"Come here," Feiling said to Tianming. Her silhouette seemed to blend in with the snowy background behind her, making her look even more alluring. Unlike Xuanyuan Muxue, who looked like the blizzard itself, Feiling stood out against the snow as if she had given it a life of its own.
"Yes, Your Eminence." Tianming still couldn't afford to show how moved he was. He walked past Xuanyuan Dao and Fang Qingli to Feiling's back. Now that she was dressed in a top grade tribulation artifact covered in many heavenly pattern formations, the other two no longer had to stick so closely to her to protect her, so Tianming was now the one who stood closest to her.
"How is your cultivation?" she asked when she turned around, her eyes filled with deep longing.
"Your Eminence, my progress has matched your expectations so far, and I might be able to continue meeting your hopes." Tianming could see the words she wanted to say, but couldn't, in her eyes. He wanted to hug her and tell her he missed her and all sorts of other things instead of speaking about serious matters like these.
"Not bad. I can tell that if you continue, you will definitely become the top genius of the Flameyellow Continent, perhaps even the eleventh god to be born!"
Tianming knew why she had to say that: to establish an excuse to give him even more clout so that he would have an even higher position in the Archaion Sect.
"Thank you, Your Eminence. I will definitely follow in Your Eminence's footsteps as your disciple and serve you to the best of my ability," he said.
"Your Eminence, does Tianming really have a chance at ascending to godhood?" Xuanyuan Dao asked.
"Time will tell."
"Your Eminence's prophecies have never been wrong. I wonder if the Archaion Sect will be able to dominate the entire realm with two gods?" Xuanyuan Dao said happily. The other seniors of the Archaic House of Xuanyuan also seemed happy to hear it. They knew that, while they were in a tough spot now, once all of it was over, the Archaion Divine Realm would rise again.
"It's best you don't say things like that. Let Tianming make his own progress. He is still young, and there are still many difficulties on the road ahead of him," Feiling said sternly.
"Understood!" the others chorused.
There were many geniuses throughout history that were said to be potential new gods but only Tianming alone had the sight and interest of a real god.
"Tianming, if you have any needs in your cultivation from now on, tell Xuanyuan Dao. The Archaion Sect will give you its full support."
"Thank you, Your Eminence!" Now, his position in the sect would definitely be unrivaled. Perhaps he could even request to participate in the Fiend Trials, and it was all thanks to his performance in the Deepstar Battle. Now, all he needed was a word from her to get a spot at the Deepstar Pool. She could even do things that Fang Taiqing couldn't.
Compared to when they had first come and had zero idea of what to do, their current situation was much better. Both Tianming and Feiling already had a reasonably good idea of the politics and relationships in the Archaion Sect.
As a result of what Feiling had said, the atmosphere in Soulburn Hall was much more relaxed. She really had grown into her role as the eminent pretty well.
"Is there anything else? Otherwise, go back to cultivate," she said.
"Your Eminence, there is one more matter...."
"Speak."
"Back then, my fourth lifebound beast was injured, but now it has recovered and is able to fight. However, it is a little low in level and I still need one more tribulation manna."
"Your fourth? Oh, the one that was injured when you saved me." She knew what he meant by that. Hearing that the new lifebound beast might soon be born, she stifled her excitement. Turning to Xuanyuan Dao, she said, "Get him one more."
"Understood! What grade do you need, Tianming? Will a fourth-level one do?" Xuanyuan Dao seemed far more generous than before.
"Yes, that will do. Thank you, Your Eminence!"
"What type do you need?"
"It's a little unique. I need a plant type."
"Plant?!" Everyone was surprised to hear that.
"Plant-type lifebound beasts are really rare, and it’s only one of his lifebound beasts."
"Plant-type lifebound beasts are also really hard to deal with in their own way."
"It's no wonder that even Her Eminence considers him a top genius."
The other seniors were busy discussing the revelation.
"Since that type is rare, it’ll take some time to get a suitable one," Xuanyuan Dao said.
"Thank you, Sect Master. It isn’t needed urgently, as it is still recovering."
"All right."
After settling the matter, Tianming was preparing to go back.
Feiling took out a small book and said, "Here is a battle art for you. Study it when you go back.
"Thank you, Your Eminence!" Tianming received it, but it only looked like a normal book. One that was handwritten by her, in fact. He quickly put it away.
"Now go."
"Yes. I will be taking my leave."
......
After leaving Xuanyuan Lake, Tianming took out the 'battle art' and looked inside. It was just a normal blank book with a simple paragraph:
I believe you are busy, so you will
Miss the chance to take a rest.
You should definitely read the words at the fore for some tips.
He turned to the earlier pages but didn't see anything else. Only then did he notice that the words that the paragraph referred to were the three first words of each line that read 'I miss you'.
......
Before Tianming returned to Number One Pavilion, he ran into Fang Xingying who flew past riding on his grey phoenix. Tianming stopped him from leaving.
"What's the deal?" Fang Xingying asked.
"Nothing much. I see that you're humming. You must be in a rather good mood."
"Fang Xingque is dead, so of course my mood is good. Tianming, I need to apologize to you. I was really rash back then. I didn't know that you were trying to help me," he said gratefully.
"Oh?" Tianming began paying attention.
"I heard he died a horrible death, fitting for someone as evil as he was. He finally got what he deserved."
"Aren't you concerned about the fact that I'm still alive after killing him?"
"Word has spread that you’re the disciple that Her Eminence brought back to the sect. Her Eminence really favors you, so your status is even more amazing than an illegitimate son of the Human Branch sect master would have. Even though Fang Xingque was the son of the Heaven Branch sect master, that still can't compare to Her Eminence!"
"You are too excited about this. You should tone it down a bit or you’ll let things slip."
"Huh?" Fang Xingying feigned ignorance.
"You don't need to thank me. The one that killed him might not be me. It could even be the Heaven Branch sect master himself," Tianming said with a chuckle, then waved and left.
Once he returned to Number One Pavilion, he noticed that the direwolf was still alive and the Imperial Sword Prison was really stable.
"Something is off."
"What?" Ying Huo asked.
"The Imperial Sword Prison doesn't look like it can go out of control."
"Does that mean someone tried forcefully breaking it and caused it to explode?"
"If that’s the case, how could they be sure that I was the one who killed him? Anyone trying to break the seal would know that utmost caution should be taken. How can I be blamed for this?"
"The key is that you don't know the circumstances behind Fang Xingque's death."
"Did someone from the Sterling House of Fang kill him and put the blame on me?"
"It can't be. What would that achieve?"
"I don't know." Tianming kept thinking about it, but couldn't figure out anything about Fang Xingque's death. He didn't even know who was there, or what they had seen or heard. "If Fang Xingque was brought back, then normal people wouldn't be able to touch him. Someone must’ve been protecting him, right? That puts Fang Xingying out of the picture."
"Why are you suspecting him?"
"He has the motive to do it, but not the opportunity. He did seem a little nervous to see me. It wasn't just gratitude and excitement, so I began suspecting him."
"Makes sense, but you still lack details."
"The question is, the Sterling House of Fang isn't making any noise about his death, so where can I get details from?"
"How would I know?" Ying Huo rolled its eyes.
......
Within a floating palace's pavilion on Xuanyuan Lake, Xuanyuan Muxue was playing a guzheng. Her music was really soothing. The breeze that blew past ruffled her hair, highlighting her beautiful figure in the icy landscape. Her youthful appearance was filled with vigor. However, she stopped playing when someone came.
"Brother Yuheng," she said, standing up.
"Muxue." Xuanyuan Yuheng sat down beside her with a sinister look.
"Do you have something on your mind?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Are you uncomfortable about the fact that the whole sect now knows that Li Tianming will one day become the eminent's disciple?"
"You really understand me."
"I do indeed."
"Muxue, you’ll be going to the Deepstar Pool with Li Tianming soon, right?" he asked with a passionate look.
"Yes."
"I have a way for you to avenge your brother. You’ll be able to safely kill Li Tianming. Listen well, this is a chance that might never come again!"