Chapter 023: Affection Grows Over Time, Subduing Those with Great Providence

Su Qingge had to admit: her heart was in disarray.

For a moment, she had actually felt a flutter of genuine emotion.

Hearing Gu Changge—a man so terrifying and distant—speak such tender words made her feel overwhelmed, flattered, and touched.

But she wasn’t naive. She knew that hearing a single word of truth from Gu Changge’s mouth was harder than finding a needle in the ocean.

Accompanying a monarch is like accompanying a tiger.

The path to truly winning his favor was still very, very long.

“If the Young Lord can trust Qingge so completely… Qingge is very moved,” she whispered, leaning her head gently against his chest. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, framing a face that was flawless and radiant.

“Moved?” Gu Changge chuckled, his tone casual. “Or perhaps… you simply dare not move?”

He knew better than to believe a woman as intelligent as Su Qingge would sincerely submit after just a few sweet words.

But it didn’t matter. As the saying goes: Affection grows over time.

[Ding! Triggered Providence Event. Luck Points +60. Destiny Points +300.]

The System notification chimed suddenly, surprising him.

For no apparent reason, his Luck Points had jumped to 100.

Although the color remained Black, compared to the abysmal 30 points he started with, this was a massive improvement.

This discovery made things interesting.

If his Luck Points could increase this quickly, dealing with future “Sons of Providence” might not require such elaborate schemes. Without the threat of “Providence Backlash,” Gu Changge could simply slap them to death and be done with it.

It seems harvesting Luck isn’t limited to suppressing protagonists.

Subduing people with Great Providence also works.

Because of my words just now, Su Qingge’s heart has wavered. She is on the verge of true submission.

Gu Changge didn’t need to ask the System to confirm his theory.

He had unlocked a new path to power: Conquest.

…

The news of Ye Chen’s escape was quickly discovered.

The Taixuan Holy Land was thrown into chaos. Elders roared in fury, which quickly turned into panic and terror.

Ye Chen had offended Young Lord Gu. And now, due to their incompetence, the prisoner had escaped.

If the Young Lord decided to blame them, even ten thousand heads wouldn’t be enough to appease his anger.

The Taixuan Holy Lord, who had been strutting around like a conqueror just moments ago, was now sweating bullets.

“Father, there is no need to panic,” Su Qingge said calmly, pouring him tea. “Young Lord Gu will not blame you for this.”

Seeing his daughter’s composure—and knowing how favored she was—the Holy Lord gradually relaxed.

“Qingge… if the Young Lord does get angry, you must speak some good words for your father,” he pleaded.

Su Qingge maintained her serene expression, though internally she rolled her eyes.

If Gu Changge really wanted to destroy us, do you think I could stop him?

“Rest assured, Father,” she replied dutifully.

She knew the truth: Ye Chen’s escape was orchestrated by Gu Changge. Why else would the prison guards be so lax? As for his reasons… she dared not guess.

…

Meanwhile, in the Main Hall of the Taixuan Holy Land.

The atmosphere was heavy, suffocating, and deathly silent.

Rows of powerful figures stood nervously, heads bowed.

Zhao Tian, Supreme Elder of the Yangxu Holy Land. Chu Wuji, Old Emperor of the Great Sun Dynasty. Xiao Huo, Patriarch of the Ancient Xiao Family.

Today, nearly every major power in the Eastern Wilderness was represented here. Men and women, young and old—all of them stood obediently, afraid to even breathe too loudly.

Combined, these forces represented the absolute pinnacle of power in this region.

Yet, upon learning the truth from the Taixuan Holy Lord, their arrogance had evaporated instantly.

The Upper Realm.

For the cultivators of the Eastern Wilderness, that place was a myth. It was mysterious, distant, and synonymous with ultimate terror.

For fifty thousand years, no one had shattered the void and ascended. The Upper Realm had become a legend, a bedtime story.

But now, they were told that a Young Lord from that very legend had descended to walk among them.

It was like witnessing a god stepping out of a myth.

The shock was cataclysmic. It hit them like a meteor striking the deep ocean, creating waves that refused to settle.

“No wonder the Taixuan Holy Land was so arrogant,” Zhao Tian thought, trembling slightly. “If my sect had hugged such a golden thigh… I would probably be even more insufferable than Su Taixuan.”

Envy, jealousy, and relief warred in their hearts.

They were envious of Taixuan’s luck. But they were also profoundly grateful they hadn’t attacked.

Ascending to the heavens is hard; descending to the mortal realm is harder.

Everyone understood one thing: The background of this Young Lord was terrifying beyond measure. He was an existence they absolutely could not provoke.

Now, they waited in hushed reverence, desperate for a single glimpse of his heavenly countenance.