Just as Lu Jingming was doubting his life, things got worse. With his father dead, several noble factions with old grudges against the Lu family tried to seize credit for repelling the sea soul beasts and coveted the position of city lord.
These factions joined forces to attack the Lu and Zhang families. With their strength weakened by the battle, the situation was dire.
Just as the mansion was about to be overrun, Lu Jingming finally understood what was happening.
Though his start in this life was disastrous, he wasn't completely helpless.
In his previous life, he'd been lucky enough to obtain the "Authority of Truth."
Thanks to this Authority, he got the chance to reincarnate.
Although this life began badly—losing his father at birth and facing extermination—he didn't panic. He decisively used up the last of his Authority's power.
With this, he broke the boundary between reality and fantasy, manifesting a character from one of his previous life's games.
Amid dazzling light, a silver-haired swordswoman with an ice sword appeared before infant Lu Jingming.
She needed no explanation—she seemed to understand everything at a glance.
She calmly picked up baby Lu Jingming and walked out of the mansion.
Her figure flashed, her ice sword gleaming, each swing sending out a chilling sword aura.
Under her sword, the invading soul masters fell like ants.
Everyone witnessed the true meaning of "one swing, one enemy."
Even the Soul Sage patriarch of the leading family was slain with a single stroke.
After this crisis, the ambitious noble families were wiped out, vanishing from Haiyuan City's history.
…
As Lu Jingming passed the kitchen, a pink blur shot out like lightning and pounced on him.
With practiced agility, the pink figure scrambled up to the top of his head and settled there.
Lu Jingming stopped abruptly, instinctively grabbing the bold little creature.
In his hand was a soft, adorable pink-haired little fox, impossibly cute.
Maybe he'd grabbed too roughly—the pink fox protested with "yiying" sounds, waving its little paws in mock ferocity, making him laugh.
"Miko, how many times have I told you—no messing around on the City Lord's head, got it? Hmm? You snuck into the kitchen for fried tofu again?" Lu Jingming pretended to scold the pink fox and noticed oil stains at its mouth.
He immediately understood—this greedy fox had been foraging in the kitchen again.
As his pet, none of the cooks dared cross this mischievous fox.
Whenever it swaggered into the kitchen, the cooks would offer its favorite food—fried tofu—with smiles.
"Yiying," the fox responded, waving its paw and looking at Lu Jingming with pleading eyes, clearly asking him to wipe its mouth.
Lu Jingming rolled his eyes, wondering who was the real master here.
But thanks to the fox's antics, his panic gradually subsided.
Only then did he remember there was still at least half an hour before the awakening ceremony.
Besides, with the hall right inside the mansion, it would only take minutes to get there.
He realized Zhang Lexuan had just been teasing him, and he'd panicked only because he dreaded Jingliu's punishment.
Calm again, Lu Jingming took out an embroidered handkerchief and carefully wiped the fox's mouth.
Then he gently hugged the little fox, burying his face in its soft fur.
The little fox was only palm-sized, warm and fluffy, like the perfect hand warmer.
Yet thinking of how this adorable fox would someday grow up to be sly and devious made Lu Jingming's head ache.
He remembered that he had originally wanted to summon the elegant, gentle, pink-haired shrine maiden from his previous game to help manage the mansion.
But due to insufficient Authority, the ritual had turned her into this tiny fox, even regressing her intelligence to infancy.
Who knew when she'd turn back into the cunning, graceful shrine maiden he remembered?
Yes, this adorable fox was none other than Yae Miko from his previous life's favorite game, Genshin Impact.
Holding his soft fox, Lu Jingming strolled leisurely into the Awakening Room.
As he entered the rune-carved room, a delicate fragrance immediately filled the air, refreshing and calming.
His gaze unconsciously sought the source: in the Awakening Room stood several ancient stone pillars.
Don't underestimate these stone pillars—each was worth thousands of gold soul coins.
They were made from a rare ore—Ningshen Stone.