Reborn After 3,000 Years, I Adopted the Future Empress - Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: My Son Truly Bears the Bearing of a Heaven’s Favored Child!

Today, only by trampling Ye Chen—the number one heaven’s favored child—could Lin Tian make a name for himself and win the favor of the Ninth Princess.

Ye Chen was the stepping stone on his path to greatness—and he was determined to step on him.

At that moment, a grand procession arrived. A golden carriage escorted by attendants, with Jian Ling’er at the center in a luxurious purple gown, made her entrance in regal fashion.

She stood tall and elegant, her skin like jade and her beauty breathtaking. Only sixteen years old, yet her every movement exuded grace and nobility.

“Ninth Princess, you’re here!” Lin Tian’s eyes lit up like torches the moment he saw her.

In contrast, Ye Chen only gave Jian Ling’er a casual glance before turning away, showing no interest at all.

This surprised Jian Ling’er. In her memory, Ye Chen had always been deeply infatuated with her. Although he didn’t behave like an eager dog, he wasn’t far from it. What was going on today? Had summoning three celestial phenomena overnight inflated his ego?

Still, summoning three celestial phenomena in a single night was monstrously impressive. If she could use him as her furnace, the results would be beyond amazing!

Thinking of this, Jian Ling’er looked at Ye Chen and took the initiative to speak, “Young Master Ye, Ling’er came especially for you today, hoping to witness your unmatched brilliance. Don’t let me down!”

Murderous intent flashed in Ye Chen’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

Jian Ling’er had the royal family behind her—he couldn’t act against her yet.

But only for now. Ye Chen was confident that within a month, he would become unrivaled in the Sword Empire. By then, neither the Ninth Princess nor the royal family would be worth mentioning.

“Ye Chen, your time is running out. Hurry and make your choice!” Jian Ling’er’s affectionate words made Lin Tian burn with jealousy, and he urged loudly.

Ye Chen sighed. With pressure from Ninth Princess and Lin Tian’s relentless provocation, today’s duel was clearly unavoidable.

“If you’re so desperate to be humiliated, then I’ll grant your wish.”

Ye Chen stepped onto the battle stage.

The atmosphere instantly reached its climax.

“Frog in a well, open your eyes wide. The true dragon is about to soar!” Lin Tian laughed wildly as his aura surged.

His cultivation level of 5th stage Earth Martial Realm was fully unleashed.

The crowd erupted.

Lin Tian’s cultivation had reached 5th stage Earth Martial Realm?

Jaw after jaw dropped. Wasn’t Ye Chen only at 2nd stage Earth Martial Realm?

“Unbelievable! Lin Tian’s been hiding this deep. He’s the true number one heaven’s favored child of the Imperial Capital!”

“No wonder he dared challenge Ye Chen. His arrogance was backed by strength!”

“I owe Lin Tian an apology. I thought he’d be defeated in one move by Ye Chen—but now it looks like the opposite!”

…

Waves of shock rippled through the crowd.

Even Jian Ling’er’s eyes lit up.

Lin Tian was pleased. He looked at Ye Chen, expecting panic—but Ye Chen’s face remained calm, without the slightest trace of fear.

“Heh, calm on the surface but panicking inside. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.” Lin Tian sneered internally and unleashed the power of his martial meridians.

Rumble…

His martial meridian power burst into the sky—vast and radiant.

BOOM!

The crowd exploded again, even louder than before:

“With that kind of overwhelming power, Lin Tian’s martial meridians must be royal-grade, right?”

“Wrong—it’s emperor-grade!”

“What?! Emperor-grade martial meridians? But Ye Chen’s meridians were only royal-grade, weren’t they?”

…

“I hereby declare—Lin Tian shall be the heir of the Lin family! No, he is now the Young Master of the Lin family!” The Lin family patriarch shouted in excitement.

In contrast, the Ye family’s faces turned grim. Ye Wuyá gasped.

5th stage Earth Martial Realm with emperor-grade martial meridians… each one of these was enough to crush his son!

How could Ye Chen win this duel?

“Don’t tell me… the celestial phenomena last night weren’t caused by Ye Chen, but by Lin Tian?” Jian Ling’er guessed.

Lin Tian proudly nodded, “Ninth Princess, your insight is unmatched. Indeed, I summoned all three celestial phenomena last night!”

The crowd had suspected as much. Now that Lin Tian confirmed it, a tidal wave of gasps swept through them.

So Lin Tian was the true monster. In comparison, Ye Chen was just a foil!

Jian Ling’er’s eyes locked on Lin Tian, her voice soft, “Young Master Lin, perhaps I was a bit harsh before. I hope you won’t take it to heart. In truth, you’ve always held a greater place in my heart than Ye Chen.”

Lin Tian was instantly overjoyed.

“This girl is young but scheming. Not a worthy match,” the remnant soul within him reminded.

Lin Tian dismissed the warning, “Senior, you’re amazing at cultivation, but you’re clueless about love. Look at her gaze when she speaks—eyes don’t lie!”

The remnant soul sighed, wanting to say more.

But Lin Tian had already turned back to Ye Chen. “I’m in a good mood today. If you cripple your martial meridians and kneel in defeat, I’ll let you leave in one piece. Otherwise—”

BOOM!

Before he could finish, Ye Chen’s aura surged.

5th stage Earth Martial Realm—completely unleashed.

“Chen’er’s cultivation actually advanced to 5th stage Earth Martial Realm?” Ye Wuyá was stunned. Last night, when he gave Ye Chen the Gold Spirit Pill, Ye Chen had only been at 2nd stage Earth Martial Realm.

To advance three stages in a single night? That pill was terrifyingly effective!

Lin Tian was briefly shocked but quickly sneered, “Didn’t expect you to improve so much—but it doesn’t matter. Your martial meridians are only royal-grade. Against my emperor-grade bloodline—”

BOOM!

Again, before he could finish, Ye Chen’s martial meridian power exploded forth.

It was vast and radiant—emperor-grade!

Silence.

Then, a wave of gasps shook the sky.

Two cultivators in the Sword Empire with emperor-grade martial meridians? That was something no one had ever dared dream of.

In three days, the joint secret realm assessment held by the Four Great Empires would begin. The Sword Empire, usually dead last, now had hope of breaking into the top three for the first time in ten years!

“Hahaha! My son truly bears the bearing of a heaven’s favored child!” Ye Wuyá laughed with pride, basking in the envious stares around him.

The once gloomy War King Manor members were now all beaming.

A sixteen-year-old at 5th stage Earth Martial Realm with emperor-grade bloodline—War King Manor had birthed a dragon.

If the old patriarch were here, his booming laughter would’ve shaken half the Imperial Capital.

Jian Ling’er’s gaze turned back to Ye Chen. Regret filled her heart. She already regretted what she’d said to Lin Tian—and even regretted supporting this duel.

If she could, she wanted both of them as her furnaces!

“I underestimated the Sword Empire, and even more so this Ye Chen. Sixteen years old and emperor-grade martial meridians—he’s truly something!” The cold female voice in Lin Tian’s body sighed.

Lin Tian had only reached this level with her secret help.

But Ye Chen? He had done it on his own.

By that measure, Ye Chen was stronger than Lin Tian.

Lin Tian’s face twisted again. His cold gaze locked onto Ye Chen. “So what if you awakened emperor-grade martial meridians? I’ll show you that even emperor-grade has levels!”

He wasn’t just speaking to Ye Chen, but also to his senior and Jian Ling’er—and to everyone watching.

As he spoke, his martial meridian power surged toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen smirked and casually flicked his hand—his martial meridian power clashed head-on.

BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!

The two forces collided with a deafening roar.

In the next instant, Lin Tian’s power crumbled, while Ye Chen’s pressed forward with unstoppable momentum.

The outcome was instantly clear!

“You’re right. Even among emperor-grade martial meridians, there’s a difference,” Ye Chen said calmly, hands behind his back, facing Lin Tian’s stunned expression.