"Daoist Brother?" Qin Tian smiled faintly, shifting slightly to lie comfortably on Chu Xinyue's long, graceful legs. It was surprisingly comfortable, and he couldn't help but enjoy it.
Ling Jiao, the dragon coiled nearby, cast a mocking glance at Xia Jiuyan. Daoist Brother? It sneered internally. If the young master accepts you as his servant, it would already be the greatest blessing of your life.
Xia Jiuyan, the crown prince of the Da Xia Dynasty, felt a twinge of embarrassment as he looked at Qin Tian, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. No matter what, he was still the crown prince of a powerful dynasty, and it wasn't easy to maintain his dignity while being treated so casually in front of so many people.
"Is your Excellency not showing due respect to the crown prince of Da Xia?" one of Xia Jiuyan's attendants, a middle-aged man clad in silver armor, asked angrily, unable to suppress his frustration.
He, as the crown prince's bodyguard, felt humiliated that someone could so easily dismiss the crown prince.
"Silence! Know your place!" The Holy Lord of Wan Dao barked, his voice sharp with authority. How dare a mere bodyguard speak so disrespectfully to someone of Qin Tian's status? Did he have a death wish?
As he spoke, the Holy Lord of Wan Dao casually flicked his fingers, sending a surge of spiritual energy that flung the silver-armored bodyguard backward. Blood spurted from the man's mouth as he hit the ground hard, clearly gravely injured.
"What is the meaning of this?" Xia Kong, a prominent figure in the Da Xia Dynasty and Xia Jiuyan's uncle, flew over quickly, his expression darkening when he saw the injured bodyguard. It was clear from the Holy Lord's deference to Qin Tian that this young man from the upper realm held significant power.
The Da Xia Dynasty's records weren't entirely clear on the background of the Wan Dao Holy Land, but ancient texts indicated that the force supporting it in the upper realms was extremely formidable.
Of course, from the perspective of mortals in the lower realms, any upper-realm power capable of sending representatives down was seen as an awe-inspiring force.
But the Da Xia Dynasty wasn't without its own connections in the upper realms. Their dynasty's founder had risen to prominence within a major sect there, and they had maintained those ties ever since.
"Your Excellency, though you hail from the upper realms, do not forget that the Da Xia Dynasty also has powerful allies there," Xia Kong said solemnly.
He wasn't eager to escalate tensions with an upper-realm faction, knowing the potential consequences of offending their benefactors. Still, he couldn't let his dynasty be humiliated without standing up for its honor.
"Xia Kong, let me remind you that the young master's background is not something you can begin to fathom," the Holy Lord of Wan Dao said, his eyes narrowing slightly. Despite the tensions, he was giving Xia Kong a warning out of respect for their past acquaintance.
Xia Kong frowned deeply, realizing that the young man's origins were even more mysterious than he had assumed.
Under normal circumstances, Xia Kong would have withdrawn immediately. However, seeing the young princess of the Da Zhou Dynasty, Ji Lingxian, standing beside Qin Tian complicated things. If the princess had indeed allied herself with this upper-realm powerhouse, the Da Xia Dynasty's plans to annex the Da Zhou Dynasty would become much more difficult.
The plot to annex Da Zhou wasn't just about historical grievances between the two dynasties. The real motivation came from a powerful figure in the upper realms who coveted the dragon vein beneath the Da Zhou capital.
Xia Kong's ancestor, who had become influential in the upper realm, had instructed them to secure the dragon vein. If successful, not only would their dynasty benefit immensely, but even the ancestor himself would gain something.
That powerful figure, while not the strongest, had an impressive lineage, with parents who were Human Emperor-level elders and a grandfather who was the second elder of their sect. In short, he was a typical member of the upper realm's aristocracy, known for being highly influential.
"Your Excellency, my apologies for the earlier offense. It was the fault of an ignorant servant," Xia Kong said, softening his tone and lowering his posture. He wasn't about to provoke such a formidable force over a mere bodyguard.
"Until next time, your Excellency," Xia Kong said before turning and leaving with Xia Jiuyan and the injured bodyguard. Having been treated so coldly, they had no face to remain any longer.
"Interesting," Qin Tian said with a faint smile, then turned to Chu Xinyue, whose slender fingers were still massaging his legs.
"Why do you think they left?" he asked her playfully.
"It's because of your strength and background, of course," Chu Xinyue replied without hesitation, her tone candid.
Qin Tian chuckled. This was exactly why he admired Chu Xinyue. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind and was always clear about her ambitions.
He didn't have any deep feelings for her, but he appreciated her intelligence and understanding. She knew how to keep him comfortable, both physically and politically. Having someone like her by his side wasn't bad at all.
"You all treat Human Emperor-level cultivators as unrivaled beings, but in the upper realms, they are hardly worth mentioning," Qin Tian said lightly, addressing not only Chu Xinyue but also the two other women, Ji Lingxian and Qingyao.
His words shattered their long-held perceptions. For them, a Human Emperor was an invincible existence, but to Qin Tian, they were "nothing special."
Both Qingyao and Ji Lingxian fell silent, their expressions solemn. They, like all cultivators, longed for strength. But now, they realized just how far behind they truly were.
...
Deep within the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land...
In a dark underground cave...
"What is this… what's happening?" A shadowy figure trembled as it stared at the young man it had intended to possess. A look of horror crossed its face. Everything had been going smoothly until an unknown force awakened the boy's spiritual consciousness.
It had failed—and now, the demonic energy it had infused into the boy was backfiring. The shadowy figure had been reduced to a mere shell of its former self, effectively crippled.
"So this is what true power feels like?"
Lin Fan turned his neck, the sounds of cracking bones echoing in the cave as he stared coldly at the demonic cultivator who had tricked him. He smiled cruelly. Once he devoured this being, his strength would skyrocket once again.
"But why do I feel so strange inside?" Lin Fan wondered. There was a nagging feeling of unease, but he quickly brushed it off. It's probably just a side effect of my rapid growth in power, he thought.
"Thank you... for delivering me your power," Lin Fan said, his grin growing savage as he prepared to consume the shadowy figure whole.
...
"Ding! One of the fated heroines has changed her view of the host. You've gained 200 luck points."
Hearing the system notification, Qin Tian turned his gaze toward Qingyao, who was currently chatting with Chu Xinyue. He smiled softly.
Chu Xinyue noticed Qin Tian looking in their direction and playfully stuck out her tongue, her lips soft and alluring.
"I wonder what Chu Xinyue said to make one of the fated heroines change her opinion of me," Qin Tian mused, his smile widening.
"Still, this is a good thing."
...
"Young Master, I've detected the aura of a sacred spirit cub," Ling Jiao said, suddenly transforming into human form as it stood beside Qin Tian. As a pure-blooded dragon, it could easily sense the presence of sacred spirits.
Sacred spirits were rare and powerful beings, similar to divine beasts but with certain distinctions.
"The spirit is inside the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land," Ling Jiao continued.
Qin Tian glanced at the infamous forbidden land. Even in the vast Qingyun realm, this place was feared and revered.
"Interesting," he said softly, considering whether he should venture inside. After all, nothing in the forbidden land posed a real threat to him.