Qingluan had told her that Beyond the Heavens lay to the east of the Three Realms, and that if Weining departed from Beyond the Heavens and traveled straight west, she would arrive there.
The clouds gradually grew sparse, revealing an endless expanse of deep and shallow hues punctuated by a patch of brilliant azure. It looked like a crystal drop dangling from the Goddess's jet-black hair.
With a light wave of her sleeve, Weining halted above the undulating waters. Looking all around, she saw an endless blue ocean spread before her, while behind her lay a vast expanse of land and rolling mountain ranges in the distance.
Where was this? Weining realized she seemed to have lost her way. Before she could consider her next move, she suddenly heard a rushing wind whistle past her ear. Weining shifted her body and landed on solid ground; Huofeng used to ambush her just like this, and having had the experience, she naturally felt no fear.
"Hey, who are you? Are you an immortal or a demon?" A fiery little figure appeared not far away. He wore his hair tied up in tufts, donned a suit of fiery red armor, and was wreathed in immortal qi as he stood jauntily in the water, looking Weining up and down.
When Weining took a clear look at him, her eyes brightened involuntarily. This little fellow looked rather like Huofeng when he was a child; his familiar appearance upon first meeting made it hard not to feel a sense of closeness.
Presumably because she had just landed and her mind had been distracted, she hadn't noticed anyone nearby. Judging by the situation, this should be a little immortal, so she could just ask him for directions. "My name is Weining, and I'm not a monster. What about you? What's your name?"
"Ah, so you're a fairy then, and a rather pretty one at that. My name is Nezha." The young immortal put away his weapon and smiled brightly.
Seeing the little figure before her smiling so kindly, she smiled back at him. "Nezha, what are you doing here?"
"It was too hot, so I came down here to the East Sea for a bath. Who knew some blind fool would come along and curse at me, so I took care of him." Nezha boasted proudly. "As soon as I finished taking care of him, you dropped right out of the sky and gave me quite a start. What are you doing here?"
It seemed this kid was no pushover. Weining had matters to attend to and had no wish to stir up trouble.
The East Sea—that meant this was the Mortal Realm. She just needed to fly straight up to the Nine Heavens; she knew the way now. "I was just passing by and will be on my way. You should go home too once you're done washing."
"Hey, don't go. Judging by the movement technique you just used, your cultivation isn't low. I haven't had enough of a fight yet, so come spar with me." With that, Nezha thrust his Fire-tipped Spear forward as he flew toward her.
Weining sidestepped to dodge, using both hands to parry Nezha's Fire-tipped Spear. "You look so amiable, little one, so why are you so pugnacious? I don't have time to play around with you." With that, she moved to force him back.
"Who are you calling a little one? How dare you look down on me? Hmph..." Nezha grew enraged out of shame, his strength surging.
Weining had no choice. She had been thoroughly taught never to engage in meaningless fights. Turning her eyes, she silently recited a spell, and the surface of the sea not far behind Nezha suddenly boiled and burst open.
"Someone's coming! They must be here to avenge the person you beat up," Weining cried out in alarm, shoving the startled, turning-around Nezha away.
"You go deal with your business first, and we can fight another time if we get the chance," Weining said, flying off without waiting for Nezha's reply.
Nezha, spear in hand and energy gathered, looked at Weining's receding figure, then at the gradually calming sea, and stamped his feet in fury. "What kind of female immortal is she, so cunning! Don't you run!"
Hearing Nezha's exasperated shouts echoing from afar, Weining couldn't help suppressing a chuckle as she accelerated her flight toward the Nine Heavens.
After just a moment, she was standing outside the South Heaven Gate. Before her stood a majestic heavenly gate, with a plaque hanging right in the middle of the top: *South Heaven Gate*. It seemed she hadn't taken the wrong road.
Weining was in no rush to go in, and curiously looked over the South Heaven Gate, prompting the gate-guarding heavenly general to stare hard at her.
Once she entered this place, she would be inside the Heavenly Court that governed the Three Realms—the place where she was to serve the Three Realms. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Halt! Who goes there? State your name!" Two heavenly generals crossed their twin axes and shouted in unison.
Fortunately, Weining had prepared in advance and wasn't startled. "Fairy Weining, under the command of Goddess Nuwa, has specially come to pay respects to the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother. Please announce my presence."
The two heavenly generals were momentarily stunned. Exchanging glances, they withdrew their twin axes, and the heavenly general on the left cupped his fists and said, "So it is a fairy from the seat of Goddess Nuwa. This minor general was remiss. Please wait a moment while I announce the fairy's arrival." He patted the other heavenly general on the shoulder and hurried through the heavenly gate.
Having just left Beyond the Heavens and arrived in this unfamiliar place, Weining couldn't help feeling a trace of nervousness in her heart.
Footsteps sounded—someone was coming.
A neat phalanx of heavenly generals marched forward with the vigor of dragons and tigers. At their lead was a figure in golden armor and a golden helmet, his hair like blazing fire fluttering in the wind, his bronze face as cold as iron, and his eyes like piercing ice. What an imposing heavenly general.
As she watched him approach, Weining felt a sudden wave of heat.
The previous heavenly general bowed in greeting and introduced him to her. "This is the First Highness of the Heavenly Court, Divine General Great Golden Crow."
To think he was the eldest son of the Jade Emperor. Weining nodded in greeting. "Weining greets Divine General Great Golden Crow."
Almost simultaneously, he cupped his fists in return. "Great Golden Crow greets Fairy Weining. The fairy need not stand on ceremony. This minor general has been ordered by the Jade Emperor to welcome the fairy. Please." He turned sideways and made an inviting gesture. Weining nodded and stepped forward first; he moved at the same time, the two of them walking side by side while the troop of heavenly generals split into two columns behind them.
Weining glanced around covertly. The immortal blessed land of the celestial family was shrouded in ethereal immortal qi, with carved balustrades, jade steps, and luxurious splendor. The immortal maids and heavenly soldiers she met along the way all respectfully stepped aside and bowed in greeting, showing just how strict the hierarchy and how profound the rules were here.
This was not the relaxed and carefree Beyond the Heavens she was familiar with; this was the most majestic place in the Three Realms, and she was going to meet the ruler of the Three Realms. Weining's tension grew even more acute.
Catching a glimpse of the hem of the robe swaying back and forth beside this Prince Jinwu, she couldn't help feeling that he was "inconsistent on the outside and inside." Clearly a sun of utmost yang and ultimate heat, he radiated a bone-chilling frost as cold as dark ice and meteor iron.
The journey was exceptionally quiet; the two of them didn't even exchange a word of pleasantry. When this First Highness encountered immortal maids and heavenly soldiers bowing in greeting, he mostly ignored them, nodding at most.
Feeling the continuous alternation of cold and heat, Weining suppressed the urge to rub her arms and shifted slightly to the side without changing her expression.
She truly congratulated herself in her heart: fortunately, his heart was as cold and hard as iron and he spoke only when necessary. If he were consistent inside and out, she probably wouldn't have known how to reply, and that would have been truly discourteous.
Suddenly, the hem of the robe beside her stopped moving. Absent-minded, Weining failed to halt in time and kicked a stone step.
Her face stiffened. Had they arrived already? Fortunately she possessed magical power, otherwise she feared she would have flown straight into Yaochi Pool—and in a five-limbed prostration at that.
Weining dared not dwell on it. She hadn't even met the Jade Emperor yet; was she about to smash the reputation of both Beyond the Heavens and her own face right here?
While inwardly berating herself, Weining prepared to secretly use magic to preserve her own and Beyond the Heavens' dignity.
In the split second of lightning and flint, a pair of fire tongs reached out from beside her and gently brushed her arm. She instantly checked her forward momentum and stopped right at the steps.
To an outsider, she had merely stepped half a step further forward than him, which was nothing objectionable for a guest arriving from afar.
Weining tilted her head slightly and happened to see Prince Jinwu's expressionless face looking at her with deep eyes.
Aside from smiling, she truly had nothing to say.
"Ahem, this minor general was remiss and actually tripped the fairy. I am truly sorry, is the fairy alright?" The Great Golden Crow took a step back and cupped his fists toward her.
Weining looked up and saw that he remained expressionless, though a trace of slyness seemed to lurk in his eyes.
Having seen Qingluan's shamelessness too many times, Weining had also inherited a few genuine tricks. She smiled exceptionally naturally and returned the courtesy. "The Divine General is too polite. It's just that this minor immortal has arrived at this treasured place for the first time, and was temporarily distracted by the sights and lost her footing. Thanks to the Divine General, I'm fine."
"As long as the fairy is fine. We have arrived at Yaochi Pool, Fairy, please." Without saying more, he immediately stepped aside to invite her in.
Looking at the direction indicated by the Great Golden Crow, Weining took a deep breath, suppressed the distractions in her heart, and walked inside with a composed expression.
Unable to spare the attention to inspect the scenery of Yaochi Pool, she held her breath and walked to the center of the main hall, where she stopped.
The Great Golden Crow also stopped beside her and cupped his fists. "Reporting to Your Majesties, this is Fairy Weining."
As soon as his voice fell, Weining followed immediately, lowering her head and bowing. "Minor immortal Weining pays respects to the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother."
"Hahaha, no need for formalities, please rise quickly." It was the Jade Emperor. Hearing that hearty and kind laughter, Weining breathed a sigh of relief and raised her head.
"The fairy need not be constrained. Come closer, let us have a look." This must be the Queen Mother.
Weining raised her gaze with a smile. Directly ahead, on the precious throne, the Jade Emperor—wearing jade hairpins and pearl shoes, adorned with a purple sash and golden seal—stroking his three-strand long beard with a smile as he looked at her. Seated beside him was the Queen Mother, wearing a peony crown clustered with thousands of leaf-shaped gold ornaments, beaming with radiant smiles at that moment.
"My, what a beautiful fairy! Our Fairy Chang'e will now have to yield the title of the number one beauty in the Heavenly Court," the Queen Mother laughed.
Weining smiled modestly. "Your Majesty flatters me too much."
The Queen Mother chuckled sweetly as she walked down and took her hand. "How is that flattering? I am always the most honest one. Your Majesty, don't you think Weining is even more beautiful than Chang'e?"
"Hahaha, indeed, indeed. Her Majesty makes a valid point." This Majesty seemed rather amiable.
Before she had even seen the principal figures properly, Weining had no choice but to accept this praise with thick skin. Wearing a faint smile, she lowered her gaze slightly. "Your Majesties overpraise me."
"Come, come, let me introduce you." The Queen Mother pulled her toward the heavenly deities lined up on the left side of the main hall, introducing them one by one. There were the Jade Emperor's nine sons (excluding the Great Golden Crow) and seven daughters; Weining exchanged formal greetings with each of them in turn.
Having rushed through the greetings, Weining couldn't possibly remember the appearance of every single one of them. She only remembered that the nine Golden Crows were dressed in attire similar to the Great Golden Crow's, while the seven fairy maidens simply wore robes of different colors.
Afterward, she exchanged greetings one by one with the heavenly generals and immortal officials on the right. Since taking human form, this was the first time Weining had met so many people, and she actually needed to greet, converse, and get acquainted with each of them one by one. This was truly difficult for her!
Moreover, by the time the greetings and small talk were over, apart from the exceptionally enthusiastic Marshal Tianpeng, Weining hadn't really remembered more than a few people.
"Hahaha, no need for formalities. Someone, grant a seat." The majestic Jade Emperor's voice was warm and kind, rescuing her from the crowd. Thanking the Jade Emperor with a heartfelt smile, she sat down in the seat below him.
"What is the purpose of Goddess Nuwa sending you to the Three Realms this time?" the Queen Mother asked her with a smiling expression.
At the mention of serious business, Weining immediately stood up and bowed deeply to the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother. "Reporting to Your Majesties, this minor immortal has come here by order of Goddess Nuwa to protect the Three Realms and serve the Three Realms. This minor immortal is willing to slay demons and vanquish devils, guard the Three Realms, and uphold the Heavenly Court."
The two of them exchanged a smiling look. "Hahaha, good, good, good! Goddess Nuwa is compassionate and never forgets to benefit the Three Realms. I admire her deeply!"
"Indeed. And look at our Fairy Weining—so beautiful and looking so delicate, yet she is single-mindedly dedicated to defending the Three Realms. Compared to those delicate and frail fairy maidens, she is truly admirable. I like her, hehehe." What a harmonious couple acting in concert.
To respond to praise with modesty and gratitude was the principle of conduct taught by Qingluan. This was the first time Weining had applied it repeatedly, and it was truly unforgettable to her bones, never to be forgotten again.
"Her Majesty is right! Looking at Weining, the only one in our Heavenly Court who can compare to her is Yaoji!" the Jade Emperor chimed in with a smile.
The smile on Weining's face remained unchanged. Hearing that she resembled this person, she couldn't help but remember the name Yaoji.
That being said, she hadn't quite registered the princes, princesses, immortal officials, and divine generals in the hall earlier. Therefore, she deeply regretted that she didn't know which one of them was the female immortal whose name she had just memorized.
"Fairy Yaoji is His Majesty's own younger sister, responsible for guarding the Realm of Desire, and the number one female deity of war in the Heavenly Court." Turning her head, she saw it was the Great Golden Crow.
Weining blinked. He probably realized she hadn't remembered who everyone was. She truly hadn't expected this cold First Highness to be so helpful; sure enough, appearances could be deceiving.
She didn't dwell on this, but was instead drawn by his words, her eyes lighting up. Guarding the Realm of Desire? Number one female deity of war?
She nodded at the Great Golden Crow and said, "Such a formidable fairy—this minor immortal truly admires her and hopes to pay her a visit later." None of the immortals she had met earlier seemed to possess such an imposing description.
Unfortunately, the First Highness who had been so helpful just a moment ago now wore a stony expression, looked straight ahead, and remained silent.
Weining blinked, smiling somewhat awkwardly.
The Jade Emperor waved his hand. "You won't be able to see her today. Yaoji has gone down to the mortal world to pursue and capture a demonic flood dragon. It's already been nearly ten days; she should be returning soon, and you can meet then."
"What kind of demonic flood dragon is wreaking havoc? Is it in the Heavenly Court? Weining can't wait to witness the number one female deity of war's heroic posture in subduing demons and devils!" She looked at the Jade Emperor with expectation in her eyes.
"Hahaha, no rush, no rush. The fairy has just traveled from Beyond the Heavens to the Heavenly Court today, and must be exhausted from the journey. Rest a bit first. Tomorrow, I will host a welcoming banquet for you right here in Yaochi Pool so you can meet the various immortals of the Heavenly Court. If Yaoji still hasn't returned by then, I will grant you permission to go down to the Mortal Realm to find her. How does that sound?" The Queen Mother smiled, steering the conversation away.
"Right, right, the fairy is tired today as well, go and rest first." The Jade Emperor chimed in as well.
What they said made sense, and Weining naturally followed the flow of reason. "Yes, this minor immortal obeys your command."
"Someone, take Fairy Weining to rest at Pixiang Palace in Tonghua Palace," the Queen Mother instructed.
"Weining, I bestow this Pixiang Palace upon you as your immortal residence. Go on."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, this minor immortal takes her leave." After bowing, Weining withdrew from Yaochi Pool accompanied by an immortal maid.