I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 704 - 512: Heart Demon Tribulation, Awakening

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Previously on I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield...
Qin Tian successfully endured and purified the Body Burning Tribulation, significantly enhancing his physical strength and soul. His Immortal Sacred Body and Soul Devourer Flame protected him from the curse and tribulation fire. After his transformation, he departed through a spatial gate. Meanwhile, Zhuge Yu, Taishi Feng, and Huo Yuansheng used divination to confirm an auspicious sign for Qin Tian and prepared to guard him through the final Heart Demon Tribulation.
“Qin Tian, what are you spacing out about?” A familiar, gentle voice, tinged with playful laughter, sounded near his ear. Qin Tian’s eyes snapped open, revealing a delicate face – it was Dongfang Mingyue, dressed in a light blue gown, her eyebrows curved in that familiar, gentle, and elegant manner from his memories. “Mingyue?” Qin Tian’s heart gave a jolt, a flicker of bewilderment crossing his features. Wasn’t Dongfang Mingyue supposed to be in seclusion at the Pill Tower? When had they arranged to meet like this? An instinctive glance around revealed him standing on a vibrant, bustling street. Shops lined both sides, filled with the cacophony of vendors’ calls and the murmur of haggling customers. Small merchant stalls overflowed with an assortment of trinkets, and sunlight, dappled by leaves, cast shifting patterns on the ground. The scene felt both familiar and strangely alien, like a faded fragment from the recesses of his memory, leaving him unable to pinpoint its exact location. “Stop dawdling and come help me choose!” Without another word, Dongfang Mingyue took his wrist, guiding him towards a stall laden with intricate floral hairpins. Each hairpin displayed was unique; some crafted from jade, others from silver, all adorned with tiny crystal stones, radiating a delicate, lustrous charm. The vendor, an elderly man with a genial smile, chimed in, “Sir, your wife is quite lovely. Why not select a hairpin for her?” The word “wife” resonated in Qin Tian’s ears, and he instinctively turned to Dongfang Mingyue. A faint blush touched her cheeks, her ears tinged with pink, yet she offered no objection. Instead, she lowered her gaze, her fingers lightly tracing the hairpins on display, a picture of bashful captivation. Warmth bloomed in Qin Tian’s chest. With a smile, he chose a jade hairpin shaped like a frost flower from the collection. A surge of golden light flowed from his fingertips, channeling the power of his Divine Weapon Emperor’s Might into the hairpin. It was enveloped in a subtle layer of pale golden spiritual energy, enhancing its resilience and making the frost flower pattern even more distinct, emitting a refreshing coolness. He gently placed the jade hairpin into Dongfang Mingyue’s intricately coiled hair, his movements tender. “Mingyue, this is for you.” Dongfang Mingyue retrieved a mirror from the stall. Catching sight of the ice pin adorning her hair in the reflection, her face lit up with a radiant smile, as beautiful and graceful as a transient bloom. Gazing at her joyful expression, the confusion within Qin Tian seemed to lessen. “Qin Tian, thank you,” Dongfang Mingyue looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. “As long as you like it,” Qin Tian replied with a gentle smile. “Shall we walk a little further?” Dongfang Mingyue naturally took his hand, her touch warm and soft. “Alright.” Qin Tian allowed himself to be led, merging with the crowd alongside her. In the ensuing moments, Dongfang Mingyue was like an effervescent young girl, pulling him from one shop to another along the street. She exclaimed over charming plush toys displayed in shop windows, collected delicate little mementos, and looked at him with hopeful eyes when something caught her fancy. They walked side by side, their laughter and conversation weaving together, exuding the intimacy of a deeply devoted couple. Qin Tian responded with smiles throughout, yet an inexplicable sense of unease persistently lingered in his heart. Unable to identify the source of his doubt, he suppressed it, immersing himself in the rare warmth of the present. As they emerged from a jewelry boutique, a slightly urgent voice called out from ahead, “Mingyue, Qin Tian!” Qin Tian looked toward the sound, spotting Dongfang Haoyue striding briskly towards them, a trace of tension on his face and a flicker of urgency in his eyes. “Brother, why are you here?” Dongfang Mingyue stopped, surprised. Dongfang Haoyue approached them, his gaze briefly sweeping over the ice pin in Dongfang Mingyue’s hair before turning to Qin Tian. He stated gravely, “Qin Tian, there is an urgent family matter. I need to speak with Mingyue privately.” “What is so important that it cannot be discussed here?” Dongfang Mingyue inquired. “It is a serious matter. Come with me.” Without further explanation, Dongfang Haoyue seized Dongfang Mingyue’s wrist, pulling her toward the corner of the street with hurried steps, not even casting a backward glance at Qin Tian. Qin Tian remained rooted to the spot, watching the two figures recede into the distance, shaking his head subtly. He raised his wrist, activating the screen of his smart watch. The displayed location clearly indicated the central thoroughfare of the Imperial Capital. “Right, I came to the Imperial Capital to report for duty under Marshal Lin’s orders,” he murmured to himself, the furrow in his brow smoothing out. Just then, a series of rapid “beep-beep” sounds suddenly echoed.Simultaneously, alarms blared from every smart watch adorning wrists throughout the bustling street. Heads immediately snapped downward, and as the message was received, faces drained of color, bodies freezing as if turned to stone. In the ensuing moments, a wave of panic washed over the crowd. Some bolted, sprinting with all their might, while others scrambled into the narrow alleys flanking the thoroughfare. A few, with furtive glances filled with dread, cast a look at Qin Tian before fleeing as though escaping a great plague. Shopkeepers and their employees were even more terrified, abandoning their businesses entirely and escaping through rear exits without a second thought for their merchandise. The once lively street descended into pandemonium within moments, rapidly emptying until Qin Tian stood utterly alone. --- Sounding footsteps echoed from all directions. Squads of soldiers clad in stark black uniforms, armed to the teeth, converged on the scene with haste. The sharp, piercing clicks of weapons being loaded punctuated the air, their muzzles now fixed precisely on Qin Tian in the very center of the street. Qin Tian's eyes landed on the figure advancing steadily towards him, a sudden clench gripping his heart. It was a commanding, middle-aged man, his temples showing streaks of gray. His face was set with firm resolve, and his eyes, deep as an abyss, seemed to hold boundless wisdom and supreme authority. This individual could be none other than the Empire's revered military genius—Marshal Lin.