Keyboard Immortal

Chapter 2857: Welcoming Death

“Didn’t the Deity of Love and Beauty go missing? Why is there still a Divine Palace?” Zu An remembered the conspicuous absence of the Love and Beauty Divine Palace in the Cultivation World.

“I don’t know either. The Divine Palaces suddenly appeared in the Cultivation World, and everyone was red-eyed trying to obtain the powers of the universal deities. I didn’t visit any of the Divine Palaces because none of them were suited for my path.

“But shortly after, I entered a peculiar Divine Palace in my dream. Only later did I learn that it was the Love and Beauty Divine Palace,” Yu Yanluo replied.

“Did you meet the Deity of Love and Beauty?” Zu An anxiously asked.

The Deity of Love and Beauty had disappeared for so long that there were many rumors that they had died. Yu Yanluo could be the only person in the world who knew what was truly going on.

Yu Yanluo shook her head. “I didn’t meet any universal deity. I only had a feeling that I had to accomplish certain tasks.”

It sounds like the Deity of Love and Beauty is already gone. It could be the path itself choosing worshipers and assigning missions.

“Did you come to this world because you received a mission from t he Love and Beauty Divine Palace?” This world sure is lively. Now, it isn't just a stand-off between Order and Annihilation; Reproduction and Love and Beauty have gotten involved as well.

“That’s not it. I was undergoing a trial in another world when a summoning formation suddenly appeared in the sky. I was engulfed by the formation, and before I knew it, I had already transmigrated into this world as Chen Yuanyuan,” Yu Yanluo explained.

“I heard that Noble Consort Tian’s father found you and brought you into the palace as a gift to the emperor?”

“Yes. When I first arrived in this world, I was confused. I didn’t know what was going on, so I went with the flow while gathering intelligence. I didn’t expect it to be such a chaotic world.” Yu Yanluo sighed. “The emperor never visited me after I entered the palace, but I did meet Noble Consort Tian. I could tell that she was a foreigner. She stared at me with a peculiar gaze for a long time. Shortly after, I was kicked out of the palace and sent to Wu Sangui’s side.”

Zu An was startled. “Noble Consort Tian...”

Noble Consort Tian was Fifth Elder Lilith. At first glance, Chen Yuanyuan’s involvement in this matter appeared to be a maneuver from her father to secure power, but it looked as if Lilith could have been the mastermind instead.

It was worth considering what Lilith’s motive could be.

“Wu Sangui was away at Shanhai Pass when I was sent to his mansion. He was averse toward me and refused to accept me, but Noble Consort Tian sent him a message, saying that he would change his mind once he met me. Later, he returned to the capital and met me, and indeed, he was interested in me.”

Zu An was perplexed. “How do you know what Noble Consort Tian told Wu Sangui?”

“Many servants in the Wu mansion deliver information to me on their own accord to get a chance to speak to me,” Yu Yanluo replied as if this was perfectly normal.

Zu An was speechless. Pretty privilege. She was also the number one beauty in the Cultivation World, but her charm wasn’t this exaggerated.

Yu Yanluo continued her story. “Wu Sangui showed a peculiar expression when he saw me. Then, he agreed to let me into his mansion. The servants said he fell in love with me at first sight, but I know that isn’t true. I think he saw his old lover in me.

“He is indeed a gentleman, and maintains a polite distance between us. He did approach me to talk while I was in the capital, presumably to find connections between me and his lover, but the result disappointed him.”

Zu An explained, “It’s rumored that Second Elder Hermes used to have a lover, but no one knows who she was or what she looked like. I never expected you to resemble her. Did you face any danger after coming to this world?”

Yu Yanluo smiled. “I may appear helpless, but that’s because I usually go with the flow to grasp intelligence. After joining the Love and Beauty Divine Palace, I gained an ability—no one can coerce me into doing anything I refuse to.”

Zu An was surprised. “That’s quite a formidable ability.”

While Love and Beauty worshipers possessed incredible charisma that allowed them to sway their surroundings, it was still rather ridiculous for Yu Yanluo’s ability to be this reality-bending. He had never heard of any Love and Beauty worshipers being this overpowered.

Yu Yanluo replied with a chuckle, “I've understood for a long time that beauty is a double-edged sword. It comes with benefits, but it also draws enmity and trouble. I’m glad that I gained this ability, or else I would have died many times in the Myriad Worlds.”

Zu An pulled her into his embrace as he said, “It’s also because of your high intelligence and quick wits. Your socializing ability must have gone a long way.”

“You have a sweet tongue. That must have been how you coaxed the young lass to devote herself to you.”

“Do you want to taste it?”

“You’re terrible~”

...

The two of them spent some time sharing their warmth before Zu An got to the matter at hand. “What’s your mission in this world?”

Yu Yanluo shook her head and replied, “Didn’t I tell you earlier that I was summoned to this world by a random force? I don’t have any mission in this world. However, I have a feeling that someone wishes to exploit me to achieve some goal.”

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know the details, but I am exceptionally sensitive toward malice. Someone is scheming something huge, and I'm the crux of the plan.”

Zu An frowned. What kind of scheme could that be?

Yu Yanluo asked Zu An about his agenda, only to frown after hearing his story. “They’re using me to get Wu Sangui to open Shanhai Pass?”

She wasn't from the Order faction, but she knew that if the Annihilation army breached Shanhai Pass, everything would be devastated.

“The Reproduction army isn’t anything good, either. If they conquer the world, the populace would be reduced to livestock to grow their army. It might be better to let the Annihilation army in, so they can wear each other down," Zu An mused.

“But there will eventually be a victor between them. It doesn’t bode well for us, no matter who wins.” Yu Yanluo was someone who had braved many storms. She had her own take on this matter.

“There's no other way now. We can only fight fire with fire.”

“So, you’re going to support the Annihilation faction?”

“That’s right.”

Yu Yanluo was momentarily silent before nodding. “All right, I’ll help you.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“I am indeed perplexed, but I trust you,” Yu Yanluo replied with a gentle smile. She had witnessed and experienced the powers of the universal deities, and that had taught her that some things couldn’t be spoken aloud—certain entities could eavesdrop. It would be meaningless to probe.

...

In the days to come, Li Zicheng tightly encircled the capital. First Elder Oberon personally joined the battlefield to protect the city, but the soldiers had already lost their fighting spirit. There was no way to turn things around.

It didn’t take long for some generals to defect to the enemy side, allowing Li Zicheng’s army to conquer the super fortress without paying too heavy a price.

These were the generals who'd spoken about dying with the capital and urged the emperor to protect the capital. Only then did First Elder Oberon learn that he had been backstabbed, but by then, it was already too late for him to escape.

It was an unprecedented crushing defeat for the Order faction.

First Elder Oberon was extremely irate. He went around massacring people in the imperial populace, determined not to let Order worshipers be tainted by the Reproduction faction. He viewed it as a testament of his devotion to the Deity of Order.

Standing on a mountain of corpses, he slowly approached a young lady. “Don’t be afraid, Isabella. It’s only for an instant. Otherwise, you’ll be humiliated for life if you end up in the Reproduction faction.”

Isabella’s face turned pale. The First Elder had gone completely mad, but he still retained his strength. She didn’t have the means to escape him.

Just then, the First Elder swung his sword at her. The cold gleam from the sword made her instinctively close her eyes.

The Order faction has been defeated. Big brother Zu has defected. There’s no way we can be together anymore. Death doesn’t seem that frightening anymore...