A grin sneaked across Lian Xu's face. Teeth flashed for a fraction of a second before he caught himself.
He didn't care. He couldn't help it.
At the same time, the Regent had already concluded his final pronouncement.
"The court is dismissed," he pronounced, calm and decisive.
But Lián Xù's grin—small, private, impossible—drew eyes anyway.
The ministers noticed first. A brow raised here. A whisper there.
"Alas… the emperor is still too young," murmured one, fingers drumming against a carved balustrade.
"Incompetence… glaring," added another, voice low, almost reluctant.
Heads turned, shoulders shrugged. Nods rippled through the hall. Some whispered different complaints. Others stayed silent, eyes tight, resignation and worry etched into every crease of their faces.
Lián Xù's grin deepened, unnoticed by all but the empty air around him.
Inside, he practically bounced.
At the moment, his mind raced ahead, imagining the tiny, invisible shopfront the System had just unlocked:
Shelves stocked with tools, potions, skills. Cultivation arts. Secrets. Weapons. Everything the System had been hoarding. All just for him.
A quiet, sharp laugh escaped him, low and full of mischief.
From the front row, Chancellor Mo Xuan's eyes narrowed. His lips pressed into a thin line, displeased and muttering under his breath:
"Such levity… He finds joy in our collapse?"
A third minister shook his head, letting out a long, weary sigh. "His majesty is still naive, so oblivious. How can a useless emperor survive what's coming?"
Lián Xù didn't move. Didn't flinch.
He let their judgments slide over him, like rain tracing patterns across a windowpane—all while the points continued to tick upward, unnoticed by the court but impossible to ignore by him.
Excellent! Hahahaha... Keep those points rising.
The heavy doors of the throne hall thudded shut, sealing the court's whispers inside. Lián Xù's smile didn't fade.
Instead, it turned into a gleam in his eyes as he all but sprinted down the vaulted corridor toward the royal study, the train of his robe fluttering behind him. The promise of the store had eclipsed everything—the political tension, the looming invasion, all of it.
He was so focused on the prize that he never saw the shadow detach itself from the pillar and fall into step behind him—silent, watchful, unwavering.
"Your Majesty."
The voice was quiet, measured, carrying neither scolding nor alarm. Yet it made him freeze mid-step. The Regent, Lián Wei, had approached. Hands clasped behind his back, his handsome face calm, but his purple eyes—those sharp, assessing eyes, a royal trait—were fixed on the young emperor.
Lián Xù turned, still smiling, cheeks flushed with anticipation. "Imperial Uncle! I was just heading to the study to, ah… contemplate state affairs!" He gestured vaguely toward the royal study, practically vibrating with eagerness.
Lián Wei let the youthful eagerness hang in the air for a moment before he spoke, his voice lower, tinged with a rare hesitation.
"I have… sheltered you too well. It was my indulgence, my protection, that now leaves you bearing the title 'useless emperor.'" His jaw tightened. "I will not fail you again. I will teach you, guide you… forge you into a ruler who can stand against the storm that gathers at our borders."
He paused. His hands flexed slightly behind his back.
"But time… time is a luxury we may not have. Others already gaze toward our kingdom. The storm approaches, and our defenses are fragile."
Lián Xù's smile didn't falter. Bright, confident, impossibly naive to Lian Wei's eyes. "Imperial Uncle, with you here to guide me, what do I have to fear?"
Lián Wei opened his mouth, ready to speak of limited armies, barren spiritual veins, and the cold calculus of war—but the absolute trust in his nephew's gaze stole the words. Admitting doubt now felt like a betrayal.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lián Wei said instead, the words a solemn vow. "While I live, this continent will endure."
Lián Xù's grin broadened. "Excellent! Then I shall leave the defense to you, Uncle! I'll head the royal study now!"
With a final, almost imperceptible nod from the Regent—an acknowledgment of both hope and burden—the young emperor, Lián Xù, darted away.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Lian Xu's mind surged ahead. The System's store.
Lián Xù slid into the chair of the royal study, the polished wood cool against his palms. The heavy silence of the room was a welcome cloak.
"System," he whispered, the word humming with anticipation. "Open the store."
The response was instantaneous.
Not a list, but a presence. A shimmering, semi-transparent interface unfolded in his mind's eye. It glowed with soft light, showcasing grids of incredible wares. His eyes darted across the offerings:
- Nine Revolutions Golden Core Pill - 50,000 MP
- Manual: Heaven-Swallowing Cultivation (Volume 1) - 75,000 MP
- Divine Sense Veil (Epic) - 22,000 MP
- Blueprint: Spirit-Gathering Array (Basic) - 15,000 MP
He scrolled. And scrolled.
Each item more wondrous—and astronomically more expensive—than the last.
His excitement curdled.
"Are you kidding me?" he hissed, fists clenching on the desk. "This isn't a store; it's daylight robbery! My points are a drop in this ocean!"
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
[Host Displeasure Acknowledged. Analyzing alternatives...]
[Optimal Pathway Identified: 'Fortune's Wheel' Monthly Subscription.]
[Benefits: 10 Daily Draw Tokens. Rewards distributed via guaranteed treasure chests, with a chance for legendary-tier items.]
Lián Xù blinked.
Gacha tokens. Daily draws. Treasure Chests. Legendary-tier rewards.
He chewed the inside of his cheek, weighing the decision. The subscription would wipe him out. Back to zero points.
"A gamble…" he muttered. Then, with a decisive flick of his will, he nodded. "Fine. Do it. Subscribe."
Points drained from his account in an instant. His grin faltered. His brows furrowed. A soft groan escaped him.
"Ugh. Why does spending virtual money feel so real?" He took a steadying breath consoling himself. "Right. No matter. Greater risk, greater reward. That's the deal. For now, I'll endure it."
Another chime.
[Subscription: Active.
Daily Gacha Tokens: 10.
Recommended: Utilize all tokens in a single 10-pull for maximum reward potential.]
Lián Xù's eyes sparkled as he leaned back in the chair, imagining the possibilities.
Divine cultivation arts scrolls.
A Heaven-Defying Body to improve his constitution.
Weapons, treasures, infrastructure blueprints. All for him.
A low, sharp laugh escaped his lips.
"Alright. Let's see what luck you've stored for me."
He reached out with his mind and commanded, "Draw ten."
The System chimed, a bright, cascading sound that seemed to hang in the air.
[Initiating 10-pull on the 'Fortune's Wheel.' May fortune favor the bold.]