Chapter 198 The Holy Light of Angels Warms Old Dreams, Renxue Gazes with Deepest Feelings

The morning light of the Chen hour pierced through the sea of clouds, slanting onto the Angel Platform on the easternmost side of the Nishen Imperial Palace. This high platform, built against the cliff wall, was paved entirely with white jade. Twelve stone pillars carved with angel wings stood by the platform's edge. As a breeze brushed past, the Holy Light patterns on the pillars would ripple with a faint golden glow, like a miniature of the former Angel God Temple. This was a place Su Chen had specially created for Qian Renxue, hiding her reconciliation with the past and her expectations for the rest of her life.

After seeing off the charming Ning Rongrong, Su Chen stepped through the morning light to the Angel Platform. Dressed in a black patterned brocade robe, his God-Defying Power retracted all pressure, leaving only a gentle aura. From afar, he saw Qian Renxue standing at the edge of the high platform, wearing a Moon-white Liu Yun Holy Dress with light golden angel wings patterns embroidered on the hem. Her long hair fell like a waterfall to her waist without any jewelry, and a faint, soft holy light swirled around her. Gone was the cold arrogance of the former Angel God; only a gentle peace remained, like a holy snow lotus fallen to the mortal world, quietly blooming in the morning light.

She stood with her back to Su Chen, gazing at the churning sea of clouds in the distance. The morning light spilled over the tips of her hair and shoulders, plating her in a hazy golden glow. Her figure was elegant and gentle, and even the holy light around her seemed to merge with the morning light, so peaceful that one couldn't bear to disturb her. Su Chen lightened his footsteps and slowly walked up behind her. He didn't make a sound, just stood quietly, looking at that sea of clouds with her—it was the scenery she had gazed at alone countless times from the top of the Angel God Temple. Back then, there were only the cold God Position and endless responsibilities by her side; now, with him beside her, it surpassed all the beauty in the world.

As if sensing the presence behind her, Qian Renxue slowly turned around. The moment she saw Su Chen, the coldness in her eyes completely melted away, rippling with a gentle smile. The holy light also seemed to tremble, becoming even softer: "You're here."

Her voice was clear and gentle, like morning dew dripping onto white jade, without a trace of her former majesty, only the tenderness reserved for him. Su Chen nodded, reaching out to gently hold her cool fingertips, transferring his warmth to her: "The morning breeze is chilly. Why didn't you wear more? How long have you been standing here?"

"Not long. I just like the sea of clouds here. Watching it with you is much warmer than watching it at the Angel God Temple." Qian Renxue leaned gently against his side, her gaze returning to the sea of clouds, her voice carrying a faint sense of relief. "In the past at the Angel God Temple, I always felt the sea of clouds was cold. No matter how beautiful the scenery, without someone to share it with, only loneliness remains. Back then, my heart was full of the God Position and the obsession with the Spirit Hall, thinking that was my lifelong destination. I never thought that letting it all go would be so relaxing."

Su Chen tightened his arm, pulling her into his embrace and letting her lean against his chest. His palm gently stroked her long hair, feeling its softness: "You've suffered. All those years, carrying so much alone, guarding a cold God Position, even a peaceful smile was rare."

Qian Renxue closed her eyes, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat and feeling the warmth of his embrace. A faint smile played on her lips: "It wasn't bitter; I just didn't understand what true happiness was back then. It wasn't until I met you, fought against you, stood by your side, and finally gave up the God Position to follow you that I understood. True happiness is never a high-and-mighty God Position or a reputation that awes the continent. It's having someone by your side who knows your warmth and cold, understands your joys and sorrows, and accompanies you to see all the scenery in the world."

As she spoke, she raised her hand to gently brush the angel wings patterns on the stone pillar beside her. Her fingertips traced the cold stone carvings, her eyes showing no lingering attachment, only relief: "The Angel God Position was once my lifelong obsession, the mission bestowed upon me by the Spirit Hall. I cultivated for a hundred years for it and bore countless burdens for it. But in the end, I realized that this so-called God Position was nothing more than a shackle that imprisoned me. I once thought that by giving up the God Position, I would have nothing. But now I know that by laying down the shackles, I have everything—I have you, I have warmth, and I have a real home."

Su Chen lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, his voice deep and gentle, filled with infinite treasure: "You were never without anything. From the moment you laid down the God Position and walked toward me, you had everything of mine. I couldn't participate in your past, but I will definitely accompany you for the rest of your life. From now on, there is no more Angel God Qian Renxue, only my, Su Chen's, lover, Qian Renxue."

"Mhm, only Qian Renxue, just your Qian Renxue." Qian Renxue opened her eyes and looked up at him, her eyes filled with deep, inseparable affection. Holy light swirled in her eyes like stars: "Su Chen, thank you. Thank you for pulling me out of that cold Divine Realm, letting me experience the warmth of the mortal world, and letting me know that being loved is so wonderful."

As she spoke, she raised her hand and gently placed it on Su Chen's chest. A faint holy light flickered at her fingertips. That holy light was no longer the coldness of divine punishment, but the gentleness of protection. It slowly seeped into Su Chen's body, merging with the God-Defying Power within him and intertwining with the Seven-colored Halo left by Ning Rongrong, forming a faint light pattern of merged gold and black that quietly swirled within his meridians. "This is my final Angel Origin. Without the enhancement of the God Position, it contains all my feelings. It will protect your meridians and guard you for me. Whenever you need it, it will block all harm for you."

This was Qian Renxue's heart, the most precious thing she could give him after laying down the God Position—not the power of the God Position, but her total protection. Su Chen's heart trembled. He tightened his arms, holding her closer, and lowered his head to kiss her lips. This kiss was gentle and lingering, without intense surges, only a long-flowing tenderness. It was his heartache for her past, his promise for her future, and the most sincere fusion of their feelings after weathering the storms together.

As their lips met, a clear tear slid down the corner of Qian Renxue's eye and fell onto Su Chen's lapel. That tear was not of sadness, but of relief and happiness—the emotion of finally possessing true love after letting go of all shackles. Su Chen gently wiped away her tears, his fingertips caressing her cheek, his voice so gentle it could melt: "Silly girl, there's no need for this. Having you by my side is the best protection for me."

"I want to give you the best of everything." Qian Renxue leaned into his embrace, her voice soft and sweet like a young girl seeking affection, completely devoid of her former pride: "Just as Ning Rongrong gave you the Seven Treasures Origin, I also want to give you everything of mine. That way, no matter where you go, you will have my traces and my protection on you."

Su Chen chuckled and pinched her cheek, the doting in his eyes almost overflowing: "Alright, whatever you say. I will keep your feelings well, carving them into my heart, and I will never fail you in any lifetime."

The morning light grew stronger, and the sea of clouds churned. Golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling over the embracing couple. The holy light and God-Defying Power intertwined, forming a gentle light shield over the Angel Platform, enveloping all the beauty and tenderness within. Leaning in Su Chen's arms, Qian Renxue's fingers gently brushed his lapel as she looked at the distant sea of clouds. She said softly: "Su Chen, after the enthronement, let's go to the Ruins of the Angel God Temple once more. I want to watch the sea of clouds there with you one last time and properly say goodbye to my past self."

"Alright, I'll accompany you," Su Chen replied. "I'll go with you to the Angel God Temple to say goodbye to the past, and then we'll walk together toward our future. We can also go to the Far North Glaciers to see the snow filling the sky, to the Star Dou Great Forest to see Blue Silver everywhere, and to the seaside to watch the tides rise and fall. As long as it's what you want to do, I'll accompany you to see all the beautiful scenery in the world and carve all the beauty into our memories."

"There's no need to see all the scenery; as long as you're here, everywhere is beautiful." Qian Renxue lowered her head and buried her face in the crook of his neck, her voice gentle and content. "In the past, standing at the top of the Angel God Temple and looking at the sea of clouds, I always felt the world was vast yet had no place for me. Now, leaning in your arms, even just standing quietly like this, I feel that all the beauty in the world is right before my eyes."

Su Chen gently patted her back, like comforting a small bird that had found its home. The warmth from his palm passed through her clothes to the bottom of her heart, dispersing all the coldness of the past. On the Angel Platform, a breeze blew gently, the holy light curled, the sea of clouds churned, and the morning light was gentle. There was no cold God Position, no endless responsibility, only lovers leaning on each other with lingering affection.

After an unknown amount of time, leaning in Su Chen's arms, Qian Renxue gradually felt tired. Sorting out her mind and letting go of her past obsessions over the past few days had left her physically and mentally exhausted. Now, in his warm embrace, all her fatigue dissipated. Her eyelids fluttered, and her voice carried a trace of lazy weariness: "Su Chen, I'm a bit sleepy."

"If you're sleepy, then sleep," Su Chen said softly. He picked her up horizontally, his palm still resting on her back as his gentle God-Defying Power slowly nourished her mind. "I'll carry you back to get a good night's sleep."

Qian Renxue snuggled in his arms like an obedient child, her hands around his neck and her face pressed against his shoulder. She closed her eyes with a faint smile on her lips and soon fell into a deep sleep. She slept very peacefully because she knew that this embrace would be her lifelong home, and this man would protect her peace for a lifetime.

Carrying her, Su Chen slowly walked down the Angel Platform. The morning light spilled over them, drawing their shadows very long. The halo of intertwined holy light and God-Defying Power gently surrounded them, like the most beautiful protection in the world. The palace attendants along the way bowed in succession, their eyes full of respect. Seeing this former Angel Goddess so gentle and peaceful in the Great Emperor's embrace, they knew she had finally found her own happiness.

Returning to Qian Renxue's sleeping quarters, Su Chen gently placed her on the soft bed and covered her with a brocade quilt. He sat by the bed, quietly watching her sleeping face, his eyes full of tenderness. The morning light spilled through the window lattice onto her face, and the holy light gently swirled around her, as beautiful as a peaceful painting.