The West Sea Dragon King’s smile became even more resplendent, and with a steady heart, he gratefully said, "Oh~ The Emperor is being far too courteous. It is already an honor for my West Sea that someone was sent here, and to think that there are even two gifts prepared, it truly moves this old dragon!"
"Ha-ha~ Dragon King need not feel touched. Although these gifts are meaningful, they are not precious treasures to the Emperor. The Emperor said that this is called ’a token of deep affection, light in form.’ Dragon King should not feel it is beneath him."
"Not at all, not at all~"
Shen Gongbao extended his hand, and a small emerald green double-headed bird appeared on his palm, flapping its wings and flying about. To find this double-headed bird was not easy! I ran around for quite some time in the Lower Realm to find such a peculiar bird.
The smile on the West Sea Dragon King’s face stiffened slightly. Not a precious object, indeed, no false modesty there, but why another green thing? What are you insinuating?
Shen Gongbao said with feeling, "This is also one of the treasures collected by the Emperor. It is said that long ago, in the Primordial World, there were two strange birds born with only one wing each, able only to run on the ground on two legs, struggling to survive. One ran southbound, the other northbound, and finally one day, after overcoming great hardships and perils, they met. A single glance and it was eternal; they became infatuated with each other, drew closer and closer, and at last, with deep emotions as their bond, their bodies merged into one. Together, they now had a pair of wings and could soar high, flying towards a distant, blissful future.
The Great Emperor was moved by their profound affection and thus sheltered them within the Emperor Palace, allowing them to live a stable and happy life. For the third prince’s grand wedding, the Emperor reluctantly parted with this bird, wishing the third prince ’to fly side by side with wings unfurled, inseparable forever!’"
"Hehe~" Ao Lie could not help but laugh, then said, "Such a grand gift, this little dragon truly does not deserve it. Please take it back, Divine Monarch!"
Shen Gongbao spoke earnestly, "Third prince, a gift from an elder must not be refused!"
The West Sea Dragon King also reproved, "Ao Lie, thank Shen Gong for the grace at once!"
Ao Lie could only accept the double-headed bird, bowing and saying, "Many thanks to the Emperor for this generous gift, this junior is deeply grateful."
"Wait a moment, there is another gift for the Crown Prince." Shen Gongbao took out two emerald-green jade pendants and said, "This pair of jade pendants was personally carved by Emperor Gouchen, one is the Auspicious Dragon Pendant and the other is the Joyful Phoenix Pendant, symbolizing the auspicious presence of both dragon and phoenix!"
Ao Lie took the two jade pendants, feeling speechless in his heart, green again, was there an ominous feeling to this? He bowed and said, "Many thanks to the Emperor!"
The Old Dragon King reached out with his hand and said, laughing heartily, "Fellow Daoist Shen Gong, please come inside for tea! I have other guests to welcome."
Shen Gongbao walked inside with a smile, nodding and greeting the Immortal Gods he saw.
The Old Dragon King also went to receive other guests. Everything was very normal.
Shen Gongbao arrived next to Gold Star Taibai and said with a warm smile, "Gold Star, you’re here too!"
Taibai, stroking his beard, laughed and said, "The grand wedding in the West Sea, Your Majesty commanded me to bring a congratulatory gift!"
Telepathically he said, "Divine Monarch, the congratulatory gift you’ve just presented... it really... it really doesn’t seem befitting of Emperor Gouchen’s status!"
Shen Gongbao also telepathically replied helplessly, "I understand what you mean, Star Lord, but the Emperor’s decree is such, and I can only follow orders. Do you think the West Sea has somehow offended the Emperor?"
Taibai telepathically said, "That’s hard to say, but Emperor Gouchen is not a petty god; he wouldn’t make things difficult for the West Sea over a junior’s wedding."
Shen Gong nodded, that’s right, Emperor Gouchen is always the most generous, his magnanimity as vast as the Primordial World. Could it be true that the West Sea has betrayed the Heavenly Court?
Shen Gong asked curiously, "What gift did the Jade Emperor send?"
Gold Star Taibai raised his chin toward the principal seat and said with a smile, "The King’s Divine Pearl is a Crown Bead from Your Majesty’s crown, symbolizing that Ao Qin will forever be the West Sea Dragon King. Such a gift is much more significant than that lovey-dovey flying together and being joyfully united in marriage."
Shen Gongbao exclaimed in surprise, "His Majesty actually dismantled the crown? To bestow such favor upon the West Sea?"
"An old one, left behind by the Heavenly Emperor."
The corner of Shen Gongbao’s mouth twitched, What a move! The Jade Emperor dismantled the Heavenly Emperor’s crown to give as a gift, isn’t that like saying he doesn’t want the Heavenly Emperor to return?
On the other side, a group of women sat together, chatting idly about various matters of the Primordial World.
A woman with a wooden hairpin laughed and said, "Emperor Gouchen is rather amusing."
A woman beside her huffed, "Amusing? I think he’s just stingy. I had heard of Emperor Gouchen’s name before, but I never imagined he’d be such a miser, truly disappointing."
The woman with the wooden hairpin smiled and said, "Maybe there is some hidden reason? Without knowing the facts, we shouldn’t rush to conclusions, that’s not what a gentleman does."
Another woman, covering her mouth and giggling, said, "After her trip to the Mortal World, Sister Xiyu has returned to Qingqiu transformed into a lady of virtue. From now on, when we see Sister Xiyu, we must respectfully address her as ’Master.’"
All the other ladies around laughed, their charm overflowing, attracting the gaze of the surrounding Immortal Gods—Qingqiu Fox Immortals!
Tu Shan Xiyu said irritably, "Keep teasing me, and I’ll toss all of you into the West Sea Sea Eye."
The other ladies responded with laughter, teasing her, "We dare not!"
"Spare us, Sister Xiyu!"
"Master, I will behave!"
Tu Shan Xiyu rolled her eyes but a smile crept onto her lips.
Following that, many more Immortal Gods came to offer their congratulations. Shen Gong roamed among them, like a fish in water, covertly inquiring about news from the West Sea. For original chapters go to NovelHub(.)net
In the West Sea Imperial Garden, Ao Cunxin, dressed in splendid attire, held Yang Jian’s hand and strolled along a path, her face bearing a happy smile.
Ao Cunxin said with a beaming smile, "Who would have thought that my third brother is getting married. He used to love taking us out to play, and this garden is where we often frolicked as kids."
Ao Cunxin pointed at a rockery and said, "Erlang, what does this rockery look like to you?"
Yang Jian scrutinized it carefully. In front of him was a strange rockery that bowed at the waist with outstretched arms. After much thought, he tentatively suggested, "A monkey?"
Ao Cunxin pouted, dissatisfied, "What are you talking about? This is clearly a sculpture of me, personally carved by my third brother. Are you saying I look like a monkey in your heart?"
Yang Jian blurted out without thinking, "It doesn’t resemble you at all!"
Ao Cunxin immediately stopped, her large watery eyes staring at Yang Jian, pouting angrily.
Yang Jian instantly seized the moment, holding Ao Cunxin’s hand tenderly, and said affectionately, "Even if you were a monkey, you’d be one that jumps about happily in my heart."
Ao Cunxin burst into laughter, her sorrow turning to joy, and coquettishly retorted, "I most certainly do not want to be a monkey!"
Yang Jian breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, whew~ this woman is even harder to deal with than a Demon King.