Chapter Thirty-Two: Destiny!

Hearing the door open, Zhou Zui turned his head, grumbling in displeasure, “Didn’t I say—” He hadn’t finished his sentence when he saw Zhou Tian standing in the doorway, and his expression became rather remarkable.

“Tell them to put on some clothes and leave,” Zhou Tian said, frowning, ignoring Zhou Zui, who was still startled.

“Yes, yes…” Zhou Zui nodded frantically, hastily instructing the young ladies beside him to leave.

“Clothes on! My fiancée is outside!” he added.

“Yes, yes…” They scrambled to get dressed.

“Restore the room to normal.”

“Yes, yes…”

When everything was more or less in order, Zhou Tian nodded in satisfaction, went out, and brought Tian Ling inside.

It was the first time Tian Ling and Zhou Zui were meeting. Zhou Zui stood up and greeted her, “It’s an honor to meet you, sister-in-law!”

“Hello…” Tian Ling nodded, her cheeks tinged with red.

“All right, that’s enough,” Zhou Tian said, leading Tian Ling to sit down at the table.

“You’re the son of the Prince of Carefree, yet look at yourself—what a sorry sight!” he chided.

Zhou Zui forced a bitter smile. Big brother, you’ve died twice in front of me and resurrected twice, even Old Zhan has appeared; the fact I’m not a mess is already a miracle.

“Clear all this away and bring out today’s special dishes,” Zhou Tian ordered, displeased at the leftovers on the table.

“Yes, yes…” Zhou Zui pressed a symbol on the table; a rune shimmered, and the entire surface was instantly refreshed. He traced another sequence, golden light flashed, and a delicate, gold-inlaid, violet jade pot, adorned with a dragon motif, appeared on the table. The jade pot was exquisitely transparent, allowing a clear view inside.

Golden mist swirled within, as if the clouds of the Ninth Heaven had descended. Amidst the haze, the vague form of a dragon swam and coiled, a truly extraordinary sight.

Every day at the Dance of Heavens Pavilion, there were special dishes, crafted from the rarest ingredients. A single serving cost several million spirit stones—though, to Zhou Tian and Zhou Zui, spirit stones were trifles.

Lifting the lid, a golden dragon leapt three feet into the air before dissipating, filling the room with an intoxicating aroma. When the golden mist cleared, a dragonfish, over a foot long, was revealed within the pot.

Dragons had no particular status in the Heavenly Qin Empire; even state banquets sometimes featured dragon meat dishes.

“A golden-scaled dragonfish—today we’re in for a treat. Though it doesn’t contain much spiritual energy, the taste is simply peerless. Its texture rivals that of foods meant for Grand Sages!” Zhou Tian remarked with a smile. Though he knew little about cultivation, he was well-versed in all matters of food, drink, and amusement.

Which suited Zhou Tian perfectly; if this had been some saint-level dish, he wouldn’t dare let Tian Ling eat much. The spectacle of sweat-drenched intoxication was something he preferred to keep to himself.

He picked up a piece of fish and held it to Tian Ling’s lips. Her cheeks flushed pink, and she cast a furtive glance at Zhou Zui, who quickly averted his eyes, signaling he wasn’t watching.

Only then did Tian Ling part her lips and taste the fish. As her pearly teeth chewed delicately, a look of astonishment flashed in her eyes—the flavor far exceeded her expectations.

“Delicious, isn’t it?” Zhou Tian asked.

“Yes,” Tian Ling replied with a nod.

Only then did Zhou Tian taste a piece himself. The fish melted on his tongue, as if a living fish swam through his mouth. He nodded, the taste matching his memory.

After another bite, Zhou Tian said, “Zhou Zui, the banquet is tonight. Aren’t you worried your father will break your legs if you’re still playing around here?”

Zhou Zui sighed. “I’m not the main character tonight—those are my elder brothers. I’ll just lurk in a corner and no one will bother with me.”

Big brother, you drove all the young ladies away, only to make me sit here and watch you flaunt your romance?

Tian Ling picked up a piece of fish, hesitated with it in midair, gently bit her lip, and after some deliberation, offered it to Zhou Tian.

Zhou Tian looked down at her; Tian Ling’s eyes flickered away shyly. Smiling, Zhou Tian opened his mouth and accepted the fish. Who says physical desire is the pinnacle of romance? For Zhou Tian, this spiritual connection was the true pursuit.

This whole display made Zhou Zui’s lips twitch—a wave of cloying affection all but overwhelmed him. Ugh…

“By the way… do you know where those brothers are fighting right now?” Zhou Tian suddenly asked Zhou Zui.

“Big brother, both your brothers are out there—I don’t have any. How would I know?” Zhou Zui replied helplessly. His father had married late, making him the eldest son.

“But, in any case, it’s not within the Nine Provinces!” Zhou Zui added, changing tack.

“Not within the Nine Provinces?” Zhou Tian perked up.

“Exactly. It’s an open secret, really… though I never paid much attention before. Think about it—apart from Old Zhan, have you ever seen any of the clan’s ancestral elders? None of them are in the Nine Provinces. I don’t know exactly where they are, but after we’ve undergone the trial, we’ll probably find out.”

“I see…” Zhou Tian nodded, pondering inwardly. It seemed this world still held deeper, hidden truths.

“Right—what exactly is this trial?” Taking advantage of the mention, Zhou Tian asked.

“The so-called trial isn’t unique to the Heavenly Qin Dynasty. All the great powers of the Eight Provinces organize it together, and the trial grounds are in the Ninth Province—the land without a master.”

After mulling it over, Zhou Tian continued, “By the timeline, it should be soon. Not long after the Youth Tournament ends, it will begin.”

“All the young people in the Eight Provinces?” Zhou Tian asked in surprise.

“That’s right. Actually, calling it a trial, it’s more like a competition. This Youth Tournament is just our province’s event. Though some from the other provinces may attend, it’s only a small fraction of the younger generation. But the Eight Provinces’ Trial is different—every prodigy from all provinces will enter, pitting their strength, strategy, and skills against each other in every aspect.”

A look of anticipation flashed in Zhou Zui’s eyes. What a grand spectacle it must be—heroes from every province, clashing in joyous rivalry!

“But how are the rankings determined?” Zhou Tian wondered. If the entire province was the arena, such a grand scale couldn’t possibly be a series of duels.

“In the past, the final evaluation was done using the Fool’s Sky-Observing Treasure Mirror. Those in charge care little for fame or gain, so their own people abstain from the rankings, making the results fairly trustworthy. The ranking itself doesn’t offer much benefit, just prestige.”

“In the past?” Zhou Tian keenly caught the key phrase.

“Yes, in the past,” Zhou Zui confirmed. “According to my father, things will be different this time. Do you know why no one has ever claimed the Ninth Province?”

He didn’t answer directly, instead drawing out the suspense.

“Don’t beat around the bush!” Zhou Tian said impatiently.

“Yes, yes…” Zhou Zui relented. “The reason the Ninth Province remains unclaimed is because it’s flawed. Every other province possesses a thing called ‘Heaven’s Mandate,’ condensed from the province’s essence. Whoever bears this mandate can suppress enemies within their province and cultivate at astonishing speed, gaining unfathomable mystical abilities. But the Ninth Province was gravely wounded in ancient times and cannot form a ‘Heaven’s Mandate’ at all!”