Chapter 262

Although Tai Bai Jin Xing's hand had loosened somewhat, he still couldn't bear to let go.

This flavor—what imperial reward could compare? He doesn't want the reward; he just wants to eat this roasted lamb leg!

"This I bought, Your Majesty"

Thinking of this, Tai Bai Jin Xing's resolve strengthened once more. He, Tai Bai, swears to share weal and woe with fine food!

Is this Tai Bai Jin Xing not plotting rebellion? Haotian, repeatedly opposed, even with the best temper, grew somewhat angry—moreover, he is still the Heavenly Court Sovereign, not to be gainsaid.

"Tai Bai Jin Xing!

You"

Just as he was about to rebuke Tai Bai Jin Xing's impudence, upon looking again at Tai Bai, Haotian froze—how had Tai Bai become so affable? Haotian stared blankly; it wasn't that Tai Bai Jin Xing had been particularly fierce before—he was naturally amiable in appearance, but that was merely a normal feeling.

Yet now, this trait had been infinitely magnified, and his words, halfway spoken, came to a sudden halt.

Haotian felt somewhat astonished—he actually couldn't bring himself to harshly reproach the bearded Tai Bai before him.

An old man of such advanced years, eating a bit of food—how could that be wrong? He actually went to snatch it—truly not a proper thing!

For a moment, Haotian's heart welled with a surge of guilty emotion.

This affable, approachable feeling inexplicably made him think of one word: father.

His foothold is the Chaos Stone, fatherless and motherless, yet he, inexplicably, felt a father's feeling in Tai Bai Jin Xing's presence—this is absurd!

"Your Majesty!

This lamb leg, Wèichén cannot let it go—you may deduct my salary if you must"

Tai Bai Jin Xing gripped the plate with both hands, this delicious morsel—he had never tasted such a thing in his life!

To relinquish even a trace would be an insult to this ultimate delicacy, the roasted lamb leg before him.

This sentence also brought Haotian back to his senses.

Damn!

Haotian's mouth twitched, his face void of words—how could he have such an absurd thought? "Look at your pitiful prospects"

Sheepishly retracting his hand, Haotian sank his voice and scolded a sentence to ease the embarrassment.

"Do I seem like that sort of person?"

Tai Bai Jin Xing gave an embarrassed laugh: "No, no!

Your Majesty, how could your divine martial wisdom ever engage in such conduct?"

After a cold snort, Haotian let it pass, but recalling the earlier feeling only made his expression grow stranger.

"Tai Bai, what divine ability have you awakened?"

Haotian asked what he had wanted to ask.

"Divine ability?"

Tai Bai Jin Xing stared blankly, then exclaimed with excitement: "I truly awakened a divine ability?"

Haotian's face was black with lines: "You awakened it yourself and you don't know? 'Wèichén knows, but...'"

Tai Bai Jin Xing's aged face bore astonishment: "Your Majesty, how did you know?"

"If you understand more than I do, you could be the Jade Emperor"

Haotian coldly snorted, speaking indifferently.

Tai Bai Jin Xing's face turned pale as he drew his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

"I dare not, I dare not"

You wouldn't dare, Haotian rolled his eyes, paused, then explained everything to Tai Bai Jin Xing once over.

Tai Bai Jin Xing's mouth slightly opened, his eyes dazed, only after a long while did he return to his senses.

He flicked his tongue, Tai Bai Jin Xing's voice trembling: "I never imagined that among the Three Realms, there would still be such miraculous affairs"

He then furtively glanced at Chen Nuo, as if wishing to imprint that handsome visage upon his soul.

He finally understood why His Majesty treated Chen the steward with such reverence—strength is only part of it!

It is this ability to awaken divine abilities that is truly heaven-defying!

"Hurry and tell the Emperor what divine ability you have awakened!"

Haotian grew somewhat impatient—he had said so much yet received no feedback.

"Wèichén will say it now, will say it now"

Tai Bai Jin Xing hehe-laughed, stroked his beard, and recounted to Haotian the effects of his newly awakened divine ability in full.

Upon hearing, Haotian suddenly understood—no wonder he stared at Tai Bai Jin Xing and felt such an absurd sensation; this divine ability is damn good!

Haotian's eyelids twitched as he muttered: "No wonder..."

The comforting atmosphere of Chaos Residence and the joy of awakening divine ability also relaxed Tai Bai considerably; he slightly neglected hierarchy, shifted his buttocks, and sat directly opposite.

Craning his neck, Tai Bai's eyes held a hint of curiosity: "Your Majesty, no wonder what?"

Haotian was pondering when suddenly an old face appeared before him, startling him into jumping back, shoving it away, his face full of disdain: "Get lost, none of your business—wherever it's cool, stay there"

He was considering the utility of Tai Bai's divine ability.

Although not a combat-type divine ability, this effect of enhancing affinity can also be counted as a divine skill,

and it shares a wonderful similarity with the one from Yaochi.

However, Tai Bai Jin Xing's is a passive effect that is constantly active, and relatively easier to break free from.

Tai Bai's primary duty is not combat service; as one who frequently represents the Heavenly Court in negotiations with various powers, the awakening of this divine ability can be said to be of utmost importance!

Affinity usually correlates with goodwill; increasing goodwill greatly raises the success rate of the Heavenly Court's negotiations.

Originally, such matters were mostly attended by Tai Bai, though occasionally others were dispatched.

But now it seems, henceforth, these affairs can be entrusted entirely to Tai Bai!

Haotian's mouth curled upward, unable to help admiring his own wise decision—this is a promotion, Tai Bai will surely be grateful to him!

The position of First Diplomat of Heaven belongs to none other than Tai Bai Jin Xing; I, Haotian, am simply this good at selecting and employing people!

If Tai Bai Jin Xing were to know what Haotian is thinking at this moment, he might even have the heart to inquire after Haotian's relatives.

Seeing Haotian pleased, the unaware Tai Bai also gave a hehe smile and spoke at the right moment: "Your Majesty, what divine ability have you awakened?"

With such a familiar bearing, Your Majesty clearly has experience—surely you too have awakened divine abilities, Tai Bai Jin Xing thought to himself.

As soon as the words fell, Haotian's face darkened instantly, and he became even more embarrassed.

This Tai Bai Jin Xing, how could he keep picking at the sore spot? If he had awakened, how could he, Tai Bai, have the right to show off his divine abilities? And why would he go snatching the lamb leg from the plate? The Heavenly Court has nurtured him for so long—I never expected that even a single lamb leg would be too much to give this Jade Emperor to eat!

Sigh, an ungrateful white-eyed wolf, mentally exhausting!

"I am savoring this fine food; as for divine abilities, I think I'll wait a while before awakening them."

Haotian slightly raised his head, presenting an elegant posture.

"To awaken divine abilities mid-meal is a desecration of the food prepared by Manager Chen."

Haotian spoke with utter seriousness, and his words were exactly as he meant them.

Chen Nuo: "..."

He never said such a thing; he actually hopes to awaken, the more the better, wishing he could awaken with just one bite, so that the divine abilities he gains would be even greater!

"But..."

Tai Bai pointed a finger at the plate from which even the vegetable soup had been completely eaten by Haotian and said: "Your Majesty, you've already finished everything."

That plate could almost pass for a new one!

"Nonsense!

Haven't you seen that I'm still savoring my wine?"

Haotian glared and, with earnest sincerity, educated: "This wine must be savored slowly; haste makes waste."

"Tai Bai, you still have a long way to go."

Haotian casually picked up the transparent liuli cup that Chen Nuo had provided and that had lain unused until now, held it in his hand, and gently swirled it around.

"Like this, one must drink slowly, savoring the wine, for what matters is precisely the ambiance."

"Your Majesty, haven't you finished this wine as well?"

Tai Bai Jin Xing mercilessly pointed at the overturned wine jug on the table and at the lonely, empty cup Haotian was still swirling in his hand.