Moonlit Courtyard
The moonlight shimmered over the quiet courtyard like a silver scarf gently flowing over the gleaming stone floor. The surrounding trees swayed lightly with the night breeze, while bamboo leaves whispered their secrets to anyone who would listen.
In the middle of the courtyard sat Xichen on a luxurious gray silk cushion, his back straight and his eyes closed with an inexplicable serenity, his features poised between calm and coldness. He wore a flowing white robe threaded with delicate blue lines that sparkled whenever the moonlight caressed them.
Beside his still body sat Zhuqing, dressed in a dark violet gown adorned with lilac flower patterns that reflected the faint starlight. Her long black hair was tied with loose silk ribbons that danced with every breeze. In her hands was a small plate of carefully cut fruit.
"…" Xichen did not utter a single word. He simply parted his lips quietly as a fresh piece of fruit slipped between them, fed gently by Zhuqing, her eyes watching him with a mix of anticipation and tranquility, as if savoring a rare moment of peace.
But that peace did not last long…
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing the Favored Son of Heaven, Jun Moxie, and obtaining 1,000 Fortune Value and 5,000 Destiny Points.]
Xichen blinked slightly but did not move. The translucent floating screen appeared clearly within his consciousness, glowing in golden and azure hues.
[Ding! The host has obtained a Heavenly Treasure Chest for killing the Favored Son of Heaven, Jun Moxie.]
[Does the host wish to open the Heavenly Treasure Chest?]
[Y/N]
"…" Xichen stared at the floating screen in his mind and mentally pressed Y.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for opening the Heavenly Treasure Chest and obtaining: Life Spirit Flame, Destined Sword Fanatic (Talent), God Seal Technique.]
Three orbs of pure light suddenly appeared in the sky above him. Each radiated a different aura: the first warm and fiery, the second sharp as a blade's edge, and the third pulsing with deep, majestic ethereal energy.
In an instant, the three lights merged into his body—or rather, were absorbed directly into his soul. A muffled energy resonance surrounded him for just a brief moment before fading into silence as if it had never existed.
The system's work was so precise and undetectable that even Zhuqing, who sat right beside him, sensed nothing despite her immense power.
Information about the God Seal Technique seeped into Xichen's mind as vitality and warmth surged through his body. With the system's help, he absorbed the Life Spirit Flame without needing to lift a finger.
Boom!!
Suddenly, a majestic aura rose from Xichen's body, reaching the very heavens, for thanks to absorbing the Life Spirit Flame, he had broken through to a new realm.
The stone floor beneath him trembled slightly, and some of the tiles cracked under his feet, while the temperature around him rose abnormally, to the point that even the moonlight seemed to momentarily fade under the weight of the blazing aura emanating from his body.
But he quickly controlled his aura and allowed it to settle within his body so as not to attract too much attention. Yet that was impossible, for all the power in the Imperial City and its surroundings had felt this explosive surge.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Chen'er," Zhuqing said with a happy, sweet smile on her cherry lips, but then warned seriously, "But you must not rush your breakthrough, as it will destabilize your cultivation, preventing you from reaching higher horizons in the future."
"Hmm, but there's no need to worry, Mother," Xichen said as he opened his golden eyes and rose. With the breakthrough, the mental fatigue from staying so long on the Heavenly Sword Mountain had vanished. "My cultivation is extremely stable, and I can even say that no one in the world has a more stable cultivation foundation than I do."
Although possessing the Six Paths Spiritual Profound Veins made it difficult for him to advance in his cultivation, it granted him many advantages that outweighed this small flaw. He didn't need time to stabilize his cultivation upon breaking through or anything of the sort. Moreover, it had given him immunity and absolute control over the seven elements, along with terrifying abilities that unfolded as his power grew, such as the Path of Destruction.
"Very well, but your breakthrough has attracted a lot of attention now, and an imperial envoy may arrive soon," Zhuqing said as her purple eyes examined Xichen. She sighed in relief upon seeing that his aura was steady and stable.
"I know, but that doesn't really matter," Xichen said, shaking his head lightly, for he had already achieved his purpose in this empire and intended to leave soon anyway. "He knows my status and wouldn't dare do anything."
Although Xichen had not announced this upon arriving in the empire, he was the prince of the most powerful empire on the continent, and a mere emperor of the second weakest empire would not dare do anything.
Roar!
The two heard a soft, low roar as a ball of white fur shot toward Xichen, who caught it easily.
"Hmm, a cub of the Iron-Winged Panther…" Xichen murmured, staring at the ball of white fur, which was making cute expressions to catch his attention.
...
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