Chapter One Hundred Twenty: The Immortal Maiden Beneath Peach Mountain

The banners fluttered wildly in the wind, and the drumbeats of war sounded in relentless waves. In an instant, dark clouds surged across the horizon, blotting out the sunlight, casting the world into a shadow of fear and despair.

Celestial soldiers and divine generals clad in battle armor, weapons cold and sharp in hand, marched forth grandly from the Heavenly Court’s muster platform under the command of Marshal Tianpeng, setting out for the mortal realm.

With a sharp crack, the black clouds pressed down upon the city like a heavy shroud. The common folk hurriedly packed up their stalls in the marketplace. Amidst the bustling crowd, the Fairy Yao suddenly sensed something amiss and quickly grasped the arm of Yang Tianyou, who was still bargaining with a merchant.

“Hey! Fairy Yao, it would be best if you return with me to the Heavenly Court to avoid suffering!” At last, with nowhere left to flee and firmly surrounded by the heavenly army, Marshal Tianpeng stepped forward and spoke.

“Please, spare Yang Lang and our child!” The fairy, breathless now, fell silent and pleaded earnestly toward Marshal Tianpeng above.

“What?” The marshal was stunned beyond belief.

He had never expected—truly never imagined—that Fairy Yao not only consorted with a mortal but had borne his child!

What was Marshal Tianpeng to do with such shocking news?

When first receiving his orders, he’d assumed it was simply to kill the mortal and bring Fairy Yao back to the Heavenly Court. But now, the revelation of her child complicated everything.

As he continued to lay siege around Fairy Yao, the marshal sent a message to the Supreme Emperor Haotian.

“What? An illegitimate child?!” Haotian Emperor could no longer contain his fury. Hastily mounting a cloud chariot—without even taking his phoenix carriage—he appeared directly at the scene where Fairy Yao was besieged.

“Sister, why are you so stubborn and blind?” The emperor tried his utmost to persuade Fairy Yao, hoping she would change her mind.

“My beloved Yang Lang, with him I find happiness and fulfillment,” Fairy Yao’s face blossomed with a serene smile. “Though our life is humble, simple and plain, it is exactly the life I desire.”

Though life was harsh, she felt truly happy.

Here, there was no scheming or intrigue as in the Heavenly Court, no distinctions of rank or cold indifference between people.

Here, one could feel the warmth of humanity, the genuine kindness and simplicity.

This was the life she yearned for.

“If only you personally kill this man and those children, I shall consider this matter never happened!” The emperor’s temper flared, utterly deaf to his sister’s heartfelt words.

“No, please don’t!” In desperation, Fairy Yao shielded Yang Tianyou behind her, then knelt, pleading tearfully to the emperor.

“Celestial soldiers and generals, heed my command!” Haotian Emperor’s regal voice boomed across the troops.

“Yes!” The celestial forces shouted in unison.

“Withdraw five hundred li and await further orders!” The emperor’s expression was cold and unyielding.

“Your Majesty, this—” Marshal Tianpeng stepped forward to reason.

“Carry out the order!” The emperor shot a sharp glance at him.

“Yes, sir!” The marshal turned and led the celestial forces away.

“Thank you, brother, for your great kindness!” Seeing this, Yang Tianyou mistakenly believed the emperor acknowledged his relationship with Fairy Yao.

“Who do you call your brother?” Haotian Emperor’s face darkened like iron.

“I ask you once more: return with me and kill them all!” The emperor’s murderous intent surged forth; if Fairy Yao refused, he would strike immediately.

“No, no! I will never do that! Yang Lang and I are bound for life, through life and death!” Fairy Yao reached out her hands, clasping Yang Tianyou’s tightly.

“To have a wife like you, what more could a husband ask for?” Yang Tianyou embraced her, tears mingling with hers.

Their vow of life and death together—their romance and fate—was lost on Haotian Emperor, who saw only defiance.

“Since you are so obstinate, then turn you all to ashes!” The emperor raised the Emperor’s Seal of Haotian and hurled it toward Fairy Yao and Yang Tianyou below.

Fairy Yao swiftly summoned her magic, struggling to withstand the power of the seal, shielding herself and Yang Tianyou.

“Ah!” A piercing scream startled her. “Yang Lang!”

She rushed forward to catch Yang Tianyou, who was coughing up blood.

“Yang Lang, Yang Lang, how are you?” Her hands trembled, stained with his blood, her body shaking uncontrollably.

“Your husband… I’m fine—” Yang Tianyou strained to open his eyes, wanting her to see him clearly. But pierced through the chest, blood gushed out, his end was near.

“In this life… I—Yang—Tian—you… have—no regrets…” His voice faltered but he smiled faintly at her.

“Stop, please stop, I know, I know…” Fairy Yao clung to him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Ten years of companionship, ten years of life and death shared, their life had been so blissful. With their child added to this happy family, all seemed perfect.

When not busy, they taught their child the ways of life and helped each other with daily chores—everything was so beautiful.

Yet today, Haotian Emperor had cruelly torn this family apart, a truly infuriating injustice.

In truth, while Fairy Yao was still holding her magic, the emperor had secretly killed Yang Tianyou in a diversionary strike.

“Sister, come back with me,” Haotian Emperor said, thinking that with Yang Tianyou dead, her spirit would break.

“Why? Why did you do this?!” Fairy Yao’s heart shattered as she watched Yang Tianyou die in her arms, smiling.

As a celestial being, she knew that upon death, the soul must return to the Underworld. She hurried to check on Yang Lang’s soul.

“Yang Lang!” She saw his soul form and tried to protect it from harm.

“Sister, call him back quickly, or I will personally scatter his soul to the winds!” Haotian Emperor warned loudly.

He was shrewd—if Yang Tianyou were to reincarnate, he would be born again, and Fairy Yao would fall hopelessly into love once more, undermining the authority of the Heavenly Court and inviting ridicule.

“No, never! I would rather die than give him to you!” Fairy Yao said anxiously.

“I need do nothing. As long as he remains under the open sky, his death will come soon enough,” the emperor said coldly, showing no intention to intervene further.

If he could intimidate Fairy Yao into inaction, Yang Tianyou’s soul would be scorched by the sun’s rays and vanish from the world.

Fairy Yao grew desperate, praying to the heavens for help, but those capable were busy handling the impending calamity of the Investiture of the Gods.

A long sigh echoed across the sky, and a vague figure appeared from afar, indistinct in form.

“Who goes there?” Haotian Emperor’s true fury ignited.

What was Marshal Tianpeng doing? The Heavenly Court was a great power of the primordial age—how could anyone penetrate its defenses?

Only when the emperor saw the visitor clearly did he understand why Tianpeng had failed to stop him.

Regardless of this person’s strength or cultivation, not even three Marshals Tianpeng combined could match him.

Who was this that Haotian Emperor feared so greatly?

It was Yue Lao, the embodiment of fate and obsession.

“Your Majesty, please spare the princess,” Yue Lao leisurely floated down on his cloud, addressing the emperor calmly.

“Without rules, there can be no order. If we let this pass, how can I command respect?” Haotian Emperor retorted angrily.

He blamed Yue Lao for stirring the trouble that led to Fairy Yao’s forbidden affair.

“Her children are disciples of the Spirit Sect. As the parents of Spirit Sect disciples, the sect will spare no effort to protect their kin,” Yue Lao declared confidently.

Haotian Emperor’s fury grew—why was he always the one who suffered?

As the saying goes, you reap what you sow.

“Your Majesty, you surely do not wish Fairy Yao to be harmed. I propose sealing her beneath this mountain for twenty years. After twenty years, her children can come to rescue her. This would uphold the court’s dignity and protect Fairy Yao,” Yue Lao calmly suggested.

Haotian Emperor wanted to refuse but found no alternative.

Yue Lao then absorbed Yang Tianyou’s soul into his possession and said, “Your Majesty, I will take custody of Yang Tianyou’s soul. If, after twenty years, their children fail to free Fairy Yao, then Yang Tianyou shall be at your disposal.”

When Yang Zhan, Yang Zhao, and the others come of age in twenty years, the Heavenly Court would be forced to concede.

Now, with the heavenly secrets in chaos, the emperor could not even manipulate fate as he wished.

“Very well,” Haotian Emperor sighed reluctantly.

Though fully aware this was a trap set by Yue Lao, to protect his sister from harm, he had no choice but to leap into it himself.

The emperor casually produced a peach tree branch and intoned, “Fairy Yao, remain here well.”

With a surge of magic, the branch transformed into a towering mountain, pinning the distraught Fairy Yao beneath Peach Mountain.

Twenty years—after twenty years, everything would change.

Today was meant to be a joyous day, but fate had other plans. Even a commoner could do nothing but accept it.

Here, I wish everyone in the coming year: may auspicious stars shine upon you, may all your endeavors prosper, may wealth flow abundantly, and may your family enjoy boundless happiness!