The morning light was dim. Soft sunlight filtered through the thin curtains and fell into a small dormitory room in the Demon King's Royal Family's courtyard.
Mi Ruoxi rubbed her sleepy eyes.
When she washed up and got out of bed, she noticed a book lying on the bedside table. It looked as though someone had left it there.
It was a diary, its cover glowing faintly.
"A diary? Whose diary is this?"
Mi Ruoxi wondered if someone had entered her dormitory.
Curious, she picked it up.
"Flipping through it should be fine. Nothing bad will happen, right?"
Mi Ruoxi murmured to herself.
She curiously opened the first page, only to see line after line of writing appear before her.
A faint, strange feeling lingered around the diary.
As soon as she read the first line, she froze in place, as if struck by lightning.
[Transported to the Dou Luo Continent 8,000 years ago...]
"Transported? A time traveler?"
Mi Ruoxi's heart began to pound.
That was only the first line, but the words sent a shock through her. It was an enormous revelation!
Could the person who wrote this really be a time traveler?
Normally, she would have dismissed such a thing as nonsense. But she had personally witnessed Lin Chen, an extraordinary figure who had suddenly appeared in the Demon King's Royal Family.
So he really wasn't from this world?
She suppressed her racing heartbeat and continued reading.
As the diary went on, its third entry stunned her even more.
"Why did Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong end up together?"
"Qian Ling'er became an angel god, and actually went to fight the Evil Soul Master Dou Luo?"
"Was Bibi Dong actually a good person?"
"Wuhun Hall ultimately fell?"
Mi Ruoxi sat there for a long time, her thoughts in turmoil.
She was clever, and quickly pieced together yesterday's strange events.
"So that's what happened..." Xue Ling murmured.
"So Ning Rongrong and Mi Ruoxi really did end up together, and they even ran all the way from Suotuo City to Tian Dou City. Then there was that person who was with her in the room... They must have had a diary too, one that changed their fate!"
At the thought, Xue Ling's heart surged with an unprecedented sense of excitement.
"Then I can get a spirit ring too!"
The diary said that if its owner obtained a spirit ring together with the person mentioned in its pages, they could receive generous rewards.
And the person who could confirm the diary's owner...
That was an easy matter to settle!
"Sure. As long as I put on a spirit ring today, that'll prove I'm the diary's owner!"
"As long as you confirm that I own the diary..."
"Maybe I'll be able to get a spirit ring too. And perhaps the flaw I've always had—my lack of spirit power—could finally be fixed."
The thought made Xue Ling's body tremble with excitement.
But she hadn't gone through the trouble of putting on a spirit ring, and she didn't want to let Lin Chen know about her secret just yet. For now, she could only wait.
She quickly tidied up and left the dormitory.
The Demon King's Royal Family's council hall.
The atmosphere today was unusually different. The emperor had summoned Zhu Zhuqing and Mi Ruoxi, two newly appointed officials.
On the surface, it was merely a formal welcome.
But the ceremony the emperor had arranged for the two women was exceptionally grand.
Qin Ming had arrived early, and was waiting there with his subordinates. His expression was grave as he announced, "Today is a significant day for the empire. His Majesty the Crown Prince will personally welcome our guests. Please escort them into the palace."
"The heads of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan are here as well. I ask everyone to keep their wits about them."
Lin Chen chuckled and strolled into the council hall with his hands behind his back.
When everyone's eyes fell on him, their expressions instantly turned bright with interest. Some couldn't help staring.
"What a handsome fellow!"
"Is he some kind of celebrity?"
On the left stood Mi Ruoxi, wearing an elegant, light-colored short dress. Her shapely legs were on full display.
She wore a gentle smile, and her beautiful eyes were as bright as stars.
On the right stood Zhu Zhuqing, who always had a cool, composed air about her. She usually wore a black outfit that outlined her alluring figure.
Today, though, she was dressed in a simple white outfit.
And yet...
She had also put on a short dress, a different style from Mi Ruoxi's, though it was obviously made by the same tailor.
"..."
The two women exchanged glances, and both seemed a little embarrassed.
A strange look crossed the faces of the people around them.
Mi Ruoxi pursed her lips, thinking, That's great. Last night, when I saw you in that outfit, I thought you were going to guard the bedroom. Turns out you secretly got yourself a whole new wardrobe!
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head in embarrassment, feeling a little guilty.
Mi Ruoxi is so sharp. She really was the first to make her move...
She's so clever. No wonder she was able to keep her diary a secret, huh?
The two traded a glance, their eyes meeting in the air.
Just then, Xue Ling, who had been standing behind Qin Ming, walked over as well.
Her face was hidden behind a dark veil.
Mi Ruoxi immediately noticed Zhu Zhuqing and Xue Ling's unusual outfits.
Could my sisters all have diaries too?!
Mi Ruoxi was dumbfounded.
This is too much, isn't it?
If they're all diary owners, then what about tomorrow?
"No, I have to test her. I can't let Lin Chen find out that I have a diary... I'll pretend to be a carriage driver."
Mi Ruoxi suddenly thought of a rather amusing plan.
Lin Chen fought back a laugh.
"Zhu Zhuqing, that black outfit with the white dress is quite a striking combination!"
"It looks pretty good. Like it was made by the same tailor."
"Didn't someone say last night that you couldn't sleep?"
At that moment, Tianqing Bull Python appeared. He had arrived early, intending to invite the guests himself.
And sure enough...
He immediately spotted what they were wearing.
Since Tianqing Bull Python was the Crown Prince, he obviously couldn't dress casually in front of the gathered dignitaries!
"Good grief, these women..."
Tianqing Bull Python's lips twitched as his gaze swept over Zhu Zhuqing and Mi Ruoxi.
Lin Chen also noticed it...
Tianqing Bull Python's gaze had passed over Mi Ruoxi, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xue Ling's legs, and his muscles had twitched involuntarily.
That gaze held a deep, unmistakable...
Lust!
Qian Ling'er silently cursed, What a pervert! You really have no shame! Those women are dressed like that because of you, and now you're staring at them!
The worst part is, I'm clearly jealous too, but I can't dress like that!
She thought of the white dress Snake Demon and Cheetah Demon had brought back for her last night.
Qian Ling'er felt as if her stomach were churning.
The clothes those two had brought back were so old-fashioned, she couldn't bring herself to wear them.
What kind of middle-aged style is that?!
Lin Chen watched everyone's reactions, especially Tianqing Bull Python's expression, which showed how much he wanted something he couldn't have.
He was practically dying of laughter.
He deliberately walked between the two women and pretended to make a solemn announcement.
"Everyone's dressed so sharply today."
"You know it's the first day of the ceremony!"
Zhu Zhuqing gave Mi Ruoxi a sidelong glance, while Mi Ruoxi pursed her lips and thought of a plan to embarrass someone. In the end, she still held back.
"Ahem... Today's nothing special."
"Normally, you can dress like this too."
Qin Ming said with a perfectly serious expression.
As if they were going to dress in white for a fight, or bring weapons along with their accessories!
How could they be allowed to do that?
"Please come forward. The emperor is waiting."
Tianqing Bull Python was worried that Mi Ruoxi might say something else that would get him into trouble, so he urged them along.
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