In the western region of the Xuantian Realm…
Across a barren land stretching thousands of miles, an ancient immortal mountain floated high among the clouds. Ancient Dao sigils, interwoven with light and darkness, coiled around it like celestial chains. The mountain exuded the solemn, suffocating pressure of a slumbering god.
Suddenly—
A thunderous divine voice shattered the silence. The immortal mountain trembled. Heaven and earth roared.
All life across the barren lands trembled in fear.
"The Jiang Clan dares to insult us?!"
At the summit of the immortal mountain, atop the grand throne within the Desolate Heaven Divine Temple, the Desolate Heaven Divine Lord rose in fury.
Having just learned that Jiang Xuan rejected the proposed marriage, his eyes flashed with murderous cold light.
"Send Lord Xuming!" he bellowed. "Let him ask that brat Jiang Xuan… what part of our Divine Saintess isn't good enough for him?!"
The entire sect fell silent.
Xuming, the Heaven Slayer. A being of legend.
He once wiped out a top-tier sect that had dared to slight Desolate Heaven—slaughtering over 30,000 disciples and annihilating their entire Dao lineage. Even three ancestral elders fell under his blade.
Now the Divine Lord was sending him?
He was truly enraged.
And yet…
As the disciples and elders recalled what had happened, fury surged within them as well.
The Desolate Heaven Saintess. Backed by one of the greatest sects in the realm. Holder of the Profound Yin Sacred Body, a talent that rivaled the sect's founding god. A beauty that could collapse nations. Countless geniuses from across the Xuantian Realm had pursued her in vain.
And she—she—had chosen to marry Jiang Xuan.
They had swallowed their pride. They had agreed to initiate the proposal, despite thinking Jiang Xuan was unworthy.
And yet… he rejected her?
His reason?
"I'm already engaged."
They knew of the engagement—some girl from a minor family on the far eastern border. A cripple. Her meridians shattered. A complete waste.
And he chose her over their Saintess?
Did he think they were fools?
Only idiots would believe such an excuse.
Everyone in cultivation knew sentiment was worthless. For a crippled girl, he turned down a future of unimaginable power?
Unless… Jiang Xuan was truly insane.
"Wait."
A gentle voice broke the tension.
From the side of the temple, Luo Xinglan, the Saintess herself, stepped forward.
She bowed deeply to the Divine Lord, then turned to the gathered elders and disciples. Her expression was calm. Serene. Almost as if she hadn't just been publicly rejected.
"Marriage must come from mutual willingness," she said softly. "Since Jiang Xuan is unwilling… let us drop the matter. We should not force anyone."
"If word spreads that I, Luo Xinglan, had to beg for a husband… what would the world think of me?"
Her lips curled into a faint, radiant smile. Like a shooting star cutting through the dark.
The temple fell into chaos.
"No, Saintess! You must not!" cried one elder.
A black-robed elder growled, "Saintess, you must not show mercy to someone who spits in your face!"
"He dares look down on you? He's clearly not worthy! Why defend him?!"
Even the Divine Lord frowned."Xinglan, do you understand the consequences? Our sect will become the laughingstock of the Xuantian Realm!"
"We reached out first—we proposed the alliance—only to be publicly rejected?"
"When has Desolate Heaven ever suffered such humiliation?!"
Luo Xinglan's eyes flickered, a sigh hidden in their depths.
Of course she knew.
This had harmed her reputation. And the sect's.
But… Jiang Xuan must not become an enemy.
She had a secret.
A truth no one else knew—
She was reincarnated.
In her past life, she had wielded the Profound Yin Sacred Body to reign supreme over her generation. She led Desolate Heaven to glory. She was unbeatable.
But a hundred years later, calamity struck.
Enemies from all directions attacked. The sect fell overnight. Even she couldn't stop it.
She died on the battlefield.
This life, she was determined to change that future.
Yet her soul was damaged. Her memories sealed. She only recalled fragments of what had happened.
And among those fragments—one name stood out:
Jiang Xuan.
If she had been unmatched in her generation, Jiang Xuan had been beyond comprehension. He suppressed all of Xuantian with one hand. Before she reached the realm of True God, he had already shattered the world's rules and ascended to the heavens beyond.
"If I want to save Desolate Heaven," she thought, "he is the only one who can help me."
Marriage was the most direct path.
She had investigated him for months. Learned about his engagement. She'd thought—with her status and talent—it would be easy to override it.
She never imagined Jiang Xuan would remain so loyal.
Even to a crippled fiancée.
"A man who values loyalty this much… if I win his trust now, he'll help me in the future."
Her heart swelled with confidence.
"Whether through marriage or not, I must stay close to him."
Luo Xinglan bowed again to the Divine Lord.
"This is not Jiang Xuan's fault. If we force this issue, we'll seem domineering. And we'll earn the Eternal Jiang Clan's enmity. It's not worth it."
"I was too impulsive. I pushed the marriage without first confirming his heart. The shame is mine. I accept any punishment."
The Divine Lord stared at her for a long moment…
Then sighed.
He waved his hand.
"Very well. Since you've said this much… let it be. We won't speak of it again."
How could he punish her?
She was the most talented Saintess since ancient times—perhaps their hope of reclaiming the sect's former glory.
So what if they lost a bit of face?
And if any sect wanted to laugh at them…
Let them try.
Could they withstand Desolate Heaven's wrath?
The hall slowly quieted.
The black-robed elder stepped forward again.
"Divine Lord, when the Jiang Clan elder sent their reply… he also included another message."
"He said Jiang Minghao—one of the Four Pillars—has long admired the Saintess. He hopes for the chance to… sit and talk with her."
The hall stirred again.
They weren't fools.
Sit and talk? Please.
This was another marriage proposal.
And honestly? It wasn't a bad option.
Jiang Minghao was also a top talent, a prime contender for the position of Jiang Clan heir.
A marriage with him would still preserve the alliance—and their pride.
All eyes turned to Luo Xinglan.
Including the Divine Lord.
The proposal was viable—but only if she agreed.
Luo Xinglan frowned slightly.
"…Jiang Minghao? Who?"
She had no memory of him. Not even the faintest familiarity.
Which meant—he didn't matter in her past life.
Just another nobody.
He wanted to marry her?
She snorted coldly.
"He… is not worthy."
Silence.
Everyone stared at her, dumbfounded.
If Jiang Minghao isn't worthy… then why were you trying so hard to marry Jiang Xuan?!
Aren't they basically the same?
The hall quickly dispersed.
No one dared to argue further.
Back in her private chamber, Luo Xinglan sat on a glowing jade platform, staring blankly into space.
If marriage was no longer viable…
How could she get close to Jiang Xuan?
She sighed.
And then, for the first time, her expression shifted.
"He rejected me… just like that?"
"He didn't even want to meet me first? Am I… not good enough?"
She crossed her arms, pouted slightly, and huffed.
"He's really that loyal? Even to a crippled girl?"
Her eyes flashed with curiosity.
"Nangong Mingyue…"
She stood up suddenly, brows furrowed.
That name…
Why did it feel so familiar?
Was Nangong Mingyue… someone important in her past life too?
"A cripple? No way… right?"