I Will Not Keep This Glory to Myself

"Hahaha! What a blast!! Those trash from the Eastern Celestial Realm! They thought they could unite and attack our Sacred Domain? They didn’t stand a chance!"

"Uh... correction—it was us who launched the Sacred War against the Eastern Celestial Realm."

"Eh, who cares about the details! The point is—"

"All thanks to the Domain Lord and Lord Qin Luo! Come, let’s toast to the Domain Lord!"

"To Master Qin!! And to Lady Su!"

The cultivators raised their cups and drank wildly, not caring as wine splashed onto their robes.

Huo Feng was even more unrestrained, planting one foot on the jade table and tipping a whole wine jar into her mouth.

The liquor streamed down her neck.

She wiped her lips, planted her spear on the ground, and laughed heartily, "After today, the name of our Netherfrost Sacred Domain will shake the heavens!"

"All hail Lady Huo Feng!"

"Long live the Sacred Domain!!"

Cheers surged through the hall like tidal waves.

Huo Feng looked like she was on the verge of tears.

Sniff... This is the life!

Sure, she used to be the almighty Fire Domain Lord, but this kind of life wasn’t so bad either!

High Platform · Throne

Su Muwan lounged lazily on a soft divan.

Her raven-black hair spilled freely as she nibbled on a translucent spirit fruit.

Squinting at the lively crowd below, a smug smile curled at her lips.

"Heh, this is the empire I built!"

Qin Luo sat beside her, glancing at Su Muwan’s expression before chuckling. "My lady, we’ve only just unified the Eastern Celestial Realm, and you’re already acting like a tyrant?"

"At least wait until we conquer the entire cosmos before saying that."

"So what? I’ll be an empress whenever I please!"

Su Muwan huffed and waved her hand dismissively. Then, leaning close to Qin Luo’s ear, she whispered, "Hey, Qin Luo, tonight, should we…"

Before she could finish, Qin Luo covered her mouth, sighing at her mischievous blinking. "My lady, every time you smile like that, trouble follows."

"Mmph!"

Su Muwan glared, swatting his hand away indignantly. "I wasn’t done! I meant, should we call the spirit beasts over?"

"You know, like in those books—after a victory feast, there’s always dancing and performances!"

Qin Luo: "..."

My apologies, my lady.

I misunderstood. I’m the worst.

I actually thought you had something else in mind. My mistake.

But if anyone was the true leader of these spirit beasts…

His gaze drifted to the silver-haired girl crouched in a corner, stuffing her face with spirit fruits.

Xiaobai was munching away, crumbs all over her mouth. Sensing his stare, she looked up blankly, fruit pulp still clinging to her lips.

Qin Luo cleared his throat and beckoned. "Xiaobai! Come here!"

Her ears perked, and in a flash of silver light, she darted to Su Muwan’s feet, blinking up at him with wide eyes.

"Master Qin, you called?"

By now, she’d figured it out—Qin Luo was her master’s favorite human male!

That made him half her master too!

So she’d better listen.

And for some reason, his aura felt... familiar.

So, so familiar.

Like she’d encountered it before—somewhere, sometime, somehow.

In reality.

Qin Luo blinked and said, "Come on, let the little ones in Yunhai put on a talent show for everyone!"

"A talent show?"

Xiaobai tilted her head, then suddenly understood and proudly puffed out her chest. "No need for them! I can perform too!"

"You can?"

"I can breathe fire!"

With that, she took a deep breath—

"Wait! Not inside the hall!!"

Qin Luo quickly grabbed her head.

But it was already too late.

"Whoosh—!!"

A blazing white flame shot out from Xiaobai's mouth.

Whoosh!!

The flames soared upward, burning through half the hall.

The drunken cultivators erupted into wild cheers and applause.

"Great fire! Encore!"

"Encore!!"

Encouraged, Xiaobai wagged her tail excitedly and turned to take another deep breath.

"Enough!"

Su Muwan pinched her mouth shut, gritting her teeth. "I asked you to perform, not demolish the place!"

She was stunned—how could this pet be so dumb?

Who on earth did she take after?

Xiaobai: "Mmmph! (Pouting)"

In a corner of the banquet hall...

"What a bunch of uncouth cultivators."

"Right, Boqi?"

Su Bailian glanced at the noisy center of the commotion and rolled her eyes dramatically.

She slid a piece of steak onto a plate nearby.

Boqi, wearing a napkin, nodded. "Woof!"

After the chaos subsided, Qin Luo raised his hand, unfurling the Ten Thousand Demon Banner. Countless glowing orbs floated at the center of the hall.

Each orb contained "generously donated" techniques, fortunes, and insights.

"Everyone," Qin Luo announced loudly.

"Today’s victory was thanks to your bravery. These spoils shall be distributed based on merit!"

Ouyang Xuan and the others froze.

An awkward silence filled the air.

Qin Luo looked at them in confusion. "What’s wrong?"

"Qin... Master Qin..."

Ouyang Xuan and the other cultivators scratched their heads, looking embarrassed. "We didn’t really contribute much."

"We were just slacking off..."

"We don’t deserve these rewards..."

Oh, that’s all?

Qin Luo waved his hand dismissively, scanning the guilt-ridden crowd before speaking earnestly.

"Everyone!!"

"Do not feel guilty! And do not belittle yourselves!"

"Without you, the Sacred Dominion would not be what it is today!"

"Therefore!"

"Starting today, every cultivator will receive an extra 3,000 spirit energy and 30 Blood Qi Pills per month!"

"Those who advance in cultivation will also receive techniques and treasures!"

"Everyone!"

Qin Luo took a deep breath, raised his wine cup, and shouted, "Today’s glory will not be hoarded by me and the young mistress alone!!"

"And in the future, the world’s karma—you won’t have to share it!"

After all, it would all end up with Su Muwan anyway.

"All you need to do is pledge your loyalty to me and the young mistress!!"

The moment these words were spoken—

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!

The Destiny Tree floating in the heavens trembled violently, as if responding to Qin Luo’s declaration.

The crowd trembled with excitement, tears streaming down their faces.

"Master Qin is wise!!"

"Master Qin! Master Qin!"

"Young Mistress Su! Young Mistress Su!"

"Loyalty!!"

"Loyalty!"

"LOYALTY!! ┓(๑˃̶͈̀ᗨ˂̶͈́)┏!!"

Su Muwan’s eye twitched.

Seriously?

Hadn’t the Sacred Dominion just ascended not long ago?

But whatever.

This was nothing new for Qin Luo.

Below the banquet hall...

Shen Fei wiped his tears: "Brother Luo is still the same as before, always putting us first."

Zhu Lan curled her lips: "Hmph, so what? I’m still the most loyal watchdog by the young mistress’s side."

Nearby, Huang Lingyu, nibbling on a small cake, tilted her head: "Sister Zhu Lan, didn’t you know?"

"Know what?"

"Brother Luo isn’t the young mistress’s follower anymore—he’s her boyfriend now."

"So what if he’s... huh?!"

Zhu Lan’s expression froze.

What?!

Then, she drowned her sorrows in alcohol.

The banquet lasted until late at night, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

Su Muwan wasn’t much of a drinker, but she still had a few sips.

After bidding farewell to everyone, she carried the half-empty jug of wine and dragged Qin Luo to the colossal golden tree that grew atop the sky of the Netherfrost Sacred Domain.

According to Xiaobai, this was called the Tree of Destiny.

A single leaf represented a heaven-defying opportunity.

And yet, this Tree of Destiny was covered in countless leaves.

Su Muwan’s cheeks were flushed.

She pulled Qin Luo to lean against the roots of the Tree of Destiny.

Gazing up at the starry sky, she suddenly sighed.

"Qin Luo."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think... we’re being too arrogant? What if one day, the whole world gangs up on us?"

Qin Luo chuckled and ruffled her hair: "The young mistress is only worrying about this now?"

"Hmph! I’m just being prepared!"

Su Muwan pouted, took another swig of wine, and realized it was the last drop.

Tossing the gourd aside, she suddenly turned and pressed closer to Qin Luo, nestling into his arms with half-lidded eyes.

She murmured,

"But... with you here, I guess there’s nothing to fear."

Under the moonlight, her eyes were clear and bright, reflecting Qin Luo’s face.

Qin Luo quietly watched her, brushing away the traces of wine from her lips before whispering with a soft laugh:

"Mm, I’ll always stay by the young mistress’s side."

"Even if you try to chase me away, I’ll shamelessly cling to you."

Su Muwan blinked, then broke into a radiant smile.

"Good! It’s a promise then!"

"Oh, right! Speaking of staying together, tonight we should..."

"Watch the spirit beasts perform again?"

"What?! No! I mean that! That! Let’s go back and do that!"

A night breeze swept past.

The Tree of Destiny shimmered with flecks of starlight.

A faint silhouette materialized atop its canopy.

Gazing at the retreating figures of Qin Luo and Su Muwan, it murmured to itself.

"A cleaner from the minor worlds..."

"Could you be... the final choice of the Heavenly Dao?"