Okay, I will meticulously go through the provided webnovel excerpt and rewrite it with improved grammar, punctuation, and flow, while retaining the original meaning and character voices. I will also make minor word choice adjustments for better clarity and impact.
Here's the revised version:
"Asteria..." Lucius complemented, "Your name is truly beautiful."
"Thank you," she replied, bowing slightly.
"If I may be so bold as to be disrespectful," the merchant father began, "I would like to know the name of this benefactor who saved my daughter's life and mine."
"Isn't it only right to introduce yourself before asking for others' introductions?" Lucius said with a smile.
"Oh! Ha ha ha ha, my bad!" Drake introduced himself, "I am Drake Stwart, owner of Victoria Trading Company and Asteria's father."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Stwart," Lucius replied. "My name is Lucius. I am a lone cultivator, traveling the world."
"Oh ho! A cultivator!" Drake exclaimed, shaking Lucius's hand. "My merchant family has never had any cultivators, but yes! My daughter truly wanted to become one, so I had to spend a fortune to buy her some cultivation techniques! Haha."
He then asked, "By the way, Sir Cultivator, why are you in this jungle alone?" Drake found it odd.
"Oh, actually, I didn't know the way out," Lucius replied. "So I simply found a road and started walking, hoping to find someone who could tell me the way to Silverpetal City."
"Silverpetal City? Then you are in luck, Sir Cultivator!" Drake replied, smiling. "Currently, we are going towards Blacktower City! Silverpetal City is just about 30 kilometers away from it! Sir Cultivator can follow us to Blacktower City, from where you can then go to Silverpetal City." Behind that smile, however, different kinds of thoughts were brewing in his head.
Soon, Lucius entered the caravan, and it began moving.
After some distance, Lucius, curious, suddenly asked, "So, Miss Asteria, if it's not too rude of me, would you mind telling me what cultivation realm you are currently at?"
"I am at the initial stages of the Pulse Initiation Realm, and the initial stage of the Soul Initiation Realm," she replied, smiling at Lucius.
Lucius ignored the smile as he asked, "If I may not be rude, what is Miss's age? After all, your cultivation seems rather low for your apparent level."
Hearing this, Drake suddenly laughed as he interrupted, "Haha, my daughter is currently three years old! She's talented, isn't she?"
Hearing this, Lucius nodded and replied, "Indeed, she seems to be very talented. She is just six months younger than me."
Hearing this, Drake coughed as if something was stuck in his throat. He turned around, as he was currently sitting on a seat in front of them. "You are three and a half years old?!" he asked.
"Yes?" Lucius replied cluelessly.
"Then why are you so strong? You are way stronger than me!" This time, Asteria interrupted.
"Oh, that is because of the laws I practice," Lucius replied, clearly proud. "These laws give a huge boost of strength to me. Most people don't start practicing laws since it would be very hard for them to keep up with cultivation. That is why people who practiced laws from a young age, along with being able to keep up with cultivation, were truly talented."
"Oh..." Asteria said, surprised by Lucius's talent. After all, Lucius trained in laws and was still able to cultivate to her level, or perhaps even higher.
Soon, three days passed as they traveled, chatted, and enjoyed the view around. Lucius maintained a disguised identity the entire time, only using his real name. He didn't tell them anything about his background, or used small white lies to keep them in the dark. After all, they were strangers, and there was no need to speak about secrets to strangers.
Soon, they entered Blacktower City as Drake spoke up, "Sir Cultivator, what do you think about Asteria?"
Hearing this question, Asteria blushed as she lowered her head. She was also curious about this answer.
Lucius understood the meaning of this question but still chose to reply, "She's a good girl. She loves her family, has respect and care for others, and doesn't look down on others. She also has a great character and is very likable."
Hearing this, Drake grinned, and Asteria became as red as a tomato. "What-what are you tal–"
As she was about to speak, Lucius suddenly interrupted again. "Mr. Drake, I know what you are trying to do here, but listen to me first. I am an orphan whose parents were killed. I have enemies, and my path is full of harsh things like revenge and bloodshed."
Hearing this, Drake chose to think it over again, but then Asteria spoke up, "The path of a cultivator is always filled with such things: blood, vengeance, deaths, agony, and pain." she said solemnly. But then she realized what this could be interpreted as, so she tried to quickly explain herself. "I didn't mean–"
But this time, she was interrupted by her father.
"Mr. Lucius, do you know, my daughter is a really good judge of character," he said as he continued, "She is always able to tell what is inside others' hearts and is easily able to detect malice. Since she has decided to open up to you, I'm sure she approves of your character."
"And from how much I know about my daughter, she, for some reason, truly wants to follow you. This world is truly vast, and the chances for paths crossing again are very abysmal for coincidences to happen," he replied.
"Your daughter might die..." Lucius still tried to convince him.
"She will become strong, right? All you have to do is promise me that you will try your best to protect her. A cultivator shows their true potential only when they learn under another cultivator. And who knows, fate might have some different plans..." said Drake, smiling devilishly.
"..." He then turned around to look at Asteria.
"Is what your father said true? Do you really wish to follow me? You do know that I am just half a year older than you? What makes you think I am reliable?" Lucius asked.
Hearing him, she slightly nodded and then continued, "I don't think you will be any worse than me right now. As for strength? That is obtainable," she said with a smile.
"Ugh... you're a really silly girl, you know that?" Lucius said, scratching his head.
"Ahh... whatever. I might as well get a companion to help me around," Lucius replied as he turned around to face Drake.
"I will be taking your daughter," he replied.
Hearing this, both father and daughter rejoiced.
Soon, Drake spoke up, "Cultivator Lucius, you need to go to Silverpetal City, right? I will lend you a chariot that will help you reach that place within four hours."
At this moment, the news about the demise of the Blackthorns had not yet reached the ears of the common man, although that news would spread to them within a few days.
"Asteria, pack up your things. We will be leaving soon," said Lucius.
"Yes!" she replied, running towards the direction her house might be situated.
"Sir Lucius, please follow me," Drake said as he started walking in another direction as well.
Soon, Drake and Lucius arrived at a location. It seemed like the merchant company's headquarters. It was not very big, as this merchant company had just started and was in its first generation.
After some time, a carriage was brought. Meanwhile, Asteria also joined. Soon, they left for Silverpetal City.
On the way, Asteria and Lucius were currently talking with each other.
"So, Sir Lucius, the identity you told us about... it's a lie, isn't it?" she asked.
"If you already knew about this... why did you decide to follow me?" he questioned back, finding her guts not so simple.
"I sensed something when you were talking before; I sensed guilt, probably about a lie, and of course, there was no malice. So I was curious," she replied quite calmly.
"Indeed, it is a disguise," replied Lucius.
"I see..." she said.
"You aren't going to ask me to remove it?" Lucius asked again.
"You are using it to hide from pursuers, aren't you?" she answered with a question.
This girl... she is too smart! And who is she? How does she act as if she knows what I am thinking?
At that moment, he heard a voice in his mind, "She is practicing Enigmatic Heart Laws, boy. And from what I can see, she doesn't even know about it," replied the old orb.
I see... now I understand.
"Did you–" Lucius was about to speak when he was suddenly interrupted again.
"Don't tell her about it, or she might just forget how to master them. When she reaches Level 1 Intent in those laws, she will automatically get to know about this Law's existence," said the old ball.
Lucius didn't bother talking about it with her anymore. He didn't want to prevent her from getting such a powerful law.
The Enigmatic Heart Intent, or Laws as we say it, is a type of law specific to people who have a talent for reading the feelings of the heart. The users of these laws were very dangerous, as lying in front of them was almost next to impossible. This was a really useful law in the world of business.
Lucius felt pity for her father. He had practically 'convinced' a real talent to be handed over to him, after all.
Anyway, after a few hours, Lucius arrived at the now-devastated Silverpetal City. This was the city he had spent all of his life in, although mostly inside the house, as he was too small to be allowed outside.
But look at how fate would have it: as Lucius was just thinking about exploring the city one day, it played a cruel trick on him, and the whole city was destroyed, along with his house.
Seeing the devastated city buildings, Asteria exclaimed, "Terrible! What happened to the city? Where are the city guards? Where are the people?" she spoke.
"All died..." Lucius spoke.
"Died? How did that happen... what happened to the... um... Blackthorn Family?" she asked as she turned around to look at Lucius.
Lucius then started walking inside, the devastated state of the city laid bare before them. Nobody was left alive. Everyone was... killed. A couple of million people died just like that. This was a truly big massacre, and although this world had over 50 billion people living, a complete Tier 3 City wipeout was no small deal, and it would surely shake the entire empire.
"The Patriarch was killed, his wife violated and then killed. Their only son has also gone missing," Lucius replied.
"This city has become a Ghost City," Lucius added.
"I see... that's truly tragic," she replied as she crossed her hands together and closed her eyes. She looked as if she was praying.
"What are you doing?" Lucius asked as he looked at her praying.
"Me? I am praying for a peaceful reincarnation and a happy life for the people who died, to the heavens," she replied.
Hearing the reply, Lucius smiled. Inwardly, he thought, Heavens? Heh... if they ever got to know what laws I am practicing, they will spare no effort to try and kill me...
Soon, Lucius arrived at his home as he opened the door to enter inside.
As they entered, Asteria suddenly asked, "By the way, if this city is a ghost town, why are we even here?"
She was curious; for some reason, she was not able to figure out anything about him. It was as if he suddenly became unreadable. What she didn't know, however, was that Lucius had decided to block off the Law's intent with his stronger soul strength. This allowed him to prevent her from sensing anything.
As for why others didn't do that? This law was really sneaky, and until you knew about it being used on you already, you wouldn't even be able to sense it. Of course, others who used the same law would be able to sense it anyway.
"I am here to retrieve a possession of mine," Lucius said as he started walking.
"Your possession? What item that you own is even doing in a place like this—" she spoke, but what she saw next made her eyes widen in astonishment.
She saw:
As the man was walking, his eyes started to change color, turning from green to silver.
His height started to increase, going from 6'2" to 7'1", his shoulder length also broadened.
His face began to generate a jawline, his facial features becoming at least five times more handsome than before.
His clothes changed as well, generating a very luxurious outfit, a mixture of Eastern and Western clothing.
This clothing design was something Lucius himself had made for a cultivation protagonist in his manhua at the late ending area. This clothing design was something he liked very much and always wanted to own a set of clothes for it. And the purple-black color only enhanced it more than its original red and gold color.
Although Lucius didn't have any strong abs yet, he still had muscles. His abs were slowly taking shape on his stomach. His body was not perfect, but was still close to reaching a near-perfect looking level.
His hair color also started to change, from blonde to black. Purple crystals, which looked like ice, started to form wherever he walked.
This was an effect of the Obsidian Law's Thousand Faces technique.
"GASP! Why is this man SO handsome!" Asteria gasped, her breathing becoming rapid, her face tinted red.
While Asteria was trying to realize the reality of this man's handsomeness, Lucius spoke up, "There is an important legacy of my family that is currently hidden in this house. I am here to retrieve it. I am that missing son, the only child of the Blackthorn Family, the sole survivor. Lucius Von Blackthorn. You can call me Lucius."
[A.N: Lucius's Final clothing design is here, the same clothes will be what he will mostly wear eveywhere. image uploaded in the comments.]