Chapter Thirty-Five: The Lunar Star

Upon returning to the tribe, Houtu informed the other Ancestral Witches about how the Heavenly Court's ritual to the heavens had garnered a vast amount of merit. After a round of discussion, Dijian made the decision that the Witch Tribe would also hold a ritual to the heavens.

However, the Twelve Ancestral Witches were largely unwilling to worship the Heavenly Dao. After deliberation, they resolved to worship the Great God Pangu instead.

Thus, every member of the Witch Tribe was soon preoccupied with preparations. On the day of the ceremony, Dijian gathered all the tribe's members and began the ritual.

After the formalities, the Twelve Ancestral Witches stood bewildered, staring up at the sky.

Where was the promised merit?

“What nonsense! Why does the Heavenly Dao grant merit only to the Heavenly Court and not to our Witch Tribe?” Zhu Rong cursed furiously. But the moment his words left his lips, a bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking him with chilling force. Fortunately, his skin was thick and his flesh resilient, so his life was not at risk—he was merely left in a rather sorry state.

He never considered that the Heavenly Court had been established to maintain order in the primordial world, earning merit from the Heavenly Dao, whereas the Witch Tribe had always acted to disrupt that order. How could they possibly compare?

And besides, they were worshipping Pangu.

...

For many years afterward, calm prevailed across the primordial world.

One day, Li Tian, riding in his nine-dragon carriage with Nuwa at his side, journeyed through the primordial lands. Passing the Solar Star, Nuwa suggested they visit the place of Li Tian’s birth. Naturally, Li Tian did not refuse; it seemed he had never returned to the Solar Star since his birth.

The two descended onto the blazing surface of the Solar Star, settled the nine dragons, and began their tour. Yet the Solar Star was utterly desolate, save for a lone Fusang tree. After days of wandering, their enthusiasm waned.

Li Tian then recalled the neighboring Lunar Star, which he had never visited. He mentioned it to Nuwa, who was also keen, and so, together, they set off in their carriage toward the Lunar Star.

“Who dares trespass upon my Lunar Star?”

Li Tian and Nuwa had only just approached the domain of the Lunar Star, not yet landed, when a distant, clear voice rang out.

The sisters Xihe and Changxi, since their birth, had remained on the Lunar Star, cultivating in seclusion, never leaving its bounds. Their origins were no less noble than those of the innate Golden Crows, and they had attained the early stage of Grand Luo Golden Immortal from the moment of their birth—a remarkable achievement.

“I am the Supreme Sumeru Marvelous Dharma Heavenly Emperor, master of the Heavenly Court,” Li Tian replied, following the sense of spiritual presence to the source of the voice. He smiled at the young woman before him, whose beauty was in the prime of youth, and greeted her.

“I am Nuwa,” Nuwa said, glancing at Changxi, and strangely felt a hint of danger. Her tone was somewhat cold.

“The Heavenly Court? Where is that?” Changxi asked curiously, her demeanor charming.

Initially, Changxi had been angered by the intrusion, but upon seeing Li Tian, she felt an inexplicable sense of ease, and her hostility dissipated at once.

“The Heavenly Court is naturally above in the heavens,” Li Tian chuckled, noticing Nuwa’s mood. He gently wrapped his arm around Nuwa’s waist in a gesture of intimacy.

Though he harbored some interest in the sisters Xihe and Changxi, their place in his heart was several degrees below that of Nuwa.

Nuwa’s cheeks flushed, and her earlier displeasure melted away.

Changxi looked at them, puzzled, a hint of confusion in her eyes. Nuwa quickly pushed Li Tian away and glared at him, but even in anger, she looked so adorable that Li Tian nearly lost control and wanted to kiss her.

“Let me take you to see my sister,” Changxi offered, still somewhat perplexed, though that inexplicable sense of closeness made her eager to become acquainted with Li Tian and Nuwa.

“Thank you for leading the way,” Li Tian replied with a smile, naturally accepting. Nuwa stood by without objection.

Seeing this, Changxi felt pleased. The three flew together, soon spotting a giant silvery-white osmanthus tree standing alone amid the desolation. This was none other than the Lunar Laurel, one of the ten great innate spiritual roots.

They landed beneath the tree and found a silver-white wooden house, clearly built from the laurel’s wood.

“Changxi?”

A woman who resembled Changxi by seven or eight parts, yet carried a dignified aura, stepped out at the sound. Upon seeing Li Tian and Nuwa, a hint of wonder appeared in her expression.

“This is my sister Xihe,” Changxi said with a playful tongue, then took Xihe’s hand and introduced Li Tian and Nuwa with a cheerful smile.

“Greetings, fellow Daoists,” Xihe said.

Xihe did not scold Changxi, but first greeted Li Tian and Nuwa.

“I am the Supreme Sumeru Marvelous Dharma Heavenly Emperor, master of the Heavenly Court, and this is Nuwa,” Li Tian said with a smile, introducing himself.

“So you are the master of the Heavenly Court?” Xihe paused for a moment, then bowed, “Xihe greets the Heavenly Emperor.” Clearly, Xihe was more informed about the outside world than Changxi.

Changxi, seeing her sister’s formality, was puzzled. Was the Heavenly Court truly so impressive? At that moment, Xihe transmitted information to her via spiritual sense, and upon learning all about the Heavenly Court, Changxi was stunned, then followed her sister’s example and bowed, “Changxi greets the Heavenly Emperor.”

“There’s no need for such ceremony,” Li Tian laughed, feeling quite pleased to be so revered.

“What brings the Heavenly Emperor to my Lunar Star?” Xihe asked hesitantly.

She recalled rumors of the Heavenly Emperor subduing thousands of forces in the primordial world single-handedly, and assumed Li Tian had come to the Lunar Star to compel the sisters to submit to the Heavenly Court.

“I am merely passing through, wishing to visit and enjoy your domain,” Li Tian smiled, dispelling Xihe’s concerns.

“I was born on the Solar Star, so we are neighbors of sorts,” he added.

“You were born on the Solar Star?” Changxi’s eyes lit up.

The Sun and Moon, transformed from Pangu’s eyes, share the same origin—one yin, one yang, complementing each other. Upon hearing that Li Tian was born on the Solar Star, Changxi felt she had met a kindred spirit, which explained the sense of closeness.

“Yes, though I left the Solar Star soon after my birth,” Li Tian replied with a smile.

The four then engaged in lively conversation, with Changxi asking many questions about the primordial world. Li Tian recounted amusing anecdotes from his travels, which stirred Xihe and Changxi’s longing for adventure. Nuwa, however, revealed the less pleasant aspects of the world, extinguishing their desire to explore.

Overall, their conversation was cheerful and harmonious.

Afterward, Xihe and Changxi took Li Tian and Nuwa on a tour of the Lunar Star.

As they parted, Li Tian told Xihe and Changxi about Hongjun’s upcoming sermon, advising them to attend in several thousand years.

Xihe and Changxi nodded, taking note of his words.