Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Lady of the Moon

At this moment, Li Tian had already arrived on the Moon. After all, since he had brought Chang'e here, how could he leave her without a proper place to live? That would have been far too irresponsible.

So he went at once to the place where the Xi He sisters had once lived and, with a wave of his hand, began a sweeping transformation.

After a series of changes, a silver-white palace built from osmanthus wood and lunar stone rose from the ground.

Looking at his own masterpiece, Li Tian nodded in satisfaction, then casually inscribed the words "Silver Moon Palace" above the main gate.

"I can come here to sit and idly pass the time whenever I want. Haha!"

Thinking of how he might come here in the future to tease Chang'e now and then, a faint smile appeared on Li Tian's face. Life for a supreme being was simply too dull.

Considering that Chang'e would be arriving very soon, Li Tian returned directly to the Heavenly Court. He then summoned a female official and issued an edict, sending her to the Moon to proclaim it.

It was merely something he had done on a whim. Afterward, he temporarily put the matter out of his mind. After all, the matter of Fuxi's reincarnation still had no progress, yet he was here amusing himself. That was rather heartless of him.

Moreover, in truth, Li Tian had no bodily desire toward Chang'e. Bringing her here had more to do with his possessiveness toward beauty.

At least for the time being, he had no intention of doing anything to her. After all, a pure and flawless woman only had meaning when kept as a treasured possession.

His mentality at the moment was much like a child facing a delicate piece of candy: he did not want to eat it himself, nor did he want anyone else to eat it. He only wanted to keep it carefully, take it out now and then to admire it, smell its sweetness, or show it off to others.

...

Not long after Li Tian left, Chang'e slowly descended onto the Moon as well. Sensing that she had regained control over her body, she could not help flying into the air above the Moon and looking around.

"Senior?"

Chang'e called out across the empty, uninhabited Moon, instinctively assuming that she had been brought here by Li Tian.

After all, among all the people she had encountered, only that terrifying existence named Li Tian could silently seize control of her body and send her here.

At that moment, Chang'e was filled with confusion.

What place was this? Why had that senior moved her here? And where had that senior gone?

"Silver Moon Palace?"

After flying aimlessly around the Moon for a while, Chang'e soon arrived at the location of the Silver Moon Palace.

Seeing the enormous palace before her, clear and luminous and radiating a silvery-white glow, Chang'e was instantly dazzled.

What a beautiful palace.

What sort of person would live in such a dreamlike place?

Chang'e landed before the palace and gazed at its exquisite, magnificent form, unable to help hesitating. She was torn over whether she should go in.

"Are you Chang'e?"

Just as she was wavering, a dignified female voice drifted over from afar. Along with a burst of multicolored auspicious light, a woman in brocaded official robes, holding a golden imperial decree patterned with cloud motifs, slowly descended above the Silver Moon Palace.

"I am Chang'e... and you are?"

Chang'e turned to look at the woman, her eyes full of confusion.

"I am a female official of the Heavenly Court." Learning that the person before her was indeed Chang'e, the woman's tone softened somewhat. She then unfolded the decree in her hands and read, "By order of the Heavenly Emperor:"

The Heavenly Emperor?

At that, Chang'e was immediately startled.

Who the Heavenly Emperor was, she was no stranger to. He was the lord of the Heavenly Court, the most exalted sage in all of the primordial world... a great being who, together with the Heavenly Empress, had created humankind!

"Chang'e, receive the decree."

Coming to herself, Chang'e hurriedly knelt, her expression devout.

After all, she had grown up hearing the Heavenly Emperor's legends. She did not dare show the least disrespect.

The woman glanced at Chang'e's reaction but did not seem particularly moved.

When receiving a decree, whether one knelt or performed formal salutations was not strictly prescribed. After all, most great beings were proud and haughty. They might offer courtesy before the Heavenly Emperor, but before a mere messenger?

That would be asking too much.

"Now there is a human woman named Chang'e, gifted beyond measure. Before reaching twenty, she has already become a Great Luo Immortal, and she also has an affinity with the Moon. The Emperor has heard of this and hereby appoints Chang'e as the Moon Sovereign. From this day forth, she shall oversee the Silver Moon Palace. Let her remain faithful to her duties and not leave her post without authorization!"

"I shall respectfully obey the Heavenly Emperor's command."

After hearing the contents of the decree, Chang'e could not help but freeze briefly, clearly not understanding why the lofty Heavenly Emperor would take notice of a human woman like her.

However, once she recovered, she bowed deeply and received the decree with both hands.

She did not truly understand what the decree signified. She only knew that she had been appointed Moon Sovereign, that she would live in the Silver Moon Palace from now on, and that she could not leave at will... Beyond that, she knew little else.

But if Chang'e did not understand, the female official did.

At that moment, the official's gaze toward Chang'e had become somewhat strange. A mere human woman, only at the early Great Luo Immortal stage, yet she had somehow been granted a sovereign title that many Primal Sages could not obtain.

Though she would have to remain on this desolate Moon from now on, word of it would still be enough to inspire envy in many.

This human woman before her was certainly extraordinary.

Thinking this, the female official's expression changed. Remembering that her own attitude toward Chang'e had perhaps been a little lacking in respect, she bowed slightly and said softly, "Moon Sovereign, I wonder whether you have any needs. I can relay them on your behalf."

Chang'e was momentarily stunned to see the official bow to her. Once she reacted, she instinctively answered, "No."

From the official's expression, she could vaguely infer that the title "Moon Sovereign"... seemed to be something highly unusual.

"In that case, I shall take my leave."

Seeing Chang'e's attitude, the female official relaxed at last. She smiled, stepped back a few paces, and then flew away from the Moon.

As for the items Chang'e would need, as well as the maidservants who would attend to her daily life... those would naturally be arranged by others and did not require her concern.

After all, this was a sovereign title recorded in the Heavenly Court's registry. The treatment could not possibly be poor.

...

Watching the female official depart into the distance, Chang'e's brows could not help but knit slightly, and she fell into a daze.

Who, exactly, was that senior? Why had he brought her to the Moon? And what relation did he have to the Heavenly Emperor?

At this moment, Chang'e felt as if she had fallen into a vast and unfathomable mystery.

Everything was a mystery.

...

Meanwhile, Houtu had already arrived at the Blood Sea, covered by endless baleful qi. Looking at the countless spirits and souls struggling to survive above the immeasurable sea of blood by absorbing the evil qi, she could not help frowning slightly.

"I wonder what brings Fellow Daoist Houtu to my Blood Sea."

From within the endless Blood Sea, the secluded Ming River, sensing Houtu's arrival, opened his eyes and slowly emerged from the sea of blood.

Not long ago, he had sensed that some opportunity was about to arrive. Now that Houtu had come, he knew that opportunity lay with her.