Hỏa Thần Ai Jing was the first and only Fire Phoenix of the Four Seas and Eight Realms. Legend has it that Hỏa Thần Ai Jing, wielding the Fire Orb Bow and clad in silver armor, alongside Crown Prince Mai Lian, who wore golden armor and wielded 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 Hỏa Thần's arrows struck the primordial spirit gem of General Qi Luo of the Demon Realm, instantly shattering the soul and three spiritual essences of the Demon Realm's most talented and powerful general, thereby 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 Lord submitted a petition for surrender to the Celestial Realm. The Celestial Realm unified the heavens and earth, becoming the strongest realm among the Four Seas and Eight Realms.
That year, upon returning from the war with the Demon Realm, the Emperor Father hosted a grand banquet 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 struck with awe and fear whenever Hỏa Thần and the Celestial Crown Prince visited their territories to station troops and suppress rebellious clans. Order was restored to the heavens and earth, and peace reigned for ten thousand years.
After the Four Seas and Eight Realms were unified, the Emperor Father was greatly pleased. He began to consider choosing a successor for the throne of the Celestial Emperor, who would govern the heavens and earth he had created. In the recent wars, the Emperor Father had observed that Hỏa Thần was well-versed in military strategy, possessed extraordinary wisdom, and was skilled in tactical maneuvers, especially in the extremely challenging battles orchestrated by the Demon Realm. Although the Celestial Realm had already established his eldest son as the Crown Prince, the Emperor Father felt that, when compared to Hỏa Thần, his eldest son, though somewhat outstanding, was still not quite Hỏa Thần's equal. The Emperor Father then summoned the high gods from the Four Seas and Eight Realms and high immortals of noble rank to the grand hall, where he presented his thoughts on the Celestial Emperor's throne and listened to their opinions. The immortals were greatly surprised by the Emperor Father's decision. They immediately reported that Hỏa Thần was not of Dragon bloodline, and therefore, succession was impossible.
He then recalled that Hỏa Thần's true form was a Fire Phoenix, born from the first flame when he created this realm of heavens and earth. One day, during his travels, the Emperor Father saw the Fire Phoenix and brought it back to raise by his side. With its innate ability to cultivate profound magic, the Fire Phoenix quickly transformed into human form. The Phoenix and the Crown Prince grew up together, both mastering military strategy under the Emperor Father's dedicated tutelage. However, Hỏa Thần cultivated to become a high god and wholeheartedly desired to be a War God, protecting the Celestial Realm and all living beings, never once harboring the ambition to ask the Emperor Father for any position within the Celestial Realm.
Due to Hỏa Thần's immense contributions in leading troops to suppress rebellious forces and restore order to the heavens and earth, in the year 6720, when Crown Prince Mai Lian ascended to the throne as Celestial Emperor, he bestowed upon Hỏa Thần Ai Jing the title of Northern Emperor King, to rule over one of the four realms of heavens and earth. He also granted him precious jade treasures from the Water Realm, as well as rare immortal elixirs from the Taiji True Immortal. Hỏa Thần clasped his hands in acknowledgment of the decree. That year, all living beings across the Four Seas and Eight Realms celebrated for 49 days.
The Four Seas and Eight Realms enjoyed peace for ten thousand years.
It was also time for the Emperor Father and Empress Mother to enter reincarnation and return to the realm of chaos.
Phù Cừ Palace
"Celestial Emperor, if you continue on this path, you will lose."
Mai Lian, holding a chess piece, twirled it. It was clearly a difficult move, but no matter how he tried to turn the tide of the game, he still felt he would lose. "Brother, 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 his teacup to his lips before looking at Mạch Liêm and saying,
"How could I dare to disrespect His Imperial Majesty the Heavenly Emperor? It was merely a moment where I saw you make a wrong move, so I got lucky and won this game. Do you truly think I'm that wicked?"
He set down his half-empty teacup and continued,
"Heavenly Emperor, if I may be frank, it so happened that during several court sessions, I overheard the immortals in the Heavenly Realm discussing your wedding to Princess Yết Hi of the Fox Tribe. Is that truly happening?"
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 Father Emperor's chess opponents. The Fox Tribe is also known for its talented generals and powerful army. This marriage alliance will only strengthen our Heavenly Realm."
Ai Kính looked at Mạch Liêm and smoothly poured him another cup of tea:
"I had the chance to meet her when she was just a month old, a tiny fox cub in the Fox Emperor's arms. That was tens of thousands of years ago. To think she's grown enough to be marrying the Heavenly Emperor now!"
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 so long, witnessing the birth and demise of countless things, yet neither of us has ever experienced a 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 cherish life. You worry about me, but look at yourself, aren't you just like me? Still living alone, without even a single female attendant. So, between you and me, who should be worrying about whom?"
Ai Kính smiled 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 descend to the mortal realm and experience a love tribulation."
Mạch Liêm also stood up, lightly flicking his dragon robes:
"I shall approve your memorial immediately, or perhaps I could seek out the Matchmaker Immortal and ask him to tie a red thread of fate for you with some fairy maiden. What do you think?"
Still fanning himself with one hand, Mạch Liêm didn't smile this time, his expression serious with a subtle hint of weariness.
"I still think love isn't necessary just yet. Or perhaps, once 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 laughed heartily:
"If I wait for you to call me 'father-in-law,' this old man will surely grow a white beard like Taiyi Zhenren!"
North Storage Palace
Ai Kính looked into a room surrounded by a blazing fire barrier. Inside, two shimmering silver ribbons, overflowing with immortal energy, enveloped only a small, blood-red flower. He immediately waved his hand, creating a wisp of red immortal energy, heating it, and then transmitting it into the flower. Next, he took a blue stone from his inner robe, blew a breath of air 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 made him so joyful. Ai Kính had truly waited a very long time to see this flower grow day by day and finally bloom. He had waited for so, so long...
That year, when Guanyin Bodhisattva opened her dharma assembly for discussion, immortals from all four directions and eight realms gathered to attend. Even the smallest sprites with the lowest spiritual power were present, hoping to absorb a bit of the immortal energy emanating from the high-ranking deities. Seated on high pedestals opposite Guanyin's lotus throne, the immortals also had the privilege of witnessing the noble Heavenly Emperor of the Nine Heavens and the Northern Emperor King of the North Heaven Gate, radiating dazzling immortal energy that made all beings gaze in awe.
Guanyin Bodhisattva sat upon a high lotus platform, exuding a fragrant aroma, expounding the laws of reincarnation to the immortals and conversing with the two emperors of the Heavenly Realm. This caused the immortals from all realms to nod in reverence as they listened. Indeed, the Heavenly Realm was home not only to noble high gods of profound spiritual power, but also to deities whose mere names were enough to strike fear into all living beings.
“Who is that high immortal?”
A small sprite asked the one beside her.
“That is Northern Emperor Ai Jing – the Fire God of the Heavenly Realm. He is admired by everyone, not only because he is the God of War, but also because he is a high immortal who disregards the mundane affairs of the mortal world. And look, isn’t he truly handsome? Ah, I’ve been watching him for days here, and I still just want to keep looking at him forever.”
The sprite spoke excitedly, continuously biting at the hem of her robe. The sprite 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 departing in succession. 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:
“Northern Emperor, may I have a word with you?”
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 blossom towards Ai Jing:
“I happened upon this little sprite while conversing with Si Mian Star Lord. Just now, during our discussion, whenever I inquired about you, the petal in my hand grew warm. This immortal believes that perhaps this sprite has a karmic 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, instinctively closed his fist around it, then smiled and clasped his hands.
“If it is indeed fate, then I gratefully accept your kind gesture. Thank you very much.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva nodded, then waved her whisk, imbuing the petal with a wisp of immortal energy.
“Since it is a sprite, if you nurture it, perhaps this little sprite might transform into a 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 onto the clouds and flew towards the Northern 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 millennia 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 intensely bright light radiating before his eyes, even though they were closed. A wave of extreme heat emanated, followed by a “clang” like something shattering. Ai Jing opened his eyes.
Before him, a female figure appeared. Peach blossoms fluttered around her, exuding a pure, fragrant peach scent. The woman opened her eyes, gazed at Ai Jing for a moment, then suddenly smiled brightly.
“Greetings, my Husband.”