Crowning Herself Among Golden Swallows

Meanwhile.

Great Radiant Palace.

Qilin Divine Lord Soren Lann’s mother was a wood‑spirit immortal.

So he carries half wood‑element blood.

Because of him, the Great Radiant Palace has sprouted all kinds of rare flowers and ancient trees.

Naturally, this attracts many spirit birds and beasts to settle here.

Right under his eaves, there’s a nest of Golden Swallows.

Golden Swallows are beautiful spirit birds, with soft golden plumage and bright black eyes. Their posture is both adorable and graceful. Throughout the Radiant Domain, the Divine Race loves Golden Swallows and treats them as symbols of good fortune.

But right now, there’s an unexpected guest in the nest—half the size of a Golden Swallow, lying on her back with one leg cocked up.

Golden Swallows are proud spirit birds; there’s no way they’d tolerate a second bird barging into their nest.

She opened her beak wide, swooping in with a gust of wind, aiming straight for the little bird’s eye.

The little bird didn’t dodge at all—she just waited, then swallowed the Golden Swallow whole as it got close.

After swallowing her, the little bird spat out a feather in disgust, then used a talisman to transform into a perfect Golden Swallow.

That little bird was Azure Flame, sent here to monitor Soren Lann.

The talisman she used perfectly concealed her aura and turned her into a flawless Golden Swallow.

She had just finished transforming when a gentle voice called up from below: "Little swallow, come down and eat!"

Azure Flame ignored him.

After a while, he called again, "Little swallow, what’s wrong? Usually you shoot down like an arrow when there’s food."

Azure Flame frowned and poked her little head out of the nest.

And then, she saw Qilin Divine Lord Soren Lann.

Azure Flame has lived in the Primeval Demon Wilds for countless millennia.

Lots of new kids have been born in the Three Divine Realms, and she barely knows any of them.

Soren Lann included—this is her first time seeing him.

This kid’s got the air of his ancestor, Divine Lord Simon Yuan—except he seems warmer, with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth as he offers a terrified little spirit grub to feed her.

"Eat up! It’s your favorite spirit bug."

Who wants to eat bugs?!

Seriously, how old am I?!

Azure Flame pulled her head back into the nest.

"Huh? What’s up with you today? You won’t even eat a spirit bug?" Soren Lann muttered in confusion.

Azure Flame realized that suddenly refusing to eat spirit bugs might make Soren Lann suspicious.

So she hopped out of the nest, spread her wings, and swooped down to gulp the spirit bug in one go.

Soren Lann smiled gently at her and headed back inside.

Azure Flame circled the nest a few times, feeling extremely bored.

So she flitted inside and landed on Soren Lann’s desk.

Soren Lann looked at her in surprise.

She ignored him completely.

She squatted there lazily, watching Soren Lann write.

He was working through official documents.

His handwriting’s actually pretty decent…

Finding her adorable, Soren Lann couldn’t help but reach out his long, jade-like fingers to stroke her head. "Why’d you come down today?"

Annoyed, Azure Flame turned her head away, eyes full of disdain.

Hands off!

Soren Lann couldn’t help laughing. "Ha! Have you crowned yourself queen of the Golden Swallows? Suddenly acting all high and mighty!"

Azure Flame couldn’t care less.

Fortunately, Soren Lann adored these little spirit beasts and didn’t chase her away. He just kept working through his paperwork.

......

Beneath the desert.

Tanya Quinn finished her piece, eyes flashing with anger. "Noctis, how dare you fight back!"

Noctis sneered, "Why wouldn’t I fight back? You’re not the boss of me."

"Are you coming back with me or not?"

"No."

"Then don’t blame me for getting serious!"

"Suit yourself!" Noctis summoned his weapon.