"Fusion!!!"
Ling Tianxuan declared without the slightest hesitation.
There were no outsiders present, so there was nothing for him to fear.
He had chosen to immediately fuse with the Sun Yang Body.
In the very next instant, scorching power flooded into his limbs and bones. His blood seethed like molten gold, and blazing solar flames coiled around his body as if he had become a living furnace.
Ling Zhenhai, who had been about to leave, suddenly sensed the terrifying disturbance behind him. He turned, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Tianxuan, what's happening to you?!"
"Father... I don't know why, but an overwhelming scorching force suddenly appeared inside me — and there's also a flame born within my body!" Ling Tianxuan said through clenched teeth, his expression twisted in pain.
In his heart, he cursed bitterly.
'Damn it! Why is fusing with the Sun Yang Body this agonizing?!'
Before Ling Zhenhai could recover from the shock, a majestic blazing sun manifested high above the ancestral grounds of the Ling Family.
It radiated crimson brilliance, dyeing the heavens red for hundreds of thousands of miles, as though an eternal sun were descending upon the mortal world.
Ling Zhenhai looked up, his entire being trembling.
"The Great Sun illuminates the Nine Heavens... this is the exclusive phenomenon of the Sun Yang Body!"
"My son... he has awakened the Sun Yang Body!"
The Sun Yang Body was one of the most terrifying Physiques of the continent. It granted heaven-defying cultivation speed and allowed its possessor to command a supreme flame — the True Sun Fire.
Ling Zhenhai's excitement was beyond words.
"Heaven bless my son! Heaven bless my son! To think that my Ling Zhenhai's child not only possesses Emperor's Fall Double Pupils, but has now awakened the Sun Yang Body!"
"This era is destined to belong to the Ling Family!"
As his voice echoed, ancient auras stirred. One by one, the Old Ancestors of the Ling Family awakened from their seclusion, emerging to witness the heaven-shaking phenomenon.
"Sun Yang Body? Which Qilin child of my Ling Family has awakened such a divine physique?"
"Hahaha! Another Divine Body! My Ling Family truly walks with heaven's favor!"
...
At this moment, Ling Tianxuan focused entirely on refining the True Sun Fire within his body. This flame was the origin of the Sun Yang Body — its core, its soul.
Once it was fully refined, the fusion would be complete.
As the fusion deepened, his cultivation roared upward.
He had only been at Golden Core Realm ninth level.
Yet now, under the empowerment of the Sun Yang Body —
the barrier of the Heavenly Human Realm shattered!
Heavenly Human Realm Second Level!!!
Heavenly Human Realm Ninth Level!!!
King Realm!!!
In a single breath, he crossed an entire major realm, stepping directly into King Realm cultivation!
An invincible martial will erupted from his body, spreading across the Ling Family territory like a divine tide.
Countless disciples trembled, overwhelmed by the supreme pressure.
The Old Ancestors were utterly shaken.
"King Realm?! Tianxuan has broken through to King Realm before the age of twenty! A Young King with the bearing of a future Great Emperor!"
An ancient Ancestor with immortal aura gazed at him with awe.
Throughout history, those who walked the path of the Great Emperor had always broken into King Realm before twenty. Only such monsters possessed the qualification to contest the Emperor's Path.
Gradually, the heavenly phenomenon faded as Ling Tianxuan finished refining the True Sun Fire.
The raging Qi and blood within him calmed. He opened his eyes slowly — within them flickered terrifying solar flames, only to fade moments later as he retracted their power.
He exhaled lightly.
"At last... the fusion with the Sun Yang Body is complete."
A System panel emerged within his mind.
[Name: Ling Tianxuan]
[Cultivation: King Realm (First Level)]
[Physique: Emperor's Fall Double Pupils, Sun Yang Body]
[Cultivation Techniques: Nine Revolutions War Deletion Art (Emperor-Grade First Rank), Indestructible Nine Blades (Saint-Grade Ninth Rank), Heaven Stealing Divine Legs (Saint-Grade Ninth Rank)...]
A satisfied smile formed on his lips.
To possess two supreme Physiques — such existence was rare even across the entire continent.
He dismissed the panel and stepped out of the Clan Chief's hall.
Several elders instantly appeared before him. He cupped his fists and bowed respectfully.
"Tianxuan greets all Old Ancestors!"
Their expressions softened at once as they helped him up.
"Silly child, you are the Divine Son. No need for such formalities before us old bones!"
"That's right! Act with the dignity of a Divine Son of the Ling Family!"
They surrounded him warmly, leaving Ling Zhenhai standing helplessly to the side.
He sighed inwardly.
These Old Ancestors truly spoiled his son.
When he had been Divine Son, he had to kneel and kowtow just to seek their instruction.
Feeling overwhelmed, Ling Tianxuan glanced toward his father.
Ling Zhenhai quickly spoke, "Old Ancestors, let Tianxuan rest for now. He has just awakened the Sun Yang Body and must stabilize his foundation. Moreover, he must soon travel to the Yue Family to discuss the wedding date with his fiancée."
The Old Ancestors frowned.
"Wedding? That Yue Family girl whose cultivation regressed? How could our Divine Son marry someone unable to cultivate?"
"Zhenhai, have you ruled too long and grown blind to reason?"
...
Ling Zhenhai felt wronged, but before he could respond, Ling Tianxuan stepped forward.
"Old Ancestors, this decision was mine. Yue Qianxue is my fiancée. She was once a genius. If I abandon her now, what kind of man would I be?"
His gaze sharpened, voice firm.
"Even if she becomes a mortal, I, Ling Tianxuan, will protect her for a lifetime of peace and dignity!"
The Old Ancestors instantly changed their expressions.
"Good! Worthy of the Ling Family's Divine Son!"
"Such loyalty is rare. Old Ancestor fully supports you!"
Ling Zhenhai could only sigh at the speed of their mood shift.
And so, attention turned beyond the Ling Family...
Within the Yue Family of the Eternal Life Emperor Clan.
Once one of the four overlords of the Eastern Desolation Dao Domain, they had long since declined. Now, their strongest expert was merely at King Realm.
The entire clan was shrouded in heavy tension.
The Ling Family elder who had come to discuss the marriage had already discovered that their former Divine Maiden, Yue Qianxue, could no longer cultivate.
Fear gripped the clan.
If the Ling Family annulled the engagement, the Yue Family would immediately be devoured by the wolves that had long coveted them.
Yue Nantian, Clan Chief of the Yue Family, sat at the head of a gathering of elders, his expression grim.
"Everyone... the matter has been exposed. Do you truly believe the Ling Family will allow their Divine Son's fiancée to be a woman who cannot cultivate?"
"What should our Yue Family do next?"