This Human Immortal Is Too Serious-Chapter 446 - 444 The Moonlight Cannot Be Retained, It’s When Grace Begins

The stars were cold and bright, the moon colorless; perhaps old grievances urge new lessons.

Wu Wang arrived at the Moon Palace silently, not revealing himself directly, but observing the situation from afar.

The Moon Palace was built right above the Moon, and the laurel tree planted here now covered the entire palace and half of the Moon, like a pavilion canopy.

Ever since the Young Master dismantled the Moon Palace, it had become much more desolate. The beautiful women once confined there by the Moon God had long since returned to settle with their kin and friends.

The Moon God Chang Xi had thus accumulated much negative karma.

However, by voluntarily offering the Moon Dao and contributing to the construction of the Heavenly Dao, she received the Eastern Emperor's permission to continue living in the Moon Palace, idling as a recluse of the Celestial Court.

Now, the palace had been restored to its original state. Wooded pavilions were spread evenly over stone tiles, and the place was still lush with jade trees and stone flowers.

But the vast Moon Palace was empty, except for a few maidens and two teams of Divine Guard stationed around its perimeter, as if devoid of color.

Chang Xi sat silently on the same terrace where she had met Wu Wang before.

There were no maidens around her, just a few plates of snacks, two cups that glowed in the dark, and a jug of fine wine on the table.

Besides these, there was the color of the pond beneath the terrace and the soft light radiating from the beauty herself.

Today she was exceptionally gentle and seductive.

Her eyebrows were delicately drawn, her lips lightly reddened. Her skin, bathed in the waters of the Great Yin, was smooth and bright. Her long hair, meticulously combed, was coiled into an exquisite updo. A jade pendant hung from her slender neck, and her waist, too fine to grasp, was encircled with a jade ring. Her layered skirts, though complex, subtly exposed her fragrant shoulders and partially concealed her ivory-white, delicate legs.

Attempting to conceal only revealed more, and the intent to speak, yet stopping, only added to the joy.

Chang Xi's delicate feet were together, elegantly positioned to the side. Her body half-leaned on the table, her fingertips holding a palace fan that lightly stirred a gentle breeze, brushing past her somewhat distant gaze.

The floating drapes around her wafted gently, and when her figure was cast upon them, it seemed flawless.

She was originally a nameless entity from the ancient wars of the gods. Noticed by Emperor Shun for her beauty, she was kept in the Moon Palace. Now, after such a vast expanse of time had passed, the bewilderment in her eyes—always shimmering like autumn waters—seemed the perfect reflection of that long epoch.

"Alas..."

Chang Xi sighed softly, her gaze lingering on the glowing cup, lost in thought.

Wu Wang watched from the shadows for a while. He found it difficult to avert his attention from this Beauty God, but still carefully checked the surroundings.

There were no formations, no means of recording images, no hidden dangers, and the food and drink were normal.

If Chang Xi wasn't plotting against me, why did she invite me here? Wu Wang wondered. And why did she make such a suggestive comment about 'admiring the moon in the Moon Palace'? Was she trying to seduce me, to find a patron? No, that couldn't be it. Could her deep-rooted affection for Emperor Shun have been a pretense all along?

After pondering for a while, Wu Wang decided to probe Chang Xi's intentions.

If Chang Xi posed a potential threat to the Celestial Court in his judgment, Wu Wang would not hesitate to be ruthless.

Having come this far, winning or losing was no longer his concern alone. It affected his trusted friends and family, and indeed, the destiny of all beings between Heaven and Earth.

"The Moon God certainly knows how to enjoy elegance," Wu Wang said, revealing himself from the corner of the terrace and walking forward.

Chang Xi seemed startled, then promptly stood up.

Her jeweled hairpin swayed, her heart seemingly aflutter. The fragrance of her robes and the allure of her styled hair made the beauty all the more captivating.

She looked at Wu Wang, her bright eyes brimming with a slight smile, her mouth curving into an elegant arc. She bowed respectfully to Wu Wang, saying, "Greetings to Your Majesty, the Eastern Emperor."

"No need for formalities."

Wu Wang glanced at the table arrangement and then sat directly opposite Chang Xi, asking, "Does the Moon God invite me to admire the moon because there is something difficult to discuss?"

Chang Xi detected a deliberate distance in Wu Wang's tone.

She smiled amiably, her steps light and graceful as she moved to sit on a round stool beside Wu Wang.

Indeed, her graceful form was unmatched in the world.

Wu Wang glanced at her and felt a surge of passion. He quickly brought to mind images of Little Jingwei swinging her legs on a tree, Ling Xiaolan playing the flute by the lake, and the Young Master munching on snacks in a hanging basket. He had to remind himself constantly that he was a man with a family.

Especially since this Moon God is like a vine, needing a great tree to cling to for survival...

Wu Wang's Dao heart faced a great challenge.

Chang Xi picked up a wine cup and poured Wu Wang a drink, her voice gentle.

"Today I dared to invite Your Majesty over, actually to thank Your Majesty for the grace of sparing my life. I can now live in peace here, something I truly never dared to hope for before."

"The Moon God is too kind," Wu Wang said with seriousness. "It was simply the Heavenly Dao that made its own judgment. The Moon God did not have sins that warranted Heavenly Punishment, after all."

Chang Xi smiled warmly, holding up the luminous cup with both hands, whispering, "This is to Your Majesty."

"Hmm, thank you."

Wu Wang lifted the luminous cup with his left hand and drank it in one gulp, setting it down before saying, "I have felt your gratitude. If there is nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

"TSK."

Chang Xi chuckled lightly behind her hand, her gesture of raising her sheer-sleeved arm as if it had been polished countless times, graceful and natural.

She said, "How can it be? Your Majesty presides over the Heavenly Dao. You have the Yin and Yang Path for protection, the Eight Trigrams Dao for your foundation, and the Star Dao illuminating all things. Would you truly fear a woman like me, who knows nothing of dueling?"

"Afraid I am certainly not," Wu Wang looked at Chang Xi, trying to keep his gaze clear as he watched her eyes.

Wu Wang said, "There's no need for us to beat around the bush, lest we misunderstand and cause any confusion. Let's make things clear now. Why has the Moon God invited me here tonight, exactly?"

Chang Xi blinked gently. She blushed deeply, her cheeks more radiant than peach blossoms, her slightly narrowed eyes all the more soul-stirring.

"Your Majesty, so clever and unparalleled, should understand.

"I may be the Moon God, but I'm just being forcibly placed in charge of the Moon Dao. I only know how to serve and agree, without understanding the trends of the heavens and earth.

"The new Heavenly Dao is now established and exceedingly stable. A new order is bringing about the signs of a great era. Your Majesty's Celestial Court will surely be well-governed and long-lasting, ending the suffering caused by the succession of gods."

Such flattering words, coming from Chang Xi's mouth, didn't seem out of place at all.

As she spoke, she slowly rose. Her gaze remained fixed on Wu Wang. Her exquisite hand, seemingly crafted by the creator over countless years, landed on Wu Wang's shoulder and began to slide gently.

Her voice became even softer and more delicate as she continued,

"Alas, I have only this slender figure, having been a plaything abandoned by the previous Heavenly Emperor. Your Majesty's disdain is completely understandable.

"But only that way can I sleep in peace.

"The Young Master is too innocent by nature; she certainly doesn't know how to serve Your Majesty well. I am willing to hide in this God Palace. I will see no one from the world but you, Your Majesty, and concern myself with no worldly affairs, only welcoming you.

"I am only looking for support, for safety, with not the slightest ulterior motive... Your Majesty!"

Chang Xi suddenly let out a light cry, frowning as she looked down, only to find her right hand, which had slid to the chest of the man before her, was now caught by him.

With a gentle flick, Wu Wang appeared to exert no force, yet he sent Chang Xi's figure back into her seat.

Her hairpin trembling, her body unsteady, Chang Xi's face paled as she feared the worst. Raising her head to search for Wu Wang's eyes, she saw those eyes filled with complicated emotions.

Wu Wang gazed at Chang Xi for a while, and she pressed her lips together, looking tearful and full of unease.

Wu Wang suddenly asked, "Don't divine spirits have the concept of chastity?"

"You jest," Chang Xi said softly.

"Moon God, you don't need to do this," Wu Wang said. "Your voluntary offering of the Moon Dao's merit is more than enough to allow you to stay in this Moon Palace indefinitely. Your invitation today, in my view, serves one of two purposes. Either you wish to regain your former lofty status..."

"Your Majesty, you worry too much," the Moon God said, looking down.

Wu Wang continued, "Or you are plotting some scheme."

"That is even more nonsensical," the Moon God looked up at Wu Wang, her expression now calm again, her eyes still carrying seductiveness, as if the earlier scene hadn't happened at all.

She sighed, "I suppose, Your Majesty wouldn't understand."

"Do you have any unspeakable troubles?"

Chang Xi immediately shook her head.

Wu Wang then said, "Or is it some ailment where, without yang energy, you cannot maintain such beauty?"

Chang Xi couldn't help but cover her mouth with laughter, and softly said, "I am not... I am not such a degenerated Innate Spirit. How could I have such an ailment?"

"Then why stage this play?" Wu Wang questioned as he looked at the food and drinks before him. "Are you using this to test the leader of the Heavenly Dao?"

"I was wrong, Your Majesty, please don't be angry," Chang Xi said pitifully, gazing directly at Wu Wang, as if hesitating.

Wu Wang shook his head and was about to rise and leave.

Chang Xi hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I'll tell you... It's just that... I just don't know how else, aside from this, to make myself feel that I'm still alive."

Wu Wang frowned slightly. "Refer to yourself as 'I.' If you call yourself 'slave' once more, I'll immediately seal your Moon Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty, please forgive me..."

Chang Xi's eyes gradually lost their luster, revealing the emptiness within. She was like a delicate piece of porcelain, retaining only a facade for the world to admire.

She murmured, "I no longer know why I should remain attached to this world."

Wu Wang leaned back slightly.

Chang Xi sighed deeply, her posture slackening a bit as she spoke softly, "When His Majesty was present... when the previous Heavenly Emperor was here, all I thought about was how to make him stay with me a little longer, how to make him cherish me a bit more.

"I knew he felt nothing for me; he just used me to avoid his formidable sister Xihe. Even now, my disposition and the way I speak were molded by him, piece by piece. This is what he wanted: someone submissive to his every whim, whose eyes always filled with admiration, at his mercy during joyful moments, always smiling like this.

"But then he suddenly didn't want me anymore.

"Your Majesty, I've given away the Great Dao; my own Dao has long been worn away.

"Do I know no shame? Am I frivolous and wanton?

"Yet, I no longer know how to live for myself. I am a broken shell, not worth a shred of affection. I need a tree to cling to, or else I can only die.

"Can Your Majesty not stay here tonight?"

After a moment filled with 'althoughs', 'buts', 'maybes', and 'probablys', Wu Wang still went straight back to his Heavenly Emperor's Temple.

Ah, in the end, he couldn't convince himself to indulge in folly just once.

It wasn't that the Heavenly Dao had turned him into an emotionless Heavenly Emperor. His cultivation journey had been short, and his rapid ascent to the pinnacle of the universe as Heavenly Emperor hadn't significantly changed his core mindset.

No matter the thousands of reasons, he still couldn't cross that hurdle deep within his heart.

In the Great Wilderness, I've already fallen for three women, and that alone makes me feel quite guilty. It's rare enough that the three of them get along so well and look after me without any disputes arising yet. How could I possibly have the face to mess around further?

Even if Chang Xi stood before me stark naked tonight, I would...!

AHEM, I shouldn't speak too definitively. After all, I almost lost control just now.

"TSK," Wu Wang couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.

He sat behind his desk, his spiritual mind a little unsettled. The graceful figure persistently surfaced in his thoughts, enough to slightly affect his Dao heart.

This was normal.

Chang Xi, after all, had spent hundreds of thousands of years perfecting that beauty. While it wasn't exactly natural or unpretentious, it did have its unique appeal.

That fellow, Emperor Shun, was truly ruthless. He tormented everyone around him whom he could. Chang Xi was molded into a doll, and the Head Manager was suppressed to the point of near madness. Ultimately, it all stemmed from the distortion within Emperor Shun's own heart, which made him incapable of trusting any person or god. It was nothing like his own relationship—as Eastern Emperor Taiyi—with Yun Zhongjun. If Yun Zhongjun hadn't been so insistent, Wu Wang would have even considered giving him the privilege of wielding the Heavenly Emperor's great seal.

With his spiritual mind full of distractions, Wu Wang couldn't concentrate on reviewing the pile of memorials stacked high before him.

His form sank into the wooden chair, his gaze still clear as he watched the Star Sea embellishing the dome. Within the Star Sea, scenes emerged: the Moon God, like a scattered handful of fire, and himself, Wu Wang, attempting to tame that blaze.

'I no longer know how to live for myself.' Chang Xi's words struck a strange chord within Wu Wang. He gazed at the Star Sea on the ceiling of the hall, and a question surfaced in his mind... Why am I on this path?

The fate of the world and all its beings... that's too vast, too broad a concept. Although I often say those words, it's mostly just a way to project a certain image. I'm a normal living being, not some enlightened sage. When grand cosmic matters aren't at stake, I just want to be an ordinary, happy person. This path I'm on... it's to leave no regrets, I suppose.

Once I rescue Mother and Little Jingwei, I'll enjoy the happiness of family life, the blessings of having my loved ones together. I'll live for long ages as Eastern Emperor Taiyi, accompanying my partners to every corner of the Great Wilderness to watch the sunrises and sunsets. I'll accomplish some important, tangible things for the beings of this world, help the Human Domain truly rise, and mediate the unavoidable conflicts between the Human Domain and the Hundred Races. I'll eliminate any enemies who threaten this future.

Then, I want to find out where I came from. And investigate how I might eventually cease to exist. And face that challenge Zhong mentioned...

Wu Wang squinted and smiled, his Dao heart naturally calming.

He yawned and sat up straight, continuing to flip through the memorials in front of him.

TING-A-LING—

Suddenly, a delicate ringing sound came from the side. Wu Wang looked up to see the Young Master walking towards him with her hands behind her back and light steps.

She seldom dressed like this recently, usually wrapping herself tightly in a long dress and putting on airs wherever she went.

But tonight, the Young Master wore a form-fitting short skirt that barely reached her knees. Her round, slender legs were so fair they were captivating, and her delicate feet tapped in a pair of warm, jade-adorned wooden clogs.

She floated over to Wu Wang, her captivating form fully revealed to his gaze.

Wu Wang silently bent forward, resting his torso on the table, and showed the Young Master a slightly embarrassed smile.

This!

"What's wrong?"

The Young Master, who was initially somewhat hesitant to speak, became slightly nervous at the sight.

She hurriedly moved closer, bending her body and leaning in, bringing her palm-sized face close to Wu Wang's. She was oblivious to the innocence in her eyes—an innocence that, for Wu Wang at that moment, was utterly devastating.

Up close, he could see her long eyelashes, those eyes that were like jewels.

Wu Wang steeled his Dao heart, suddenly stood up, and swiftly embraced the Goddess before him.

It was time for things to naturally take their course.

"Ah!"

The Young Master was momentarily flustered and quickly asked, "What are you doing?"

In response, she heard Wu Wang whispering in her ear and felt his hands, which were already unbearably hot.

The Young Master bit her lip tightly. As the Reproduction Goddess, she knew what would happen next. Before she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, a small, affirmative hum escaped her, though her body subconsciously tensed.

After a while, the Young Master's voice startled Wu Wang back to reality.

"Your Majesty, I am a little scared…"

Wu Wang, startled, came to his senses. He looked down at the jade beauty in his arms. Her soft lips were slightly swollen, her eyes held a look of vulnerability, her collar was half-open, and her skirt was rumpled.

Unbeknownst to them, they had already moved to a corner of the sleeping chamber, apparently having teleported directly there.

Regret flashed in Wu Wang's eyes as he softly said, "I was a bit hasty today. This... we should prepare a bit more…"

He instinctively took a half step back, but her tender hands held him in place.

The Young Master stood on tiptoe and moved toward him, and Wu Wang's Primordial Spirit seemed to embrace a tiny person.

"I learned a method, taught to me by the Mirror God. She said I wouldn't be scared this way…"

"What method? The Mirror God?"

"Close your eyes. Close your eyes and don't look. And you're not allowed to probe with your Immortal Consciousness."

Wu Wang obediently closed his eyes. He felt the fluctuations of the Great Dao and heard the sound of a stream.

After a moment, he stealthily opened his eyes and saw a magically created pool in front of him, shrouded in immortal mist.

The Young Master, still in her short skirt, lay on the water's surface. Her hands were clasped nervously before her. Her exquisite figure was like the most beautiful scenery imaginable, yet it brought Wu Wang's spiritual mind a profound sense of peace.

She had a strip of black cloth over her eyes, and her long hair floated and drifted in the water.

At this moment, she was very nervous, breathing a little rapidly, but tried her best to calm down.

Wu Wang simply watched her, admiring the beauty that was unique in the world and would belong only to him in the future, until a soft call came from those tender lips:

"Your Majesty, I'm ready."

A gentle smile touched Wu Wang's lips. His form swiftly floated over, and as his robe fell from mid-air, the rich power of the Heavenly Dao protected the area, screening off all prying eyes.