575: Chapter 575 Tianxuan's Test

["Chancellor Zhao is mistaken," Fairy Tianxuan spoke, her voice calm and measured. "Young Master Qin saved my life; he is my benefactor. It is my own business whom I choose as my Imperial Consort."]

["Huanger, Chancellor Zhao also has your best interests at heart," Empress Tianxuan spoke with a neutral tone. "The matter of the Imperial Consort is not urgent. Today's banquet is to thank Young Master Qin for saving your life. Other matters can wait until later."]

["Your Majesty is wise," Zhao Mu bowed, saying no more.]

[The banquet officially began.]

[Maidservants entered in a single file, carrying various delicacies that filled the table. The spiritual wine was mellow and fragrant, while the spiritual fruits were sweet. Every dish was as exquisite as a work of art.]

[You picked up a morsel of food with your chopsticks and chewed slowly, while your Divine Sense secretly observed everyone present.]

[Zhao Mu watched you with a scrutinizing gaze. Among the other ministers, some were curious, some were disdainful, and others remained expressionless.]

[The Third Princess, Qiao Lu, made no effort to hide her interest. Her gaze remained glued to you, occasionally sending a flirtatious wink your way.]

[Fairy Tianxuan sat by your side, occasionally placing food on your plate. Her movements were natural, as if she were accustomed to doing so.]

["When did Huanger learn how to serve food to others?" Demon Lord Tianxuan suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.]

[Fairy Tianxuan's cheeks flushed slightly, but she remained silent.]

["Hahaha..." Demon Lord Tianxuan laughed a few times. "It seems Huanger has truly grown up."]

[The atmosphere in the hall relaxed somewhat.]

[After several rounds of drinks, Empress Tianxuan set down her wine cup and looked at you. "Young Master Qin, Huanger told me that you encountered a Bottleneck in your cultivation and came out to seek enlightenment. I wonder what kind of Bottleneck it is? Tell us; perhaps we can be of assistance."]

[Here it comes.]

[You knew clearly in your heart that this was a probe.]

["Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty," you set down your chopsticks and spoke calmly. "I have a unique Physique, and my method of cultivation differs from ordinary people. As for the Bottleneck, I can only rely on myself."]

["A unique Physique?" Zhao Mu's interest was piqued. "I wonder what kind of Physique it is?"]

[You glanced at him and gave a slight smile. "Heavenly Fate Dao Embryo."]

[The hall fell silent for a moment.]

[Empress Tianxuan's eyebrows quirked slightly, and the jade thumb ring in Demon Lord Tianxuan's hand stopped turning.]

[The Heavenly Fate Dao Embryo is born in resonance with the Great Dao. Their ability for deduction and their affinity for Laws are unmatched by any other Physique.]

[However, it has one fatal flaw—it is not suited for combat.]

[Such people are often revered as honored guests by major powers, not for fighting, but for deducing heavenly fate, seeking fortune while avoiding calamity, and strategic planning.]

["Heavenly Fate Dao Embryo?" Zhao Mu frowned. "I have lived for over a thousand years and have never seen one. I wonder if Young Master Qin could demonstrate it for us?"]

["Chancellor Zhao," Fairy Tianxuan spoke, her tone somewhat displeased. "Young Master Qin is a guest, not a performer."]

["No matter." You raised your hand and opened your palm.]

[A wisp of faint spiritual light rose from your palm, soft as water, swirling around your fingertips. There was no violent intensity of ice or fire, no roar of thunder; there was only a sense of tranquility, like moonlight spilling over a lake.]

[The spiritual light slowly condensed in the air, transforming into a star map. The stars were numerous and their trajectories clear. It was the constellation above the Tianxuan Immortal Dynasty, identical to the real starry sky.]

[Everyone in the hall stared at the star map in your palm; some eyes widened, while others gasped.]

["Deducing celestial phenomena..." Demon Lord Tianxuan murmured softly, a strange light flashing in his eyes.]

[You closed your hand, and the star map dissipated as if nothing had happened.]

["Good!" Empress Tianxuan slapped the armrest of her throne, a smile appearing on her face. "Young Master Qin is indeed extraordinary."]

[Zhao Mu also stopped speaking, but the way he looked at you had changed—from scrutiny to something indefinable.]

[The banquet continued.]

[You noticed Empress Tianxuan steal a glance at Demon Lord Tianxuan. Demon Lord Tianxuan nodded slightly and swept his gaze toward the outside of the hall.]

[Your Divine Sense quietly spread out.]

[Outside the hall, an indistinct aura was approaching.]

[That aura was extremely faint, so faint that a Spirit Transformation Cultivator would be unable to detect it at all.]

[But you were now at the Late Stage of Body Integration; how could you not sense it?]

[You knew that Ancestor Tianxuan had arrived.]

[You did not move, simply raising your wine cup and taking a slow sip.]

[Sure enough, a moment later, an old man walked in from outside the hall.]

[His hair and beard were completely white, his face thin, and he wore a gray robe as simple as that of an old farmer.]

[But his eyes were as bright as two lamps; when he looked at someone, it felt as if he could see right through them.]

["Greetings, Old Ancestor." Empress Tianxuan rose to pay her respects.]

[Everyone in the hall stood up simultaneously, bowing their heads.]

[You followed suit and rose, nodding slightly.]

[Ancestor Tianxuan waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally landing on you.]

[He sized you up for several breaths, then suddenly smiled. "Not bad, not bad."]

[He walked up to you and raised a wine cup. "Young Master Qin, this old man toasts you. Thank you for saving Huanger."]

["Senior is too kind." You raised your wine cup, clinked it against his, and drained it in one gulp.]

[As the wine went down your throat, a surge of warmth spread through your body.]

[At the same time, an invisible strand of Divine Sense emerged from the old man's brow, slithering toward you like a snake, silent and soundless.]

[Your expression remained unchanged as you allowed that Divine Sense to land on you.]

[The aura of the Heavenly Fate Dao Embryo manifested naturally—soft as water, tranquil as the moon.]

[As for the deeper things—the Origin of Chaos, the Sword Dao Origin, the Body Integration cultivation—they were concealed by a mysterious energy, as if they did not exist within your body at all.]

[Ancestor Tianxuan's Divine Sense circled through your body but found nothing unusual.]

[He frowned and circled once more, yet still found nothing.]

[He withdrew his Divine Sense and glanced at you, a hint of doubt in his eyes.]

[You smiled and raised your wine cup. "Old Ancestor, another drink?"]

["Very well." He nodded and drank another cup.]

[After the banquet ended, Ancestor Tianxuan, Empress Tianxuan, and Demon Lord Tianxuan remained in the hall.]

[The others withdrew one after another.]

[You followed Fairy Tianxuan out of the hall. The night wind blew against your face, carrying a hint of chill.]

["Are you alright?" Fairy Tianxuan asked softly, her tone laced with worry.]

["I'm fine," you smiled. "I just had a few drinks."]

["I'm not talking about the wine." She looked at you, hesitating to speak.]

[You knew what she was asking about—the Old Ancestor's probing.]

["I understand. After all, my origins are unknown; it's only normal for your grand Immortal Dynasty to be cautious." Your tone was calm.]

[She breathed a sigh of relief, took your arm, and walked toward the palace exit.]

[Behind you, inside the hall.]

[Ancestor Tianxuan sat in the main seat, his brow tightly furrowed.]

["Old Ancestor, how was it?" Empress Tianxuan asked.]

["The Heavenly Fate Dao Embryo is real," Ancestor Tianxuan spoke slowly. "His cultivation is indeed at the Early Stage of Soul Transformation. Nothing is out of the ordinary."]

["Then why..." Empress Tianxuan paused. "I still feel that this man's origins are unclear, and I don't feel at ease."]