Chen Fan made his way toward his room, his mind still lingering on the corpse of the knight they had examined earlier. The investigation had revealed a small hole in the man's brain, within which a tiny creature resided. Ao Xue had mentioned that it resembled a type of Gu parasite, though typically, such things left no trace after death. Across the country, the remaining possessed individuals had already been eliminated, though each one had chosen to destroy their own body before being subdued.
At present, the investigation team was poring over the profiles of the possessed, searching for any commonalities among them. Chen Fan left that matter in their hands, trusting them to uncover useful clues. Meanwhile, he couldn't help but notice the respectful gazes that followed him wherever he went. It wasn't something he particularly disliked.
Wang Yue had been training since morning, using her breaks to read. Chen Fan chose not to disturb her, as she seemed to avoid meeting his eyes whenever they crossed paths. He could already guess the reason behind her behavior.
The other three heroes had begun training under Alex's guidance. Their planned dungeon raid had been postponed until the situation stabilized—after all, the revelation of these parasitic creatures had left many unsettled. However, knowing that Chen Fan could detect the possessed brought some measure of reassurance.
To ease the lingering fears, he had agreed that if anyone harbored doubts, they could bring their entire family to the designated screening site arranged by the palace. Starting tomorrow, he would dedicate some time to identifying potential hosts among the populace. He didn't mind the task—it was a small effort on his part.
Upon entering his room, he found that Celestia had already left. She had tidied the bed with meticulous care, drawing a slight chuckle from him.
He could feel it—his breakthrough was near. The Golden Core realm was within his grasp, and it was time to prepare.
Chen Fan began his breakthrough to the Golden Core stage by compressing his Spiritual Core while simultaneously linking it to his soul. At this level, a cultivator could actively and efficiently strengthen their soul, deepening their control over both Qi and consciousness. In Chen Fan's terms, it was akin to adding a star to his inner world with each advancement in cultivation.
Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state, focusing his spiritual sense to perceive the transformation within his body. With precise control, he compressed his Spiritual Core into a perfectly spherical form, refining it until not a single imperfection remained. Next, he guided his Qi to surge through his entire body, accelerating and smoothing its flow with each breath.
As he delved deeper into his consciousness, he reached a state of nothingness, where thoughts ceased and only pure awareness remained. It was at this moment that he extended his spiritual sense inward, forging a direct connection between his Qi and his soul.
Then, he felt it—the suppressed Qi energy did not just flood his body; it extended into his inner world, resonating with his very soul.
"Huuuh..."
Golden Core, First Stage.
As he opened his eyes, a subtle yet profound transformation became apparent. His Qi had changed, and a faint but undeniable connection now linked his energy to his inner world. He had successfully stepped into the Golden Core realm without any obstacles. A satisfied smile curved his lips—his newfound power was tangible. With the unrestricted, perfectly flowing Qi circulating through his entire being, he knew that executing complex techniques would now be far easier, his control over them sharper than ever before.
Ao Xue silently observed the scene before him, his expression unreadable. Normally, breaking through to the Golden Core stage would take cultivators days, even weeks of arduous effort, yet this kid had achieved it within mere minutes. It was an unbelievable feat, one that would leave most speechless. But after witnessing Chen Fan's continuous anomalies, Ao Xue found himself growing numb to the impossible.
Chen Fan, unaware of Ao Xue's thoughts, stood up. The golden hues of the setting sun filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the room. He stretched slightly, feeling the enhanced flow of Qi coursing smoothly through his meridians. A satisfied smile graced his lips, but soon, another realization struck him—he was hungry.
Without wasting any more time, he turned toward the door, ready to find something to eat.
There, standing just beyond the threshold, was Celestia.
Her hand was raised mid-air, about to knock, but upon seeing him, she froze. A moment of awkward silence passed before she lowered her hand hesitantly, as if unsure of what to do next. Her gaze flickered toward Chen Fan, but the moment their eyes met, she quickly averted her gaze, lowering her head instead.
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow at her uncharacteristic behavior. "What's wrong, Princess?" he asked, his tone casual.
Celestia hesitated for a moment before softly replying, "Um… F-fath—I mean, the King wants to meet you. He also invites you to dinner, Sir Chen." Her voice wavered slightly, and as she spoke, her gaze remained fixed on his chest, refusing to meet his eyes.
She seemed flustered, her hands clenching the hem of her dress. Then, as if summoning all her courage, she added in a smaller voice, "A-and… you can just call me Celestia…" The moment the words left her lips, she quickly lowered her head even further, as though trying to hide herself.
Chen Fan observed her with amusement, noting the faint red tinge creeping up her ears. Seeing her like this, a small smirk tugged at his lips. "Then… you can call me by my name too, Celestia," he responded, deliberately softening his tone as he said her name.
Celestia's entire body jolted slightly at the way he said her name, his voice gentle yet teasing. She instinctively took a step back, still not daring to lift her head. "A-alright then. I-I will go first!" she stammered before hurriedly turning away, seemingly intent on escaping the situation.
Chen Fan chuckled at her reaction and closed his door behind him before stepping beside her. "Why don't we go together, Celestia?" he suggested, matching her pace.
Celestia nodded stiffly, still keeping her head down as they walked through the palace corridors.
Their journey was quiet at first, with Celestia answering his occasional questions in short, timid responses. She seemed more focused on looking at the floor than their actual conversation. But just as Chen Fan was about to tease her again, he noticed something.
Without warning, he raised his hand and gently placed it on her head, ruffling her hair slightly.
Celestia froze mid-step. The sudden warmth of his palm sent a shock through her body, causing her to stiffen completely.
Because she had been walking absentmindedly, she didn't realize that she had stopped moving—and due to the sudden halt, her back lightly bumped into Chen Fan's chest.
Her breath hitched.
Slowly, she lifted her head and was met with Chen Fan's face, only centimeters away from her own. Due to their height difference, he had slightly bent forward, his dark eyes staring directly into hers.
"You should watch where you're walking, Celestia," he said in a calm yet amused tone.
Celestia's thoughts scattered instantly.
Her heart was pounding so loudly she could barely hear anything else. Looking at him this close, she was suddenly painfully aware of his sharp features—his piercing gaze, the faint smirk playing on his lips, the way the golden sunset cast a glow on his skin.
So handsome…
A dizzying sensation filled her mind, making everything around her feel distant and blurred.
Then, Chen Fan smirked. "What? Are you that fascinated by my face?" he teased.
Without thinking, Celestia subconsciously responded—
"…Yes."
A moment of absolute silence followed.
Then, realization crashed into her like a tidal wave.
Her entire face burned red as the meaning of her words settled in. "I—I—!" she stammered, stumbling over her words. Panic overtook her rationality.
"I—I will go first!" she suddenly blurted before breaking into a full sprint, fleeing as fast as her legs could carry her.
Chen Fan remained frozen in place, completely stunned.
His mind replayed the moment in slow motion.
"Yes."
The word echoed in his ears, over and over again.
For the first time, his brain seemed to crash—unable to process the situation properly. He simply stood there, watching her disappearing figure with a blank expression.
"…Seriously?"
Just then, a voice filled with disbelief rang in his mind.
"Brat" Ao Xue's dry tone sounded, laced with irritation, "can I see your cultivation technique?"
Chen Fan finally snapped out of his daze, blinking. "Huh? What do you mean by that?"
Ao Xue clicked his tongue. "Tch. Are you sure you aren't some kind of charm devil in disguise?."
Chen Fan smirked at his grumbling. "Oh? Are you finally admitting my charm?"
"F*ck you." Ao Xue scoffed, clearly annoyed.
Chen Fan simply laughed, continuing his leisurely stroll toward the dining hall.
For a moment, the conversation shifted into silence, but Ao Xue's curiosity eventually won out. "So… what do you think of her?" he asked, feigning nonchalance.
Chen Fan sighed, walking with his hands behind his head. "I'm a normal man, you know. It would be a lie to say I don't have any interest in this kind of thing. But… for now, I don't see her in that light."
"…For now, huh?" Ao Xue muttered, unimpressed.
Chen Fan shrugged. "Who knows what the future holds? Even I can't say for certain that what I like and hate will always stay the same."
Ao Xue clicked his tongue again, then suddenly scoffed. "But honestly, you're still single at this age?"
Chen Fan grinned, sensing his irritation. "Oh? Why? Are you not single?"
"The hell are you talking about? There were plenty of women who wanted me back then," Ao Xue shot back.
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow. "The ugly ones?"
"Asshole. I just never found anyone worthy in my eyes," Ao Xue grumbled.
Chen Fan smirked knowingly. "Oh? Is it Hong Xuan?"
The line went silent for a second.
"Wh-what? That crazy b*tch?! Are you insane?!" Ao Xue's voice immediately rose in agitation.
Chen Fan laughed loudly, enjoying his reaction. "Hahahahaha. I see, I see… so that's how it is, huh?"
"What the hell do you mean by that?" Ao Xue snapped, clearly flustered.
"Nothing," Chen Fan said, smiling mischievously as he sensed Ao Xue's rising irritation.
And with that, their bickering continued all the way to the dining hall.