In the Xuanxia Continent, within the Longevity Ling Family—inside a hall brimming with Spiritual Qi and wrapped in dense Dao Concepts—an air of sacred stillness prevailed.
The entire room was forged from primordial divine materials. Elegant calligraphy and ancient paintings hung upon the walls, each brushstroke exuding the aura of the Great Dao. On a small purplewood table, a delicate censer burned Dragon Saliva Incense, sending up tendrils of white smoke that filled the chamber with a cool, refreshing fragrance.
"Tianxuan," a deep voice broke the silence, calm yet carrying unquestionable authority.
"The girl from the Yue Family you are engaged to—her cultivation regressed three years ago for unknown reasons. Even the Yue Family's Old Ancestor personally investigated, yet found no cause!"
"You are the Ling Family's Divine Son, the future Family Head of our clan. Your wife cannot be a good-for-nothing. Tomorrow, I will have an Elder escort you to the Yue Family to annul the engagement."
The speaker was a middle-aged man with sharp brows and a dignified expression—Ling Zhenhai, the current Family Head of the Longevity Ling Family.
Opposite him sat a handsome young man on a chair of purple divine wood—Ling Tianxuan. His expression was dazed, eyes flickering with disbelief as he glanced around the hall.
What's going on? Is this some kind of drama set? But there's no camera crew... No way technology has advanced this far, right?
Before he could think further, a sharp pain stabbed through his mind like a hammer blow. Cold sweat drenched his back as countless unfamiliar memories poured into his brain.
"Xuantian Continent... Ten Great Dao Domains... Longevity Emperor Family... Divine Son...?"
"Wait... I transmigrated?!"
Ling Tianxuan's eyes widened in astonishment.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that such an impossible thing could happen. Yet not only had he transmigrated—he had landed in the body of the Divine Son of an Emperor Family!
The Longevity Ling Family was one of the four great overlords of the Eastern Desolate Dao Domain, a family that had once produced a Great Emperor. In the vast Xuantian Continent, such lineages stood at the very summit of power.
But just as excitement welled up within him, his expression stiffened.
"Annul... the engagement?"
His gaze shifted toward the stern figure of Ling Zhenhai, his father, who was not only the Family Head but also a Quasi-Emperor Realm powerhouse—one step away from the Great Emperor Realm itself.
The martial realms of the Xuantian Continent were divided into fifteen stages:
Body Forging, Meridian Opening, True Essence, Dao Embryo, Golden Core, Celestial, King, Emperor, Nirvana, Quasi-Saint, Saint, Great Saint, Saint Venerable, Quasi-Emperor, and Great Emperor.
A Quasi-Emperor stood at the peak of mortal existence.
Ling Zhenhai frowned slightly as he studied his son's expression.
"Why the hesitation? Are you unwilling to go to the Yue Family to annul the engagement?"
"The Yue Family has declined over the years. They hid their daughter's condition for three full years. If it weren't for one of our Elders visiting to discuss your wedding, we would still be kept in the dark. Such a family does not deserve our trust."
His tone carried both disappointment and cold pride.
Ling Tianxuan, however, had already pieced together the situation.
A fiancée whose cultivation mysteriously regressed... and I'm supposed to annul the engagement... Wait a second—this is that classic 'villain's plot' setup!
His mouth twitched.
Are you kidding me? After finally transmigrating into a powerful, handsome young master, I'm being forced into the role of a stepping stone villain?
He'd spent his previous life slaving away just to survive. Now that he'd been given such a divine identity, there was no way he'd follow some doomed script!
Just as he was about to speak, a crisp, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
> "Ding! Detecting Host's current situation—triggering Heaven's Mandate Choice!
Choice One: Agree to annul the engagement. Reward — Chaos Immortal Pupils.
Choice Two: Refuse to annul the engagement. Reward — Sun Yang Body.
Please choose…"
Ling Tianxuan froze. A System?
Both options sounded incredible, but his instincts screamed at him—choosing to annul the engagement meant playing the villain's role. In a world like this, there were bound to be multiple protagonists blessed with heaven-defying luck. Going against one meant going against all of them.
He wasn't here to suffer again—he was here to reign.
Without hesitation, he lifted his head, his gaze resolute.
"Father, I refuse to annul the engagement."
Ling Zhenhai nodded absentmindedly. "Good, annul—wait, what did you just say? You refuse?"
"That's right," Ling Tianxuan said firmly. "She is my fiancée. If I abandon her just because she lost her cultivation, what kind of man would I be? Such heartlessness would make me unworthy of being the Ling Family's Divine Son."
For a moment, Ling Zhenhai stared at him in surprise—then a rare smile broke across his usually stern face.
"Good! Well said!"
"But you must understand," he added, "this decision will cause unrest among the clan. Some may even petition to strip you of your Divine Son title."
Ling Tianxuan smirked coldly. "If they dare, then I'll beat them until they never dare to speak of it again."
Ling Zhenhai laughed heartily. "Excellent! As your father, I'll respect your choice. Since you refuse to annul the engagement, you will accompany a few Elders to the Yue Family and discuss the wedding date. You're not young anymore."
Ling Tianxuan bowed slightly. "Yes, Father."
As the matter was settled, the System's mechanical chime sounded once more:
> "Ding! Host has completed Choice Two—Reward acquired: Sun Yang Body!
Does the Host wish to fuse the Sun Yang Body now?"