My Celestial Ascension

"Wow! Amazing…You look so handsome, darling~ I'm sure most noble daughters will be unable to take their eyes off you. Fufu~" Anna Grace giggled, her eyes wide with admiration as she took in Yuan's appearance in the black attire.

The outfit complemented his features, making him appear even more dashing. Anna Grace's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she felt proud of herself for giving birth to such a handsome son.

"You look marvelous too, Mom," Yuan said with a wide grin before leaning in to kiss her forehead, making Anna Grace blush with happiness. What mother wouldn't love such treatment from her son? She wished he would spoil her even more with compliments on her beauty.

"Oh my god…You look incredibly handsome, Yuan…I can hardly restrain myself from hugging and kissing you~!" Lily exclaimed as she entered the room, momentarily speechless at Yuan's handsomeness in that black outfit.

"You look equally stunning, Lily," Yuan smiled back at her, his compliment making her heart swell with happiness.

Lily was wearing a light blue dress that hugged her figure, making her look both beautiful and alluring. The dress greatly complemented her snowy white hair.

Xi Meili then appeared, wearing a beautiful crimson dress with black embroidery. She looked like a goddess in that dress and asked, "How do I look, hubby? Do I look beautiful?"

Yuan moved closer, hugged her from behind, and kissed her neck before gently turning her around. "You look like a goddess, my dear wife," Yuan responded, his voice filled with admiration.

Xi Meili's face lit up with happiness upon hearing this, her heart overflowing with joy. Yuan chuckled at her reaction, and the others joined in, smiling at the scene.

A few moments later, everyone had finished getting ready for the banquet. They all looked incredibly beautiful and stunning in their new attire. The banquet would begin in a few hours as guests started arriving at the Royal Palace, giving them plenty of time to explore the city before heading there.

As they entered the common area of the inn, many people looked at Yuan and his wives in awe, rendered speechless by their appearances. Yuan and his wives were incredibly eye-catching in their luxurious attire, which perfectly complemented their beauty and personalities. But what truly captivated those around them was the aura they exuded, as if they were in the presence of divine beings.

After waiting a few minutes, Miss Zara and Little Zoe arrived at the common area, both looking stunning in their new dresses. Little Zoe, in particular, looked incredibly cute and adorable—anyone who saw her would be tempted to give her a hug.

"Wow! Sister Zara, you look stunning in that dress. It was definitely the right choice to buy it. Fufu~" Lily said, a playful smile on her face.

Miss Zara immediately blushed upon hearing this and turned her face away.

"What about me? How do I look, Big Sister Lily?" Little Zoe asked with an eager, excited look on her face, anticipating Lily's opinion on her dress.

"You look super adorable in that dress, Little Zoe," Lily replied with a sweet smile.

"Really?!"

"That's right. Have I ever lied to you? Fufu~" Lily giggled sweetly at the little girl.

"Anyway, we should probably head out now. While we're at it, we can also enjoy the beautiful festive atmosphere of the streets," Yuan said before taking Anna Grace and Xi Meili's hands and slowly walking out of the building.

As they stepped outside and walked a few meters, they saw the bustling streets of the city. The roads were crowded, and the sides were lined with numerous street food vendors.

Various delicacies were being prepared by the vendors, and the rich aroma of the food filled the air, creating a sense of anticipation among the crowd. Many couples strolled along the roadside, enjoying the festive atmosphere with some delectable food and spending romantic moments together.

It wasn't just young couples—many older couples were also out on the streets, cherishing their time together and making new memories while sharing life's burdens.

As Yuan, his wives, Miss Zara, and Little Zoe walked through the bustling street, they attracted almost everyone's attention. Many men felt a pang of jealousy seeing Yuan surrounded by such beautiful women, while many women envied Anna Grace and the others for being with Yuan. They too longed for a handsome lover like him.

"Look at the clothes they're wearing. Don't they look very expensive?" one bystander murmured.

"Indeed. They must be from some powerful noble family," another replied, nodding in agreement.

"I've never seen such beautiful women before," a woman whispered, her eyes wide with admiration. "How did he manage to gather so many beautiful ladies by his side? It doesn't make any sense."

As the murmurs of curious onlookers filled the air, Yuan and his group continued their walk through the streets, mesmerizing everyone with their stunning appearances and luxurious attire.

—

In front of the Royal Palace, luxurious, fancy-looking carriages arrived one after another. Each carriage was unique, with some embedded with gold and precious gems, showcasing the wealth and status of their occupants.

The door of a white carriage with intricate golden designs slowly opened, drawing the attention of the guards. They were curious to see who could be inside such a luxurious carriage. A moment later, a slender leg appeared, followed by a beautiful woman in an opulent dress made from rare fabric.

"My, oh my, it seems King Richard Windfall has truly outdone himself with this grand banquet to celebrate the success of their expedition into the Forest of Never Return," the woman remarked, her eyes widening at the sight of the royal palace's lavish decorations. Even the empire would struggle to arrange something like this so easily.

"It seems our decision to attend the banquet was right. It'll be entertaining to see what other surprises King Richard has in store for the guests… wouldn't you agree, Mother?" said a handsome young man with golden hair as he stepped out of the carriage.

The young man's eyes sparkled with anticipation, eager to see what kind of people he would meet and how many strong mages the kingdom had produced.

"Indeed, my son… It's beyond my imagination. I wonder where the king gathered such massive funds to host this grand banquet," the beautiful woman giggled softly before making her way into the palace, with the young man following closely behind.

This woman was none other than Duchess Evelina Hawthorne, the head of the prestigious Hawthorne family from the Lionheart Empire. Her elder sister, Ophelia Lionheart, was the current Empress of the empire. The young man following her was her only son and the next heir of the Hawthorne family, Alistair Hawthorne.

He was well-known in the capital city of the Lionheart Empire as a genius mage, a master of Lightning magic, with only a few rivals who could match his talent and fighting power—all of whom belonged to other Duke families.

'I wonder if Marcus and the other idiots are coming here or not,' Alistair mused as he followed his mother into the palace. He quickly dismissed the thought. 'I'll meet them eventually. I should focus more on recruiting exceptional talents into my faction before they show up.'

"Oh, what a pleasant surprise, Duchess Evelina. I didn't expect to see you here… How unexpected,"

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out as the mother and son entered the grand ballroom. Turning their heads, they saw Crown Prince Daniel approaching them with a smile.

"Ah, Your Highness, it's a pleasure to see you well," Duchess Evelina greeted with a pleasant smile, her voice laced with a playful giggle. "I've heard so much about your courage and contributions in the Forest of Never Return."

Alistair, standing beside his mother, echoed her sentiments. "Your Highness, you've become quite famous in the imperial capital. Perhaps you should consider throwing a party once we return."

Crown Prince Daniel chuckled lightly, replying, "We can talk about that later, once we're back in the imperial city."

Then, turning to Duchess Evelina, he added, "Shall we take a seat and have a small chat?"

"Of course, Your Highness, but first, we must greet the king. It would be disrespectful not to, don't you think?" Duchess Evelina giggled, maintaining her graceful demeanor.

A few moments later, they approached King Richard. His eyes widened slightly in surprise upon seeing Duchess Evelina and Alistair with Crown Prince Daniel.

"Duchess Evelina, I am deeply honored by your presence in my palace. I trust your journey here was without trouble?" King Richard greeted them with utmost politeness, his voice filled with respect.

"No troubles at all, Your Majesty. The ride was quite smooth," Duchess Evelina replied with a courteous smile, her demeanor reflecting the poise and grace expected of her.

"I'm relieved to hear that. Please, enjoy the banquet," King Richard responded before adding, "I must apologize for not being able to entertain you personally, as there are many other guests I need to greet."

"It's quite alright, Your Majesty. There's plenty here to keep us entertained," Duchess Evelina assured him, her smile unwavering as she maintained her dignified image.

King Richard gave a polite nod and excused himself to attend to the other important guests arriving at the banquet.

These guests, many of whom were wealthy and influential figures from across the empire and beyond, were of such stature that any perceived slight could greatly damage both his and the kingdom's reputation.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, Yuan, his wives, Miss Zara, and Little Zoe had arrived at the main entrance. The guards, upon seeing them, immediately allowed them entry, following the special instructions given by the king.

One of the newly appointed guards, confused by the swift and unquestioned entry, turned to his senior and asked, "Why did you let those strangers in like that? They didn't even arrive in a carriage."

The senior guard gave him a sharp look. "Do you know who they are?"

"No… why do you ask?" the young guard replied, puzzled.

"Then stop asking questions and do your job properly," the senior guard snapped. "I received special instructions from the king himself to let them in without question."

"What?! Special instructions from His Majesty?! Unbelievable… Who are they exactly? They're so beautiful…!" The young guard was stunned, almost speechless.

"Shhh! Watch your mouth!" the senior guard warned, his tone stern. "They're the 'Celestial Blades.' Even His Majesty is cautious around them."

The young guard's eyes widened in shock, and he fell silent, realizing just how close he had come to making a grave mistake. The mere mention of the 'Celestial Blades' left him in awe, as the group's reputation was known to inspire both admiration and fear across the land.

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