Chapter Forty-Two: Heaven’s Marriage Affirmed

"All-Beings Sect?"
Di Jiang looked at Jieyin with interest and asked, "Why should I agree to let you preach here?"
"My teachings can resolve the issues currently faced by the Wu tribe," Jieyin replied calmly, his face etched with sorrow. Then, he slowly began to expound the doctrines of the All-Beings Sect.
Everyone in the Pangu Hall listened, their eyes lighting up in surprise. One of the great Wu asked, "Is there truly reincarnation in this world?"
Jieyin glanced at the great Wu and said, "There is no place of reincarnation now, but I already have some ideas. One day, I will construct such a place."
The great Wu began to discuss among themselves, and the ancestral Wu weighed the pros and cons in their hearts. In the end, Di Jiang made the decision and agreed to Jieyin's request to preach.
"I agree to let you spread the All-Beings Sect in the Wu tribe's territory, but I hope the results are as you say."
"Thank you, Ancestor Di Jiang." Jieyin quickly bowed in gratitude.
None of the other ancestral Wu objected. Although Hou Tu felt it was inappropriate to spread such teachings before the place of reincarnation was established, she had to concede, knowing this could solve the Wu tribe's pressing problems.
Between her own people and outsiders, she could only choose her own.
...
Heavenly Court.
Li Tian learned that Nuwa was in the Palace of the Empress, so he descended alone.
"Nuwa."
Deep within the palace, Nuwa opened her eyes.
"Senior brother?"
Tens of thousands of years had passed; Nuwa was no longer the inexperienced girl she once was. She no longer called him "Brother Tian" as she once did. Now, she usually addressed Li Tian as "senior brother," and in formal occasions, she would refer to him as "Heavenly Emperor," like everyone else.
"Sister Nuwa."
Li Tian landed in the grand hall, smiling as he approached her.
"Why have you come to see me, senior brother?"
Nuwa stood, her face adorned with a gentle smile. Before others, she usually appeared as a proud, regal woman, foreshadowing her future role as Mother of the Earth. But before Li Tian, she retained a touch of innocence and softness.
"I want to marry you, to consummate the Heavenly Marriage."

Li Tian took Nuwa's hand, kissed it lightly, and smiled. He did not ask whether she agreed, for he knew she would not refuse.
Heavenly Marriage?
Nuwa was stunned, her cheeks tinted with a blush.
She had never heard the term "Heavenly Marriage" before, nor knew what it meant. But the moment Li Tian spoke the words, she intuitively understood: Heavenly Marriage meant the union of two, together forever.
"Are you willing?"
Li Tian gently lifted her chin, his face close to hers.
Nuwa’s breath quickened. "I..."
But before she could utter the words "I am willing," Li Tian kissed her directly.
Nuwa’s eyes widened, momentarily lost in the embrace.
...
The Heavenly Court was once again bustling. After all, this was the first wedding in the primordial world, and could not be treated lightly. Li Tian insisted that the ceremony be no less grand than the ritual held when the Heavenly Court was founded, so everyone took it seriously.
Fortunately, the Court was now far stronger than before; to arrange a ceremony surpassing the previous ritual was much easier.
After much discussion, the wedding date was set for a hundred years hence, enough time for the great powers from every corner to arrive.
At Li Tian’s command, numerous envoys of the Heavenly Court, all Taiyi Golden Immortals or above, went forth to deliver invitations across the world, inviting the mighty to attend.
Upon receiving the invitations, the powerful beings of the world could not refuse; the Heavenly Court was dominant, and both Li Tian and Nuwa were designated as Saints by Hongjun himself.
As the saying went, all beneath the Saints are but ants; who would dare slight two future Saints?
But many great powers were troubled upon receiving the invitations.
Attending the wedding was not like the previous ritual—this time, they had to bring gifts!
These were all dignified figures, each wanting to save face. The gifts could not be arbitrary; to bring something worthless would not only risk offending Li Tian and Nuwa, but also be embarrassing.
Yet if the gift was too precious, they would ache at the loss.
Thus, countless mighty beings found themselves in a dilemma.
The Three Pure Ones were especially so. They regarded themselves as the orthodox heirs of Pangu, so their gifts must be the finest. But what should they give?
To offer innate treasures was painful.

But to offer acquired items was beneath them; after all, at the Treasure Cliff, both they and Li Tian had obtained tens of thousands of acquired spiritual treasures.
It was a matter of face versus substance; after much debate, the Three Pure Ones failed to settle on a plan.
...
This time, the Heavenly Court dispatched many experts—over a dozen Daluo Golden Immortals—so the news spread swiftly. In less than ten years, word of the Heavenly Emperor’s wedding had reached most of the primordial world, even the Wu tribe.
But most Wu tribe members scoffed at the concept of a wedding.
Those feathered beasts of the Heavenly Court were so dull—what need for a ceremony? If you fancy someone, just live together like the Wu tribe does.
The Twelve Ancestral Wu also received invitations, but most were disinclined to attend, especially given the requirement to bring gifts. Zhu Rong, with his notorious temper, nearly cursed the envoy on the spot.
In the end, as before, Hou Tu volunteered to go.
...
The Heavenly Court was lively beyond measure, with countless lesser beings ascending and decorating the realm.
In charge were Qin Yuan and Shang Yang, the two female members among the Ten Kings. Both were late-stage Daluo Golden Immortals, diligent and trusted by Li Tian, and thus held high status.
Li Tian had inspected the preparations several times and was generally satisfied, raising no further demands.
Lunar Star.
The sisters Xi He and Chang Xi also received invitations. After sending off the envoy, Chang Xi asked her elder sister, "Shall we go?"
"Of course," Xi He replied.
Strangely, at that moment, both sisters felt a sense of loss and gain, as if something that should have belonged to them—the merit of Heavenly Marriage—had slipped away.
But they were unaware of this. Thinking of Li Tian, their hearts were filled with doubt and surprise. Could it be that they harbored feelings for him?
Impossible, surely?
In truth, Li Tian had entertained the notion of marrying the sisters together, but since he had not fully settled things with Nuwa, he would not pursue others for now. Besides, the sisters wouldn't escape him.
He was already Heavenly Emperor; in the future, whatever he wished would be but a word away.
...