Zhao Lusi straightened, her tone turning matter-of-fact, even casual.
"That is two full realms above Hollow Spirit."
Fang Yuan’s pupils contracted sharply.
Two realms.
In a world where Hollow Spirit was the end, the absolute ceiling... this woman stood beyond anything mortals could even conceptualize.
Zhao Lusi lifted a finger, drawing symbols in the air as she explained:
"After the Hollow Spirit Realm, one enters the Spirit Severing Realm, where you cut away the limits of mortal essence."
Her voice was calm, like a teacher giving a lecture.
"And after Spirit Severing... cos Transcending Tribulations. Once one survives heavenly wrath, the soul is reborn... touched by eternity."
She smiled faintly.
"From there... the title of Immortal is no exaggeration."
Lin Zhaoyue stared at her, completely pale.
Fang Yuan’s expression was unreadable but inside, calculations raced like storms.
Human Immortal...
Two realms above Hollow Spirit...
Beyond this world’s limit...
Who exactly had he just provoked?
Zhao Lusi stepped closer and the domain around them bent as if bowing to her presence.
Then her tone sharpened, decisive, absolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Fang Yuan," she said, her eyes locking onto his with unnerving intensity,"I an you no harm."
She raised a hand, pointing at him as if selecting a precious gemstone.
"On the contrary...."
Her smile turned radiant.
"I wish to offer you a chance."
Fang Yuan remained silent as Zhao Lusi’s next words dropped:
"Join the sect I belong to and beco my personal disciple."
Lin Zhaoyue’s grip on Fang Yuan’s sleeve tightened dramatically.
The Saberfang whimpered.
Zhao Lusi continued, voice calm but firm.
"You will not find a better opportunity in this lifeti or the next. Your potential has already reached the edge of this world."
She stepped closer, the space between them crackling with pressure.
"With ... you will break limits you didn’t know existed."
A soft glimr danced in her eyes as she held his gaze.
"So — Fang Yuan."
She extended her hand toward him.
"Will you accept?"
Fang Yuan’s gaze remained steady...
But his fingers tightened ever so slightly around Lin Zhaoyue’s wrist.
"And if I say no?"
he asked quietly.
Zhao Lusi’s smile widened bright, beautiful, and sincere.
"Oh, no worries at all," she chirped as the air itself froze.
"I’ll just kill you right where you stand, evaporate your entire clan from existence,"
she tapped her finger lightly against her cheek,"and then simply wait another thousand of two years for any promising child to be born."
She said it such a cheerful tone that Fang Yuan...
did not doubt for even a mont that she would do exactly that.
Lin Zhaoyue trembled beside him, eyes wide with terror.
"...If I go with you," Fang Yuan managed, his voice calm despite his pulse,"will my clan be spared?"
Zhao Lusi gave a delighted little laugh.
"Oh, of course! Don’t worry."
She waved a hand dismissively, starlight scattering from her sleeves.
"If you et my requirents and fulfill all my requests, I’ll even allow you to return to this world from ti to ti to visit them."
She leaned in slightly, eyes playful but sharp like a blade wrapped in silk.
"I’m not foolish enough to kill a disciple’s clan. Imagine teaching soone who secretly wants to murder you. Heavens, how troubleso."
Fang Yuan felt a cold sweat run down his back.
He gulped and then nodded slowly.
"...Alright. I’ll join you."
Zhao Lusi’s smile brightened so much it looked like the sun had appeared behind her.
"Wonderful!"
Then her eyes flicked toward Lin Zhaoyue.
"You can also bring that servant of yours as well," Zhao Lusi added offhandedly.
Lin Zhaoyue blinked.
"...Ser... what...?"
Zhao Lusi’s gaze swept over Lin Zhaoyue from head to toe, humming thoughtfully.
"Well, she’s weak," she said bluntly. "Very weak. Ridiculously weak."
She nodded as if confirming her own opinion.
"But she’s cute. And she might be useful."
Fang Yuan stepped forward.
"She’s not a servant," he said firmly.
His voice was steady and clear.
"She is my wife."
Lin Zhaoyue’s heart stopped as her breath caught in her throat.
Zhao Lusi blinked and then she tilted her head, studying Lin Zhaoyue with renewed interest.
"Your dao companion?"
she muttered, tapping her chin,
"is soone who’s never cultivated? That’s... weird."
Fang Yuan froze.
Never cultivated?
Wait... what?
His mind churned rapidly.
Zhaoyue did cultivate. She had even been powerful. Soone whose aura used to crackle like a storm behind her eyes.
He didn’t know what happened but along with her mories her cultivation base had also dissapeared.
But now, not even one in the human immortal realm could see through her? Was there sothing going on with Lin Zhaoyue that he needs to understand?
"Hmm?" Zhao Lusi raised a brow at Fang Yuan’s expression.
"What? Did I say sothing wrong?"
He blinked and snapped out of his thoughts.
"No, no," he said quickly, "you didn’t."
Zhao Lusi humd and nodded as if that settled everything.
"Alright then."
She lifted a hand and the domain around them shimred like glass catching starlight.
"I’ll give you one month to do what you need to do before leaving your clan."
Her tone beca strict, authoritative.
"I want my disciple in perfect condition before cultivation begins."
Fang Yuan bowed his head slightly.
"One month," he repeated.
"Good." Zhao Lusi smiled.
Then she turned her gaze toward Xuanwu and her expression dropped instantly.
"You," she said with icy impatience, "I told you to notify when a person reached the Hollow Spirit Realm. Looks like you truly ignored ."
She flicked her sleeve.
"It seems I need to replace the guardian of this realm."
Xuanwu nearly jumped out of his shell.
"WAIT—WAIT!!"
His booming voice cracked.
"Y-Your Majesty — listen! That boy—him!" He pointed his massive head toward Fang Yuan.
"He hid his cultivation and never exposed himself! I-I swear, I didn’t know he was at the hollow spirit realm until it was too late!"
Zhao Lusi raised an eyebrow.
Xuanwu scrambled, panicked.
"B-But! Aside from him, there is another human who is about to reach the Hollow Spirit Realm!"
His voice trembled, words tumbling out desperately.
"I swear! I swear on my shell, on my ancestors, on the heavens—just please don’t replace !!!"
Zhao Lusi folded her arms, unimpressed.
Her elegant gaze slid back to Fang Yuan.
"There is... another?" she murmured.
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