Chapter 56 The Heavenly Soul Emperor was extremely satisfied; it seemed there was hope!
Liu Yuan followed Vina's footsteps and entered the palace of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
The ground beneath our feet was paved with large pieces of white marble, polished smooth as a mirror.
On both sides of the main hall stand dozens of huge stone pillars with coiled dragons, each of which requires several people to encircle.
These stone pillars not only support the magnificent roof of the palace, but are also engraved with complex defensive patterns.
Every few meters, a Royal Guard soldier in heavy armor stood solemnly.
They held long halberds, and although their soul power fluctuations were restrained, one could sense from their calm aura that these guards possessed at least a fourth-ring cultivation level.
The entire palace exuded a heavy and somber atmosphere; the oppressive feeling of this center of power was enough to suffocate ordinary soul masters.
But Liu Yuan's expression remained unchanged. His double pupils calmly swept over the surrounding furnishings, and his steps maintained a steady pace, showing no sign of unease despite the luxurious or secluded environment.
After traversing the long imperial road, Liu Yuan finally saw the Heavenly Soul Emperor sitting on the dragon throne directly in front of the main hall.
The Heavenly Soul Emperor wore a purple-gold crown and a bright yellow five-clawed dragon robe. He sat on a high throne, resembling a god looking down upon all living beings.
His eyes held an air of authority that suggested he had long held sway over the world, making the officials below him breathe cautiously.
Vina took the first step forward and bowed to the emperor on the high throne.
"Your subject, Vina, along with my fellow disciple Liu Yuan, pays respects to Your Majesty."
Vina's voice was clear and steady as she turned slightly to introduce herself to the emperor.
"Father, this is Liu Yuan, the personal disciple of the Sect Master of my Body Sect, whom I have mentioned to you many times before."
Liu Yuan then stepped forward.
Instead of performing the full kneeling ceremony of ordinary subjects, he bowed slightly to the Heavenly Soul Emperor according to the etiquette of the Soul Master world towards monarchs.
"Liu Yuan of the Body Sect greets Your Majesty."
The moment Liu Yuan bowed, the Heavenly Soul Emperor, whose face had been dignified and even scrutinizing, softened his features in an instant.
He did not show any arrogance, but instead displayed the kindness of an elder towards an outstanding junior.
"No need for formalities, please rise." Emperor Tianhun raised his hand, gesturing for Liu Yuan to stand up, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze.
The Heavenly Soul Emperor glanced at Liu Yuan's dark blue robe and his pair of strangely expressive double pupils, a fleeting look of satisfaction in his eyes.
He smiled and said, "To be honest, although I have always lived deep in the palace, I have heard quite a lot about you."
"Not only do you possess such formidable combat power at such a young age, but you have also dealt with numerous troubles for our Heavenly Soul Empire in places like Yaro City during this period. More importantly, you have saved Vina's life in perilous situations on several occasions."
The emperor paused, his tone becoming even more sincere: "Therefore, from any perspective, I am very grateful to you, Liu Yuan."
"Moreover, Vina has always had very high standards, and this is the first time I have heard her give such high praise to a man of her own age."
"Today's meeting reveals him to be a true young hero with extraordinary bearing."
The emperor's words were full of attempts to win her over and to get closer to her, and he even intentionally or unintentionally hinted that Vina had an unusual fondness for him.
Such a suggestion from someone in a high position would probably have flattered an ordinary teenager.
However, Liu Yuan maintained a calm and composed demeanor.
He was able to perceive the deeper meaning behind the emperor's words, but he did not show any unease because of it.
"Your Majesty flatters me," Liu Yuan replied calmly.
"Vina is my fellow disciple, and it is my duty to protect her during the mission."
"As for dealing with evil spirit masters, that is my duty as a spirit master."
"As for the princess's praise, Liu Yuan is ashamed to accept it."
Seeing Liu Yuan's ability to maintain his composure and act with propriety even in front of the emperor, Emperor Tianhun was not annoyed by the tactful response; instead, he valued him even more.
In the emperor's eyes, this child's future achievements were absolutely limitless, given that he possessed such composure even in the face of a collapsing mountain at such a young age.
Next, Emperor Tianhun did not discuss any heavy political topics, but instead chatted with Liu Yuan about some interesting things related to cultivation, just like an ordinary elder.
About half an hour later, Emperor Tianhun said with a smile, "Liu Yuan, I have no other official business to give you in the palace this time. I just want to meet you, the young hero who is famous throughout the sect."
"However, now that you've arrived in the capital, why not stay here for a few more days?"
"You and Vina are already good friends, so let her show you around the capital city for the rest of the time."
"Let her do her best to be a good host and treat you well. It's not too late to return to the sect after some time."
After a moment's thought, Liu Yuan nodded in agreement: "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty."
After that, Liu Yuan followed Vina and left the palace hall.
Over the next few days, Vina truly provided comprehensive care.
She arranged Liu Yuan's life meticulously, not only choosing the most comfortable palace in the royal palace as his residence, but also carefully selecting his daily meals.
Vina is extremely reliable. She knows very well that Liu Yuan is not particularly proactive, so she acts even more proactively.
She didn't resort to the kind of obsequious flattery that's off-putting; instead, she fostered the relationship through subtle and thoughtful gestures.
Sometimes he would take Liu Yuan to a tower with a stunning view but little known to others, and sometimes he would give him interesting little gifts that, while not expensive, would be of some benefit to his cultivation.
This slow and steady, slightly romantic way of getting along subtly brought the two of them closer.
Inside the palace, Emperor Tianhun never stopped paying attention to the two of them.
After listening to the servants' report on the details of Liu Yuan and Vina's time together, the emperor sat in his study, his fingertips lightly tapping the table.
"It seems there's potential in this matter," the emperor muttered to himself.
The real reason he insisted on having Liu Yuan stay for a few days was to observe Liu Yuan's attitude towards Vina up close.
The emperor knew that Liu Yuan was no ordinary person, and it was a foregone conclusion that this young man would take over the Body Sect in the future.
Under such circumstances, marriage alliances should never be forced.
If Liu Yuan harbors resentment towards Vina, forcibly bringing them together will only create a rift between the Body Sect and the royal family, backfiring on them.
However, based on observations over the past few days, although Liu Yuan still doesn't talk much, he has cooperated with all of Vina's arrangements, and even showed enough patience when Vina approached him.
As long as there is no rejection, in the emperor's eyes, the relationship is already half successful.
Liu Yuan was actually already fully aware of this.
As someone with memories of a past life and an extremely rational personality, Liu Yuan never regarded love as the entirety of life.
Whether during the cold years at Shrek Academy or during the rise of the Body Sect, what he always valued was the improvement of benefits and strength.
For him, a future partner doesn't need to make him feel "heart-fluttering".
As long as the other party is a community of shared interests, gets along well with each other, and can help his career, this kind of "make-up" marriage is actually the most stable.
Vina is of noble birth, has a steady personality, and is very considerate in her dealings with others; it is indeed very comfortable to be around her.
Given this, Liu Yuan had no reason to reject this arrangement.
Three more days passed.
Emperor Tianhun summoned Liu Yuan again in a side hall.
The emperor got straight to the point: "Liu Yuan, I have a favor to ask of you."
"I have a very important letter that needs to be delivered to the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire."
"Originally, I intended to send Vina to lead the team, but the journey to the Star Luo Empire is long and the road may not be peaceful. I am really worried about it."
"Since you're still in the capital, why don't you accompany Vina there? You can also take the opportunity to travel around the Star Luo Empire. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuan felt a slight chill run down his spine.
He naturally saw through the emperor's intentions—this was not a message, but clearly an attempt to create more opportunities for them to be alone, and to use this opportunity to let Liu Yuan make a name for himself in the Star Luo Empire, thus solidifying their relationship.
However, Liu Yuan did not object to the suggestion.
If he ultimately ends up with Vina, it will form an unbreakable iron triangle for him personally, for the Body Sect, and even for the Heavenly Soul Empire that supports him.
Since the outcome is favorable, he doesn't care about the process.
"Since His Majesty trusts me, I, Liu Yuan, am willing to accompany the princess," Liu Yuan replied calmly.
The Heavenly Soul Emperor looked at the young man before him, who remained calm throughout but was able to make the most correct decisions at crucial moments, and found him increasingly pleasing to the eye.
(End of chapter)