The night sky above the Central Capital was brilliant with starlight. Floating three thousand feet in the air, the newly renamed and re-arrayed flagship The Menace Sovereign—formerly Zhao Tian’s grand gold-and-black Upper Realm warship—was illuminated by glowing spatial jade lamps and warm spirit lanterns.
The ship's expansive upper deck had been converted into a luxurious, open-air banqueting pavilion.
Fragrant steam rose from spirit-meat broths, roasted dragon-pheasant, and rare spatial lotus fruits arranged across polished white-jade tables. Below the ship, the lights of the Central Capital twinkled like a fallen constellation, while above, the calm cosmic wind drifted harmlessly around the ship’s newly calibrated defensive barrier.
Lu Chen sat on a wide, cushioned silk throne at the head of the banquet table.
He wore a dark crimson silk robe embroidered with silver cloud patterns, his collar slightly open, revealing his smooth chest and sculpted collarbone. His long red hair was tied loosely with a purple silk ribbon. He leaned back comfortably, resting one arm over the armrest while holding a white jade cup filled with thousand-year peach nectar.
On his right sat Saintess Ji Xue, her sky-blue silk dress flowing softly over the plush seating. She held a silver pair of chopsticks, delicately removing tiny spirit seeds from a candied plum before placing it gently into Lu Chen’s dish. Her cheeks still carried a subtle, delicate shade of lingering pink whenever she looked at him, her dark eyes misty with unspoken affection.
On his left, Princess Yao Ji was sitting cross-legged right beside his chair, resting her chin on his thigh while twirling a crimson ribbon around her slender fingers. Her tiny velvet black horns glinted under the lantern light, and her fox-like purple-red eyes looked up at him with unhidden, enraptured fondness. In her lap, her fluffy pink stuffed bunny, Barnaby, was tucked safely under her lace sleeve.
Standing nearby, keeping watch while occasionally pouring fresh nectar, was Ye Qingxian. Her silver hair glowed under the moonlight, and her ice-blue eyes reflected absolute, serene devotion.
"Ah..." Lu Chen sighed softly, taking a slow sip of peach nectar as his purple eyes glinted with devilish satisfaction. "No angry elders shouting, no sword cultivators waving weapons, just fine wine, delicious food, and my three peerless heroines. Eating 'soft rice' on a stolen Upper Realm warship... life truly does not get better than this."
Ji Xue let out a soft, melodic chuckle, her crisp voice carrying a gentle, fond edge as she looked at him.
"You speak as if stealing a Grade-A Upper Realm warship and turning its Chosen Son into a cooing, diaper-wearing infant was just an everyday afternoon chore," Ji Xue teased, feeding him a small piece of spirit melon with her chopsticks. "If the Immortal Sword Palace back in the Upper Realm learns about this, their Soul Transformation Ancestor will probably spit blood through the spatial boundary."
"Let him spit blood!" Yao Ji purred, leaning her body closer against Lu Chen's leg, resting her cheek against his knee while giggling softly. "If his old ancestor comes down, handsome big brother will just make him wear a giant golden diaper too! Right, big brother?"
Lu Chen swallowed the sweet melon, reaching down to gently pat Yao Ji's head, his fingers stroking behind her cute velvet horns. Yao Ji let out an involuntary, soft purr of pure bliss, her eyes narrowing into content little crescents.
"Of course," Lu Chen chuckled smoothly, his magnetic voice brushing over them like a warm summer breeze. "Age and cultivation rank make no difference to my powders. Whether you are a Foundation Establishment disciple or a Soul Transformation Ancestor, once my educational dust touches your skin, everyone is equal under the law of non-violent humiliation."
Ye Qingxian stepped forward, setting a fresh teapot onto the white-jade table.
"Young Master," Ye Qingxian said calmly, her voice full of pride. "The news of Zhao Tian’s total defeat has already spread through the intelligence networks of all major sects in the Southern Domain. The remaining rogue cultivators and ancient families who were contemplating siding with the Upper Realm have completely surrendered their trade rights to the Lu Clan."
[Ding!]
[Lu Imperial Clan Prestige: Absolute Supreme Realm Level!]
[Harem Affection Status Update:]
- Ye Qingxian: Max (Absolute Loyalty & Soul-Bound Unity)
- Saintess Ji Xue: 92% (Deep Devotion & Unshakeable Love)
- Princess Yao Ji: 88% (Enraptured Romantic Attachment)
Lu Chen smiled warmly, tapping his silver fan against his palm as he opened his golden System interface.
[Host: Lu Chen]
[Current System Points: 450,000 Points]
[Cultivation Realm: Nascent Soul (Early Stage)]
450,000 System Points... Lu Chen thought to himself, a brilliant, scheming glint appearing in his eyes.
The upper realm spatial boundaries will naturally stabilize and fully open in three weeks. If I want to take my beauties on an excursion to the Upper Realm without any minor inconveniences, my cultivation foundation needs to be entirely impenetrable.
"System," Lu Chen instructed silently. "Spend 250,000 System Points to upgrade my cultivation directly to the Peak Nascent Soul Realm, and consolidate my Primordial Purple-Gold Soul!"
[Ding!]
[Cultivation Upgrade Executed!]
[Early Nascent Soul --> Mid Nascent Soul --> Late Nascent Soul --> Peak Nascent Soul Realm!]
[Primordial Purple-Gold Nascent Infant Evolved into Golden Soul Avatar!]
[Remaining System Points: 200,000 Points!]
BOOM!
A silent, divine wave of golden-purple spatial energy expanded outward from Lu Chen’s body!
The ambient spiritual aura across the entire warship deck harmonized instantly. Glowing golden rune lotus flowers began blooming invisibly in the air around them, and a majestic, nine-inch-tall Golden Nascent Infant enveloped in purple flames manifested inside Lu Chen’s dantian!
Ji Xue’s dark eyes widened in sheer shock. Her breath hitched as she felt the sheer, boundless depth of Lu Chen’s aura shift from Early Nascent Soul straight to the absolute Peak Nascent Soul Realm in a single second!
"L-Lu Chen?!" Ji Xue stammered, her delicate hand clutching her chest as her heart hammered against her ribs. "Your aura... you broke through to Peak Nascent Soul at nineteen years old?!"
Yao Ji sat up straight, her purple-red eyes sparkling with absolute, starry-eyed awe as she stared at his glowing, divine pressure. "A-Absolute monster... handsome, rich, playful, and a Peak Nascent Soul expert! Big brother, how are other men supposed to live in this world when you exist?!"
Ye Qingxian bowed deeply, her silver hair swaying, her eyes shining with quiet, profound pride. "Congratulations on your divine breakthrough, Young Master."
Lu Chen let out a booming, low laugh, pulling both Ji Xue and Yao Ji into his arms, drawing them close to his warm chest as he leaned back against his throne.
"A Peak Nascent Soul Realm host needs to look after his lovely companions," Lu Chen smirked, leaning down to lightly kiss Ji Xue’s soft, blushing cheek before planting a playful kiss on Yao Ji’s forehead.
"Now then..." Lu Chen looked out into the starry expanse above, his purple eyes gleam with infinite, chaotic menace.
"In three weeks, the spatial gates to the Upper Immortal Realm open completely. It is time we start pa cking our bags for the grand Upper Realm tour!"