Deep within the Eastern Palace of the Great Wu Dynasty, inside an elegant, quiet chamber.
Sandalwood incense curled through the air as Wu Huang and Wu Yao sat facing each other, a chessboard between them. The game was nearing its end; black and white pieces interwove, killing intent lurking everywhere.
"With the Sacred Relic Land about to open, when will you set out?" Wu Yao asked. Her fair, jade-like fingers picked up a black piece and gently placed it down, her voice calm and without ripples.
Wu Huang raised his head and looked at the girl before him.
A year had passed, and Wu Yao had grown taller, now appearing fourteen or fifteen years old. She wore luxurious purple robes, her stunning beauty like a painting, her skin crystalline and whiter than snow. The crimson mark between her brows added an alluring, bewitching air. Her narrow phoenix eyes naturally carried authority, while her dark hair cascaded to her waist. Her temperament was ethereal, like a true phoenix untouched by the mortal world.
"I'll leave tomorrow," Wu Huang said slowly, a trace of imperceptible complexity in his voice. "I don't have the kind of opportunity you had, ascending to the heavens in a single step and sparing yourself so much tempering."
"Everyone has their own fate. It cannot be forced." Wu Yao's gaze remained on the chessboard, her tone unchanged. "If you can obtain the fortune within the Sacred Relic Land, you may not be any worse off."
"That fortune will definitely be mine." Wu Huang's tone was certain, filled with unquestionable confidence.
Wu Yao seemed to let out a soft scoff, carrying a faint trace of mockery. "Being too arrogant is not a good thing. This generation of young people on the Vast Continent is unprecedented in quality."
Resting her