After greeting the other angels, Zhi Xin led Zhang Zheng towards the palace. On the way, Zhang Zheng asked Zhi Xin about the customs of the Angel City. After all, it's always good to follow local customs when you're in someone else's territory.
Zhi Xin felt a bit awkward now because Zhang Zheng had not let go of her hand yet, which was quite embarrassing. "I haven't even become your guardian angel yet," Zhi Xin thought to herself.
Actually, Zhi Xin thought Zhang Zheng met her criteria quite well. She had once vowed to find the bravest god in the universe. Zhang Zheng's willingness to challenge powerful beings in the universe for the sake of Earth proved his courage. Additionally, he had helped her ascend to a divine body, which made him seem like the ideal god in her eyes.
If it weren't for the need to get Queen Kasha's approval, Zhi Xin would have already pledged to become his guardian angel. This was also why she wasn't angry about Zhang Zheng holding her hand.
As for Zhang Zheng, he initially had no ulterior motives towards Zhi Xin. He simply admired her from the original story. It was only when they established a mental link that the power granted by the Mind Stone allowed him to instantly read Zhi Xin's feelings towards him. That's why he felt justified in holding her hand. While he couldn't say he was in love with Zhi Xin, he did like her.
Regarding Zhao Xin, Zhang Zheng could only apologize. It wasn't intentional, but his friend had met her first.
The two walked hand in hand to the palace entrance.
"You're about to meet Queen Kasha, so could you let go of my hand?" Zhi Xin said gently. She didn't dislike Zhang Zheng holding her hand, but she was feeling shy about meeting Queen Kasha.
Seeing Zhi Xin's blushing face, Zhang Zheng suddenly leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Would you like to become my guardian angel?" He even playfully breathed warm air into her ear.
Hearing such a direct confession from Zhang Zheng made Zhi Xin even more embarrassed. "Um... I need to ask Queen Kasha before I can agree," she said, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
"Let's go, we need to meet Queen Kasha," Zhang Zheng said, leading the way into the palace.
Thanks to Zhi Xin, they encountered no obstacles and entered the main hall of the palace.
The magnificent hall had no guards because there was no need for any. The person sitting on the throne was the strongest being in the known universe, the Queen of the Gods, Divine Kasha.
"Queen Kasha," Zhi Xin greeted as she bowed with her right hand on her chest. Zhang Zheng followed her lead and greeted Kasha as well.
"Zhang Zheng, you're quite special. I read your information in your dark dimension, but I couldn't find the source of your power," Kasha said.
"Well, I don't really know either. Some information is in my weapon. It comes from a civilization called 'Asgard,'" Zhang Zheng replied.
Kasha didn't seem too concerned. After all, civilizations had been destroyed throughout the universe's 13.8 billion years of history. From Kasha's perspective, Zhang Zheng was just a lucky person inheriting the genes of a powerful civilization, not something to be overly focused on. This was the pride of the Angel Queen.
"I heard from Zhi Xin that you're going to the Sun Star. Can you tell me why?" Kasha asked.
"To fight Pan Zhen," Zhang Zheng answered directly, feeling no need to hide anything.
"Fight Pan Zhen? Do you have a grudge against him?" Kasha didn't think Pan Zhen would have a grudge against a young man in his twenties for no reason.
"Um… not really. The main purpose of leaving Earth is to train my abilities, and fighting is the best way to train. Besides, the Sun Star's Sun Goddess, Emperor Reina, has been bullying me on Earth. Since she's a girl and a comrade, I can't fight her directly. Pan Zhen is her guardian, so it's better to deal with him directly," Zhang Zheng explained.
Kasha, seeing Zhang Zheng's nonchalant attitude, found herself speechless. It was understandable to seek accountability from a guardian when a child did something wrong.
"Aren't you afraid that Pan Zhen might crush you? He's a renowned deity in the universe," Kasha said, somewhat concerned. Although she knew Zhang Zheng was also a god, his abilities were unknown. In a non-explosive state, his limits were uncertain, and Kasha was worried for Zhi Xin.
"I'm not afraid. He can't kill me, so why should I be scared? If it comes down to it, it's uncertain who would win," Zhang Zheng said confidently about his abilities.
"Well, with your mysterious confidence, I won't argue," Kasha said.
"Queen Kasha, I'd like Zhi Xin to become my guardian angel. Is that possible?" Zhang Zheng looked at Kasha with anticipation.
"And you, Zhi Xin, what do you think?" Kasha asked, turning to Zhi Xin.
"I… I'm willing," Zhi Xin replied. Hearing Kasha's question, she realized there was no time for shyness. She didn't want Queen Kasha to think she was unwilling.
Seeing Zhi Xin's firm answer and Zhang Zheng's excited expression, Kasha sighed, "Youth is truly something."
"Alright, Zhi Xin, it's fine. Take him to meet your teacher. She has always seen you as her daughter."
Kasha then turned to Zhang Zheng with a mischievous look and said, "In Earth terms, the mother-in-law stage might not be easy."
"Thank you, Queen Kasha, for your understanding." Zhang Zheng said, then the Infinity Gauntlet appeared on his left hand, and the Reality Stone glowed dark red. Several one-cubic-meter metal blocks appeared in the hall.
"Primitive Vanadium Alloy. It's a metal I discovered in a meteorite, with an almost static atomic structure," Zhang Zheng introduced.
"Is this the so-called dowry from Earth?" Kasha said with amusement. With her level of knowledge, she immediately understood the importance of the Vanadium Alloy, recognizing it as excellent armor.
"Yes, Queen Kasha," Zhang Zheng confirmed.
"Alright, you two, go meet He Xi. She's been waiting for you," Kasha said, somewhat impatiently. She was eager to study the new metal.
Zhang Zheng, who was kicked out, remained dazed.
Looking at the cute angel Zhi Xin, he asked, "Your teacher is He Xi?"
He added, "The Heavenly King He Xi."
"Yeah, I took her place as the Sacred Wing," Zhi Xin said nonchalantly. In the concept of angels, power struggles were considered traits of lower civilizations. Angels focused on justice, and nepotism didn't matter.
Seeing Zhi Xin's innocent demeanor, Zhang Zheng didn't know what to say.
"How are the trials of the Heavenly King generally conducted? Zhi Xin, please tell me so I can prepare," Zhang Zheng asked, trying to flatter Zhi Xin.
Zhi Xin couldn't help but laugh at Zhang Zheng's nervousness. She knew that the more anxious he was, the more he cared for her.
Queen Kasha had said that He Xi, as a pure warrior, would likely test Zhang Zheng's strength through battle. Hearing that it would be a duel made Zhang Zheng more relaxed. After all, his purpose in leaving Earth was to fight strong opponents, and He Xi, a 30,000-year-old battle angel, was precisely what he wanted.