Chapter 17: Meeting a Worthy Opponent

As the radiant Immortal Lord Zhuohua flicked the pen of merit in her hand, the name soared up and affixed itself to the Celestial Pillar.

“Wow! That’s so magical! Amazing! Liuying, look, that’s my name!” Little Huayan exclaimed earnestly.

This startled Immortal Lord Zhuohua, leaving him momentarily stunned. In thirty thousand years, he had never encountered a celestial with such candor and straightforwardness.

Unable to resist, his brows arched with a smile, wishing to exchange a few more words with Little Huayan.

“Huayan, there’s something you may not know: this Celestial Pillar records all meritorious deeds from the past hundred thousand years.”

“Really?” Huayan asked with curiosity.

“Of course. Even the deeds of the ancient First Deity, Lady Chaoyan, are all inscribed here. Look, that’s her, right at the top.”

Immortal Lord Zhuohua pointed to the very apex of the pillar, where a streak of glassy radiance gleamed, his gaze longing, his face awash with reverent devotion.

Huayan looked up at the summit of the pillar, at that glass-colored glow, and couldn’t help but marvel, “Lady Chaoyan is truly remarkable.”

Yet she remained blissfully unaware that she was praising herself.

Suddenly, a booming voice echoed through the Grand Immortal Hall, startling both Huayan and Liuying as they turned to see who had arrived.

Striding in with irrepressible flamboyance came Immortal Lord Xinghui, garbed in robes adorned with dreamlike moons and starry patterns. His face shone like a brilliant galaxy, inviting the delinquent Zhuohua to join him in the Star River for wine and stargazing.

His immortal robes flowed with his steps, shifting in layers, sparkling with starlight, as if he wore the vast cosmos itself.

“And who might this be?” Huayan spun her thoughts rapidly, but alas, she did not know him.

“Well, isn’t this a novelty? In the Endless Dream of Heaven, there are still those who do not know me,” Xinghui declared arrogantly, his pride swelling.

“I don’t know, and I don’t recognize you. Who are you?” Huayan replied with innocent candor, genuinely unaware.

Seeing this, Liuying bowed deeply, shooting Huayan a glance to prompt her to follow suit.

“Liuying greets Immortal Lord Xinghui.”

Immortal Lord Xinghui was the guardian of the Star Platform in the Endless Dream of Heaven, protector of the boundless Star River.

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Huayan chuckled, recalling the saying, “One does not strike a smiling face.”

“So you are Immortal Lord Xinghui! It is an honor, truly.”

Knowing her rank was lower, Huayan sensibly bowed and paid her respects.

Xinghui, maintaining his lofty demeanor, said with grave formality, “Did you fall into a mud pit? You’re filthy.”

“Little spirit, do you know how many immortals in the Endless Dream beg me to take them to the Star Platform, all dreaming of plucking stars in the Star River?”

“Star Platform? Plucking stars? And where is the Star River? I did fall into a mud pit—perhaps you’d like to try it yourself, Immortal Lord?” Huayan fired off three questions, her face set in determined curiosity.

This left the normally unruly, domineering Xinghui speechless.

“No need for the mud pit. You little spirit are sharp-tongued, and—rather mischievous.”

Xinghui pointed at Huayan, so annoyed his words tripped over themselves.

“I’m not a celestial, I’m a flower sprite—a little peach blossom sprite,” Huayan introduced herself with sincerity.

Xinghui asked, astonished, “How is it that I’ve never heard of flower sprites in the Endless Dream of Heaven?”

“I…” Huayan’s round cheeks puffed up, her eyes darting left and right.

“What about it? If you won’t say, never mind.”

Xinghui leaned in close, carefully inspecting this injured, mud-covered, scruffy little flower sprite.

Zhuohua, observing quietly from the side, was equally curious—why was there a flower sprite in the Endless Dream of Heaven?

“I’ve ascended seven times, yet never managed to become immortal,” Huayan said, unconcerned.

“Seven ascensions? My heavens! That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in the Endless Dream of Heaven,” Xinghui burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny? It’s not as if I haven’t tried—I’ve worked very hard,” Huayan retorted, hands on her slender waist, her face proud, as if to say, “I am a flower sprite, and proud of it.”

Xinghui and Huayan sparred with words, neither willing to yield, yet their tempers and natures were strikingly alike.

Both innocent and adorable, the pair’s banter soon escalated into a playful quarrel, as if they might come to blows at any moment.

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“Seven ascensions? Ha! Seven times, and still just a little flower sprite.” Xinghui laughed until he could barely breathe.

Seeing this, Huayan rolled up her sleeves, ready to pummel the cheeky Immortal Lord Xinghui.

“You! Have you laughed enough? How can there be such a rude immortal in the Endless Dream of Heaven?”

Liuying quickly restrained the furious Huayan, “Enough, Huayan! Let’s leave. Don’t fight.”

“Liuying, let go! Today, unless I teach him a lesson, he’ll never know the might of a peach blossom sprite,” Huayan fumed.

Meanwhile, Zhuohua, swift and deft, wrapped his arms around Xinghui’s slender waist.

“Alright, Xinghui, don’t cause any more trouble here. I’ll join you for stargazing now.”

With that, Zhuohua hustled Xinghui out of the Grand Immortal Hall, rescuing Huayan from the confrontation.

“Come on, as if I’d be afraid of a little flower sprite like you!” Xinghui protested. “And Zhuohua, explain yourself—are you calling me a nuisance? Or are you being evasive because you find that flower sprite pretty?”

As he walked out, Xinghui grumbled, rolling his eyes at Zhuohua.

“I just don’t want to miss the meteor shower, Xinghui. If I delay, you’ll miss it.”

“Zhuohua, let me argue with her once more! Three hundred rounds! Let me go, Zhuohua!”

Xinghui struggled fiercely in Zhuohua’s grasp, longing to teach the impudent flower sprite a lesson.

Watching Zhuohua drag the unruly Xinghui away, farther and farther from the hall, Huayan squatted down, seething with rage and sobbing, her face set with a look of utter despair.

“Ah… Don’t let me see you again! If I do, I’ll hit you every time!” she wailed.

Liuying, unfazed by the commotion, joined Huayan in a squat. After thirty thousand years, she had grown accustomed to seeing Huayan mocked and bullied, and it had become almost routine.

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