In this world, Chong Yan's career reached its peak at the age of 32. After more than ten years of hard work with his team in the laboratory, they finally made a breakthrough in a critical research area concerning genetic diseases. This patent helped countless individuals with genetic diseases receive treatment at the infant or even fetal stage, changing many lives.
It was also at this time that everyone who knew the relationship between him and Zhu Ling finally treated them as equals. Zhu Ling was no longer seen as just someone with high intelligence, brilliance, and a strong career drive who was also a love-struck fool. Instead, she was recognized as a shrewd investor with foresight and vision.
Zhu Ling never cared about external opinions, and Chong Yan learned to disregard them as well. One must be able to withstand praise during their peak and ridicule during their low points.
Others' evaluations were not that important.
For anything meaningless and unpleasant to hear, the best response was always "None of your damn business."
From this point onwards, his future life was filled with flowers and admiration, all of which stemmed from countless merit points.
Chong Yan had actually noticed Zhu Ling intentionally guiding him to do good deeds, even though she never explicitly told him what he should or shouldn't do.
He felt his beloved was incredibly kind.
Zhu Ling, on the other hand, only wanted him to quickly repay her "debt" of billions.
They had lived in this world for over sixty years. They wouldn't have died yet, but Zhu Ling sensed something was wrong in their original world, so she left ahead of time.
Upon returning to the Demon Realm, she made inquiries but found no issues.
The Demon Realm, the Human Realm, the God Realm – everything was as usual.
It was as peaceful as a golden age.
Zhu Ling, somewhat dejected, abandoned her search.
Chong Yan had already gone to the Three Thousand Worlds before her. She didn't want to stay here either, so she returned, exchanged a glance, and left.
They often traveled through the Three Thousand Worlds. Sometimes it was to retrieve Chong Yan's soul fragments, sometimes for merit, and sometimes simply to pass the time. They never found it boring.
Although Zhu Ling held the title of Demon Lord of the Demon Realm, with the three realms now at peace, the Demon Realm had recently established contact with the Human Realm. After the new God Sovereign ascended to the Celestial Realm, the peaks of the gods regained vitality, and deities were constantly born. With the Demon Realm having a former God Sovereign as its leader, the Celestial Realm dared not initiate an attack. Everyone adhered to their respective duties, and peace prevailed.
With the Demon Realm and the Human Realm in contact, it wasn't just the underworld managed by Zhu Ling. The Demon Lord of Dong Yuan, who had been sealed for over ten thousand years, was also reportedly released.
In those days, under his leadership, the Demon Realm was powerful and repeatedly invaded the human race. He killed the Human Emperor twice, nearly annihilated humanity, and injured many in the Celestial Realm. He believed himself invincible.
He never imagined that his first encounter with that God Sovereign nearly led to his demise. To recover his power, he painstakingly dug out the heart of the Spirit Phoenix Saintess, restored his abilities, and sought revenge.
He did get his revenge in the end. Shen Guang of the Golden Dragon clan had injured Zhu Ling. He seized the opportunity, attacking when she was vulnerable, leaving her divine soul unstable. If she hadn't been born with the destiny of heaven and earth, coexisting with the sun and moon, he would have been able to kill her.
A pity.
Shen Yuan stroked the throne beneath him, his eyes bloodthirsty.
"...There are rumors about Demon Lord Chong Yan and the Venerable... her, involving passionate affairs. They all originated from people in that palace, saying the two were husband and wife for three lifetimes, with deep love and enduring fate... These are not credible. She hasn't returned to the Demon Realm in thousands of years, and the current ruler of the Celestial Realm is just a babe. If the Venerable wishes to rise again, now is the best opportunity. We subordinates have been waiting for the Venerable's return."
"The ruler of the Celestial Realm? Who is it?"
He hadn't expected that after being sealed for ten thousand years, his sworn enemy would become the Demon Lord.
It made sense. That woman never hesitated to do anything for anyone, regardless of their status.
Including the war between the two races back then, it was also because he initiated the conflict first.
He didn't feel he had done anything wrong. He was a demon. Demons should kill, burn, plunder, and commit all the wicked deeds in the mouths of mortals.
What he hated most was the human race. With their short lifespans, like ephemeral ants, they were inexplicably fond of conflict and possessed a greed even greater than his. This disgusted him, so he manipulated them to fight more fiercely, snatch more greedily, and die in greater numbers. Su Dan Novel Network
As for the Celestial Realm, there were very few people then, so he had no reason to detest them.
He stirred up trouble in the human world, causing the deaths of innocent civilians, which led Zhu Ling to act against him. Protecting the peace of the three realms was her duty as a God Sovereign. He harbored no great resentment.
It was simply a case of the victor taking all.
"The current ruler of the Celestial Realm is rumored to be named Wu Xiang. Some say she is the Venerable's... daughter, while others say she is a newly born deity from the peaks of the gods. No one has ever seen her true form."
"Daughter?" Shen Yuan scoffed, as if hearing the greatest joke in the world.
Zhu Ling was born of heaven and earth, the first deity in existence, born with the universe and destined to perish with it. How could she possibly have offspring?
The attendants below dared not respond.
Shen Yuan pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, "This Venerable understands. You may withdraw."
"Yes."
The person left the palace. He rested his chin on his hand, contemplating the words his subordinate had just spoken and recalling the scene of his battle with that person years ago. Although everything was logical, it still surprised him greatly.
She actually fell in love with someone?
A God Sovereign of the Celestial Realm and a lowly human.
If he hadn't been sealed then, he would have witnessed quite a few amusing spectacles over the years.
Otherwise, how could others have taken his place while he was sealed in the forbidden tower, enduring endless suffering? If not for the interaction between the human and demon realms, he would likely still be suffering in the forbidden tower today.
Having spent tens of thousands of years in that place, Shen Yuan was no longer as impulsive as before. He knew he was no match for Zhu Ling. She was divinely favored, and the heavens themselves leaned towards her. To oppose her was to oppose the heavens, a battle doomed to failure.
Few knew that their battle back then was not their first. His greatest dream was to defeat that woman.
She disdained to deal with him personally, so she allocated him a territory, making him a king in his own domain and the Demon Lord above all.
Alas, he was too greedy.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have missed all the laughable events that had transpired with her over the years.
What a pity.
Shen Yuan lamented for a long time in his palace.
Likely out of boredom, he frequently asked his subordinates about various interesting happenings in the three realms. Soon, he heard about the peculiar habits of the current God Sovereign of the Celestial Realm, Wu Xiang.
Finding such an amusing joke, he naturally wouldn't miss it. He had rested enough since his return, so he came to the Celestial Realm alone.
In the past thousand years, not only had over a dozen deities descended from the peaks of the gods, but in Canglanzhou, someone had discovered an ancient ruin and achieved enlightenment, leading to many immortals ascending within a millennium.
Compared to the desolate state of the Celestial Realm when he left ten thousand years ago, the current Celestial Realm was no less prosperous and bustling than the Human Realm.
He had always disliked such an environment. After being sealed for ten thousand years, seeing the giggling and playful little celestial maidens now brought him a touch of amusement.
What Shen Yuan did not know was that before his return, the people of the Demon Realm were also like this. It was only after his return that they resumed their former quiet and solemn demeanor.