"Forgive me."
Standing before the Bronze Coffin, Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and let the words fall softly from his lips.Then, without further hesitation, he reached out and lifted the bridal veil.
It was as if the veil weighed a thousand pounds, resisting his hand—but it could not stop destiny from unfolding.
Whoosh—!
A breathtaking face was revealed—so beautiful it seemed to eclipse the world itself.Even Yi Tianxing's heart skipped a beat.
"Truly… a woman who could bring down nations."
The thought flashed through his mind. And as the veil was lifted, he could feel it—a bond forming between them.An invisible, unbreakable thread of fate tied him to the woman before him.
But at that very moment—From Xing Lei's body, a mass of black energy surged forth.
It was aura of calamity—so dense it became solid, exuding a destructive power that could extinguish all things.Death incarnate.Chilling. Oppressive.It seemed to devour everything it touched.
Yi Tianxing's pupils shrank. His heart pounded uncontrollably.
The killing intent surged like a tidal wave, and the air turned icy.
From that black mist, a pitch-black saber took shape. Without hesitation, it slashed toward Yi Tianxing.
This was a strike formed entirely from fate energy—the Star of Calamity's backlash.
No physical defense could resist it.Only fate could clash with fate.
If one's fate was weak, they would die instantly. Their fate shattered, their soul dispersed.
"I am the Heavenly Emperor! I shall suppress all foes!"
A blinding light burst above Yi Tianxing's head.A figure identical to him appeared—clad in dragon robes, wreathed in Imperial aura, exuding unshakable might.
The Emperor avatar raised its fist—
And punched the saber.
A punch of unmatched power.
A punch of sovereign dominance.
A punch to suppress all calamity.
Boom—!
It was the collision of fate—Star of Calamity vs. Supreme Emperor Fate.
The shockwave engulfed all.
The world trembled.
Only after a long while did the divine light fade.
At Yi Tianxing's brow, a thin slash wound had appeared—golden blood beading along the mark.
But that was all.
His breath remained stable.His presence was steady and unfathomable.
"That saber… truly terrifying.If it were even slightly stronger, I might have truly been wounded—or worse.But in the end, the Emperor stands victorious."
He wiped the golden blood away, feeling a chill in his heart.Even he was not invincible.If he didn't keep growing stronger, death was always a possibility.
Whoosh—!
Just then, Xing Lei's bridal gown flared with red light.Her body, once trapped in a half-living, half-dead state, suddenly burst with life.Her eyes slowly opened.
Those eyes were like stars—brilliant, yet tinged with an aloof coldness.
"Who… are you?"
She sat up in the coffin, looking at Yi Tianxing with confusion.But then her gaze shifted, and understanding dawned.
"This… this is a wedding dress?"
"My fate—The Star of Calamity—it's… it's been changed? Transformed into a Bride's Fate?How is this possible…?"
She stared at Yi Tianxing.
"So you're… my husband? You survived the backlash.You're no ordinary man.My junior brother and the others—they really pulled it off.They actually broke my fate.I… I've been reborn."
Memories rushed into her mind.
Though her body had been dormant, her soul had remained semi-conscious.She knew what had been done to her, and by whom.She'd just never imagined… it would work.
The Star of Calamity had not been destroyed—it had been wrapped, transformed.
Now, it had become the Bride's Fate.
This meant she could marry without harming her spouse.Even more—it meant she could enhance her husband's fate.
The more terrifying the Star of Calamity was…The stronger her blessing as a bride.
This fate wasn't inferior to the famed Phoenix Fate that nourished emperors—it might even be stronger.
The Bride's Fate still contained the Calamity Star, but restrained, turned inward, used to empower rather than destroy.
She felt her face flush.To sleep through an entire epoch, only to awaken married—it was surreal, even to her.
"My cultivation… it's fallen this low?"
Her expression changed as she examined herself.
Her strength was barely at the Divine Sea Realm.Her body had been rebuilt—a fresh start.
But with her experience, she could regain her power in no time.
"Daoist Xing Lei, what I did was only to help you.If you're unwilling, we can pretend nothing happened. We may part as equals."
Yi Tianxing's tone was sincere. He would never force a woman.
"Husband, you overthink."
Xing Lei shook her head solemnly.
"If I wore the bridal dress, and you lifted the veil—then you are my husband.I will not go back on that.I've waited for this moment for so long.From now on, I, Xing Lei, am your wife. I will fulfill a wife's duty."
Her words were resolute, and her eyes held unwavering certainty.
"Very well. As long as you do not betray me—I, Yi Tianxing, shall never betray you.Let me now reveal who I am."
He smiled with joy. A woman this beautiful joining him was indeed a fortune.Then he introduced himself as the Emperor of the Great Yi Dynasty.
Xing Lei was slightly surprised—but not moved.For her, titles meant little. People mattered more.
"Lady Xing Lei! It's me—the little deer! Do you remember?"
The Nine-Colored Deer rushed forward eagerly.
"You're that lecherous little deer who followed my junior brother everywhere. What happened to you? Why are you so weak now?"
Xing Lei raised an eyebrow, recognizing him immediately.
"It's a long story! Master told me to wait here for you.And finally, the day has come! I can see him again one day!"
The deer bounced with joy and quickly recounted what had happened.
"So… we're still on the Eternal Night battlefield…"
Xing Lei looked around, then called out with a soft but powerful voice:
"Brides—return!"
A shout echoed through the grove.And from every direction, red-dressed brides appeared—just like the ones Yi Tianxing had seen before.
One by one, they turned into streams of ethereal light, flowing toward Xing Lei.
Each one vanished into her body.
Yi Tianxing didn't sense danger—instead, her presence grew deeper, broader, more unfathomable.
Within moments, hundreds of thousands of bridal spirits had merged with her, disappearing completely.
Her aura was now entirely transformed.
"Husband, did you come here to fight Eternal Night?"
She looked at Yi Tianxing.
"Naturally," he nodded.
"Then, as your wife—I must present you with a gift."
She said this calmly.