Chapter 16: The Fated Companion
Everyone fell silent.
Higher than S-rank...
Could it be SS-rank?
No wonder she could even tame uncontrollable males so effortlessly.
Throughout the empire’s history, there has never been a recorded female of SS-rank!
Males, however, have had a few transcending S-rank to reach SS-rank in every era—for example, the current imperial crown prince and the famed war god marshal, Felix, are both SS-rank males.
But constrained by the absence of females who can mentally soothe them, these men face an incurable dilemma once they lose control.
As a result, the crown prince's position has been subtly shaken, with some considering supporting other princes to ascend, and the marshal has not been to the battlefield for a long time.
If Nian Tu could awaken SS-rank spiritual power, she would become their sole savior—
She would be their destined partner.
Lu Zhan looked at Nian Tu, surrounded like stars around the moon, with a bitter feeling in his heart.
Awakening such a high-level spiritual power was a blessing, and he sincerely felt happy for Nian Tu.
But this also meant that not only Xian, the lion, but all the powerful and influential figures of the empire would become his rivals in the future.
He once despised those males who schemed and competed for favor, but now, he willingly found himself among them.
Lu Zhan’s gaze darkened.
From struggling out of a junk planet to where he was today, he had done everything possible and impossible.
He never feared competing with the strong.
Calming his thoughts, Lu Zhan spoke softly, “Your last medical check was just yesterday. At that time, the spiritual fluctuations were still very weak. Rising to such a high level in a short time means you are about to formally awaken.”
He explained to Nian Tu that when a female officially awakens, her spiritual power erupts violently. All males nearby can feel it, and the higher the female’s spiritual rank, the wider the influence.
An E-rank female’s awakening affects within about one meter.
An A-rank female’s awakening covers a whole building.
An S-rank female’s awakening causes males throughout the entire city to feel it.
If an SS-rank female awakens... no one knows how far the influence could spread. But undoubtedly, it would be earth-shattering.
A female whose spiritual power erupts violently is immediately sent to the sacred land to receive the blessing of the Divine Tree, and only after the turmoil subsides does the spiritual power fully awaken.
The sacred land is recorded as the original birthplace of the Beastman civilization, and the Divine Tree is a tree that has grown since ancient times. In an interstellar age dominated by atheism, most people no longer believe in the Divine Tree’s blessing, but the process is preserved as a traditional ritual.
---
“Is it really a tree that has lived for hundreds of millions of years...?” After Lu Zhan’s explanation, Nian Tu felt deeply shaken.
Snapping back to reality, she found herself surrounded by fervent gazes.
“You don’t seem to have a partner yet? If you are unsatisfied with the males around you, we can recommend other excellent males to serve you. Various types are available for your choice...”
As a future S-rank female, everyone wanted to establish connections with her.
To serve her was an immense honor. Moreover, she was sweet, gentle, and approachable—nothing like other females with big tempers and airs.
No male could remain unmoved.
Nian Tu hastily shook her head, refusing.
“I am quite satisfied with the males around me,” she emphasized, “It’s my problem—I don’t want to marry.”
What could possibly be unsatisfactory about Lu Zhan? Handsome, considerate, able to shine both in social settings and at home. On Earth, she might never encounter such a man in her lifetime.
It was her problem. The trauma from her original family left her with no expectations for marriage.
Besides, Beastmen live up to 500 years, while she was just a human who might live only a few decades. Until she was certain how long she could live, she could not rashly choose a partner.
Although Nian Tu took the responsibility upon herself, Lu Zhan still received a barrage of reproachful looks accusing him of not trying hard enough.
Nian Tu felt sorry.
On the way home, the more she thought, the more conflicted she became, suddenly realizing that binding Lu Zhan and Xian as her guardians while neither intending to become partners nor letting them pursue others was selfish.
“What are you thinking?” Lu Zhan’s gray-blue eyes reflected her image as he asked gently, “Can I help ease your burden?”
His attitude made Nian Tu feel even more ashamed.
She lowered her head and murmured softly, “Being my guardian doesn’t seem to benefit you.”
“Then should we sever ties?” she suggested.
?!
Lu Zhan was startled but quickly forced a calm smile, “No, I don’t need any benefits.”
“You said we’re family. That’s all I want. You’ve already given me more than enough.”
“After all, you know, I’m an orphan—I’ve had no family since I was a child...”
His tone was pitiful, and Nian Tu felt a chill all over.
Hearing Lu Zhan say that, her behavior seemed like taking in a stray dog, raising it for two and a half days, then selfishly thinking it was not free and wanting to abandon it.
It was truly heartless!
---
What troubled her even more was that Lu Zhan suddenly crouched at her feet and transformed into a massive snow-white wolf!
Lu Zhan’s beast form was a wolf! White fur! Enormous!
Luckily, the cabin was spacious enough; otherwise, such a large wolf wouldn’t fit.
The snow wolf was huge but looked pitiful, tilting his head up with imploring eyes fixed on Nian Tu.
The fluffy, pitiful look was ten times more effective than his human form! Nian Tu’s heart melted instantly, and she swiftly took back her previous words: “I’ll be your family! I won’t sever ties with you!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the snow wolf’s fluffy tail wagged joyfully, even flicking a few times in front of her.
Nian Tu couldn’t resist the temptation; her hands itched to pet the wolf.
Lu Zhan’s wolf form was the most handsome wolf she had ever seen. His pure white fur was flawless, with a slender and powerful body. Wildness and dignity combined perfectly in him, and his gray-blue beast eyes gazed at her intently.
After holding back for a while, Nian Tu finally gave in, reaching out to stroke the wolf’s fur once, then again.
Unseen by her, Lu Zhan’s wolf eyes narrowed with satisfaction.
The aircraft stopped near their small villa. Nian Tu slowly came to her senses, realizing she had been playing with a wolf the entire trip.
If it had been a real wolf, it would be one thing, but this was Lu Zhan transforming...
She withdrew her guilty hand and coughed awkwardly, “Sorry.”
She felt as if she had inadvertently behaved like a rogue.
Lu Zhan shook his fur and lowered his body, “No problem. Want to ride on my back?”
It was Nian Tu’s first time hearing a beastman speak in beast form. Unlike the lion or black snake she had seen before, he was nothing like a wild animal.
Male beastmen only allow their partners to ride on their backs—an established custom among Beastmen.
But this was outside Nian Tu’s knowledge; she didn’t know this, just as she was unaware that a female stroking a male’s beast form signified consent to courtship.
Unable to resist, murmuring to herself, “We’re family, so it’s no big deal to ride once,” she sat on the snow wolf’s sturdy back and was carried steadily down from the aircraft.
Suddenly, she recalled that before, not knowing the lion was a beastman, she had also ridden the lion.
“Who is this lion you said you know?” she asked Lu Zhan.
The snow wolf’s entire body stiffened.