Feng Zhiming stretched his arms, feeling the lingering tension from the morning's events. As he and Anissa walked towards the main hall, she averted her gaze, still embarrassed by the vulnerability she had shown the night before.

“Big sister, do you really have to go?” Little Yue asked, her wide eyes filled with concern.

Anissa smiled gently but did not meet her gaze. “Yes, there are things I must take care of. I can't explain it to you now, but perhaps in the future.”

Feng Zhiming, ever the provocateur, smirked and added, “Maybe if you weren’t just a mere body refiner, she’d consider taking you along.”

Little Yue shot him a glare, her small fists clenching in frustration. “How can you speak like that? I’ll tell big sister to discipline her unruly disciple better!”

“She’s my master before she’s your big sister, little girl,” Feng Zhiming retorted, his tone teasing yet firm.

Little Yue’s cheeks puffed up in indignation, almost as if she would float away with how red they became. “Just you wait until my brothers come home; I’ll have them all beat you badly!”

As they approached the entrance to the main hall, an elderly man, the same one they had encountered earlier, was waiting by the door. “Little miss, come with me. Your father does not wish to be disturbed right now.”

Little Yue, realizing she had no choice, reluctantly allowed herself to be led away by the old man. As she disappeared down the corridor, she turned back and called out, “I’ll miss you, big sister!”

Anissa waved, her heart warmed by the affection.

“Why are you so petty with a little girl?” she asked Feng Zhiming, still puzzled by his behavior. In all her years as a cultivator, she had never met anyone quite like him.

“Everything I do has a purpose,” Feng Zhiming replied, a mischievous glint in his eye. “This, in particular, is because I find it amusing.”

Before Anissa could respond, Feng Zhiming nudged her towards the entrance of the hall. Inside, they found Zhuge Yi seated at the head of the room, his monocle gleaming as he watched them enter. One of his subordinate managers hurriedly left the room as they approached.

“Did you enjoy your stay at the Zhuge estate?” Zhuge Yi asked, his tone polite yet probing.

Anissa and Feng Zhiming responded in unison, bowing slightly, “We are grateful for your grace.”

Zhuge Yi’s gaze lingered on Anissa, his expression one of approval. “It seems your sword intent has become sharper. Congratulations.”

Anissa, always modest, replied, “It was just luck.”

Zhuge Yi nodded, though he knew better. Achievements of this caliber were rarely due to luck alone. Still, he let the matter rest. Turning to Feng Zhiming, he said, “Boy, I never asked your name.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“This one is Feng Zhiming, Clan Leader. I am a disciple of the Heavenly Divine Demon Sect.”

Zhuge Yi wasn’t surprised. The Heavenly Divine Demon Sect was known for granting its disciples considerable freedom, including the choice of masters, even those outside the sect. “You should have mentioned it earlier. The sect is a close ally of ours; we would have treated you with even greater respect.”

Feng Zhiming bowed his head humbly. “The Clan Leader’s treatment has been more than generous. How could I possibly complain?”

Zhuge Yi smiled, satisfied with Feng Zhiming’s humility. Unlike many cultivators of his age, who would flaunt their achievements with arrogance, Feng Zhiming remained grounded.

“I’ve looked into the Circle of the Forgotten One and have contacted their current leader, Hera. She has agreed to establish her headquarters in this city, and I will support her efforts,” Zhuge Yi announced.

Both Anissa and Feng Zhiming expressed their gratitude, recognizing the significance of such an alliance.

Zhuge Yi rose from his seat, indicating that it was time to depart. “Now, to the teleportation array. Please, place your hands on my back.”

Feng Zhiming couldn’t help but smile, eager to witness what was to come. As he placed his hand on Zhuge Yi’s back, the space around them began to warp and twist. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves in the heart of the city, standing before the teleportation array.

“This is… spatial bending,” Feng Zhiming remarked, trying to commit the sensation to memory. The experience of tearing through space was unlike anything he had felt before.

Anissa, however, shook her head. “This is beyond regular spatial bending. My father could never transport others. Whenever he bent space, it was only himself.”

Zhuge Yi nodded, acknowledging her observation. “You have keen eyes. It is indeed spatial bending, but my understanding of the concept of space allows me to bring others with me during the process.”

As Zhuge Yi empowered the teleportation array, he reassured them, “I will continue to investigate Dao Lord Fury.”

Anissa cupped her hands and bowed slightly before stepping into the array. “Thank you for your generosity, Clan Leader Yi. I am forever grateful for all that you have done for my master and me. We will come to your aid whenever you call.”

Feng Zhiming, following her lead, cupped his hands as well. “Your support is invaluable, and we will not forget our ties to the Zhuge Clan.”

As they entered the array, a figure cloaked in green reappeared by Zhuge Yi’s side. “That Feng Zhiming, he’s a leech,” the figure remarked, his voice tinged with disdain.

Zhuge Yi chuckled softly. “He reminds me of myself when I was younger—a greedy businessman. But don’t be so quick to judge. We’ve made a valuable gain today.”

The figure looked up, puzzled. Zhuge Yi continued, “You fool of a son, that girl is a Spiritual Awakening cultivator before reaching a hundred years of age. In less than a millennium, we may have another Dao Lord cultivator as an ally.”

Realization dawned on Zhuge Yi’s son, his earlier disdain replaced with respect. “I see, Father. I was short-sighted.”

“Forget it,” Zhuge Yi waved his hand dismissively. “Go console your sister. She’s throwing the estate into chaos.”

…

The Wildlands were shrouded in a thick fog that night, adding an eerie stillness to the air. At the center of a blood-stained courtyard, an old man sat, his robes soaked with the essence of the fallen. Around him lay the bodies of hundreds of thousands of mortals, their lifeless forms drained of blood.

“It was worth staying at the peak of the Ethereal Core,” the old man muttered, a maniacal grin spreading across his face. “The announcement of that bounty on the creature was my lucky break. Now, even though I’ve reached the Condensed Stage of Spiritual Awakening, I know exactly where all the cannon fodder will be heading. Hehehehehe.” He laughed, the sound chilling in the desolate night.

The absorption of blood essence from so many had accelerated his cultivation, allowing him to progress rapidly. Now, he planned to use the bounty as bait, intercepting other participants and using them to further his own ends.

A weak voice interrupted his thoughts. “You fiend… they’ll come for you,” a half-dead woman gasped, her body barely holding on to life.

The old man’s grin widened. “Let them come. They’ll only add to my strength.”