Legacy of a Benevolent Lord
Chapter 26: The Destined Ascension - Part 2

Chapter 26: The Destined Ascension - Part 2

They were stabilizing their new realms.

Feeling each other’s changes.

Understanding each other’s energy.

Inside Riven’s body, he could feel it: A new transformation had begun.

"The Pure Yang Divine Bone... and Selene’s help..." he thought, marveling inwardly, "They actually let me reach ’Great Mastery’ in the ’Sunflower Manual’ and even touch the Pure Yang Divine Martial Physique!"

He checked inward.

His spine glowed like molten gold, each vertebra solid and shimmering gold, strong as a dragon’s spine, holding up the heavens.

His blood, his muscles, his very skin carried a faint golden shimmer now.

With the foundation built earlier through the ’Grand Ancestor Fist Canon,’ his strength had multiplied tenfold at least, most probably more.

Slowly, Riven opened his eyes.

Across from him, Selene stirred as well, her long lashes fluttering slightly.

In the dim, misty light of the cave, their gazes locked.

No words were needed.

They simply knew what the other was feeling.

After all, their yin and yang energies had already imprinted on each other’s souls.

Suddenly!

Selene gasped softly, realization flashing across her eyes.

She quickly turned away, shielding herself with one arm and scolding, her voice half-shy, half-panicked, "Y-You bad person! Stop staring!"

The energy shock from their breakthrough had torn their clothes to shreds.

The energy outburst had also reduced the impurities that clung to their skin to dust.

Only now, amidst the fading mist, did the situation fully sink in.

Riven blinked, coughed awkwardly, and quickly grabbed a folded silk blanket from the side to gently cover her.

"Miss Selene..." he started, teasing just a little.

Selene, cheeks burning, hugged the veil tighter around herself and muttered with a soft glare, "You’re still calling me Miss Selene?"

"...Selene~, sound better, baby?," he corrected with a small grin.

"Mmm," she murmured, almost too soft to hear.

———

Meanwhile.

At Peony Manor.

The morning mist still clung to the ground when Madam Virelyn stepped into the courtyard, dressed simply but elegantly, her sword in hand.

The clinking of blades echoed as she moved through her forms — careful, measured, yet filled with energy.

Originally, she let go of any aspirations to advance in cultivation further. With time, her almost Peak Acquired cultivation regressed to the Marrow Cleansing stage.

But ever since Selene had casually sent her flying across the courtyard that day...

Well.

Madam Virelyn’s pride had been dealt a heavy blow.

She couldn’t exactly sit still after that, could she?

Although her talent wasn’t extraordinary, it wasn’t bad either.

Relying on the family’s businesses and vast martial resources — especially the ’Minor Phaseless Skill’ — she had been grinding hard over the past month.

This morning, after finishing a complete set of sword moves, she slowly exhaled, feeling her inner power cycle smoothly through her body.

Her face was smooth and radiant.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

She was getting close to the Fetal Breathing stage, too.

Just as she was handing her sword back to a maid—

A sharp, lonely crane cry echoed across the lake.

Madam Virelyn paused and looked up.

But a thick morning fog covered the sky, and she could only vaguely make out the silhouette of a white crane gliding past.

She thought nothing of it.

Birds were common around The Great Lake.

Without dwelling on it, she turned and headed towards the Jade-Library Cave.

There, she found Youcao and another maid standing guard.

She lifted a brow. "Still haven’t woken up?"

Youcao bowed slightly and replied, "Madam, the young miss said she’s entered secluded cultivation to open the Sun and Moon Veins."

Madam Virelyn paused, a little startled.

Then she shook her head and chuckled softly.

"This girl... Always too eager."

Still, she couldn’t deny feeling a little proud.

Which mother wouldn’t be?

As she walked away, her mind was already spinning, making future plans.

’Sigh... daughters... they can’t stay home forever, can they?’

Marriage prospects.

Political alliances.

And one particular idea stood out brighter than the others.

"The Crown Prince of Sundawn State..." she thought, a small calculating smile forming.

"Still unmarried, too."

———

Inside the Jade-Library Cave.

Selene stood alone in front of a bronze mirror.

Her reflection left her speechless.

Her entire body — her aura — had undergone a complete rebirth.

Her skin shimmered like cold jade.

Her black hair tumbled like ink down her back.

Her forehead bore a faint lotus mark — a sign of Divine Physique manifestation.

She looked like an immortal maiden — a celestial divinity born of moonlight.

Not even the Selene of yesterday could recognize the Selene standing in the mirror today.

Her fingertips brushed her cheek lightly.

"I’ve... changed so much," she whispered.

Almost too much.

Her youthful innocence was gone, replaced by an ethereal, bone-deep elegance.

She wasn’t even sure how to face her mother right now.

"The phenomenon last night startled half the lands... If I show up looking like this right away, mother will definitely get suspicious."

Selene bit her lip.

"I’ll hide away for a few more days. Let it settle. Then reveal it slowly."

Her thoughts, though careful and rational, couldn’t stop her heart from fluttering.

That bad man...

That villain...

Her lips curved upward in a gentle, vulnerable smile.

She missed him already.

———

Meanwhile.

At Swallow Nest Manor, inside the Repaying Water Pavilion.

Gongsun Qian - The Eldest of the Four Generals - stepped forward and called out softly, "Young Master... It’s me."

From inside came Murong Fu’s hoarse voice. "What is it?"

Gongsun Qian hesitated, then said, "News from the city. Two people from the Duke of Sundawn’s Residence have ascended to become Innate Life Forms."

Clang!

The door slammed open.

Murong Fu staggered out — disheveled, his face sunken, his eyes bloodshot.

The moment Gongsun Qian saw Murong Fu, he recoiled.

"Ah! Young Master...!!!" Gongsun Qian gasped in shock.

Ever since Murong Fu had gotten his hands on the ’Evil-Repelling Sword Manual,’ he had locked himself away.

Obsessed.

Twisting in the grip of madness. A grip that seemed to be tightening around Murong Fu’s neck these few days.

The deeper he tried to cultivate it, the worse it became.

Each time he tried to circulate energy, it ended in disaster, with wild, corrupted yang energy ravaging his veins and threatening to destroy his meridians.

Still, he refused to stop.

The more difficult the path, the harder he fought to master it.

Two days.

Two nights.

No food.

No water.

No sleep.

Only obsession.

Now it was starting to wear him down. Cracks have started to appear.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.