"Yaochi… Why is she here?"
Yi Tianxing felt a tinge of panic. Honestly speaking, he wasn't entirely confident when it came to the Queen Mother of the West. After all, she was a supreme goddess. Even if the one who arrived was just her reincarnated form, the problem was — there wasn't much difference between the incarnation and the original. Treating her differently would basically be courting death.
Normally, he wouldn't be this nervous, but after what happened in Kunlun — when Nuwa turned a joke into reality — things had taken a very awkward turn.
"This is trouble."
His head was pounding. Why was the Queen Mother here? Was she really going to follow through with that so-called agreement? Was she going to establish a Western Palace in his imperial harem? Was a war between palaces about to erupt?
These thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind.
Truthfully, this was a huge headache. He had never mentioned any of this to Cai Yan and the others.
"Invite her in. Notify the Gourmet Hall to prepare a top-tier banquet. And bring four Fortune Longevity Peaches."
Yi Tianxing finally gave the order.
He made the decision quickly — all those messy thoughts had just flashed by in his head. Since she was already here, there was no reason to turn her away. Besides, he was a man, she was a woman. No matter what happened, he wouldn't be the one losing out. What was there to fear?
Just treat the situation with a calm heart.
"Yes, Holy King."
Cao Zhengchun responded immediately and withdrew.
The Imperial Heart Palace was Yi Tianxing's personal resting palace, and it wasn't just a bedroom — it had everything: dining, entertainment, private cultivation space. The dining area was furnished with top-grade amethyst tables. Around the room stood massive crystal screens, crafted from a special liquid crystal material and connected to the StarNet. With a thought, any kind of information or even wilderness livestreams could be viewed instantly.
These screens far surpassed the TVs and movie displays from the pre-cataclysm era — crystal-clear and flawless.
At present, liquid crystal screens were already being widely adopted across the Great Yi Dynasty. Various programs were starting to emerge. Great Yi had no shortage of talent — many of the people who merged from the modern world had adapted well. After being beaten down by society, they had become more grounded. Now that they could live a good life in Great Yi, they gave their all to contribute their talents.
If modern people were good at one thing, it was imagination. Many things from the old world couldn't be used directly here, but with a shift in thinking, they could absolutely be adapted. Great Yi was the perfect place for that. With the StarNet in place, a stable network of communication existed. As for technical limitations like code? Not a problem — this was the Eternal World, where runes existed.
Photography? The rune system had image-capturing runes, light-and-shadow runes, reflection runes, sound-transmission runes… Combine them, and filming became trivially easy. These screens could access the StarNet and directly display all kinds of footage.
The Ministry of Rites had even proposed establishing a dedicated institution for film, entertainment, and cultural broadcasting.
Although still under discussion, the trend was clearly moving forward. Implementation was only a matter of time.
Before long, a majestic and graceful figure entered the Imperial Heart Palace — her beauty dimmed even the sun and moon.
"Daoist Friend… Yao… Yaochi, please, have a seat!"
Yi Tianxing immediately stood and hastily welcomed her.
It was none other than the Holy Mother of the Jade Lake. Not her original body from Mount Kunlun, but her reincarnation. Still, there was no real difference. As long as she willed it, she could know your thoughts — just like her true self. Her appearance was identical as well.
She glanced around briefly and then sat down at the jade table.
"Cao Zhengchun, you may leave. Also, inform the Gourmet Hall that the food I asked for earlier need not be brought here. Send it directly to Princess Wuyou instead. I'll be arranging things differently here."
Yi Tianxing calmly instructed.
The Gourmet Hall was powerful and staffed with top-tier chefs, but rushing them to cook again now would be troublesome. He remembered something — he still had the Gourmet Tablecloth. With it, he could summon any dish he wanted, instantly. Convenient, flexible, and perfect for situations like this. He had just been too rattled by the news of Yaochi's arrival to think of it earlier.
Of course, the food that was already prepared couldn't go to waste — but it also couldn't be given to Cai Yan and the others right now.
"Yes, Holy King."
Cao Zhengchun bowed deeply and withdrew without daring to raise his head. Just standing near the Jade Lake Holy Mother filled him with a powerful pressure — only comparable to Yi Tianxing himself. Not even Cai Yan made him feel this way. It wasn't that she lacked presence — it was just that he was used to her.
But this woman… was definitely not someone easy to deal with.
"This… could get lively in the palace soon."
Cao Zhengchun muttered to himself. Anyone with eyes could see that there was something going on between her and the Holy King. Not that he dared say anything — that was way above his pay grade. He stood guard outside to ensure no one else intruded.
Inside the Imperial Heart Palace.
Yi Tianxing had already spread out the Gourmet Tablecloth. With a flash of light, a lavish feast appeared on the table. The food radiated brilliant colors and emitted tantalizing aromas. Spirit fruits were already served. It was an extravagant display.
"Daoist Friend, you should've sent word you were coming — I would've had time to prepare properly. If anything seems too rustic, I ask for your forgiveness. This is not the Kunlun Paradise — some mortal atmosphere is inevitable."
Yi Tianxing said with a smile.
Since she was already here, there was no point hiding anything. He'd treat her like any other guest.
When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten out. No problem was unsolvable.
"Didn't you promise this palace the title of Western Consort of Great Yi? Of course, I've come to claim it. Or is the Holy King planning to go back on his word?"
The Queen Mother of the West looked at Yi Tianxing, her eyes flashing with amusement. Her words still carried a subtle emotional undertone.
"You jest, Daoist Friend. That was just a joke from Nuwa. No need to take it seriously. For you to really take on the role of Western Consort would be… a bit beneath your station."
Yi Tianxing chuckled awkwardly. He was silently trying to figure out her real motive.
"I assure you, this palace is not joking. If I truly want to take that title, would the Holy King be willing to agree?"
She asked again, with no trace of humor.
Was she serious about becoming the Western Consort of Great Yi?
"If Daoist Friend truly wishes to honor us by lowering yourself to such a role, then of course Great Yi will welcome you. I, Yi Tianxing, welcome you as well. The seat of Western Consort awaits — I will not break my word."
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and replied firmly.
This wasn't a loss for him. If she had hinted multiple times yet still insisted on joining, there was no reason to refuse. As for the problems that came with it — they could always be handled later.
"Then should I call you Holy King… or husband?"
The Queen Mother gave him a teasing smile.
Cough!
Yi Tianxing nearly choked on his drink.
"Daoist Friend is fine! Let's just call each other that. The previous title was only for appearances. The rest… can be decided later — there's plenty of time."
He didn't dare provoke this woman. Best to stabilize things first.
"Does the Holy King know why I truly came this time?"
She finally got serious.
Yi Tianxing also straightened his expression and replied, "Please enlighten me. I truly don't know. Great Yi was busy waging war on the surrounding realms — we've only just incorporated eight new territories. We haven't had the time to worry about external matters."
"Is this place secure?"
She asked, clearly hinting at something deeper.
Yi Tianxing's heart tightened. He answered firmly, "Rest assured — within Great Yi, our luck covers all. The Xuanhuang Immortal City has mysterious properties. Nothing can be divined here — not even by the Heavenly Dao. We're free to speak openly."
She nodded in satisfaction and then said, "Then let me tell you — Great Yi is about to face a great calamity."
"Where does the danger come from?"
Yi Tianxing's brows furrowed.
She looked up and said softly, "From Heaven."
"The Nine Heavens Dao Lord," Yi Tianxing immediately understood, and his voice turned cold.
"Exactly — the Nine Heavens Dao Lord," she confirmed.
"While I have grievances with him, it shouldn't have escalated to a life-or-death feud. Great Yi is no weakling, and we're far from unknown. Anyone trying to move against us would have to think twice. Surely they wouldn't make such an unwise decision… unless there's more to it."
Yi Tianxing's expression turned serious.