“Let go.” Lunar Grace’s icy demeanor only grew more striking as her hand was held, her voice cold as she reprimanded Shi Hao, demanding he release her.
For anyone else, they might have been utterly captivated by her ethereal beauty—her flawless jade-like skin, the divine radiance that enveloped her, making it hard to remain composed, even feeling unworthy in her presence.
But Shi Hao was clearly not among them. His gaze was clear and focused as he looked at her. “I’m serious, wife. Have you forgotten our past? The vows we exchanged in the lower realm?”
The word “wife” made Lunar Grace’s brows twitch, the mark between her eyebrows flaring with dazzling light. She felt this guy was truly incorrigible—so natural and familiar, it left her feeling utterly helpless.
She swiftly tried to pull her hand away, knowing full well that her usual imposing aura wouldn’t make him back down in shame—it would only encourage him further.
Yet Shi Hao held on firmly, refusing to let go, his eyes gleaming with divine light as he met her gaze.
“I saved you, not so you could take liberties with me,” Lunar Grace said calmly, unruffled, like a lotus emerging from water, untouched by worldly dust.
“How could I dare? This is just my true feelings showing,” Shi Hao replied with an earnest expression, still gripping her hand tightly.
Lunar Grace tried again, but her arm, glowing like polished jade, remained trapped in his grasp.
“Even if there were misunderstandings between us, today you saved me. I see your heart—you still can’t let me go.” Clearly, Shi Hao’s shamelessness had reached new heights as he spoke to himself.
But soon, he frowned. “Lunar Grace, what’s the meaning of this? I’m pouring my heart out, and you’re getting goosebumps? That hurts!”
“Stop being so mushy!” Lunar Grace refused to indulge him. She knew the only way to deal with this shameless rogue was to never give him an inch.
Yet despite her efforts, even with runes flickering around her, she couldn’t shake him off—Shi Hao’s newly acquired power from the Bodhi Fruit neutralized her techniques effortlessly.
“Wife, have you forgotten our past affection?” Shi Hao asked seriously.
Hearing that term again, Lunar Grace wanted nothing more than to punch him. For the first time, she felt this guy was truly insufferable—a headache.
“Sometimes, I feel like I don’t even know you,” she sighed softly.
She had seen Shi Hao’s heroic side—his battle against the Seven Gods, marching to certain death with tragic resolve. She knew of his indomitable spirit, how as the Stone Emperor he had severed the foundations of major sects like Heaven-Mending, Western Sect, and Immortal Mountain.
Back then, he truly had an awe-inspiring presence, standing above all, a peerless young sovereign.
But the moment this guy had free time, he became utterly infuriating. His majesty only surfaced in moments of crisis.
Shi Hao shook his head. “Life’s too short to be so serious, Lunar Grace. You’re overthinking it.”
His words were casual, but Lunar Grace understood—he was still the same man who had once stirred storms in the lower realm.
“Let’s leave our misunderstandings in the past,” Lunar Grace said, standing like a divine lotus, radiating an otherworldly glow.
“If the misunderstandings are gone, then we should celebrate our reunion,” Shi Hao grinned, spreading his arms for a hug.
The mark on Lunar Grace’s forehead flared again, trembling slightly, emitting a blinding light.
“Whoa, what’s this for?” Shi Hao quickly retreated.
Lunar Grace shot him a glare. “You’re far more impressive when you’re serious than when you’re fooling around.”
“Got it. I’ll be more heroic from now on!” Shi Hao declared shamelessly, then promptly wrapped an arm around her waist and strode forward.
“You scoundrel!” Lunar Grace could no longer maintain her composure. The lofty immortal had been dragged into the mortal realm, flustered and annoyed—nothing worked on him.
“Isn’t this me being serious?” Shi Hao said, stopping abruptly. “We’ve already exchanged vows. Are you planning to marry someone else?”
“Enough. Let’s discuss something important,” Lunar Grace said, halting.
Shi Hao, thick-skinned as he was, knew when to relent. He released her and walked beside her.
“Where have you been in the upper realm? What have you done?” Lunar Grace asked.
Shi Hao held nothing back, sharing everything he could.
Lunar Grace was stunned. “You’re the one they call *Huang*?” The revelation shook her deeply, leaving her speechless for a long moment.
“Soon, your identity will be exposed. The Celestial Clan won’t keep it secret for long,” she murmured.
She, too, was candid. She was evading her true self—her main body. As things stood, she was no match for it and was avoiding a deadly fate.
“With me here, that’s not a problem. We’ll capture her alive!” Shi Hao declared firmly.
“Don’t underestimate her,” Lunar Grace shook her head, pointing to her brow. “Once her divine sense fully awakens, she’ll be nearly invincible.”
Shi Hao pressed for details, but Lunar Grace only said it was an innate ability.
They spoke at length, sharing their experiences in the upper realm.
“Both of us are hiding from powerful enemies, unable to appear as our true selves, and we both came from the lower realm. Don’t you think fate brought us together?” Shi Hao grinned.
Lunar Grace was moved. There was indeed a sense of shared hardship.
“Can’t you be more serious? A little more dignity would suit you far better,” Lunar Grace said.
“Got it!” Shi Hao nodded, then added, “But we really did marry. Are you just going to pretend it never happened?”
Lunar Grace pressed a hand to her forehead, truly defeated. Her skin glowed with suppressed frustration.
“If you win the Hundred Rivers Converge—the great battle of the three thousand provinces’ geniuses—then I’ll acknowledge that we once exchanged vows,” she finally said.
“That’s all?” Shi Hao asked.
“Can you stop boasting?!” Lunar Grace snapped, unable to take it anymore.
“Who am I? The future supreme being destined to rise, topple the Celestial Nation, pacify the Netherworld, destroy the Immortal Palace, and uncover all the secrets of the untamed wilds! What challenge could possibly stop me?!” Shi Hao preened.
“This world is far vaster than you imagine,” Lunar Grace sighed, pointing to the sky. “Even the Immortal Ancient Era is now just a buried past.”
This piqued Shi Hao’s interest, but Lunar Grace only knew fragments.
They spoke further, discussing preparations for the great battle and contingencies. Lunar Grace lamented that she still hadn’t found the flame she sought.
“What kind of flame do you need? To ignite your divine spark?” Shi Hao asked.
“I resonate with the moon’s power. I hope to find a divine flame related to it,” Lunar Grace said.
Shi Hao shook his head. “That’s a shame. Otherwise, I could’ve told you about a mysterious green flame in the Firegrass Plains—so powerful I had to flee from it.”
“What did you say?” Lunar Grace’s eyes widened, her usual serenity shattered.
Shi Hao described the green flame’s traits.
“*Greenmoon Flame*!” Lunar Grace gasped.
“You’re sure?” Shi Hao was surprised.
“If your description is accurate, it must be it—a colossal green moon filling the sky!”
Shi Hao was stunned. Now that he thought about it, that made sense.
He hadn’t expected his offhand remark to reveal the very treasure Lunar Grace needed—a legendary divine flame.
“Is it really that special?” Shi Hao asked.
Lunar Grace nodded gravely. “It ranks alongside Great Scarlet Heaven Flame and Paradise Flame—the rarest of divine fires. Obtaining it ensures a perfect evolution, with limitless future potential.”
“Same flames, yet worlds apart,” Shi Hao muttered, thinking of the even more mysterious flame near the nine dragon bones and bronze coffin.
“These flames are unique because of their origins,” Lunar Grace explained.
“They have histories?”
“Yes. That’s what makes them priceless.”
Shi Hao was intrigued and asked her to elaborate.
“They’re said to originate from the Immortal Ancient Era—this is widely accepted.”
“What?!” Shi Hao exclaimed.
Lunar Grace explained solemnly: the most valuable flames were believed to be remnants of true immortals who perished, leaving only their fire behind.
“That… can’t be!” Shi Hao was stunned.
“It’s speculation, unconfirmed. But fragments of truth were unearthed from Immortal Ancient ruins.”
Shi Hao was speechless. These flames had such origins?
“Take the Great Scarlet Heaven Flame—it’s said to be the legacy of the Great Scarlet Heaven Lord, a supreme figure of that era.”
Shi Hao’s mind reeled. Such a background?
“And the Greenmoon Flame? Legend says it belonged to a female immortal named Greenmoon, equal in status to the Great Scarlet Heaven Lord.”
These revelations shook Shi Hao to the core.
Yet much remained uncertain—pieced together from ruins and speculation.
“If the Great Scarlet Heaven Lord’s flame isn’t called ‘Immortal Flame,’ then what of the Chaos Flame and the ones named after immortals?” Shi Hao asked.
“Those are different—far more mysterious, their origins unclear.”
Nodding, Shi Hao eventually left with Lunar Grace, agreeing to help her retrieve the Greenmoon Flame in a few days.
“Can we even handle it?” Shi Hao doubted it was possible.
“Ancient methods exist—not brute force. I’ll teach you,” Lunar Grace assured.
As they emerged from the lake, passing through arrays, onlookers gasped at the sight of them together.
“Junior Sister Qingyi, you went to the Immortal Pool, and he—”
The observer was stunned—Shi Hao’s hair still bore droplets, carrying the pool’s aura. Had they… bathed together?
“It’s an even-numbered day! A man daring to trespass the forbidden grounds with Junior Sister Qingyi?!” A disciplinary squad member roared, outraged.
“Shouting what? This is my wife!” Shi Hao bellowed, pulling Lunar Grace close.
“Let go!” Lunar Grace’s cheeks flushed—this guy had no shame.
“You—you’re that rogue who does odd jobs at the academy gates?!” someone cried.
“What? That nobody from that rundown sect dares harass one of our top beauties? Unforgivable!”
They called for reinforcements.
“I’ll find you in a few days,” Shi Hao told Lunar Grace, then vanished with his black metal token.
The academy erupted in chaos, even late at night.
“This is intolerable! Is that disgraceful sect truly returning? And he dares covet Junior Sister Qingyi?!”
Fury spread like wildfire, many eager to storm the Supreme Dao Field.
Shi Hao, oblivious, left Lunar Grace grinding her teeth.
Back at the decrepit mountain gate, Qi Daolin sat in meditation.
“Master, do you know of nine dragons and an ancient bronze coffin?” Shi Hao asked, still fixated on the flames.
Qi Daolin shot to his feet, his calm shattered.
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