Qin Wangchuan lightly tapped the Flame Clan fire-pattern seal on the gift box with his fingertip.
Crimson streams of light seeped from the cracks like molten lava, scorching the air until it faintly warped.
With a soft crack, the seal shattered, and a fuzzy red fireball rolled into his palm.
—What Golden Crow Divine Bird capable of incinerating the heavens and boiling the seas? It was clearly a listless little Red Velvet chick.
Its down was so sparse that its pink skin showed through. It had only three tail feathers, one of which was scorched black and curled, like wild grass struck by lightning.
"Chirp?" The little chick raised its head.
Its bean-sized eyes shimmered with a glassy luster, reflecting Qin Wangchuan's expressionless face.
It tried to flap its wings and approach its "mother," only to plop onto its rear, sending a few sparks bursting from its fluff.
Qin Wangchuan lowered his gaze and saw the Red Velvet chick looking up at him, its glass-like eyes brimming with affection as its tiny claws clutched the corner of his sleeve without letting go.
Yet whenever a maid drew close, the little thing immediately shrank its neck and tucked away its feathers, several timid blue flames flickering from its trembling tail plumes.
"I heard it takes the first person it sees upon hatching as its closest kin. Interesting."
"It is simply too small to be of any use."
"Raise it." The youth pinched the chick by the back of its neck with two fingers and casually tossed it away.
The little red fluffball traced an arc through the air and landed steadily in the hands of a maid behind him.
From then on, it was tended by dedicated attendants every day. It drank Heavenly Dew, pecked at Divine Crystals, and even its warm nest was painstakingly woven from rare treasures difficult to find in the outside world.
Once its wings had grown full and its tail feathers shone, it would be time for it to prove useful.
"Next..."
"The land deeds for the spiritual veins of the Eighty-six Prefectures of the Western Territory?" Qin Wangchuan glanced over the scroll of Gilded Jade Records, clearly uninterested.
This gift from the Central Province Dynasty looked substantial, but in truth, it was as tasteless as chicken ribs.
—The territory was good, but he had no energy to manage it at present.
"Perhaps I can hand it over to Seventh Sister?"
Qin Wangchuan stroked his chin in thought. "Although Seventh Sister truly is a profiteer through and through, she has always been among the best when it comes to management."
With a sweep of his sleeve, he immediately sent a voice transmission to Seventh Sister.
Then, his gaze fell upon a jade box.
He remembered this one. It contained the Dragon Hearts Fifth Sister had sent him.
"Fifth Sister is certainly straightforward." Qin Wangchuan opened the jade box. Three Primordial Dragon Hearts, red as blood, lay within, still beating as though alive.
—Dragon Hearts tempered the body and could forge an unrivaled foundation.
But he had no use for them now.
"Take them and roast them." Qin Wangchuan handed the jade box to the black-clad maid beside him.
She was none other than Ye Jianwei.
She had a slender figure, and her black dress outlined her delicate curves. Now, every gesture she made carried an increasingly eye-catching grace.
Several tiny bells hung from the hem of her skirt, jingling as she moved.
Relying on those sound waves, she could not only "see" this world, but see it more clearly than most people.
"Yes."
In less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Ye Jianwei returned carrying a gilded serving tray.
The three Dragon Hearts had been roasted until golden and crisp. Amber-colored Dragon Fat had congealed upon their surfaces, while the fragrance formed three miniature flood dragons that swam across the plate.
"Eat with me." Qin Wangchuan tore off the plumpest piece of Dragon Heart meat. As grease dripped from it, blossoms of Golden Flames ignited in the air.
Ye Jianwei's lashes trembled slightly, yet she did not dare truly sit down and dine with him.
She merely stood with her head lowered, holding the piece of dragon meat in both hands. When she took a small bite, her lips became stained with gleaming golden oil.
The instant the dragon meat entered her throat, violent blood energy exploded within her body, and her muscles and bones seemed to be reforged by blazing fire.
Fine Dragon Scale Patterns surfaced across her skin, then vanished in an instant.
Ye Jianwei fared even worse. Dense Dragon Scales emerged across her snowy-white skin.
With every mouthful she swallowed, the Dragon Scales on her body brightened another degree. Even her toes curled unconsciously, as though she were suppressing the surging power within her.
"Young Master?!" She suddenly pressed a hand to her violently heaving chest, where a mass of golden light was coursing through her meridians.
"It is nothing. Try circulating your Spiritual Power."
Ye Jianwei mobilized her Spiritual Platform, and the restless golden radiance immediately became docile.
"Primordial Dragon Hearts are condensed from the Essence Blood of True Dragons. Though they cannot compare to direct absorption, eating them can shed one's mortal body and forge a Dragon Spirit Body."
He casually tore off a second piece of dragon meat and said unhurriedly:
"When Dragon Scales appear upon the skin, they form Dragon Armor to protect the body, which ordinary Magic Treasures can hardly damage. When golden radiance travels through the meridians, it can turn all poisons into nourishment." Qin Wangchuan wiped the grease from his fingertips. As he rose, his robes fluttered, carrying with them the lingering aura of Dragon Breath.
His gaze swept over the maids in the hall. "There is still plenty left. You should all have some too. Consider it an opportunity."
Upon hearing this, the maids were first stunned, then incomparable delight appeared in their eyes.
They all bowed in salute. Their movements seemed respectful, but the instant they straightened, they quickened their pace in unspoken unison.
The fingertips holding their dragon meat trembled slightly. They wanted to maintain their composure and eat slowly in small bites, yet could not help taking bite after bite. Even when oil stained their crimson lips, they could not be bothered to wipe it away, only secretly licking it off with the tips of their tongues.
Tears welled at the corners of the eldest purple-clad maid's eyes, yet she did not dare raise a hand to wipe them away.
She took tiny bites, chanting inwardly with every mouthful: Being by Young Master's side is simply wonderful!
How could it compare to the sisters serving the Eighth Young Master? Last time, one of them had merely been a little slow while combing his hair, and she was punished by kneeling on shattered jade for an entire night.
"Next are these three."
With a wave of Qin Wangchuan's hand, the flying sword gifted by his Eldest Brother, Qin Wudao, immediately flew out.
Along with it came the Dao Fruit sent by Wood Ancestor.
And the transparent Ancient Sword given by the Li Clan, sealed with a single Blood Bead.
He looked at Eldest Brother's gift first.
The sword blade had no edge, yet it seemed capable of slicing through space itself.
"Fine sword!" Qin Wangchuan's eyes lit up. The moment his fingertips touched the hilt, he felt a vast Sword Intent rush into his meridians.
—This sword had actually already developed spirituality, and it perfectly matched his Dao Rhyme!
"Refine!"
He let a drop of blood fall. The Chaos Flying Sword transformed into a stream of light and merged with his Spiritual Platform.
In an instant, Sword Qi around Qin Wangchuan surged explosively, like an upside-down river of stars.
Guluan flew out on its own and circled this "uninvited guest," as though examining it.
"Right, it needs a name." After a brief thought, Qin Wangchuan had an idea. "Guluan... Guluan cries to the heavens... Lixiao!"
"You shall be called Lixiao."
He put away the two swords.
"Wood Ancestor said that eating it would allow one to glimpse the River of Fate. I wonder what it is like." Qin Wangchuan lowered his eyes and stared at the Dao Fruit in his palm. Within its crystal-clear flesh, a river of stars seemed to flow.
Without hesitation, he raised his head and swallowed it.
The Dao Fruit entered his throat, and Qin Wangchuan's thoughts were abruptly pulled far away. It was as though he had become a drop of water falling into a vast, boundless river.
He was still himself, yet it also seemed as though he was no longer himself.
Drifting with the current in a muddled haze, he did not know how long he floated before his consciousness gradually gathered.
When he looked up, an immense mountain stood before him—no, it was not a mountain, but a person!
That person merely stood there in silence, yet Qin Wangchuan's Divine Soul trembled, as though an ant were gazing up at the firmament, unable even to breathe.
With only a single downward glance from Them, it was as though heavenly light descended.
"You should not be here yet."
Before you continue