“Because of my bloodline,” I said with a serious voice.
The System remained silent for a moment.
The current fragment does not contain information regarding the Host’s bloodline.
However, it may have a connection to the Sword Divine Kingdom.
I narrowed my eyes.
The Sword Divine Kingdom again.
At this point, I was beginning to suspect that almost everything in this world was somehow connected.
The fake Spine.
The Sword Divine Kingdom.
My bloodline.
My mother.
And now this strange Falling Star Omen.
The problem was that I didn’t have enough information to connect the pieces.
I needed strength.
More importantly, I needed information.
If I kept sitting around waiting for answers to fall into my lap, I would probably die before I found out what was actually happening.
“Fine.
I’ll grow stronger first.”
I looked toward the System.
“Give me another task.”
Task Section.
Current Available Task: Do not curse Elder Mo Xuan.
I stared at the notification.
“That’s it?”
Yes.
I rubbed my forehead.
“System, I need information.
Not resources.”
Host currently lacks sufficient authority to access higher-level information.
“Then give me tasks that increase my authority.”
Host is currently too weak.
I clenched my fists.
This System was really getting on my nerves.
Still, arguing with it wouldn’t make me stronger.
I took out one hundred high-grade spirit stones and placed them around me.
Then I closed my eyes.
The Dragon Scripture Manual appeared in my mind.
I didn’t completely understand the cultivation manual, but I could still follow the circulation method that had been engraved into my memories.
The moment I began cultivating, the spiritual energy inside the spirit stones surged toward me.
A powerful current of Qi rushed into my body.
My muscles tightened.
My meridians trembled.
The spiritual energy flowed through my body before gathering toward the Dragon Core inside my heart.
The Dragon Core slowly began absorbing it.
One spirit stone.
Then another.
Then another.
The spirit stones rapidly lost their luster before turning into piles of dust.
I frowned.
“That was fast.”
I didn’t even have time to enjoy watching my resources disappear.
The Dragon Core continued absorbing the energy.
Yet my bloodline barely increased.
I opened my eyes.
“Seriously?”
I looked at the pile of dust around me.
“One hundred high-grade spirit stones…”
I sighed.
“And this thing barely moved.”
My bloodline is becoming increasingly greedy.
Or perhaps it wasn’t the bloodline.
Maybe the Dragon Core itself had become a bottomless pit.
Either way, I needed more resources.
I reached into my spatial ring and poured almost everything out.
A small mountain of high-grade spirit stones appeared in the room.
My eyes widened slightly.
At least there was still plenty.
Unfortunately, the rest of the resources were disappointing.
There were a few Earth-grade treasures, some medicinal materials, and several other things that weren’t particularly useful to me at my current level.
I stared at the pile.
“So this is what I have left.”
I scratched my head.
At this rate, becoming stronger was going to bankrupt me before I even reached the next major realm.
Then—
Ding!
I immediately looked up.
New Task.
Task: Increase cultivation to Peak Foundation Establishment within one month.
Reward: A fragment of information regarding the Falling Star Omen.
The information is unknown to the current world.
My eyes immediately sharpened.
“Unknown to the current world?”
That was different.
Very different.
If even the people of this world didn’t know the information, then the reward had to be valuable.
“How much will you tell me?”
The System only provides the information contained within the reward.
“So basically, I won’t know until I get it.”
Correct.
I smiled.
“Fine.”
This was the kind of task I wanted.
Not another useless restriction involving Mo Xuan.
I sat down again.
“Peak Foundation Establishment within a month.”
I looked at the mountain of spirit stones.
Then I looked at my cultivation.
“Let’s see how far I can go.”
I began cultivating again.
Time passed.
One hour.
Two hours.
The night slowly deepened.
The spiritual energy inside the room became denser and denser.
The spirit stones around me continued disappearing.
My breathing became steady.
My Dragon Core spun faster.
The Qi inside my body grew stronger.
The bloodline remained stubborn, greedily swallowing whatever energy it could get.
But this time, I didn’t stop.
I continued cultivating until the first rays of sunlight appeared.
A powerful wave of Qi suddenly erupted from my body.
Boom!
The spiritual energy around me trembled.
My cultivation broke through another stage.
I slowly opened my eyes.
A faint smile appeared on my face.
I had reached the fifth stage of Foundation Establishment.
Ding!
Current affection rate of Princess Xue toward the Host: 15%.
I didn’t hear it.
My mind was still completely immersed in cultivation.
Meanwhile…
XUE’S POV
I couldn’t sleep.
I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The words of the old lady continued replaying in my mind.
Nine stars.
A draconic being.
Different mysterious bearings.
Bound together by fate.
The more I thought about it, the stranger it became.
Why me?
Why would that old woman say those words to me?
And why did she disappear immediately afterward?
It was too much of a coincidence.
Almost as if she had been waiting for me.
I slowly sat up.
“My mother’s mission…”
The Phoenix Empire had sent me here for a reason.
I was supposed to investigate the Long Clan.
I had also planned to find a way to cancel this engagement as soon as possible.
But things had changed.
I looked toward the window.
“That guy isn’t bad.”
A small smile appeared on my face.
I quickly shook my head.
“No.
What am I thinking?”
I lay back down.
Then I remembered the old woman’s words again.
Nine stars.
Could it be connected to the Falling Star Omen?
I frowned.
“Nah.”
I shook my head.
“Both can’t relate.”
One was about destiny.
The other…
I couldn’t explain it.
I simply felt that whatever the old woman had seen was deeper than ordinary destiny.
“Forget it.”
I don’t have enough information.
Thinking about it wouldn’t magically give me the answer.
I got up from the bed.
“Lumen.”
A small figure appeared beside me.
The Sunfire Phoenix spread its wings.
I stared at her.
“Can Zaitian ride on your back?”
Lumen immediately released a wave of heat.
I raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t want to?”
Another heat pulse.
I sighed.
“Fine.
I get it.”
Lumen folded her wings proudly.
I couldn’t help but chuckled.
This bird is becoming increasingly arrogant.
My thoughts returned to Zaitian.
I wondered what he was doing.
Probably sleeping.
Or cultivating.
He had changed so much since I arrived.
The old Zaitian was nothing like the person I had met.
And that was precisely what made him dangerous.
Not dangerous to me.
Dangerous to everyone who underestimated him.
The next morning arrived.
I walked out of the courtyard with Lian beside me.
Lian kept giving me strange looks.
I noticed it immediately.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She quickly looked away.
I narrowed my eyes.
She was definitely hiding something.
Usually, I would wait for Zaitian to send Mei before leaving.
But today, I decided to leave earlier.
Unfortunately—
The moment I stepped outside, I saw Zaitian walking out with Mei.
My smile disappeared slightly.
I looked at Mei.
Then at Zaitian.
Then back at Mei.
My jaw tightened.
Why was she always beside him?
Mei seemed to notice my expression and quietly lowered her head.
I ignored it.
“Zaitian.”
He turned toward me.
“What?”
I smiled.
“There is a place you’ll enjoy.”
His eyes immediately became suspicious.
“Why do I feel like that’s exactly what someone says before dragging me into trouble?”
I laughed.
“You’ll find out.”
Then I noticed something.
I could sense the change in his aura.
My eyes widened slightly.
“You broke through?”
Zaitian glanced at himself.
“Apparently.”
“To the fifth stage?”
“Yeah.”
I stared at him for a moment.
He had actually advanced overnight.
I smiled.
“Not bad.”
Zaitian gave me a smug look.
“Of course.”
I rolled my eyes.
He really was getting more confident.
But somewhere deep inside, I couldn’t help feeling happy.
The person I had once intended to leave behind…
was becoming someone I wanted to stay beside.