Orion sat back in his chair, his face still clouded with anger. It was no wonder his predecessor had been so captivated by Ruolan. If a powerful Martial King decided to seduce an ordinary person, it would be nearly impossible to resist.
"Yuxiang, investigate the origins of this third prince," Orion commanded, his eyes cold and calculating. "If he dares to make a move against me, he must be prepared to pay a steep price."
The political landscape of the Zhou Dynasty was complicated, and Orion had no knowledge of where this third prince came from or what his intentions were. But if the prince could easily send a Martial King to infiltrate his ranks, he was clearly not someone to be underestimated.
"Yes, my lord," Yuxiang replied, standing straight with evident unease. He was the one who had brought Ruolan to Orion, and if anything had gone wrong, he would be held accountable. But to his relief, Orion didn't pursue the matter further. Instead, he waved Yuxiang out of the camp.
Once Yuxiang left, Orion turned to Jiang Qianning, who stood beside him. "Qian Ning, what did you want to talk about? What brought you here?"
Jiang Qianning's fingers were white from clutching them too tightly, her eyes fixed on the bloodstains left on the ground. Just moments ago, Orion had killed Ruolan without a second thought—a woman who was supposedly close to him. The casualness with which he took her life frightened Jiang Qianning deeply. What if she was no different from Ruolan in Orion's eyes? Both women were dependent on him for survival.
"Qian Ning?" Orion's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Startled by his impatient tone, Jiang Qianning felt a wave of panic. "N-no, I just came to check on you..." she stammered, waving her hands nervously. The fear of displeasing Orion and meeting the same fate as Ruolan paralyzed her. She knew she had to tread carefully—one wrong move and she could be next.
Orion watched her leave hastily, confused by her sudden change in behavior. "What's gotten into her?" he muttered, shaking his head as he pushed the matter from his mind. There were more pressing issues to deal with.
As Orion pondered his next steps, a system prompt suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Ding! The host's subordinates killed a powerful martial artist (severely injured) and gained 100,000 luck points!]
Orion was taken aback. "Killed a Martial Saint?" he thought, quickly realizing that the points were likely from Ying Mo's killing of the Wenjian Sect leader. However, when he saw the amount of luck points given, his face darkened.
"System, are you cheating me? Why only 100,000 luck points? A Martial Saint should be worth at least a million!" Orion complained angrily. The points were far below his expectations. Considering that a Saint-level lottery required a million luck points, it seemed unfair.
[Ding! The host's subordinates did not engage in full combat with the enemy, only landing the final blow. The system has automatically adjusted the luck points accordingly.]
Orion's mood worsened as he heard the explanation. "So picking up a corpse is enough to trigger this penalty?" he grumbled. But as he recalled the battle, he realized it made sense. A strong opponent had self-destructed, nearly killing the sect leader. The system was strict, leaving no loopholes to exploit. It wasn't possible to simply finish off weakened opponents for full credit.
"Fine, fine. At least these points are free," Orion sighed, feeling slightly better.
As the night passed, Orion noticed a slight improvement in his cultivation. A satisfied smile crossed his face. "At this rate, I should reach the mid-stage of Martial Emperor within three months. The Yuanyin Holy Body is truly extraordinary."
Where others might spend over a decade to achieve such progress, Orion's cultivation was advancing at a remarkable pace. It was a thrilling experience.
Checking the time, Orion opened the system interface, ready for his daily sign-in. "Let's see what today's reward will be," he thought with a grin.
[Ding! The system is signing in...]
[Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for receiving: Shibawei Dihuang Pills!]
[Shibawei Dihuang Pills: A supplement to strengthen the body and kidneys, replenishing vitality. It is said to allow the user to achieve the legendary feat of 'Eighteen Times a Night.']
Orion blinked in disbelief. "Why do I suddenly feel a bit weak?"
Despite his bravado, Orion's curiosity got the better of him. With a flick of his wrist, a small brown pill appeared in his hand. It smelled fragrant, like an ordinary elixir pill.
"Heh..." Orion chuckled, amused. "Why not?" he thought, popping the pill into his mouth. As it dissolved, a warm sensation spread through his body, making him feel instantly rejuvenated.
"Effective!" Orion exclaimed, surprised by the immediate results. He licked his lips, feeling a surge of energy. "I could definitely go for another round!"