Within the grand wedding hall, the spectacle proved far more breathtaking than anything visible from beyond its doors.
Guest seating arranged itself in a perfect circle around the central altar, which was adorned with a deep blue velvet carpet, intricately studded with starlight, extending gracefully beneath a swirling archway crafted entirely from crystal.
Xiyin was led to a front-row seat near the main altar, a position affording a clear view of the entire ceremony.
After escorting her to her seat, Li Yan cast a reassuring glance towards Xiyin, a silent ‘take it easy’ in his eyes, before making his way to the rear side of the main altar, the designated spot for the best man.
Xiyin noticed several other executive officers, whom she hadn’t seen before, dispersed at key points throughout the venue. Their casual postures belied a subtle yet tightly woven security network.
Guests continued to arrive and take their places.
A diverse assembly of demonkind and magic girls, interspersed with a few beings whose auras were obscure and unfathomable, formed the audience for this extraordinary wedding.
Whispers, the rustle of gowns, and the subtle undulations of an unseen power interwove in the air, creating a taut atmosphere.
Xiyin could feel countless gazes, some overt, some covert, sweeping over her. While she strove to maintain an outward composure, her hands, resting on her lap, involuntarily clenched into subtle fists.
Bai Jin, seemingly awestruck by the opulent scene, whispered something to Bai Zhi, her eyes brimming with curiosity.
The wedding proceedings formally commenced to an ethereal and solemn melody. The music emanated not from any discernible instrument, but from someone’s memory, flowing effortlessly from every inch of the hall, every shimmering ray of light.
First to appear was a procession of female demonkind, clad in star-spun gowns. They held glowing crystal vials, from which they gently sprinkled glimmering dewdrops along both sides of the aisle.
Following this, several high-ranking members of the Lixing Palace and representatives from important allies delivered brief, formalized congratulatory speeches, their content predictably wishing prosperity to the Demon Lord and Lady and the future of the Lixing Palace.
Xiyin scanned the hall for Qi Yue’an, admitting to herself that she wasn’t particularly familiar with wedding protocols. She had half-expected the bride to greet guests, much like in the Chinese weddings she had witnessed, but clearly, this ceremony followed a different custom.
Finally, the protracted wait under the spotlight seemed to end. As a server passed Xiyin, bearing a tray laden with glasses of crystalline liquid, their foot seemed to catch on something. The tray tilted, and a drink hurtled directly towards Xiyin’s white gown.
Xiyin’s pupils contracted. She instinctively tried to shield the small box on her person, but in that fleeting instant, a subtle, almost imperceptible crimson streak of light flashed from behind her. The drink, mere centimeters from Xiyin’s skirt, seemed to collide with an invisible barrier, instantly atomizing into a fine mist that vanished into thin air.
The server profusely apologized. Xiyin, while reassuring them that it was fine, simultaneously turned to glance towards the rear side of the main altar. Li Yan still maintained his impeccable posture, his gaze fixed straight ahead, as if he had done nothing at all. Only the slightest tremor in his fingers, hanging by his side, betrayed his intervention.
“Are you alright, Xixi?”
Bai Zhi asked in a low, concerned whisper.
“…I’m fine.”
Xiyin took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
This seemingly accidental interlude felt less like a mishap and more like a deliberate warning, a potent reminder from some unseen force to prepare herself.
The proceedings continued. As a melodious tune began to play, all guests in the hall simultaneously fell silent, their gazes drawn to the colossal main entrance.
The doors slowly parted.
Against the tide of starlight that poured in from beyond the doors, as if all celestial brilliance had coalesced, a figure slowly stepped inside.
Qi Yue’an was resplendent in an exquisitely magnificent pure white wedding gown. Its layers blossomed into a sweeping train adorned with countless tiny diamonds that shimmered with her every step.
Her long hair was swept up into an elegant, intricate chignon, crowned by the paramount ‘Crown of Reason’.
At this moment, the crown no longer appeared understated; it pulsed with a gentle yet powerful aura of energy. Her face was impeccably made up for a bride, her silver eyes, enhanced by the exquisite makeup, shed their usual hint of bewilderment, gaining instead a dreamlike quality, and a serenity almost akin to that of a martyr.
She was not escorted by any family member, but walked alone, clutching a radiant bouquet, step by determined step, towards the altar, towards Lin Xiao, who awaited her there.
Lin Xiao, equally clad in a pure white suit, stood tall and unyielding as a pine tree. He watched Qi Yue’an approach, a never-before-seen, gentle smile gracing his lips, stripped of all his usual coldness.
That smile was so genuine that it momentarily stunned many in the audience who knew him by his fearsome ‘Demon Lord’ moniker.
Xiyin stared intently at Qi Yue’an, searching for any trace of compulsion or reluctance on her face, but she saw only utter focus and an expression that intertwined happiness with profound resolve.
As Qi Yue’an advanced, she distinctly felt the myriad gazes fixed upon her from below—some filled with concern, others with blessings, jealousy, scrutiny, and even hidden, coiled killing intent.
She knew Xiyin was watching her, knew Bai Zhi and Bai Jin worried for her, and knew the lurking guests were awaiting their moment to strike, ready to launch their attack at any instant.
She could even faintly sense obscure yet potent energy fluctuations emanating from the distant ‘Black Sun’ device, a clear indication that battle had already commenced there.
Yet, at this moment, her heart and gaze were not directed at any of them, but were singularly focused on the person before her, the one who embodied so much of her love and hatred.
At this moment, he, too, gazed upon her. Their first unobstructed exchange of glances, his eyes unlike any other in the room, held an unreserved adoration, and a profound emotion, deeply settled by the passage of time.
He was truly looking at her with deep affection, devoid of falsehood or performance. She was not merely expendable material, but, at least in name, destined to be his only wife.
A peculiar sensation, a blend of trepidation and elation, bloomed within her. All anxiety, all the scrutinizing gazes from below, seemed to vanish in that instant.
She had no mirror to see her own expression, but she could distinctly feel the tension that had gripped her heart these past days dissipate, replaced by a certain flutter and a warmth rising to her cheeks.
How Qi Yue’an wished this moment could last forever, that she would not fall into the endless rain of the past, nor be swept into the storms of the future, but simply remain like this, gazing at each other without a single worry, until eternity.
Under the sacred, warm light, the officiant slowly began to speak.
“Demon Lord Lin Xiao, do you take this woman, Qi Yue’an, to be your wife, to love her, respect her, and protect her, through prosperity and adversity, through growth and diminishment of power, until the end of your days?”
Lin Xiao’s gaze remained fixed on Qi Yue’an, his voice ringing out with undeniable clarity and resolve:
“I do.”
“Demon Lady Qi Yue’an, do you take this man, Lin Xiao, to be your husband, to love him, trust him, and stand by him, through health and sickness, until all ends, until death do you part?”
Qi Yue’an took a deep breath, her silver eyes alight with determination. She knew that at this moment, the attention of the entire hall, and the scrutiny of hidden powers across the world, converged upon her.
She opened her mouth, preparing to utter those three words. Yet, at that precise instant, at least five figures, hidden in the shadows, finally could no longer restrain themselves, erupting into a sudden flurry of action.
They unleashed terrifying magical power, far exceeding that of ordinary third-tier magic girls. Brilliant yet lethal bursts of light instantly shredded the wedding’s serene atmosphere.
First, a languid figure shook a bell, and all ambient sound was instantly extinguished, replaced by a profound sense of exhaustion that swept through the surroundings. Then, another figure emerged from the crowd, unleashing countless razor-sharp blades that flew forth with absolute, indestructible velocity.
Simultaneously, a strange, irresistible mental erosion concentrated its assault on the stage. Magic imbued with cognitive distortion made these attacks difficult to trace or evade.
This was an almost unsolvable killing blow. Each magic girl’s magical trait was absolute, possessing both absolute strengths and weaknesses. But now, the cognitive distortion mitigated the vulnerability of the blades being dodged, while the bell suppressed both physical and mental energy to the level of ordinary mortals.
Such a situation was a golden opportunity. For Lin Xiao to escape, he would have to expose his own unique characteristic.
Lin Xiao’s gaze shifted subtly towards the deadly attacks hurtling towards him. For the first time, the distinct pattern of clock hands clearly manifested in his eyes, and instantly, everything around him froze.
Lin Xiao’s figure remained unmoving, yet the blades had, at some point, shifted their positions and directions. Concurrently, numerous different weapons materialized in mid-air, stabbing from all directions towards the assassin.
“Pfft—”
They were instantly pierced by countless blades. Yet, even before this, the magic girl who had unleashed the swords had already severed her own neck, her soul gem clutched in her mouth, her head flying off with grim inertia, spraying blood across the wall.
Such an engagement lasted less than a second, yet resulted in the tragic outcome of one severely wounded and one dead. Lin Xiao’s eyes held not the slightest remorse; though part of the plan, he harbored no mercy for those who directly attempted assassination.
The hall fell into a sudden silence, then erupted into chaos. The true nature of this operation was known only to the special forces operatives of the Global Emergency Organization; most present were high-tier demonkind or wild magic girl teams who hadn’t even known about the Black Sun device.
The brutal, bloody combat between the two sides momentarily stunned Xiyin, who had never before witnessed such internecine slaughter. As she regained her focus, poised to intervene, she was abruptly ensnared in a broad, firm embrace.
“Miss Star, on the battlefield, even a moment’s hesitation can be fatal~”
Li Yan’s cheerful voice came from behind her. She tried to activate her magic, but found herself feeling weak, even physically. Then, handcuffs and shackles were clasped onto her wrists and ankles.
“You!”
Her eyes glared at Li Yan, yet he remained in his triumphant demeanor.
“Apologies, your ability is rather troublesome, so the boss ordered me to keep you from causing trouble.”
Xiyin was thus unexpectedly captured, carried away in a somewhat humiliating posture. Amidst her anger, she saw Bai Jin and Bai Zhi swept away by the fleeing crowd.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiao sought the third figure. He knew their previous attacks were primarily probes, and the blood-painted pattern on the wall proved his ability had been exposed.
However, having experienced this world multiple times, even with incomplete memories, he recognized several individuals before him. But he was not searching for them; he was looking for the special forces operative named Chen Ling.
For some unknown reason, she possessed a power that even he found difficult to resist, making her the strongest opponent he had encountered besides a fully powered Xiyin. Her cognitive distortion ability would not immediately fade even when time was stopped, greatly limiting his actions.
As he pondered counter-strategies and assessed the threat, a peculiar sense of crisis suddenly struck him.
He instantly spun around, seeing Chen Ling behind Qi Yue’an, who was looking at him with concern. Chen Ling was holding a black rapier, driving it directly into Qi Yue’an. Simultaneously, the magic girl behind him, possessing the absolute constant velocity trait, had regenerated under the spell of another girl holding a holy scripture. Countless flying swords, normally unstoppable, were now assailing him, and these flying swords were once again shrouded by mental erosion, requiring an additional two seconds or more to neutralize their effect.
Time was critical. He had no leisure to think, so he adopted a localized time-stop to slightly extend the duration, and immediately embraced Qi Yue’an’s waist, pulling her aside to dodge.
Under his time-stopping ability, living beings he touched would resume normal time. At this moment, ‘Qi Yue’an’ still seemed flustered, not quite understanding the situation, her half-black, half-white hair swirling with his movement.
She seemed to be holding something in her hand… it looked like a pen, adorned with colorful buttons.
‘No!’
Lin Xiao’s heart jolted. As his mind broke through the mental erosion, he saw the ‘Qi Yue’an’ before him. Her attire had changed from the wedding gown and Crown of Reason to her usual clothes, and her expression had morphed from worry and bewilderment into a triumphant, slightly crazed smile.
And behind Ling Ru, the ‘Chen Ling’ who was about to stab Qi Yue’an was actually the true Qi Yue’an, whose face now held a touch of surprise and anger.
He immediately elbowed the imposter forcefully, her time once again freezing. With less than a second remaining, he only had time to divert the trajectory of some of the flying swords aimed at her, then prepared to use his own body to push her away.
Time flowed again. Ling Ru’s body flew backward. Lin Xiao, propelled by inertia, lunged towards the true Qi Yue’an, narrowly avoiding vital points as the flying swords effortlessly pierced his shoulder and left leg. Simultaneously, the reversed attacks precisely annihilated the offensive capabilities of the other two assassins.
“Hiss—”
An ominous hiss, like a vampire exposed to sunlight, emanated from the parts of Lin Xiao’s body impaled by the flying swords, as white smoke began to rise.
His eyes widened in realization: these final few flying swords were unlike their predecessors. They were derivatives of the Holy Relic 005, the Feather of Death. Wounds inflicted by them would continuously drain stamina and life force, a curse far more potent against demonkind, whose essence lay in their physical bodies rather than their soul gems.
Currently, the only combatant left on the field was Qi Yue’an. Otto and Su Qiao were guarding the Black Sun device, Li Yan had already departed with Xiyin, and the other few were either at different branches or not present.
He turned his head, his kneeling body preparing to rise, but a desperate sight before him made him freeze. He saw Qi Yue’an, who should have been unharmed, now impaled by several spears, each twice a person’s height, fixing her in a slightly bent posture. Behind her, a colossal teleportation gate hung in mid-air.
One of the spears had struck her soul gem, scattering fragments of purple light across the ground. Yet, her face bore no trace of sorrow or the despair of impending death; instead, it held an expression of profound happiness and yearning.
“Still… I can reach you…”
Qi Yue’an whispered softly, her eyes gradually losing their light. She coughed up a mouthful of blood, drawing him into her embrace, still clad in her wedding gown. Then, her face gently drew near, her eyes alight with a fervent, knowing emotion he had never seen before. A sweet, blood-tinged kiss then pressed against Lin Xiao’s lips.
As if to say.
“I do.”