The feeling returned.
Not a faint nudge this time.
Not a vague sense of familiarity.
No.
This was far stronger.
A powerful intuition surged through me, so clear and direct that it almost felt like a voice whispering into my ear.
Choose her.
She is the one.
The sensation was so intense that I nearly sat up straight.
It felt as though I would be losing out on an incredible opportunity if I let this woman walk away.
For a moment, I simply stared.
Then a thought crossed my mind.
Wow.
Is this what protagonists feel like all the time?
Is this how those lucky bastards always manage to find hidden inheritances, ancient treasures, peerless beauties, and heaven-defying opportunities wherever they go?
They just walk around while the universe practically hands them the answers?
That’s cheating.
Actually, no.
That’s awesome.
A grin threatened to spread across my face.
Damn.
Child of Heaven indeed.
Heavenly Mommy, please continue blessing me with your love and affection in the future.
Your Filial son will never complain.
At that exact moment, I thought I heard a soft chuckle.
A mature.
Amused.
Almost motherly chuckle.
“Fufufu…” I blinked.
Then looked around.
Nothing.
No one seemed to have reacted.
…
Did I just imagine that?
Yeah.
Definitely my imagination.
There is absolutely no way Heaven itself is listening to my internal monologue.
That would be ridiculous.
Completely dismissing the possibility, I turned my attention back to the candidate standing before me.
The woman was undeniably beautiful.
She carried herself with a calm and elegant bearing that immediately reminded me of a sheathed sword.
Still.
It wasn’t her appearance that interested me.
It was the fact that my suspiciously protagonist-like intuition had practically screamed at me to choose her.
The woman bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Your Highness.” Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying a natural elegance that was pleasing to the ears.
“I am Chu Qingyi.” “I come from the Sword Immortal Middle Realm.” The moment she finished introducing herself, I became even more interested.
A swordswoman?
She began her introduction, and as she spoke, I learned something rather surprising.
Unlike the other candidates, she hadn’t been sent here by a Greater Realm, an ancient clan, or some prestigious immortal force.
Instead, her opportunity had been earned through a tournament.
Apparently, the Supreme Realm of Infinity had allocated a limited number of candidate positions to the Middle Realms.
To determine who would receive those positions, a grand competition had been held.
Every genius from the participating Middle Realms had been eligible to compete.
The winners would earn the right to come here and participate in the selection process.
Waaah…
There was actually a competition for becoming my Shadow?
This was the first time I had heard about it.
Then again, Mother and Grandmother handled most things behind the scenes, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.
Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little curious about the tournament.
After all, if she had emerged victorious from a competition involving countless geniuses, then she was undoubtedly talented.
My gaze settled on the young woman standing before me.
She possessed a pair of clear silver eyes that seemed sharp enough to cut through steel with a single glance.
Their cold brilliance reminded me of an unsheathed sword.
Her platinum-silver hair was tied into a high ponytail that flowed gracefully down her back.
She stood tall and straight, her posture impeccable.
There was a natural grace to her movements, but beneath that grace was something else.
A heroic spirit.
A steadfast determination.
The kind of temperament one could only develop after walking a difficult path and overcoming countless obstacles.
She wore a simple black robe, yet even that could not conceal her striking presence.
At her waist hung a pristine white scabbard.
The sword within remained sheathed, yet I could almost feel its sharpness.
[IMAGE] Oddly enough, she reminded me of a sword herself.
Straight.
Unyielding.
Sharp enough to split mountains.
And impossible to bend.
After completing her introduction, I asked a few additional questions regarding her cultivation, sword path, and experiences in the tournament.
Her answers were concise and confident.
There was no arrogance in her voice.
Only conviction.
Once the brief exchange concluded, she bowed respectfully before returning to her position among the other candidates.
Shortly afterward, the final participant completed her own introduction.
At last, all fifty candidates had finished.
At that moment, I sent a soul transmission to Mother.
“Mother, what do you think about Chu Qingyi?
Is there anything special about her?” Mother glanced at me, looking slightly surprised.
“I’m surprised you noticed, dear.” Her response immediately caused my interest to soar.
Aha!
There really is something special about her.
My protagonist intuition strikes again.
Mother continued.
“Her talent is exceptional.” “Her willpower is equally impressive.” “Unlike many geniuses who rely on the support of powerful clans, sects, or families, she reached her current position through her own efforts and opportunities.” “That alone is already worthy of praise.” I nodded inwardly.
That was certainly impressive, but I felt there was more.
Mother wouldn’t have sounded surprised otherwise.
As expected, she continued.
“As for what makes her truly special…” A faint smile appeared on her face.
“She possesses an Innate Sword Dao Body.” My eyes widened.
“An Innate Sword Dao Body?” Mother nodded.
“In addition to that, she also possesses Innate Sword Bones and a Sword Heart.” For a moment, I thought I had misheard her.
Then I realized I hadn’t.
And I was left completely speechless.
What the hell?
What kind of absurd protagonist package is this?
An Innate Sword Dao Body.
Innate Sword Bones.
A Sword Heart.
Did Heaven personally assemble her before sending her into the world?
Mother even added, “For a brief moment, I wondered if her Sword Dao Body or Sword Bones had been plundered from someone else.” “However, their innate nature and perfect compatibility with her soul and body prove otherwise.” “They are hers from birth.” I stared at Chu Qingyi again.
Now I understood why my intuition had reacted so strongly.
This woman had practically been born to walk the Sword Path.
The heavens themselves seemed to have pointed at her and declared: “You.
Become a sword cultivator.” And she had apparently obeyed.
After a few moments, I finally gathered my thoughts.
The decision had already been made anyway.
I looked toward the gathered candidates.
Then my gaze settled on Chu Qingyi.
“Chu Qingyi.” The hall became silent.
“I am impressed by the willpower that brought you this far.” “You have overcome countless hardships with your own efforts.” “Your talent and determination have earned my admiration.” I paused briefly before speaking the words everyone was waiting for.
“Will you become my Shadow and accompany me on my future journey?” For the first time since entering the hall, a visible sparkle appeared in Chu Qingyi’s silver eyes.
A beautiful smile blossomed on her face.
“It is my honor to serve you, Master.” The moment she spoke those words, my heart skipped a beat.
…
Oh no.
No no no no no.
I immediately knew.
Mother noticed.
Grandmother noticed.
The two most dangerous women in the universe had absolutely noticed.
I could practically feel the teasing that awaited me later.
My future was dark.
Very dark.
At that moment, I seriously considered digging a hole and burying myself inside it.
Unfortunately, as the Crown Prince of the Supreme Realm of Infinity, that was not considered appropriate behavior.
So I endured.
Barely.
Maintaining a calm expression through sheer force of will, I gave her a small nod.
“Then I shall be in your care, Qingyi.” “Yes, Master.” Her reply was simple.
Yet the clear and melodious voice somehow made the word sound even more impactful.
Meanwhile, from the corners of my vision, I could already see Mother and Grandmother smiling.
The kind of smiles that said they were enjoying themselves far too much.
This was going to be a very long day.
….
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