Chapter 10: Cosmic Harbinger

### **The Ring's Awakening**

Lin Tian's void-scarred hand trembled as the plain silver ring on his finger—a keepsake from his long-vanished parents—suddenly burned cold. A holographic interface, alien yet familiar, erupted from it, overwriting his corrupted Luck System:

***New System Detected: Celestial Legacy Protocol (CLP).

Primary Directive: Stabilize Homeworld. Locate Designated Consort. Prepare for Ascension.***

A grainy transmission played, his father's voice strained but urgent:

*"Tian'er, if you're hearing this, we've failed to return. Stabilize Earth's qi matrix using the ring's core, then find **Li Ningshuang**—your betrothed. She holds the key to the **Primordial Vaults**. Trust no one else. The universe is not what it seems…"*

The ring's gemstone split, revealing a micro-singularity. Xia Qingyue hissed. "That's not just a ring. It's a **quantum anchor**—technology even Xingyu couldn't master."

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### **System Mutation: Void and Stars**

The CLP fused with Lin Tian's void energy, birthing a hybrid interface:

***Dual System: Abyssal Sovereign / Celestial Legacy.***

- **Abyssal Sovereignty**: Void energy consumption (75% stability).

- **Celestial Mandate**: Starborn qi reserves (25% stability).

***Critical Objective:***

1. **Earth Stabilization**: Deploy **Qilin Matrix** (ring resource).

2. **Consort Retrieval**: Locate Li Ningshuang (Last ping: Andromeda Galaxy).

Lin Tian's veins writhed with opposing energies. "Betrothed? My parents set me up with a stranger?"

Ji Yanling paled. "Li Ningshuang… The Li Clan ruled the Primordial Vaults. If she's alive, your parents meddled with forces even the Ji feared."

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### **The Qilin Matrix**

The ring unleashed a swarm of nanites that devoured the Devourer's residual corruption, reforging Earth's qi lattice into a shimmering shield. Mountains levitated, rivers reversed course, and the Vein's golden light merged with the void, birthing iridescent forests.

***Earth Stabilized. CLP Progress: 40%.***

***New Title: Terra's Architect.***

But the CLP warned:

***"Caution: Galactic factions have detected the Qilin Matrix. Hostiles inbound."***

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### **The Consort's Cry**

As Lin Tian prepared to interrogate Ji Yanling, the ring projected a distress signal—a woman's voice, icy yet desperate:

*"This is Li Ningshuang of the Primordial Vaults. The **Eclipse Syndicate** has breached my sanctuary. If any hear this… tell Lin Tian his parents' debt remains unpaid."*

The transmission included coordinates and a hologram: a woman in fractal armor, her eyes blazing with nebula-light, battling biomechanical horrors in a derelict starbase.

Xia Qingyue crossed her arms. "She looks… intense."

Lin Tian sighed. "Why does saving the universe always involve marriage proposals?"

---

### **The Stellar Jianghu**

The ring's singularity expanded, revealing a **luxury warship** docked in a pocket dimension. The vessel—a dragon-shaped leviathan named *Celestial Oath*—bore hybrid tech: qi-infused plasma engines, void-shielded hulls, and gardens of immortal herbs.

**Ship AI**: "Welcome, Young Master. Cargo includes:

- **Sky-Sovereign Armory**: 10,000 customizable qi weapons.

- **Eclipse Vanquisher Cannons**: 3 (Primordial Vaults' design).

- **Consort Suite**: Prepped for Li Ningshuang's… temperament."

Luo Mei boarded, silver qi scanning the ship. "This makes your hyperjet look like a tricycle."

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### **Departure**

At dawn, Lin Tian faced his council:

- **Xia Qingyue**: Frostfire now laced with void energy.

- **Luo Mei**: Silver qi threads upgraded with starborn resonance.

- **Lin Xue**: Neural interface merged with the *Celestial Oath*'s AI.

- **Ji Yanling**: Reluctant navigator, hiding secrets.

"Earth is safe," Lin Tian said. "But the CLP's timer gives me six months before the systems destabilize. Li Ningshuang has answers. And the Eclipse Syndicate has my parents."

Xia Qingyue smirked. "And the fiancée?"

"If she tries to kill me, I'll send her your regards."

The *Celestial Oath* ascended, tearing through the atmosphere. As Earth shrank behind them, the CLP updated:

***New Quest: The First Starbridge.

Destination: Andromeda Galaxy.

Dangers: Eclipse Syndicate, Void Reavers, Rival Consorts.***

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### **Epilogue: The Syndicate's Gaze**

In a black-market starport, Li Ningshuang fought through waves of Syndicate drones, her fractal blade dimming. "Lin Tian… You'd better be worth this."

A drone's carcass sparked at her feet, its last words a taunt:

*"The Syndicate owns your fate. And your fiancé's corpse will greet you at the Vaults."*

She crushed its core, her armor flickering to reveal a tattoo—a dragon and phoenix entwined around the Lin crest.

"Not if I greet him first."