ground. If he had married the Saint, there would have been no distance between them. Then…
It wouldn’t have ended like this.
As his limbs were severed and his magic core stripped away, the Demon Emperor lay prostrate on the ground, his former majesty gone. In a desperate attempt, he reached out for the silver ring, his posture utterly humble. In the final moments of his life, he whispered with remorse, “Yao Yao, I have betrayed you. Looking back on my life, you were always the one I loved most. Isn’t it ridiculous… hahahahaha. It’s so ridiculous. How could I be so foolish?”
Lin Qianshuang watched impassively as Bai Wan extracted the Demon Emperor’s magic core, leaving him to crumble into ashes. His soul, completely scattered, vanished into thin air.
Clang…
The silver ring fell from the air, bouncing on the ground a few times before coming to rest. Lin Qianshuang bent down and picked it up, a smile curving her lips. Han Shengyao must have heard everything the Demon Emperor had said.
Thinking of the scumbag’s remorseful words before his death, she felt a surge of relief for Han Shengyao.
Standing up, Lin Qianshuang slipped the ring back onto her finger. Her gaze was solemn as she addressed the assembled demon cultivators, her voice carrying an air of authority, “The Demon Emperor is dead. From this moment, I am the Demon Emperor. Are there any objections?”
Her words hung heavy in the air.
The demon cultivators, all seated at the table, rose to their feet and knelt before her, offering their congratulations on her ascension to the throne.
Xuan Luowan, standing beside Lin Qianshuang, watched the scene unfold and took her hand. As the daughter of the former Demon Emperor, her presence ensured that no one would dare to question Lin Qianshuang’s claim to the throne.