Morning sunlight streamed through the wide bay window as Lyn rose from bed, refreshed and clear-headed. Yesterday’s breakthrough had lifted a long-standing burden, leaving him unusually energized after sleep.
Xing Luo lay sprawled across his chest, most of her weight pressing against him. Lyn carefully shifted her slender leg off his body—but the movement jolted her awake.
"Master, good morning," Xing Luo murmured, rubbing her sleepy eyes before nuzzling closer to him.
The firm press of her dragon horns against his ribs sharpened his alertness, yet the warmth of the girl in his arms softened even that hardness.
"Morning," he replied simply, ruffling her hair with ordinary affection—daring not to use any "special techniques."
After last night’s Hand of the Divine experiment, time had slipped away. The girl had clung to him after her bath, impossible to shake off even at bedtime. It was likely her first time sleeping on a proper bed; she’d rolled excitedly across the soft sheets before finally settling into his arms. Lyn couldn’t even recall when he’d drifted off.
Admittedly, holding her delicate, sweet-scented form *was* pleasant.
As that thought surfaced, his morning vitality stirred inconveniently. Lyn quickly suppressed the impulse, taking a deep breath.
*The Lust Dominion must not grow any stronger.*
Just then, he noticed Xing Luo staring at him. Fully awake after his head-pat, she frowned slightly, as if deep in thought.
"What’s wrong?" Lyn asked.
"Even though Master petted me... it didn’t feel as nice as yesterday," she declared earnestly, gazing up at him with hopeful eyes. "Can Master touch Xing Luo like yesterday?"
**Task: Pet Xing Luo. Reward: 100 Devil King Authority.**
**Accept?**
The system prompt flashed again.
This time, Lyn flatly declined:
"Next time, definitely."
After yesterday’s lesson, he wouldn’t dare repeat it.
But this repeated task also revealed something: even identical tasks could refresh daily. After completing yesterday’s, Xing Luo had begged again later—but no new prompt appeared.
"Hmph... Master said ‘next time’ yesterday too," Xing Luo pouted, her expression screaming *pet me now*.
Unable to withstand the plea, Lyn pressed the bedside call bell. He helped her into a proper dress and sent her with a servant to choose breakfast. Noble life had its conveniences.
Distracted by the menu, Xing Luo finally relented. Lyn seized the chance to rise, change clothes, and brew a cup of black tea while gazing at the azure sky.
Today marked his return to cultivation after years of stagnation. Hope now flickered brightly.
His immediate hurdle: securing a Dawnstar Trial slot. Closely tied to that was finding a suitable Meditation Technique.
Having broken through to Fourth Rank Earth, Lyn felt a stronger connection to ambient mana—but without a proper technique, he could only absorb it slowly through natural exchange. Progress would crawl.
Choosing a technique required caution. Once selected, changing it was nearly impossible.
His sister’s top-tier, Empress-secret technique came to mind—but such a treasure wouldn’t be shared lightly. Still, she might help him obtain one. Alternatives existed: family resources, auctions, or even system rewards. With multiple paths, Lyn felt no urgency.
Crucially, the Dawnstar Trial’s first test offered a chance to win a powerful Meditation Technique.
First, he’d return to the academy. Days spent preparing Xing Luo’s summoning ritual had kept him away.
Holy Eton Academy—Imperial Capital’s premier magic institution and a prestigious noble academy. Its curriculum spanned every discipline: ranged and melee combat, elite instructors for all professions, even aristocratic arts like horsemanship and etiquette. Noble families schemed relentlessly to enroll their children here.
Not just for its education. Entry into the Divine Grace Empire’s ancient Mystic Realm—the Stellar Sanctuary—required passing the Dawnstar Trial. And Holy Eton held five slots yearly.
Triumph in the trial granted the Honorary Star title. With it, even Belmond couldn’t manipulate Lyn or bind him with family rules. Honorary Stars became candidates for the Divine Grace Tower, earning the Empress’s protection—the very path his sister took to escape their clan. Belmond’s forced coming-of-age ceremony would lose its hold over him.
Securing a Dawnstar slot before the trials began was Lyn’s top priority.
After a leisurely breakfast with Xing Luo, Lyn ordered the carriage prepared.
Soon, the vehicle halted before Holy Eton’s gates. Standing at the ancient entrance, Lyn’s heart felt utterly transformed from his past self.
His bloodline evolution had gifted him a new allure: deep black pupils now held a gem-like crimson glint, lending his presence an aura of quiet mystery. Combined with his tall frame, handsome features, and noble academy uniform, the effect was striking. Even he approved—where he’d once rated his appearance 100/100, he’d now raise the ceiling entirely.
Beside him, Xing Luo wore a sky-blue dress, white tights, and tiny black boots. A round hat concealed her horns, yet her silver hair and doll-like face still drew every eye.
