The two of them were dazzlingly beautiful, like a divine couple, drawing envious gazes from everyone around.
“Fourth Prince of the Heavenly Enlightenment Empire, Xiao Zhen, greets the Young Master!” Xiao Zhen, seeing the situation, didn’t dare show any disrespect and quickly led the others to greet.
“No need for formalities. Luoluo already mentioned you’re her fourth brother, always looking out for the younger ones. Soon we’ll be one family, there’s no need to be so distant,” Lin Xingyun said with a smile.
“That’s right, Fourth Brother, get up quickly. Xingyun’s easygoing,” Xiao Qianluo said sweetly, pride and joy bubbling in her voice.
“Thank you, Young Master. For Qianluo to gain your favor is truly a blessing. The palace has already prepared a feast to welcome you, please allow us to escort you,” Xiao Zhen said politely with a warm smile.
“Alright, let’s go,” Lin Xingyun nodded, and the group proceeded grandly into the capital, heading toward the imperial palace.
Half an hour later, inside the Heavenly Purity Hall, specially arranged for banquets, music and dancing filled the air, wine and laughter flowing freely.
The emperor of the empire, Xiao Yang, sat at the head table, chatting and drinking with Lin Xingyun at his side. Xiao Qianluo, her face flushed like a shy bride, sat obediently next to Lin Xingyun.
Earlier, Lin Xingyun had offered a simple explanation to her father: that the breakup was merely a lovers’ quarrel, and they had now made up, hence this visit to pay respect to the future in-laws.
His words gave Xiao Qianluo face, and she felt as if she had drunk honey—completely sweetened. Her simple mind, filled only with thoughts of Lin Xingyun, had already forgotten the resentment and sorrow from the broken engagement.
As emperor, Xiao Yang had a broader view and didn’t care about youthful romance and grudges. Though he was aware that something had happened with the Lin Clan, what if Lin Chen and his son returned safely?
Being able to connect with Lin Clan’s second young master again was a huge opportunity—there was no room for holding grudges.
All the officials present offered their congratulations as well. Being closer to the Lin Clan brought tremendous benefits to the entire empire.
However, seated at the side of the jade steps, a young man in black robes wore an expression of disdain. He sneered coldly as he looked at the dazzling Lin Xingyun in the spotlight.
“Bah! Lin Clan’s young master? Just a womanizing silken-tongued heir!” he scoffed. “How could Royal Sister be so foolish? This guy is a licentious flirt, completely unworthy of trust! Besides, who knows if his father and brother are even alive? How long can he stay glamorous? It’s like a sheep throwing itself into a tiger’s mouth, a pearl tossed into the dirt!”
Xiao Chen watched as his stunning royal sister leaned affectionately on Lin Xingyun, full of love, and couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
Since childhood, he had always been fond of his kind and pure Seventh Sister. Now, seeing her fall into Lin Xingyun’s trap, he felt anxious, angry, and utterly heartbroken!
Just as he continued to glare at Lin Xingyun with hatred and disdain, Lin Xingyun suddenly looked straight at him.
Their eyes met, and Xiao Chen strangely felt as though Lin Xingyun was staring at prey—his gaze filled with naked greed, as if he wanted to crush his bones and suck the marrow.
“What’s going on? Why is he looking at me like that?!” Xiao Chen’s heart trembled, as if he had sensed some great terror. He instinctively lowered his head to avoid the gaze.
[Ding! Detected Child of Destiny—Xiao Chen!]
[Name: Xiao Chen
Cultivation: 1st stage Origin Palace Realm
Life Script: [Flameburn Heavenly Emperor] Gold
Fate Attributes: [Three-Year Promise] Orange, [Exceptional Talent] Orange, [Rebirth from Nirvana] Orange, [Pill Refining Genius] Purple, [Guided by Experts] Purple…]
[Upcoming Opportunity: Tomorrow morning, buy an old copper fragment at a low price at Treasure Pavilion in the city. After refining it with divine fire, discover that it contains the upper half of a Great Emperor-level soul cultivation technique—《Emperor Sword Soul Scripture》!]
[Upcoming Opportunity: Seven days later at night, find an ancient cave left by a powerful expert 100 kilometers south of the capital. Take the spirit stones, spirit herbs, and the movement technique 《Phantom of Wind and Thunder》 from it.]
[Upcoming Opportunity: Fifteen days later, attend a royal auction and spend 20,000 spirit stones on beast blood from a Divine Fire Realm monster. It turns out to be the rare golden-eyed Suanni blood, worth no less than 500,000!]
[Affection: 21 [Disgusted]]
…
“Damn, truly worthy of being a Child of Destiny!” Lin Xingyun quietly marveled.
So many orange fate attributes, and a gold life script! His opportunities came so easily—he could trip over treasure while taking a stroll!
This was the first Child of Destiny he had found, and sure enough, his talent far exceeded that of ordinary people.
He then opened Xiao Chen’s detailed fate description:
[Flameburn Heavenly Emperor] Gold: Originally a genius prince of the empire, Xiao Chen lost his cultivation and was scorned. Later, it was discovered that a remnant soul of the Great Saint-level expert Han Feng, who fell a thousand years ago, had attached itself to his spatial ring and was absorbing spiritual Qi. Once Han Feng awakened, he guided Xiao Chen’s cultivation, helping him rise rapidly. Eventually, he ascended to the Immortal Domain and became an emperor, calling himself Flame Heavenly Emperor.
[Three-Year Promise] Orange: Every time he makes a three-year promise with someone, his strength and fortune drastically increase after three years!
[Exceptional Talent] Orange: Exceptionally high cultivation speed and comprehension, blessed with extraordinary talent!
[Rebirth from Nirvana] Orange: When near death, he can turn misfortune into fortune, and his cultivation rises even higher!
[Pill Refining Genius] Purple: Born with a powerful divine soul, possessing outstanding alchemy talent!
[Guided by Experts] Purple: Carries the remnant soul of Great Saint Han Feng in his spatial ring, constantly guiding his growth.]
…
“[Exceptional Talent]? That’s a tier higher than Xiao Qianluo’s [Exceptional Gift]…” Lin Xingyun thought as he read.
Fortunately, fate attributes weren’t unchangeable. With effort, they could be altered.
“From the start, he only has 21 affection for me? Looks like he’s destined to be my enemy!”
“Hehe! Xiao Chen, get ready to be harvested!”
Lin Xingyun’s eyes gleamed with evil intent, and he smirked coldly.
Xiao Chen, drinking quietly with his head lowered, suddenly felt a chill all over his body. He nearly got up to leave!
…
After the banquet ended, according to royal protocol, a prestigious guest like Lin Xingyun would normally be given a palace chamber to rest in.
But Xiao Qianluo, worried he might “accidentally” stir up trouble with the palace concubines, dragged him back to her Princess Manor instead.
Though they weren’t officially married yet, no one in the palace had the guts to interfere.
That night, in the back garden of the Princess Manor…
“Hmm? You’re staying in the capital for a while?” Xiao Qianluo leaned in Lin Xingyun’s arms and asked curiously.
“Yeah, I got bored at home. Your capital scenery looks nice—I figured I’d hang around a bit more,” Lin Xingyun said with a smile while toying with a strand of her hair, lying without hesitation.
“And besides, this is where you grew up. I want to see more of it.”
Xiao Qianluo froze, then her face turned bright red. She buried herself in Lin Xingyun’s arms, overjoyed and shy, lightly punching his chest.
“You… you’re so cheesy! You’re the worst! The worst…”
Lin Xingyun laughed and tugged on her hair a bit, “If you keep hitting me, I’ll show you what ‘worst’ really means.”
“Ah! You… you wouldn’t dare!” Xiao Qianluo, even more flustered, pinched his waist hard.
The two of them teased and laughed for a while, and as the night deepened, emotions grew stronger.
Xiao Qianluo found herself reluctant to part.