Fire God Ai Jing was the first and only Fire Phoenix of the Four Seas and Eight Realms. Legend has it that Fire God Ai Jing, also known as War God Ai Jing, wielding the Fire Orb Bow, clad in silver armor, alongside Crown Prince Mai Lian, clad in golden armor and wielding the Azure Spirit Sword, charged into the Demon Realm's army of two hundred thousand, single-handedly slaying tens of thousands. It is also said that one of the Fire God's arrows struck the primordial spirit gem of General Qi Luo of the Demon Realm, that single arrow instantly shattered the primordial spirit of the Demon Realm's most talented and powerful general, scattering his soul and three spiritual essences, crushing the will of the Demon Realm's vast army. The three-year war finally ended. Having lost too many main force troops and talented generals, the Demon Venerable submitted a plea for surrender to the Heavenly Realm. The Heavenly Realm unified heaven and earth, becoming the strongest realm of the Four Seas and Eight Realms.
That year, upon returning from the war with the Demon Realm, the Heavenly Emperor hosted a grand feast that lasted nine days, boosting the morale of the generals and war gods. It was also known that after the great war with the Demon Realm, other realms were terrified whenever the Fire God and the Heavenly Clan's Crown Prince visited their territories to station troops and quell rebellious tribes. Order was restored to heaven and earth, and peace reigned for ten thousand years.
After the Four Seas and Eight Realms were unified, the Heavenly Emperor was greatly pleased. He began to consider choosing a successor for the throne of the Heavenly Emperor, to rule over the heaven and earth he had created. In the recent wars, the Heavenly Emperor had observed that the Fire God was well-versed in military strategy, possessed extraordinary wisdom, and excelled at tactics, especially in the incredibly challenging battles orchestrated by the Demon Realm. Although the Heavenly Realm had already appointed his eldest son as Crown Prince, the Heavenly Emperor felt that, compared to the Fire God, his eldest son was slightly lacking. The Heavenly Emperor then summoned the High Gods of the Four Seas and Eight Realms and the High Immortals of high rank to the grand hall. He presented his thoughts on the Heavenly Emperor's throne and listened to their opinions. The immortals were greatly surprised by the Heavenly Emperor's decision. They immediately reported that since the Fire God was not of Dragon bloodline, succession was impossible.
He then recalled that year, the Fire God's true form was a Fire Phoenix born from the very first flame when he created this heaven and earth. One day, while traveling, the Heavenly Emperor saw the Fire Phoenix and brought it back to raise by his side. With its innate talent for cultivating magic, the Fire Phoenix quickly cultivated into human form. The Phoenix and the Crown Prince grew up together, both mastering military strategy under the Heavenly Emperor's devoted tutelage. However, the Fire God cultivated to become a High God and wholeheartedly wished to be a War God, protecting the Heavenly Realm and all living beings, never once harboring the ambition to ask the Heavenly Emperor for any position within the Heavenly Realm.
Due to the Fire God's immense contributions in leading troops to quell rebellious forces and restore order to heaven and earth, in the year 6720, when Crown Prince Mai Lian ascended the throne as Heavenly Emperor, he bestowed upon Fire God Ai Jing the title of Northern Emperor, to rule over one of the four realms of heaven and earth. He also granted him precious treasures from the Water Realm, as well as rare immortal elixirs from the Grand Ultimate True Person. The Fire God accepted the decree with clasped hands, and that year, all living beings of the Four Seas and Eight Realms celebrated for 49 days.
The Four Seas and Eight Realms enjoyed peace for ten thousand years.
The Heavenly Emperor and Empress also reached the time to enter samsara, returning to the primordial chaos.
Fu Quing Palace
– Heavenly Emperor, if you continue down this path, you will lose.
Mai Lian held a chess piece, twirling it. It was clearly a desperate move, yet no matter how he tried to turn the tide, he still felt he would lose.
– Not only are you skilled at grand strategies, but even in these small chess games, you set up formations against me, Brother Ai. I concede defeat.
Ai Kính laughed heartily, raising the teacup to his lips for a sip, then looked at Mạch Liêm and said,
“How dare I try to outwit Your Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor? It’s just that for a moment I saw you make a wrong move, so I got lucky and won this game. Do you really think I’m that wicked?”
He set down the half-empty teacup and continued,
“Heavenly Emperor, if I may be so bold, I’ve happened to overhear the immortals in the Heavenly Realm discussing your wedding with Princess Yết Hi of the Fox Tribe during several court sessions. Is that news truly real?”
Mạch Liêm subtly curved his lips into a faint smile:
“Have you met that Fox Tribe princess yet? The Fox Emperor back then was one of my Imperial Father’s chess opponents. The Fox Tribe is also one of the tribes with talented generals and powerful armies. This marriage alliance will only make my Heavenly Realm even stronger.”
Ai Kính looked at Mạch Liêm, then smoothly poured him another cup of tea:
“I had the chance to meet her when she was just a month old, still a tiny fox cub in the Fox Emperor’s arms. That was tens of thousands of years ago. It turns out she’s grown enough to be marrying the Heavenly Emperor now, hasn’t she?”
Mạch Liêm laughed heartily, resting his chin on his hand as he gazed at the lotus-filled pond, his face radiating an air of ease:
“So it turns out you and I have both lived for such a long time, witnessing everything come into being and then fade away, yet neither of us has experienced a single love tribulation. Look, mortals go through birth, old age, sickness, death, resentment, love, and separation. Their lifespans are short, yet they always live optimistically and love life. You worry about me, but look at yourself – how are you any different from me? You still live alone, without even a single woman to attend to you. So, between you and me, who should be worrying about whom?”
Ai Kính chuckled faintly, then stood up, his black robes adorned with red patterns, and lightly fanned himself:
“I think perhaps I should submit a memorial to the Heavenly Emperor, requesting to undergo a love tribulation in the mortal realm.”
Mạch Liêm also stood up, lightly flicking his dragon robes:
“I’ll approve your memorial right away, or I could seek out the Old Man Under the Moon and ask him to tie a red thread for you with some fairy. What do you think?”
Still waving his fan with one hand, Mạch Liêm didn’t smile this time, his expression serious, with a subtle hint of solemnity:
“I still think love isn’t necessary yet. Or, when the Heavenly Emperor and the future Heavenly Empress become husband and wife, I’ll wait for the Heavenly Realm’s princess to be born, and then submit a memorial asking the Heavenly Emperor to bestow your princess upon me. That wouldn’t be too late, would it?”
Mạch Liêm burst into laughter:
“If I wait for you to call me ‘father-in-law,’ this old man will surely grow a silver beard like True Immortal Taiyi!”
Bắc Trữ Điện
Ai Kính looked into a room surrounded by a blazing fire barrier. Inside, amidst two shimmering silver ribbons overflowing with immortal energy, was only a small flower, red as blood. He immediately waved his hand, creating a stream of red immortal energy, heating it up, and then transmitting it into the flower. Next, he took a blue stone from his inner robe, blew a breath of air from his mouth onto the red flower, and in an instant, the flower bloomed fully and shone brilliantly. He looked at it one last time, then smiled and closed the barrier.
Just a single flower could make him so happy. Truly, Ai Kính had waited a very long time to see this flower grow day by day and then bloom. He had waited for so, so long…
That year, when Bodhisattva Guanyin held a dharma discourse, immortals from all four directions and eight realms gathered to attend. Even the smallest spirit with the lowest spiritual power was present to absorb a bit of the immortal energy radiating from the highest-ranking deities. Seated on a high platform opposite Guanyin’s lotus throne, the immortals also had the privilege of gazing upon the noble Heavenly Emperor of the Nine Heavens and the Northern Emperor King of the Northern Heavenly Gate, whose shimmering immortal energy made all beings and myriad creatures gaze in awe.
Guanyin Bodhisattva sat upon a tall lotus platform, exuding a fragrant aroma, expounding on the laws of reincarnation to the immortals and conversing with the two emperor-kings of the Heavenly Realm. This caused the immortals from all realms to nod in reverence as they listened. Indeed, the Heavenly Realm not only possessed noble high gods with profound spiritual power, but also deities whose mere names were enough to strike fear into all living beings.
“Who is that high immortal?”
A small spirit asked the one beside it.
“That is Bei Di Wang Ai Jing – the Fire God of the Heavenly Realm. Everyone admires him, not only because he is the God of War, but also because he is a high immortal who disregards the mundane mortal world. And look, isn’t he truly beautiful? Ah, I’ve been watching him for days now, and I still just want to keep gazing at him.”
The spirit spoke excitedly, continuously biting at the hem of its robe. The spirit who had asked the question then looked up at the high immortal the other had just praised. Indeed, he was a cold and beautiful high immortal.
The Dharma assembly finally concluded. The immortals knelt and bowed nine times to Guanyin Bodhisattva before returning in droves. Mai Lian and Ai Jing flew out from the platform together, clasped their hands, bowed respectfully to her, and then departed. Guanyin smiled and spoke:
“Bei Di Wang, may I speak with you for a moment?”
Ai Jing turned back, a hint of surprise on his face, then clasped his hands respectfully:
“Is there anything you require of me?”
Guanyin looked at Ai Jing and then turned her hand over. In her palm, a peach blossom petal swayed gently. Ai Jing looked closely, a flicker of surprise appearing again:
“This is…”
Guanyin smiled and waved her hand, sending the petal towards Ai Jing:
“I chanced upon this little spirit when I was conversing with Star Lord Si Mian. Just now, during our discussion, whenever I inquired about you, the petal in my hand grew warm. This immortal believes that perhaps this spirit has a destined connection with the high immortal, so I’ve taken the liberty of entrusting it to you. What are your thoughts?”
Ai Jing looked at the small peach blossom petal in his hand, unconsciously closed his fist around it, then smiled and clasped his hands.
“If it is indeed destiny, then I gratefully accept your kind intention. Thank you very much.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded, waved her whisk, and imbued the petal with a wisp of immortal energy.
“Since it is a spirit, if you nurture it, perhaps this little spirit can transform into human form to serve you. I have already bestowed upon it a bit of spiritual power. I wish you good fortune.”
Ai Jing clasped his hands and bowed once more, then stepped on a cloud and flew towards the North Heavenly Gate.
Two thousand years had passed since that day. Only now did Ai Jing see the petal Guanyin had given him bloom so brilliantly. Originally, peach blossoms were pink, but after thousands of years of receiving spiritual power from the Fire God, the petal had gradually turned blood-red.
Ai Jing smiled and closed his eyes. “Little peach blossom, when will you become human? I truly wish to see what form you will take when you bloom.”
Suddenly, Ai Jing felt an extremely bright light radiating before his eyes, even though he was still closed. A wave of intense heat emanated, followed by a “clang” as if something had shattered. Ai Jing opened his eyes.
Before him, a female figure appeared. Peach blossoms drifted down around her, filling the air with a pure, fragrant peach blossom scent. The woman opened her eyes, gazed at Ai Jing for a moment, then suddenly smiled brightly.
“Greetings, Husband.”