After breaking up with my girlfriend, I became a Great Sage of the Demon Clan.

After this process was completed, he shouted with satisfaction.

"The pilgrimage is complete, witnessed by gods and ghosts, and seen by the sun and moon."

"Tongzan shouted."

"Worship heaven and earth."

Zhao Wenhe and Zhou Yan bowed to the plaque inscribed with the words "Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher".

The two attendants said in unison.

"First bow to the spirit of heaven and earth, for our predestined marriage is on the Three Lives Stone; second bow."

"Second bow to the essence of the sun and moon, for all things grow thanks to her! Second bow."

"I bow again to spring, summer, autumn and winter, wishing for favorable weather and abundant harvests! I bow three times."

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

Zhao Wenhe and Zhou Yan bowed to the memorial tablets of Zhao Wenhe's parents on either side of the offering table.

"Water has its source, trees have their roots, and children will never forget the kindness of their parents. Today, as they get married and start their own families, they will respect and honor their elderly parents."

"I bow once to my parents for raising me, and once to them!"

"I bow again to my parents for teaching me their way of life, and then bow once more!"

"Respect for elders and love for the young should be remembered; harmony can turn barren land into gold! Three bows!"

After bowing three times, Zhao Wenhe turned to the side, facing Zhou Yan in the red wedding dress.

The two attendants shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Husband and wife bow to each other!"

Zhou Yan and Zhao Wenhe bowed to each other, while the awakened ones around them pointed and whispered among themselves. They said that such a classical wedding was rare these days, and it was a pity that everything, from the incense to the wedding dress and everything else, was hastily made by hand, making it somewhat incongruous.

"One bow signifies sharing blessings and hardships, growing old together, weathering storms together; one bow signifies a happy marriage."

"Second bow: May you and your spouse be loving and respectful to each other, have a son soon, and bring glory to your family. Second bow: May you grow old together in happiness."

"Three bows to diligence and thrift in managing the household, equal pay for equal work; shared ideals and beliefs, respect for elders and love for children—three bows, a bond of eternal unity!"

Firecrackers and music rang out simultaneously, along with applause.

Wenquxing immediately gave a look to the awakened people standing on both sides of the memorial tablet and incense table. These awakened people immediately clapped their hands vigorously, almost breaking their palms in order to show their attitude.

Both of the best men reached out towards a wooden house.

"Welcome the newlyweds to the bridal chamber."

The bridal chamber?!

Zhao Wenhe straightened his clothes, then took Zhou Yan's hand and walked over.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal

Zhao Wenhe and Zhou Yan entered the bedroom in the small courtyard.

The Awakened Ones gathered outside looked at each other. Several young men, with their arms around women, went outside the palace to prepare for some intimate acts. Xu Hanyao approached Wenquxing and asked him something.

"I remember in traditional weddings, when the bride and groom enter the bridal chamber, relatives and friends can peek through the window by poking a hole in the paper windowpane?"

Several awakened individuals who overheard the conversation gathered around and asked slyly.

"I think I've heard of this tactic before."

"Yes, yes, I've heard of that too."

Many eyes were focused on Wenquxing, who was all smiles.

"Speaking of folk customs, there used to be a custom in Da Dong Prefecture where if an older brother married his sister-in-law, all his younger brothers could share her with him."

Because of its unique geographical location, Da Dongzhou does not have four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The year cycles between mild and extreme cold. Because this kind of weather is not conducive to planting and people cannot stay, Da Dongzhou has developed a unique culture: several brothers in a family pool their money to buy a woman to manage the household. The brothers who contributed money and the other brothers share one wife.

An awakened individual slapped his thigh.

"Tsk tsk, if I had known, I would have gone and become sworn brothers with that young Zhou."

Another awakened one shook his head.

"No rush, it's fine to become sworn brothers later."

Xu Hanyao stood tall with his chest puffed out.

"You don't know anything. From now on, that Zhou kid is my half-brother."

A burst of laughter erupted.

Wenquxing smiled and shook his head. The Great Zheng Dynasty had been extinct for more than two hundred years. In today's democratic society, ordinary people no longer have any divine fantasies about emperors and the imperial family.

Even the president of the Eastern Xia United States doesn't inspire fear in ordinary people. For example, if a certain president has a beautiful daughter, and she accidentally exposes herself once, countless people will discuss her figure, whether she has had plastic surgery, photoshopped images, and so on.

If these words were spoken in a feudal dynasty, they would have been enough to kill someone for saying just one.

The same thing is happening now. These awakened individuals venerate Zhao Wenhe as Empress, yet their words are full of flowery language, showing absolutely no respect. Emperors are outdated; the entire social environment has eradicated the idea of ​​the emperor's supreme authority.

and so……

Wenquxing looked towards the bridal chamber where Zhou Yan and Zhao Wenhe were staying.

As a true goddess, if this woman were to enter the mortal world and become a member of Congress or a regional overlord, no one would find it inappropriate. In fact, to appease this woman, the federal government and the Four Divine Beasts would concede as much benefit as possible.

But this woman wanted to be the emperor.

He wanted to rule the world.

The emperor lost his virtue, and both Heaven and man attacked him.

……

Inside the bridal chamber.

Zhou Yan walked to the edge of the wedding bed and sat down.

Zhao Wenhe walked up to "Zhou Yan" and sighed.

"My beloved concubine, I have not yet ascended the throne, so I can only give you a title. Once I have conquered the world and all people submit to me, I will surely give you a grand wedding."

Zhou Yan remained completely unmoved.

Zhao Wenhe had no suspicions, but walked up to Zhou Yan and lifted the red veil covering "Zhou Yan".

Zhou Yan's face, full of mockery, emerged from under the red veil.

Zhao Wenhe said with satisfaction.

"My beloved concubine, the Heavenly Emperor cherishes you. I'd like to see how he will view you after I take you for myself."

"Zhou Yan" said strangely.

"So you want to outdo the Heavenly Emperors?"

Zhao Wenhe asked, puzzled.

"ox?"

Zhou Yan shook his head.

"You're just trying to poach the Heavenly Emperors' men."

Zhao Wenhe sneered.

“Those Heavenly Emperors have enjoyed the sacrifices of the Heavenly Family and the faith of the people generation after generation, yet they have repeatedly stood by and watched the world with indifference. They are truly hateful. I must have been out of my mind back then to believe that these Heavenly Emperors could help me turn the tide and win back the hearts of the people.”

Zhou Yan shook his head.

"Dynasties come and go in this world; who can escape them?"

Zhou Yan did not doubt Zhao Wenhe's determination and ability. Historical records also praised this empress. However, in the late stages of any dynasty, the entire environment was in ruins, and the general trend was toward division. Under such circumstances, no matter how powerful Zhao Wenhe was, she could only watch helplessly as the world split apart.

Zhao Wenhe walked up to "Zhou Yan" and placed one hand on Zhou Yan's shoulder.

"Alright, my beloved concubine, let's not waste time with these idle chatter."

Zhao Wenhe pressed "Zhou Yan" onto the red bed.

The moment Zhou Yan's back touched the red bed, the boy suddenly spoke.

"Your Majesty, the Antarctic Longevity Emperor just asked me to pass on a message to you."

Zhao Wenhe, who was pressing Zhou Yan down on the bed, turned pale and then red. Zhao Wenhe said angrily.

"Then what did Sha Cai say?!"

White mist began to emanate from Zhou Yan's body.

"The Emperor said..."

"Even death cannot atone for his sins."

The "Zhou Yan" who was being held down completely turned into mist and disappeared.

It wasn't just "Zhou Yan"; as "Zhou Yan" vanished into mist, the colors and lines of the surrounding environment disappeared, and all sorts of scenery and Zhao Wenhe drifted far away.

With a "thump," Zhao Wenhe, who was originally on the red bed, suddenly landed on the ground, his knees hitting a brick. As the brick appeared, the surrounding scenery changed rapidly.

A crimson gauze robe hung in the sky, adorned with brilliant stars; a lotus crown shone with golden splendor.

Adorned with jade hairpins and pearl-embroidered shoes, and adorned with purple ribbons and golden seals, the golden bell tolls, and the three divine officials present their memorials at the imperial court; when the heavenly drums sound, all the saints pay homage to the Heavenly Emperor.

Below are a celestial princess holding a fan, a jade maiden holding a fairy handkerchief, a fierce-looking celestial general, and a majestic celestial official protecting the emperor.

In the very center, on a glass plate, are many layers upon layers of Taiyi Dan (a type of elixir); in an agate bottle, are several crooked coral branches.

And sitting atop it was a king, the only one in all things, dressed in red robes and with blue shoulders.

The king lowered his eyes, and auspicious rays of light fell upon Zhao Wenhe.

Zhao Wenhe's pupils contracted. The empress stood up, stared at the king surrounded by ten thousand immortals, and spoke.

"The Antarctic Immortal Emperor?"

Beside the Heavenly Emperor, a Thunder God emerged, bearing three eyes on his forehead, wearing a Bright Heart Tiger Shoulder Armor, and with lightning snakes crawling all over his body. When this Thunder God spoke, the entire Divine Firmament Jade Purity Palace roared like thunder.

"Zhao Wenhe, do you know your crime!"

Zhao Wenhe often spoke with a lion's roar, which sounded like thunder in people's ears and lasted for a long time. However, this lion's roar was not the true thunder of the heavenly court. The true thunder of the heavenly court was just like the voice of this Thunder God. As soon as he opened his mouth, everything trembled, and his spirit, energy, and soul were shaken by the thunder.

Zhao Wenhe was shaken by the thunderous sound, his whole body trembling. However, he was still at the pinnacle of martial arts, a terrestrial immortal. The empress simply suppressed her inner force, and the thunderous shock disappeared without a trace.

Zhao Wenhe stood with his hands behind his back and spoke loudly within the Divine Firmament Jade Purity Palace.

"What have I done wrong?!"

Lei Bu Zhenjun's eyes widened, and ten thousand bolts of lightning descended from his eyes, sharp, powerful, and shimmering with divine light.

"His first crime is that he does not understand the will of Heaven!"

Zhao Wenhe interrupted.

"I am the Son of Heaven, appointed by Heaven's will and respected by Heaven's will. How dare you, mere minor deities, say that I do not understand the will of Heaven!"

Another immortal, carrying a court tablet, with a refined and elegant appearance, stepped forward and proclaimed in a clear voice.

"His second crime is that he is incorrigible and bloodthirsty. All the immortal birds and divine beasts on Mount Dawu were destroyed by his hand."

Zhao Wenhe was in high spirits.

"Under the vast heaven, all land belongs to the king. On the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king."

"Within this vast land of the Great Wu Mountain King, all are my subjects. If the sovereign commands death, how dare the subject disobey! I merely issue the king's decree, and the subjects obey; what crime have they committed!"

"How dare you!"

A celestial general, a hundred meters tall, emerged and roared.

"Zhao Wenhe, your crimes are threefold: you abused your divine authority as the Plague Department to forcibly take the lives of mortals, disregarding the will of Heaven for your own selfish gain. Zhao Wenhe, do you know your crimes!"

Zhao Wenhe's eyes widened as he stared intently at the Antarctic Longevity Emperor, who had remained silent but exuded an aura that overwhelmed all the Eight True Lords and the celestial generals.

"crime?!"

Zhao Wenhe took a step toward the Antarctic Longevity Emperor and said in a firm tone.

"What's the crime?"