Chapter One
On the Wedding Day, the Heavenly Canopy Descends!
(The protagonist is born into this world—this is not soul possession.)
Douluo Continent, Heaven Dou City.
At this moment, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament was about to begin. As the host city for the Heaven Dou regional qualifiers, the ancient imperial capital—steeped in a thousand years of history—was livelier and more prosperous than ever.
At the same time, in a grand estate at the heart of Heaven Dou City, the atmosphere was just as festive.
Everyone nearby knew that the Silvermoon Family's young master was holding a magnificent wedding today.
Yet the identity of the bride remained shrouded in mystery.
She had never appeared in public. No one knew which noble clan or powerful sect this Silvermoon heir had married into.
"Congratulations, Brother Zhang! To marry such a beautiful wife at such a young age—your life is already complete. May you share a lifetime of harmony and grow old together!"
The speaker was a handsome young gentleman with blond hair and blue eyes. His posture was refined as he performed an elegant courtly salute.
"Your Highness is too kind," the groom replied calmly as he returned the gesture."To attend my wedding over such a trivial matter—our Zhang family is deeply honored."
The young man before him was likewise handsome, his light-golden hair paired with an air of quiet transcendence. His words were modest, yet his presence carried a composed, unfathomable depth—something that made the Crown Prince regard him with even greater appreciation.
Naturally, the young man knew exactly who this "Crown Prince" was.
Because he was a transmigrator.
His name in this world was Zhang Xingkong. But in truth—or perhaps in his heart—he preferred another name.
Aether.
This land known as the Douluo Continent was not the first world he had stepped into.
Once, due to an accident, he had crossed over from Blue Star to Teyvat, becoming the Traveler known as Aether.
Like the original Traveler, he journeyed across the land, met companions of countless personalities, and overcame one crisis after another.
But in the world-shaking final battle…
Only one remained by his side.
The Third of the Fatui Harbingers—"The Damselette," Columbina,the Frost Moon Goddess.
He never imagined that when the two of them were swallowed hand in hand by a black hole, what awaited them was not death—
But rebirth in the Douluo Continent.
He lost the body of the Traveler and was reincarnated as the second young master of Heaven Dou City's Silvermoon Family, bearing the name Zhang Xingkong.
And Columbina had never truly left him.
Though in a very special form, she had continued to remain by his side all along.
Now—seventeen years after his arrival in this world—on the day Zhang Xingkong, second young master of the Silvermoon Family, turned seventeen—
He chose to give that girl a promise.
Since coming to this world, he had always kept a low profile.
Because his partner loved tranquility and disliked disturbance.
Even in her past life as a Fatui Harbinger, she had long since laid down her duties, retreating into seclusion within the Silvermoon Garden for centuries, accompanied only by a handful of moon spirits.
After arriving in the Douluo Continent, although Columbina never said a word, Zhang Xingkong understood clearly—
All he wanted now was a calm, steady life with his wife.
As for the storms of the outside world…What did they have to do with him?
And as for that hypocritical so-called Tang God—
If he dared provoke him…
Heh.
As for the person standing before him now—
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe—or rather, Qian Renxue, heir to the Angel God of Spirit Hall—
Her presence here left him somewhat helpless.
It was the "Crown Prince" who had taken the initiative to approach him in the past, frequently inviting him for tea or sending gifts.
Though Zhang Xingkong had always responded with polite indifference, Xue Qinghe seemed increasingly convinced that this man was worth recruiting.
Of course, the Heaven Dou Empire differed greatly from the militaristic Star Luo Empire.
Star Luo had long possessed iron-blooded military strength, and its royal family members were themselves powerful soul masters. With their inherited martial soul fusion technique—the Nether White Tiger—their combat power rivaled even the Upper Three Sects.
By comparison, the Heaven Dou royal family's Swan Martial Soul was laughable beside the Dai clan's White Tiger—its only merit being elegance.
To maintain rule over such a vast empire, Heaven Dou had no choice but to rely heavily on recruiting and balancing internal forces.
Royal heirs were forced to constantly maneuver among noble families and sects, using them to stabilize imperial authority.
If the White Tiger clan ruled Star Luo with absolute force, then the Xue family of Heaven Dou functioned more like mediators standing at the center.
As a result, the empire's survival depended largely on the successor's political acumen.
Once the quality of its royal heirs declined, fragmentation was inevitable.
Indeed, not long afterward, the Heaven Dou Empire would split into the Heaven Soul Empire and the Spirit Dou Empire.
"Since Your Highness is present, please come in and share a glass of wedding wine."
Zhang Xingkong sighed softly and gestured inward.
Though he had no wish to involve himself in Qian Renxue's affairs or Heaven Dou's internal struggles, it would be discourteous not to host guests who had come bearing sincerity—and valuable gifts.
Leading the Crown Prince through the estate gates, Zhang Xingkong guided her into the elegantly arranged banquet hall.
Qian Renxue could not help but marvel inwardly.
Most weddings were vibrant affairs, drenched in bright red.
Yet the Silvermoon Family's wedding was adorned almost entirely in moon-white and silver, creating an atmosphere that was elegant, ethereal, and light.
It felt less like a wedding residence—
And more like a lunar palace awaiting the ascension of a celestial maiden.
Soft, downy decorations adorned the tables and walls, along with peculiar stones that glimmered like tiny moons.
Without realizing it, Qian Renxue felt her restless thoughts quieting.
"I'm curious," she thought,"just what kind of woman must the bride be—to possess such refined taste?"
Unbeknownst to her, a hint of anticipation had already begun to grow in her heart.
A maid dressed in a silver gown stepped forward, brewing a pot of tea for Zhang Xingkong and the Crown Prince alike.
A faint fragrance drifted through the air, further enhancing the room's dreamlike serenity.
Qian Renxue took a small sip.
Her brows twitched slightly.
She had never tasted anything like this before—not even as the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou.
How could she know?
This tea was the result of years of Zhang Xingkong's personal refinement, drawing upon his experiences wandering Liyue.
Though worlds differed and perfect replication of Teyvat's immortal-grade tea leaves was impossible, its wondrous qualities far surpassed anything Heaven Dou possessed.
Zhang Xingkong felt a trace of regret.
The tea he had devoted his life to cultivating would likely never be tasted by those "old friends" again.
The Crown Prince smiled, about to comment on the tea—
When her expression suddenly froze.
"Th-this… what is that?"
Zhang Xingkong followed her gaze toward the window.
The moment he saw it, even he was stunned.
Above the Douluo Continent, a golden scroll slowly unfurled across the sky.
It appeared like a vast celestial screen.
And yet—
Zhang Xingkong sensed no divine fluctuation whatsoever.
It was as if it had emerged directly from the void.
"Is this… a law?"
Having lived in Teyvat, the Traveler's expression immediately turned grave.
"A law I have never seen before.Its issuer… unknown."