The capital of the Sun Moon Empire was nothing like the Lin Clan's territory.
Even before the convoy reached the main gates, Lin Huang felt the air change.
The spiritual energy here was denser, layered with formations so vast and intricate that he could barely perceive their edges. The colossal walls rose like mountains of stone and steel, engraved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly beneath the sunlight. Towering watchtowers overlooked the long, winding road leading into the city, and lines of armored imperial guards stood in perfect formation, their presence radiating discipline and quiet pressure.
Carriages bearing the crests of noble families flowed toward the gates like a steady river.
Each crest carried history.Each carriage carried ambition.
Lin Huang sat inside the Lin Clan's carriage, peering through the curtain with a mixture of curiosity and unease. Compared to the quiet safety of the clan compound, the capital felt like a living beast—vast, powerful, and awake.
"This is the center of the empire," Lin Zhenyuan said calmly beside him. "Every step here is watched."
Lin Huang nodded slowly.
So this is where everything converges…
At the gates, an imperial official in formal robes stepped forward, flanked by guards.
"Welcome to the capital," he announced, his voice carrying across the gathering convoys. "The noble families invited to the annual gathering are to proceed to their assigned residences. The imperial court will host the opening ceremony in three days."
As the Lin Clan's carriage rolled forward, Lin Huang caught glimpses of other families.
A group clad in deep crimson and silver stood near one of the side roads. Their banner bore a stylized blooming flame sigil.
"That is the Hongchen Family," Lin Zhenyuan said quietly. "Be mindful around them."
Lin Huang's gaze lingered.
Among them stood a young woman with long, wine-red hair that shimmered under the light. Her eyes were bright, curious, and unrestrained. At the same moment, she turned her head.
Their eyes met.
Meng Hongchen smiled openly, without any attempt to hide her interest. She leaned toward the young man beside her and whispered something.
Xiao Hongchen frowned slightly, following her gaze toward Lin Huang.
Lin Huang hurriedly lowered the curtain.
…Did I do something wrong?
The formal reception was held in a wide courtyard within the outer imperial district.
Pillars carved with imperial beasts towered above the nobles. Spirit lanterns floated in the air, shedding a gentle glow even in daylight. Servants moved in silence, offering tea, wine, and delicacies to the guests.
This was not a single event.
It was a sequence of social rituals.
Greetings.Introductions.Careful exchanges of polite words that hid deeper intentions.
Hours passed.
Lin Huang stood beside his father and grandfather, bowing politely more times than he could count. Elders evaluated him with measured gazes. Some smiled kindly. Others assessed him like a rare resource.
After what felt like an eternity, Lin Huang quietly leaned toward his father.
"Father… do these gatherings always take this long?"
Lin Tianhe hid his smile behind his sleeve. "You will get used to it. Politics is slower than cultivation."
Lin Huang sighed softly. "I'd rather face a Soul Beast."
Later, after more greetings, Lin Huang found himself momentarily alone near a side corridor.
That was when Xu Tianzhen approached.
She stopped a short distance away, her posture relaxed, her gaze sharp.
"So you're the Lin Clan's so-called genius," she said casually. "You don't look impressive."
Lin Huang tilted his head slightly. "I don't think I did anything to deserve that title."
A faint pressure brushed against him.
Subtle.Controlled.
Xu Tianzhen's spiritual pressure spread outward, pressing upon the space between them.
Lin Huang felt it… and then felt it dissolve into the background, absorbed by the calm resonance of his Martial Spirit.
To him, it was no more uncomfortable than a passing breeze.
"I'm sorry if I offended you," he said politely. "If there's nothing else, I should return to my family."
He turned to leave.
Xu Tianzhen's eyes widened a fraction.
He did not bow.He did not stiffen.He did not even glance back.
From a distance, Xu Tianran watched the brief exchange with quiet amusement.
His sister rarely approached anyone without a purpose.Even more rarely did she fail to leave an impression.
Yet this time…
The boy from the Lin Clan had simply turned away.
Xu Tianran's lips curved faintly.
So this is how it feels to be ignored, Tianzhen.
Not far away, Xu Tianzhen remained where she was, staring at the space Lin Huang had vacated.
He didn't ignore me.He simply… didn't care.
The realization stirred something unfamiliar in her chest.
Annoyance.
And a trace of reluctant interest.
From another corner of the courtyard, two more figures observed the scene unfold.
She watched as the princess spoke coldly.Watched as spiritual pressure quietly spread.Watched as Lin Huang remained calm, unaffected.
Meng Hongchen's smile deepened.
"Oh?" she murmured.
Beside her, Xiao Hongchen's gaze sharpened.
"He didn't react at all," he said quietly. "Either he's hiding it… or her pressure truly can't affect him."
Meng Hongchen laughed softly. "Either way, that's interesting."
When Lin Huang returned to his family's side, he exhaled slowly.
"That princess…" he muttered under his breath, glancing briefly in Xu Tianzhen's direction. "She's kind of intense, isn't she?"
Lin Tianhe followed his gaze, then chuckled quietly.
"Royal blood tends to come with sharp edges," he said. "You handled it well by not engaging."
Lin Huang scratched his cheek. "I wasn't even trying to be rude. I just… didn't feel like standing there."
Lin Zhenyuan's lips curved faintly.
"That is precisely why it unsettled her," he said calmly.
Lin Yueqin, who had been quietly observing the surroundings, finally spoke up, her gaze sharp as it flicked briefly toward the direction Meng Hongchen and Xu Tianzhen had been standing.
"I saw that look," she said, her tone low but unmistakably displeased. "Both the princess and that red-haired girl were staring at him."
Lin Tianhe coughed lightly. "It's not something we can control—"
"This is exactly why you shouldn't be filling his head with nonsense about 'attracting attention' and 'making girls admire him' so early," Lin Yueqin cut in.
Lin Tianhe raised his hands slightly in surrender. "I was joking."
"You joke too much," Lin Yueqin replied. "Now look. He hasn't even grown properly and already people are circling him."
She glanced at Lin Huang, then added with a protective edge to her voice, "If anything troublesome comes from this event, I'm holding you responsible."
Lin Huang stood there, suddenly feeling like the situation had nothing to do with him anymore.
Lin Zhenyuan cleared his throat lightly, clearly amused by the exchange.
Not far away, Xu Tianran stood among several nobles, engaging in polite conversation.
"The Lin Clan has raised an intriguing heir," Xu Tianran said casually, his tone light. "Such composure at that age is… uncommon."
One of the nobles chuckled. "Perhaps the Lin Clan is hiding a new monster."
Xu Tianran smiled faintly. "Monsters are not born without a foundation."
Nearby, Lin Tianhe stood in quiet conversation with another elder.
When Xu Tianran's words reached his ears, Lin Tianhe's gaze flickered subtly.
So that is how the imperial family sees him already…
Xu Tianran continued, as if merely speaking idly:
"A family capable of nurturing such stability in their next generation… is worth observing closely."
Lin Tianhe lowered his gaze slightly, his expression calm.
But within his heart, he understood the implication clearly.
Observation today.Interest tomorrow.Entanglement in the future.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the capital's lights slowly ignited.
Lin Huang felt the weight of the imperial city settle over him.
This stage was vast.
And he had only taken his first step onto it.