The Celestial Palace loomed ahead—
suspended in the sky like a crown of thorns wrapped in silk. Golden towers pierced the clouds, glowing with divine authority, but beneath the beauty… was danger.
Yueli stepped off the spirit crane first,
her robes swirling around her like firestorm petals. Di Yan followed, silver hair catching starlight, baby bundled in enchanted cloth pressed close to his chest.
" Just once," Yueli muttered, " I want to arrive at a palace and not expect a bloodbath."
Di Yan raised a brow. " Then maybe we should stop destroying royal altars."
" Tempting," she said. " But where's the fun in that?"
At the grand gates, guards clad in platinum armor bowed stiffly. " Lady Shen. Lord Di. Welcome back."
" I'd say it's good to be home," Yueli said dryly, " but I'm a terrible liar."
They were escorted into the Moonfire Hall— a throne room of mirrored floors and spiraling lanterns, where the High Council sat like statues carved from judgment. At the center sat Yueli's father, Emperor Shen.
His gaze cut like a blade when it met hers.
" Daughter."
" Father."
" You've been busy," he said, voice low.
" Rougue weddings. Forbidden magic.
And now, a child."
Yueli stepped forward, fire sparking beneath her skin. " She's my child. Not your pawn."
" She is not merely yours," he said. " The divine pulse within her… She belongs to the Realm."
" No," Di Yan said. " She belongs to us."
The room tensed.
A high priestess rose, her voice syrupy and venomous. " The child's power threatens balance. If not trained properly, she could awaken the old wars."
" Then teach her," Yueli snapped. " But you won't cage her."
" You are unstable," the priestess hissed.
" You married a man with corrupted blood—"
" I chose the man who saved this realm a hundred times before you even put on that gaudy crown!" Yueli's voice shook the windows.
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
The emperor stood, robes rustling like thunder. " Enough."
In that silence, the baby giggled.
And bit the priestess's floating scroll.
Everyone froze.
The scroll burst into pink flames. The baby squealed in delight.
Yueli tried to stifle her grin.
" She's already silencing judgment," Di Yan said calmly. " Just like her mother."
The emperor's eyes narrowed. " If you insist on defying us… there will be consequences."
Suddenly, a low boom rippled through the palace— followed by a quake.
The lanterns flickered.
Outside, the sky went black.
From above, a rift tore open— bleeding shadows and screams. An army of void beasts poured out, wings flapping like nightmares, screeching as they descended.
" Protect the child!" someone screamed.
But Yueli was already moving.
She shoved her baby into Di Yan's arms.
" Shield her."
" What are you—?"
" I'm ending this."
She leapt through the palace doors,
summoning her dual blades, red flames exploding around her. She hit the ground running, slicing through the first wave of void beasts like a comet wrapped in fury.
Behind her, Di Yan shielded their child with silver barriers, but he didn't hesitate long.
He joined her seconds later, crashing into the monsters with a roar, his chain blade dancing like a serpent made of moonlight.
Above them, the High Council
scrambled, but it was clear—
This battle wasn't theirs to win.
It belonged to Yueli and Di Yan.
They fought like fire and wind. Like soulmates born from chaos. For their daughter. For their future.
As the battle raged, the baby floated above her father, eyes glowing with ancient gold. She extended one tiny hand— then opened her mouth and let out a scream.
A blast of pure divine energy erupted from her, slicing through the sky like a second sun.
The rift shattered.
The void beasts turned to ash.
Silence fell.
Ash and stardust floated down as Di Yan caught Yueli mid-fall, her blade clattering beside her.
" You're okay," he whispered, cradling her.
" I better be," she groaned. " We haven't even had our wedding night yet."
He laughed, brushing hair from her cheek. " You're unbelievable."
" Only for you."
The Council looked on, stunned.
Yueli stood again, bloodied and glowing.
She turned to her father. " Still want to take her from me?"
The emperor met her gaze, lips tight.
Then slowly, he bowed his head.
" No," he said. " She belongs with you."
Yueli raised a brow. " That wasn't so hard, was it?"
The baby floated between her parents and blew a bubble shaped like a phoenix.
Everyone stared.
Yueli leaned into Di Yan and whispered,
" She just flexed on the entire council."
He grinned. " Definitely our child."