Lem was impressed with the performance of his simulated self.

Even if the spirituality had a disproportionate effect on those at higher realms of cultivation, the current state of the martial elder demonstrated how difficult it was to operate normally around the water lily.

Yet, despite this, his simulated self had kept his rationality, albeit with a huge internal struggle.

The perfect water lily swayed with a mesmerizing rhythm in the water. It almost felt like it was trying to entrap everything around it.

The martial elder suddenly spoke, but he did not move his eyes away from the water as a big smile crept over his features.

“I don’t even care that you neglected to mention the harvest tree. You are my lucky star, boy. After all this is done, I’ll bring you back to the martial school and make you my personal disciple.”

Lem’s simulated self did not know whether to laugh or to cry.

The martial elder’s mind was clearly distorted, and he knew that he could not trust the words that were coming out of his mouth.

However, he immediately felt a chill run down his spine when Master Brightflame continued.

“In the end, there were no mishaps. I should not have doubted your intuition! You know, boy, I was this close to killing you yesterday. I was sure that you had been lying to me all along, but the stories of the water lily were too compelling. I then decided that I would kill you after we found the water lily.

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“But that is all over, boy, you don’t have to worry. You are my lucky star.”

Lem’s simulated self panicked. He felt trapped, as though there were walls closing in on him from all sides.

He should have run away when he had the chance!

Master Brightflame was oblivious to the emotions of Lem’s simulated self, as his attention had been drawn back to the harvest tree.

The gray-blue trunk seemed as though it was taunting him, serving as the only barrier between him and his rightful prize.

“In such a moment, am I really going to hesitate?” He bellowed angrily. “Will I really fear a tree in the Spirit Refining Realm? I have lived for four centuries as a man, and now I’ll be stopped by a mere harvest tree? I don’t believe this!”

Master Brightflame seemed to grow in size at that moment. He straightened, making his crimson robes ripples.

“Watch carefully, boy, and I’ll show you how I earned the title of Brightflame!”

The martial elder took a step forward.

Lem’s simulated self felt a sudden fear erupt in him. A moment later, he became paralyzed.

It was far worse than the previous times, where he lacked mobility but could still think. This time, it was as though his mind was frozen as well. He could not even muster an ordinary thought, much less a thought of resistance.

Master Brightflame’s hands seemed to crackle with a strange, hidden energy. There was an undercurrent of something imminent.

As he watched, Lem felt that the scene was strangely serene.

The harvest tree was motionless, its barren branches unmoving. The lilies in the pond had a gentle rhythm to their floating.

Even the martial elder seemed to be moving quietly. He was twenty meters away from the harvest tree, and approaching with soft, steady steps.

It was the calm before the storm.