In the year 9966 of the Yulan Calendar, a faint scent of blood still lingered in the air outside the Feng Lai Royal Capital.
Kelin Xiaoman stood rooted to the spot, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and disbelief. The young man before her was only eighteen or nineteen, yet a casual blow from him had just killed a powerful Warrior of the Ninth Rank. The effortless pressure he exuded was even stronger than that of her father, Grand Duke Kelin, back in the principality.
She could not help asking softly, a barely perceptible tremor in her voice, "Shiheng, how are you so strong?"
Shiheng lifted his chin slightly, unrestrained, brazen pride spreading across his handsome face. Confidence shone in his dark eyes, and his tone was light but carried unquestionable arrogance. "I'm a genius."
But only he knew that the word "genius" came nowhere close to explaining it all.
His soul had crossed over from another world. He had been ordinary and unremarkable in his previous life, and he had worked hard throughout this one as well. He had also obtained a peak God-level cultivation technique, the Destruction Battle Qi Technique. More incredibly, it matched his soul and physique perfectly, as though it had been tailor-made for him. Had he not been cultivating for so short a time, with insufficient foundations and accumulated reserves, and had he not still been so young, he would probably have long since secured his place among Warriors of the Ninth Rank, rather than remaining at the peak of the eighth rank.
Once he activated his secret technique and entered a controlled berserk state, his physical strength could instantly reach the threshold of the Saint level. Coupled with the Destruction Laws he had already comprehended, his strength after going berserk would soar to nearly the peak of the Saint level. Ordinary Saint-level experts could not last three moves against him.
At that thought, Shiheng sighed softly inwardly and quickly cleared away his tangled thoughts. There was no need to tell outsiders about his hidden trump cards and strength. What mattered most now was to settle down, refine his battle qi, and deepen his understanding of the laws, taking one solid step at a time along the path to true invincibility.
He drew back his gaze and looked at the girl before him, his tone softening somewhat with a trace of puzzlement. "Xiaoman, why are you here?"
At that question, the brightness in Kelin Xiaoman's eyes instantly dimmed. Her long eyelashes trembled softly, her gaze shifted evasively, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes. She looked weighed down by worries.
After a long silence, she finally lowered her head. Her voice was as light as a feather, yet laden with exhaustion and helplessness. "I came to the Feng Lai Kingdom on a mission... Recently, the Shadow Alliance seems to have gone mad. They keep targeting our Principality of Klan. Our border defenses have been losing ground again and again, and the principality can barely hold on. We had no choice but to come here and seek the Feng Lai Kingdom's full support."
Shiheng frowned slightly, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes. "From the way you look, did the Feng Lai Kingdom refuse? We all belong to the Light Alliance. They should be helping us."
Kelin Xiaoman's eyes instantly reddened, glistening tears welling within them. Her voice was very low, filled with hurt and resentment. "They... they agreed to send troops."
She paused, as though it took every ounce of her strength to finish:
"But their condition was... that I marry the Feng Lai Prince and become his Princess Consort."
As those words fell, the surrounding air seemed to freeze solid in an instant. Even the wind stilled.
The faint pride on Shiheng's face vanished instantly. His dark eyes suddenly sharpened like blades, and icy killing intent spread silently. Even the surrounding grass and trees seemed to tremble slightly.
He had been thinking about his technique and the laws only moments ago, but now that single sentence brutally severed every thought.
Marry the Feng Lai Prince?
Trade Xiaoman's lifelong happiness for an army?
Use someone he cared about as a bargaining chip?
Shiheng's voice was very low, but it carried a chilling coldness that made the heart quail. He enunciated every word. "The Feng Lai Kingdom dared make you a condition?"
His sudden, terrifying aura made Kelin Xiaoman's heart jolt. Unable to hold back her tears any longer, she let them fall. Fighting back her sobs, she said hoarsely, "Our Principality of Klan is too small and too weak... The Shadow Alliance is pressing us so hard we can barely breathe. Father truly had no other choice. He could only agree..."
Shiheng slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The peak God-level technique within him circulated automatically. Fierce, pure battle qi flowed quietly through his meridians, while the aura of the Destruction Laws flickered in and out, carrying pressure that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth.
He had lived a mediocre life before crossing over to the Yulan Continent. He had cultivated desperately, survived brushes with death, and made his way to where he stood today, step by step. Had it not all been so that he would no longer be at others' mercy, so that he would have the strength to protect those around him?
Now he had a God-level technique and an understanding of the laws. In his normal state, he could rival ninth-rank experts, and after going berserk, he approached the Saint level.
With such power, was he still supposed to stand by and watch the girl he cared about be sacrificed at someone else's whim like a pawn?
Impossible.
Shiheng slowly opened his eyes. They were utterly calm, yet held a resolve fierce enough to burn mountains and boil seas. He stepped forward and gently rested a hand on Kelin Xiaoman's shoulder. His palm was warm and strong, and his voice was soft, yet carried immense weight:
"As long as I'm here, this will never happen."
"If the Feng Lai Kingdom wants to fight the Shadow Alliance, I can help them."
"But if they want to trade you for military command-"
An utterly cold, utterly arrogant smile curved Shiheng's lips, his voice icy and domineering:
"They can keep dreaming."
"From today onward, you, Kelin Xiaoman, are under my protection."
Kelin Xiaoman trembled and looked up at the resolute young man before her. Warmth filled her heart, and much of her fear and heaviness instantly dissipated. Seeing his serious expression, a glint of mischief suddenly flashed in her eyes. She deliberately spoke softly, a teasing note in her voice:
"You care so much about me. Do you like me? We're not even in a relationship."
Shiheng abruptly froze.
His fingertips stiffened slightly against Xiaoman's shoulder. Usually so calm and proud, he actually felt a barely perceptible warmth creep over his ears.
He gave a light cough to conceal the flicker of panic within him, quickly withdrew his hand, and turned his head to avoid her gaze. Much of his earlier icy dominance faded, replaced by an awkward earnestness:
"I know."
"I'm just saying-you're my friend."
"If someone uses my friend as a bargaining chip, I can't possibly stand by and do nothing."
Watching him stubbornly try to hide how much he clearly cared, Kelin Xiaoman could not help bursting into a giggle. Her eyes were still slightly red, but a gentle smile unconsciously curved her lips. With those words, the young man had completely dispelled the gloom in her heart.
Shiheng took a deep breath, suppressed the fluttering in his heart, and raised his eyes to Kelin Xiaoman again. His gaze was utterly resolute, his voice firm and ringing:
"If the Feng Lai Kingdom wants to trade you for military command, they can forget it."
"If your principality is in trouble, I'll help you shoulder it."
"But sacrificing you-"
"I won't allow it."
Before you continue