Orion had developed a problem.
It was currently taking up most of his system inventory.
[Moonlit Cloud Tea — Low Earth Tier]
[Lunar Meridian Dew — Low Earth Tier]
[Silverleaf Spirit Fruit — High Mortal Tier]
[Moonweave Hairpin — High Mortal Tier Artifact]
[Essence-Replenishing Moon Cake — High Mortal Tier]
Orion stared at the last item.
“…A moon cake?”
The system did not respond.
“You gave me an actual moon cake.”
Silence.
Orion leaned back against the tree behind him.
“You’re very committed to the theme, I’ll give you that.”
The Daily Sign-In System remained as talkative as ever.
Which was to say—
Not at all.
Almost two weeks had passed since his first sign-in.
Orion had quickly learned that rewards varied wildly.
Some were cultivation resources.
Others were artifacts.
One particularly confusing sign-in had given him a blanket woven from something called Moonrest Silk, whose primary effect seemed to be helping moon-aligned cultivators sleep more peacefully.
Orion had spent nearly five minutes staring at that one.
He had yet to determine how he was supposed to casually gift Xuan Mei a blanket without creating an extremely different misunderstanding.
The seventh-day milestone reward had been considerably more impressive.
[Seven-Day Milestone Reward]
[Moonheart Cleansing Dew — Heaven Tier]
[Effect: Refines accumulated impurities within Yin and Lunar meridians, strengthens affinity with moon Essence, and can assist in overcoming cultivation bottlenecks.]
[Restriction: Bonded Companion — Xuan Mei]
That one remained untouched.
Not because Orion didn’t want to give it to her.
But because a Heaven-tier treasure was not something a person casually pulled from their sleeve while saying I thought you might like this.
He had already caused enough suspicion with the Moonwell Essence Pearl.
The smaller rewards were easier.
A spirit fruit left beside her during training.
Tea when she visited.
The Moonweave Hairpin—
He had absolutely no idea what to do with that.
More importantly, Orion had discovered something about the system.
Gifts did not automatically increase affection.
The Silverleaf Spirit Fruit had done nothing.
The tea had earned him exactly zero percentage points.
Yet splitting a steamed bun had somehow felt more significant than either.
Orion liked that.
It meant the numbers couldn’t simply be purchased.
A bond still had to be a bond.
“Senior Brother Orion!”
Orion closed the interface.
An outer disciple hurried toward him.
“Lady Xuan is looking for you.”
“Where?”
“Dawnflower Lake.”
Orion stood.
“Did she say why?”
The disciple shook his head.
“No, but…”
“But?”
He hesitated.
“She didn’t look happy.”
That got Orion moving.
⸻
Xuan Mei stood beneath the pavilion where they had first spoken privately.
A jade message talisman rested in her hand.
Orion knew something was wrong before she turned around.
“You came.”
“You sent for me.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were cultivating.”
“I was having a very serious argument with a moon cake.”
Xuan Mei stared at him.
Orion sighed.
“Long story.”
Normally, that would have earned at least a faint smile.
This time it didn’t.
Orion stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Xuan Mei handed him the talisman.
He couldn’t activate it himself, but she pressed Essence into the jade.
A voice emerged.
Cold.
Formal.
“Xuan Mei.
Your continued absence from the Wind Resonant Sect is inappropriate.
The matter concerning Orion Atlas has been addressed.
Return within three days and begin preparations for the Hundred Sect Concord Tournament.”
The message ended.
Orion handed it back.
“Your sect master?”
“No.”
“High Elder Mo Xuesha.”
Orion paused.
“…That’s his actual name?”
Xuan Mei finally looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Nobody finds that concerning?”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Perhaps Ikaros simply had different naming conventions.
Xuan Mei looked back over the water.
“I knew they would call me back.”
“You have your own tournament preparations.”
“That is not why he sent it.”
Orion waited.
“He wants me away from you.”
There was no hesitation in her voice.
Orion leaned against the railing beside her.
“Probably.”
Xuan Mei frowned.
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“It does.”
“You don’t look angry.”
“I am.”
She looked at him.
Orion’s expression remained calm.
“But I’m not angry that they want you to return.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a disciple of the Wind Resonant Sect.”
He gestured toward her swords.
“You have responsibilities there.
A master.
Friends, presumably.”
“Presumably?”
“You haven’t told me if you have friends.”
“I have friends.”
“Good.
That would have been concerning.”
A tiny smile appeared.
Then vanished.
Orion continued.
“What bothers me is them treating you like a chess piece.”
Her fingers tightened around the jade talisman.
“There has been talk for years.”
“About?”
“Who I should marry.”
Orion remained silent.
Xuan Mei’s voice lowered.
“Talented disciples.
Heirs of allied families.
Sons of elders.”
She laughed without humor.
“Apparently possessing a useful physique makes everyone extremely concerned about your future.”
Orion looked at her profile.
For the first time since they met, she looked tired.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
“Was our engagement really that different?”
Xuan Mei looked toward him.
Orion continued before she could answer.
“Our grandparents decided it before we could speak.”
“Yes.”
“So why uphold it?”
She was quiet for a long time.
Finally—
“Because Grandfather asked me to meet you.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I know.”
Her silver eyes lowered.
“At first, that was the reason.”
Orion’s chest tightened slightly.
Xuan Mei continued.
“I came here because I trusted him.”
Her fingers brushed the jade railing.
“I thought I would meet you.
Speak with you.
Determine whether the promise was possible to fulfill.”
“And now?”
She looked at him.
Orion suddenly became aware of how quiet the lake was.
“Now…”
Xuan Mei hesitated.
“I want the chance to decide for myself.”
Orion didn’t speak.
“If I return and immediately cancel the engagement because my elders demand it, then nothing has changed.”
Her voice grew firmer.
“My grandfather chose for me.”
Their sects chose for them.
Now her elders wanted to choose again.
Xuan Mei’s gaze remained on Orion.
“I want this choice to be mine.”
Something about those words settled inside him.
Not I want to marry you.
Not I love you.
Neither would have been true.
Instead—
I want the chance.
Orion smiled.
“Then take it.”
Xuan Mei blinked.
“What?”
“Take your choice.”
He straightened.
“If you go back tomorrow and eventually decide I’m absolutely unbearable, I’ll accept that.”
“Orion—”
“If you decide you want to remain engaged, I’ll accept that too.”
He smiled gently. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
“But don’t choose me because your grandfather made a promise.”
Xuan Mei stared.
“And don’t reject me because your elders tell you to.”
The evening sun reflected in Orion’s piercing blue eyes.
Tiny points of light shimmered within them.
“Choose me once.”
His voice softened.
“Yourself.”
Xuan Mei stopped breathing for just a moment.
The system chimed.
[Ding.]
[Affection increased.]
[Affection: 25%]
[Milestone reached.]
Orion’s eyes widened.
A second notification appeared.
[25% Bond Milestone — Xuan Mei]
[Reward generated based upon Host’s current greatest deficiency.]
[Reward: Primordial Solar Spiritual Roots]
[Grade: Divine]
[Description: Spiritual roots born from the primordial concept of the sun.
Possesses exceptional affinity toward Solar, Fire, Light, and Yang Essence.]
[Special Characteristic: Solar Essence absorption efficiency greatly exceeds ordinary spiritual Essence.]
[Compatibility detected:]
[Rao’s Immortal Body — Perfect]
[Solar Absorption Cultivation Art — Perfect]
Orion’s heart hammered.
Spiritual roots.
He finally had—
“Orion?”
The screens vanished from his attention.
Xuan Mei was watching him.
There was something different in her expression.
Warmer.
Still uncertain.
But undeniably warmer.
“I’ll return to Wind Resonant.”
Orion nodded.
“Okay.”
“I need to.”
“I know.”
“And I will prepare for the tournament.”
“Good.”
She stepped closer.
“But I’ll return before it begins.”
Orion blinked.
“Xuan Mei—”
“You told me to choose.”
Her silver eyes held his.
“So I’m choosing.”
The faintest smile touched her lips.
“I’m going to help train my fiancé.”
Orion stared at her.
Then smiled.
“Technically?”
Xuan Mei’s eyes narrowed.
He immediately raised both hands.
“Sorry.
Had to.”
She shook her head.
But she was smiling.
And for once—
Orion barely thought about the number floating invisibly between them.
⸻
That night, Orion sat alone beneath the stars.
The system prompt waited.
[Primordial Solar Spiritual Roots available.]
[Claim Reward?]
For eighteen years, Orion had possessed none.
For the last two weeks, he had touched cultivation without truly stepping onto the path.
Now—
He exhaled.
“Claim.”
The stars disappeared.
For one impossible instant—
Orion saw the sun.
Not the sun hanging over Ikaros.
Something older.
Vaster.
A burning sphere suspended within endless darkness.
Then another appeared.
And another.
Thousands.
Millions.
Stars burning across infinity.
Something ignited inside Orion.
His body shuddered.
Deep within his dantian—
Golden roots emerged.
They spread like the rays of a newborn sun.
For the first time in his life, the spiritual Essence surrounding Orion did not simply brush past him.
It came.
The night itself seemed to inhale.
Orion’s eyes opened.
Blue.
Piercing.
And within them—
The stars were shining.