Chapter 1 The Descent of Divinity

Chapter 1: The Divine Arrival

[The Great Ning Dynasty.

In the fifth month of the eighth year of Chongli, Emperor Yingzong passed away.

The fifth prince, Baili Hong, ascended the throne, proclaiming the new era name "Jingrui."

As the new emperor was young, to ensure the stability of the realm, Qin Xiao—patriarch of the Qin family and commander-in-chief of the Qin Family Army—was appointed Prince Regent, granted the title "Ning," and tasked with assisting in state affairs.

For the next ten years, Prince Ning meticulously guided the young emperor, reformed the bureaucracy, and fostered the people's welfare. Under the guise of "assisting the government," he effectively ruled as sovereign...]

Slender, pale fingers glided across the page, pausing at the name "Qin Xiao."

Prince Regent—this role was perfectly suited for the main villain.

Chu Jiubian had only just begun reading this novel, but he could already discern that the protagonist was Emperor Baili Hong, and Prince Ning, Qin Xiao, was the story's ultimate antagonist.

Other readers' comments described Qin Xiao as cunning and treacherous, vicious and cruel, a ruthless killer utterly devoid of humanity, whose only redeeming quality was his political achievements.

Utterly inhuman, you say?

Well, he certainly had to experience this for himself.

Just as Chu Jiubian was about to continue reading, the door of his trailer was opened from the outside.

Instantly, the distinctive clamor of a movie set flooded the vehicle.

His assistant reminded him, "Brother Chu, it's your next scene. The director wants you to get ready for the wire work."

Chu Jiubian's long lashes lowered slightly as he glanced once more at the book in his hand, his eyes catching the line—"Prince Ning Qin Xiao led his army to a decisive victory against the Western Regions' Sai Kingdom, suffering severe injuries that took three months to heal."

He closed the book.

Chu Jiubian stood up and stepped out of the trailer, heading toward the designated location.

His silver-white boots trod the ground, while the intricate, ornate silver jewelry adorning him clinked together with each movement, creating a disorderly, crisp ringing.

People couldn't help but turn their heads.

At the center of their attention stood a young man dressed in a Western-style aristocratic robe of silver-white, adorned with delicate gauze. A gem-encrusted belt cinched tightly around his slender waist, and a premium silver fox fur draped over his right shoulder, flowing into a glossy cape that reached his ankles.

His features were distant and picturesque, and his light-colored pupils held a cold, almost inorganic indifference, lending a touch of heartless detachment to his otherwise enchanting peach-blossom eyes. His short hair was jet-black and soft, yet the back portion was grown long, falling past his waist.

Now, those long strands were dyed silver-white, braided into a thick plait as substantial as a young girl’s wrist, adorned with silver chains studded with tiny diamonds. Paired with this makeup and costume, and Chu Jiubian’s pale, beautiful face, it gave him an androgynous, almost divine aura.

Chu Jiubian could clearly feel the gazes from all directions, even pinpointing who was secretly taking photos with their phones.

But with a face like his and being an actor, he had long grown accustomed to such attention. Calmly, he stood at the designated spot and quickly put on his wire harness.

The sooner he finished shooting, the sooner he could wrap up. He still wanted to go back and read his novel.

Soon, under the director’s instructions, he began to rise slowly into the air.

The shooting location was in the mountains.

In this scene, Chu Jiubian, playing the High Priest, was to make his first appearance before the protagonist in a highly artistic and beautiful manner—descending from the sky.

There were no other requirements for this scene, only one—it had to be beautiful.

The visuals had to be beautiful, the movements had to be beautiful, and the person had to be even more beautiful.

To achieve genuine beauty, the wire had to lift him to the highest point.

Chu Jiubian was somewhat afraid of heights. As his body rose higher and higher, he couldn’t help but look down.

The dense crowd of people and equipment below grew smaller and smaller.

If he fell from this height, he’d probably be smashed to a pulp, right? Flesh and blood would splatter, and the jewelry adorning him would embed into his flesh, some even rolling away in all directions, leaving trails of blood.

Chu Jiubian felt his body trembling slightly. The cold wind caused his figure to sway, and the silver jewelry on him jingled, masking the strained groaning of the old wire equipment.

His bangs brushed across his eyes, and he raised a hand to sweep them away.

Suddenly, his body plummeted downward before being jerked to a stop by the harness line.

A dull pain shot through his waist and hips. Chu Jiubian let out a low groan, his body swaying even more violently, like a maple leaf struggling desperately not to fall and turn to mud in late autumn.

He looked up. The bright summer sun stung his eyes.

Squinting, he realized that one of the two harness lines had snapped, leaving only the other barely supporting him.

The crowd below seemed to be screaming, and the harness line was slowly loosening, attempting to lower him back to the ground.

But within seconds, with a sudden twang, the remaining line inexplicably snapped as well.

An extreme sense of weightlessness washed over him. His silver-white braid suddenly came loose, and the silver chains in his hair, propelled by inertia, flew upward, grazing his temple and leaving a shallow cut.

Chu Jiubian’s mind struggled to process what was happening.

No way?

Could something this unlucky really happen to him?

Before he could review his twenty-one years of life, an intermittent crackle of electric current sounded in his mind.

Then, a cold, mechanical voice spoke.

【Special causal magnetic field detected. Correcting...

Correction successful.

System bound.】

【"Causal System" has been renamed "Great Ning Dynasty Infrastructure System." Host, please collect Faith Points to correct causality.】

==

First year of Jingrui, June 9th, the hour of Mao.

Within the imperial palace, before the rank platform, officials stood with bowed heads.

Thirty-nine white jade steps extended upward, and at the highest center stood a small figure, three-heads tall.

The little one wore a golden dragon robe—this was the young emperor, Baili Hong, about to ascend the throne.

Baili Hong licked his dry lips, his gaze nervously sweeping over the silent, bowing crowd below the long steps.

Robes of deep purple, crimson, and navy blue extended row upon row, orderly and hierarchical.

Behind Baili Hong stood the majestic main hall.

The gilded plaque inscribed with vigorous strokes reading "Hall of Worshiping Heaven" hung above the vermilion pillars. Beyond the wide-open doors of the hall, the golden dragon throne inside was faintly visible, adorned with the four large characters: "Heaven's Mandate Carries Fortune."

Bong—

A long bell tolled, resounding through heaven and earth. The Astrologer-in-Chief held a jade tablet and recited solemn prayers in a loud, clear voice.

The confused young emperor could not yet understand these profound words. He couldn't resist sneaking a peek toward a spot ten steps ahead and to his left.

There stood a tall, stately figure with his back to the young emperor. His ink-black hair was tied high with a jade crown, and he wore the black-gold python robe symbolizing the highest authority of a subject.

It was Prince Ning, Qin Xiao.

He was Baili Hong’s only important relative now, his most beloved maternal uncle, and the regent who would assist him in governing the state.

Baili Hong felt reassured and turned his gaze forward again.

Everything fell into deep silence, broken only by the Astrologer-in-Chief’s powerful and resonant voice.

After what felt like an eternity, just as Baili Hong’s little legs began to shake and sweat rolled down his temples, the enthronement ceremony finally reached its last step—the officials' kowtow.

At a loud command, the officials below the long steps dropped to their knees in unison, crossing their arms against their chests, waiting only for the order to "kowtow" and pledge their allegiance.

Whether willing or not, and regardless of the complicated thoughts swirling in their minds, the fact was now inevitable: this three-year-old child was ascending the throne, and Qin Xiao’s maternal clan was taking power.

Qin Xiao’s piercing dark eyes swept over the crowd and inevitably met the gazes of the first- and second-rank officials at the front.

These old foxes wore calm expressions, but only they themselves knew what schemes lay in their hearts.

A faint, mysterious smile touched Qin Xiao’s lips. He withdrew his gaze and turned to face the emperor.

Meeting the young emperor’s pure eyes, filled with trust and dependence, Qin Xiao’s cold expression softened slightly.

He lifted the hem of his robe, about to bow and kowtow to the new emperor along with the officials.

But just then, an inopportune, nearly eerie, clear sound reached his ears.

Instantly, his gaze sharpened, and he looked up toward the sky.

The next moment, his arms were lifted by some strange force. A white blur swept before his eyes, followed by a solid but not harsh weight pressing down on his arms.

It was a heavy, warm, silky sensation, as if someone had fallen into his embrace.

A light, delicate scent wafted to his nose. Qin Xiao froze, unable to move, and could only look down into his arms.

Caught off guard, his deep gaze met a pair of light-colored pupils.

Chu Jiubian’s mind buzzed with static as a cold, mechanical voice spoke intermittently: 【Suitable landing point prepared for host... Safe landing achieved...】

Suitable landing point?

Chu Jiubian gazed at the extremely handsome face mere inches from his own and was speechless.

As reason and clarity returned, his senses gradually awakened. He suddenly realized his palms were pressed against something firm.

He instinctively gave a slight squeeze, his eyes following his hands.

Beneath his palms was fine-quality fabric, and under that, the subtly shifting contours of muscle.

Chu Jiubian: "......"

He finally realized he seemed to be groping and squeezing the chest muscles of this "landing point" guy.

"Wow!" A clear, child's voice suddenly rang out, filled with delight. "It’s Immortal Brother!"

Chu Jiubian’s heart jumped slightly.

He whipped his head around in alarm toward the source of the voice.

Not far away stood a small, perfectly cute child with a well-fitted dragon robe, small hands clasped together at his chest, looking over with sparkling eyes.

When their eyes met, the little child even flushed with excitement.

Where did this kid come from?

Thoughts raced through Chu Jiubian’s mind, but he quickly identified the most crucial points.

For example, the "Great Ning Dynasty" mentioned by the system, the child in dragon robes before him, and the "landing point" guy.

Aside from his own unplanned arrival, didn’t this scene closely resemble the enthronement ceremony from the novel he had just been reading?

Could this child be the young emperor, Baili Hong?

Chu Jiubian instinctively turned his head, looking over the "landing point" guy’s shoulder into the distance.

Instantly, the majestic palace architecture and a crowd of ancients kneeling stiffly came into view.

Those people also seemed stunned by the sudden turn of events, or perhaps for other reasons, as they showed no immediate reaction. They merely watched with varied expressions, many filled with curiosity.

Holy crap!

Chu Jiubian’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

It was confirmed: at the moment of his death, he had transmigrated into the book.

But if this was indeed the enthronement ceremony of the male lead, Baili Hong, then the guy standing on the high platform with the emperor, who had unfortunately become the "landing point," must be...

The cold mechanical voice sounded in his mind again: 【Detected that the host is facing imminent mortal danger. Please take care.】

Imminent mortal danger?!

Take care?!

What kind of warning is that!

Chu Jiubian felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar. Slowly, he withdrew his gaze and looked again at the man holding him.

The man’s icy black eyes blazed with killing intent. Overwhelming malice and pressure bore down on Chu Jiubian.

At the same time, Chu Jiubian felt a dull pain in his waist and the bend of his knees—the man holding him was gradually tightening his arms. With a little more force, he could probably crush him outright.

Qin Xiao!

That murderous madman!

Chu Jiubian’s scalp tingled, his heart pounded wildly, and the sensation of being dangerously close to death made him tremble instinctively.

But then, the system in his mind suddenly played a cheerful, brief alert chime, entirely out of place, before returning to its mechanical voice, stating matter-of-factly—

【Friendly reminder: A heavy rainstorm will arrive in fifteen minutes, lasting 24 hours. The weather has been changeable lately. Please stay warm and don't forget your umbrella when going out.】

As Qin Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly, the piercing murderous intent and the pain in his waist and knees shot through his nerves. In a flash, Chu Jiubian thought of a way to break the deadlock.

It was risky, but if it succeeded, the benefits would be immense.

At this thought, a spark lit up his mesmerizing eyes.

Qin Xiao noticed his stiff limbs gradually regaining mobility. His expression remained unreadable, but his mind was anything but calm.

The sudden appearance of the person in his arms, along with his own abrupt stiffness and loss of control, felt deeply unsettling.

One thing was certain: the abnormality in his body was undoubtedly connected to the person he held.

Such an extremely dangerous variable had to be eliminated.

As he pondered, Qin Xiao met the gaze of the person in his arms once more.

They were light-colored eyes, with a vacant quality.

Yet, in the next moment, he saw those eyes deepen, with a smile that didn't quite reach them.

With a smile on his face, Chu Jiubian met the man's cold and dangerous gaze without flinching, speaking slowly, "It seems you are my mortal trial, as a celestial being."

His voice, clear and bright, straddled youth and young adulthood, captivating one's attention the moment he spoke.

"This deity..." he enunciated word by word, the awkwardness making his ears red, "...is very satisfied."

That's right—he was going to bluff his way as a deity!