Inside the Golden Palace, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation.
The sudden arrival of a new figure caused even the proud Sequences, Ryuzaki Kenji and Ryuzaki Yukino, to stiffen.
The young man who entered wore silver battle armor, clashing with the festive robes of the other guests. His face was square and rugged, marked by crisscrossing scars that only added to his dangerous aura. His eyes flickered with blue lightning every time he blinked, and the air around him smelled of ozone.
"It's him!" "I didn't expect the Fifth Sequence to show up!"
Date Xingyun, the Star King, narrowed his eyes. "Ryuzaki Raijin... The Lightning Calamity."
Ryuzaki Raijin (Jun Wanjie) was a legend in his own right. Born into a lowly branch family, he had suffered poverty and neglect. He was destined to be a mere shopkeeper until he stumbled upon the [Tribulation Transcending Heavenly Skill]. This awakened his dormant physique: the Thunder Tribulation Battle Body.
Ranking in the top 300 of the 3,000 Physiques, it was a body forged for war. He fought his way up from the bottom, crushing noble geniuses until he claimed the Fifth Sequence seat.
"He hates the main family," Kenji whispered to Yukino. "Why is he here?"
"Curiosity," Yukino guessed, her icy eyes tracking Raijin. "He wants to see if Sequence Zero is worthy."
Raijin ignored everyone. He found a corner table, sat down alone, and began to drink in silence. His aura was a clear warning: Do not disturb.
The Phenomenon
Soon, the Elders of the Ryuzaki Clan arrived, exuding terrifying pressure. At their center was Ryuzaki Kenshin (Grandfather) and Lady Shizuka (Mother).
"Thank you all for coming," Kenshin announced, bowing slightly. "It is an honor to host the heroes of the Empire."
"You are too kind, Elder!" The guests returned the bow.
"But... where is the Divine Son?" an elder from the Great Yan Holy Land asked tentatively. "We traveled thousands of miles to see him."
Kenshin chuckled awkwardly. "Ah, well. My grandson is still in seclusion. He tends to lose track of time..."
BOOM!
Before Kenshin could finish, the world shook.
A deafening roar erupted from the distant Ten-no-Kura (Heavenly Emperor Palace).
RUMBLE.
Golden lightning tore through the sky. Clouds swirled into a vortex, glowing with auspicious colors. A massive pressure descended, forcing the weaker guests to their knees.
"What is that?!" "Is someone breaking through?"
Above the palace, a gigantic phantom manifested. It was an Ancient Divine Elephant, its feet trampling the stars, its trunk inhaling galaxies. Its roar shattered the mental defenses of every cultivator present.
"My heart..." Date Xingyun clutched his chest, his face pale. "This pressure... it suppresses my Star King Body?"
He was horrified. He was a top prodigy, yet a mere fluctuation from the Divine Son made him tremble?
Just as the phenomenon threatened to tear the roof off the hall, a giant, withered hand materialized from the void. It gently wiped the sky, erasing the elephant phantom as easily as wiping dust from a mirror.
"That hand..." The guests swallowed hard. "Supreme aura."
"The Eighteenth Ancestor made a move," Kenji murmured. "Haruto caused too much commotion."
The Immortal Descends
Inside the Ten-no-Kura, the golden light faded.
The heavy cedar doors slowly groaned open.
Creak.
A figure stepped out from the shadows into the sunlight.
Time seemed to stop.
He was a boy of ten, yet he stood tall and slender. He wore white robes that shimmered like moonlight on snow. His hair was loose, flowing like black silk. His skin was flawless white porcelain, glowing with a soft, divine light.
His features were... beyond description.
If beauty could be a weapon, he was a nuclear bomb. His eyes held the depth of the starry sky, indifferent yet captivating. He didn't look like a human child; he looked like an Immortal who had accidentally fallen from the Heavens and was waiting to return.
"A nobleman like moonlight... a Divine Son unparalleled in the world."
A young female disciple of the Ryuzaki Clan whispered the words, her eyes glazed over.
In the courtyard, hundreds of female disciples—and even some males—felt their hearts skip a beat. They forgot to breathe.
Ryuzaki Haruto blinked, looking at the crowd gathered outside his palace.
"Is it time?" he wondered aloud. His voice was like a clear spring, refreshing the soul.
He checked his cultivation.
True Spirit Realm: Ninth Stage (Peak).
In one year, he had crossed the entire True Spirit Realm. It was a speed that defied logic.
"Your Highness," Ryuzaki Reika stepped forward, bowing deeply. Her eyes were full of adoration. "The banquet has begun. The guests are waiting."
"Very well," Haruto nodded.
He took a step. Golden lotuses bloomed beneath his feet in the air. He walked on the wind, soaring toward the Golden Palace like a deity.
"He... he can fly?" "At the True Spirit Realm? Without an artifact?" "Monster..."
The Entrance
Inside the Golden Palace, the guests were still recovering from the phenomenon.
Suddenly, a hush fell over the room.
"Thank you all for attending my banquet."
The voice was soft, yet it reached every corner of the hall.
A figure in white walked through the entrance.
As Haruto entered, the light in the room seemed to brighten. Every gaze—from the ancient elders to the arrogant prodigies—was magnetized to him.
Date Xingyun stared, his mouth slightly open. He looked at the boy, then at his own reflection in his wine cup. For the first time in his life, the confident Star King felt... inferior.
Ryuzaki Yukino's icy eyes widened slightly. The cold aura around her melted just a fraction.
Ryuzaki Raijin stopped drinking. His lightning eyes locked onto Haruto, assessing the threat.
Even Minamoto Ruri, who had vowed to kick any "average" fiancé, was frozen in her seat, clutching her sister's sleeve. Her face flushed a deep crimson.
The Divine Son had arrived. And the world was silent.