Jin Yu fixed her eyes on Tian Ling, her heart pounding as his sudden decision still echoed in her mind. She knew this moment would come, but she hadn’t expected it so soon. The words she had rehearsed so many times seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving only a void, a hesitation.

"Alright..." she began, her voice hesitant before mustering courage. "You can come and cultivate by my side from now on, if you wish."

The gentle tone and calm gaze of Tian Ling broke the silence between them, but the impact of his words made Jin Yu’s heart race even more. She lowered her gaze, trying to hide the slight blush rising in her cheeks. The closeness made her nervous in a way she couldn’t control.

Tian Ling smiled, noticing her shyness, but he respected the space that Jin Yu still seemed to need. His expression remained serene.

"For now, I’ll continue at my master's central island," Jin Yu said, trying to sound confident, though her voice still carried a hint of embarrassment. "I plan to leave and search for opportunities once I reach the Spiritual Core Realm. Would you... like to accompany me?"

The question hung in the air, laden with expectation but also uncertainty. She already knew, deep down, what the answer would be, but part of her wished for something different.

With his usual calmness, Tian Ling responded without hesitation.

"I appreciate the offer, Jin Yu, but I’ll have to decline. I prefer to cultivate in peace," his words were soft but firm, and the subtle smile on his face left no doubt about his decision.

He knew that while opportunities and fortuitous encounters were important to many cultivators, he didn’t need to seek out dangerous adventures. His natural talent was enough to progress, and his priority was clear: to grow stronger without unnecessary distractions. Taking risks now, when his cultivation was progressing so well, was not part of his plans.

Jin Yu took a deep breath, trying not to let the slight disappointment show. She knew Tian Ling was different, but that didn’t make the rejection any less painful.

"Alright, then..." she said with a nearly imperceptible sigh. "I’ll come to see you before I leave."

She forced a smile before bidding farewell, her eyes lingering on Tian Ling’s face for a few more seconds before turning and walking away. They continued talking about trivial matters for a while, but the emotional distance between them had subtly deepened.

Once Jin Yu had left, returning to the Inner Sect, Tian Ling allowed himself to relax, letting out a light sigh. His gaze followed her to the horizon where she had disappeared, and a small smile tugged at his lips.

"She really didn’t do anything... she’s shyer than I thought. And here I was, thinking there might be a bit of fun," he thought, letting out a faint chuckle.

But his expression soon turned serious again. There was much to be done. Returning to his meditation position, Tian Ling closed his eyes and focused on his goal: the Perfected Soul Realm. That was the next step, the next obstacle to overcome.

Meanwhile, in a desolate region of the Nine Stars...

Sitting on a black throne, a grotesque figure gazed at the dark horizon with sharp eyes. His human form was distorted by three large horns protruding from his head, and his green, scaly skin gleamed sinisterly in the dim light of the surroundings. This was the Green Demon, one of the most feared leaders of the demons in the Nine Stars region.

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"How are the preparations?" his deep and oppressive voice echoed through the dark hall, causing the lesser demons to shrink back.

Before him, a lesser demon knelt, his submissive posture contrasting with the aura of power emanating from the Green Demon. Without daring to lift his head, he replied in a controlled voice.

"Everything is ready, my king. We can attack the Thousand-Eyed Demon’s territory at any moment."

The Green Demon smiled, his expression growing even more sinister.

"Excellent... then we will launch the attack immediately. Relay my orders to the army," his voice, dripping with malice, seemed to fill the hall with an even heavier weight.

With thousands of subordinates under his command, the Green Demon had ambitious plans. He knew that by dominating this territory, his recognition as the Demon King of the Nine Stars would be inevitable. His smile widened as his thoughts took shape.

"Once I conquer this territory, I will be officially recognized. And soon, everything will be mine..." he thought, his eyes gleaming with unbridled ambition.

A few days later, the Green Demon’s army launched into a bloody war against rival demons, and news of their movements quickly reached the Serene Mist Sect.

In the main hall of the Serene Mist Sect, the elders were gathered in council.

"The demons are at war again," said one of the elders, his voice heavy with concern.

"The Green Demon is trying to establish himself as the Demon King of the Nine Stars region," another elder suggested, crossing his arms as he looked at the others present.

"Won’t this eventually affect us?" asked a younger elder, his apprehension visible in his eyes.

The Sect Master, seated in his prominent position in the hall, remained serene. His eyes, full of wisdom and experience, observed the elders calmly.

"The Green Demon won’t become a Demon King so easily. Even if he succeeds, he wouldn’t dare challenge us directly," the master said, his voice exuding unwavering confidence.

"However, his cultivation must already be in the early levels of the Perfected Soul Realm. If he attacks us..." the oldest elder hesitated, fearing what might come next.

"There's no need to worry. I’m close to breaking through to the next level, and my master will return soon. He left five hundred years ago, and I’m certain he has already reached the Perfected Soul Realm," the Sect Master responded, maintaining his firm stance.

The seasons passed quickly. Springs, autumns, winters... five years went by like a brief breath in history.

Tian Ling slowly opened his eyes, a feeling of satisfaction filling his heart. He had reached the second level of the True Soul Realm, and his cultivation progress was going smoothly. The Mystic Realm, with its abundance of spiritual energy, was the perfect place for his growth.

Feeling invigorated, Tian Ling decided to check on his friends through the system. His mind quickly connected to the interface, and information began to appear before his eyes.

[Your friend Jiang Zhenhai was attacked by demons x43]

[Your friend Zhao Xun was attacked by demons x56]

[Your friend Yu Meilin was attacked by cultivators]

[Your dao companion comprehended the heavens' will, and her cultivation evolved greatly]

[Your master had a fortuitous encounter, and her cultivation improved]

[Your friend Xue Yunzhi received knowledge from a powerful figure through dreams; his cultivation improved greatly]

Tian Ling’s eyes widened in surprise. "So many things happened... and all in such a short time," he thought, his thoughts racing.

"Why are my friends being attacked repeatedly?" He clicked on each name, trying to gather more information, but the system only provided images of the battles. He saw fierce fights, but no clear reason behind the attacks.

Frustration took hold of him for a moment. There were no easy answers. All he knew was that his friends were constantly battling demons.

Clicking on Yu Meilin’s name, he viewed a scene of her fighting cultivators in black robes, but to his frustration, he couldn’t identify the attackers. However, he wasn’t too concerned, as he knew that, in the end, all of them had survived without serious injuries.

"It seems I need to investigate this further." Determined, Tian Ling stepped through the portal back to the Serene Mist Sect, ready to uncover what was happening.

As he moved through the portal, the familiar voice of the system echoed in his mind:

[Guardian target detected. New mission available.]