Before long, they reached a dense, emerald forest that seemed untouched by the chaos of the cultivation world.
Shen Yuan’s gaze sharpened as he spotted a familiar figure standing patiently at the edge of the clearing.
The woman stood calmly beneath the forest canopy, contrasted against the vibrant backdrop of the forest.
As they descended, Xueyan landed with a soft thud, her claws barely disturbing the grass beneath. Shen Yuan dismounted gracefully, his robes flowing as he stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the waiting figure.
Fang Lian, clad in a simple yet elegant dark outfit, bowed deeply the moment Shen Yuan’s feet touched the ground. “Young Master,” she greeted, her voice calm and respectful. “I have awaited your command.”
Shen Yuan nodded, his expression curious. “You’ve been here long?”
Fang Lian straightened, her posture flawless. “I arrived shortly after you entered the Silver Fox Sect, Young Master. I chose not to disturb you as per your instructions.”
A faint smile formed at the corner of Shen Yuan’s lips. “You have done well, Fang Lian. Your patience is commendable.”
She inclined her head slightly, her expression betraying no emotion but a glimmer of pride flickering briefly in her eyes. “What is your command, Young Master?”
Shen Yuan gestured for her to follow as he walked deeper into the forest. The rustling of leaves and the soft chirping of birds created a serene atmosphere, a stark contrast to the intensity of the pagoda and the sect’s hall.
After contemplating his thoughts, Shen Yuan stopped and turned to face Fang Lian.
“Fang Lian,” he began, his tone soft and calming. “You are among the few I trust outside my family. You have proved your loyalty enough times to me, but I have a new task for you—one that will test your skills further.”
Fang Lian’s gaze sharpened, her body straightening. “I am ready for any task you assign, Young Master.”
Shen Yuan took a deep breath as his eyes narrowed slightly. “The Silver Fox Sect is undergoing a transformation, but this also makes them vulnerable. I need you to act as my eyes and ears beyond their borders. Monitor their surroundings, track potential threats, and report any suspicious activities directly to me.”
Fang Lian nodded without hesitation. “It will be done. I will ensure no threat approaches without your knowledge.”
Shen Yuan stepped closer, his gaze softening slightly as he patted her head. “Be cautious. The sect’s enemies may see this as an opportunity to strike. Your safety is paramount, Fang Lian. Do not take unnecessary risks.”
A faint smile graced Fang Lian’s lips. “Your concern is appreciated, Young Master, but my life belongs to you. I will not falter.”
Satisfied, Shen Yuan reached into his spatial ring and retrieved a jade token. It shimmered faintly in his hand, radiating a protective aura. “Take this. If you find yourself in danger, crush it, and I will come to your aid immediately.”
Fang Lian accepted the token with both hands, her expression solemn. “I will not fail you.”
Shen Yuan turned his gaze toward the horizon, his thoughts momentarily drifting. “The path ahead will not be easy for any of us, but the rewards will be worth the struggle. Trust in your abilities and remain vigilant. This period of time will be the toughest as after this… hehe, the nightmare of all who dare to raise their sword against me will begin.”
Fang Lian’s eyes shone as she deeply bowed, “I shall carry your command, Young Master. I will ensure your trust is not misplaced.”
Shen Yuan nodded his head softly before mounting Xueyan again, “May we meet again soon.”
Before Fang Lian could bid her farewell, Xueyan flapped her massive wings and shot into the sky like an arrow shot from a bow.
“…See you again, Young Master,” Fang Lian softly muttered with a smile before turning around and leaving.
High in the sky, Xueyan flew rapidly, carrying Shen Yuan.
[So, you finally got the Silver Fox Sect under your control, huh. What’s your next plan?]
Shen Yuan felt the cool breeze on his face before softly replying, “I guess I will head back to the sect for now. The Aurora Zone Competition is coming closer. I heard six Divine Level powers will be joining this one. And a lot more smaller powers.”
[Are you feeling pressure already?]
Her teasing voice echoed in his mind.
To which Shen Yuan nodded his head, “Yes, I’m still only in the Origin Core Creation Realm, so even if my strength reaches the Peak of Dao Core Forming Realm at my absolute best, I can’t defeat those geniuses who have strength above their levels, as there will be Peak Dao Core Forming Realm cultivators.”
[I see, so you plan to break through to the Extreme Origin Core Realm?]
Shen Yuan nodded his head, “Yes, not only breaking through but also mastering Intents further after breaking through. I heard those geniuses have mastered Intents to the third or even fourth levels. I’m nowhere near that.”
[Looks like there will be an absurd closed-door seclusion soon, huh.]
Shen Yuan’s expression softened. “Well, I’m sure I can manage somehow. No point worrying about that right now. I also need to teach Qingyu about alchemy stuff.”
[Hehe, death may come, but you won’t forget your little harem.]
Shen Yuan shook his head with a light chuckle, “What do you want me to do? Cultivate all the time?”
[No, of course not. The thing I want above all else is for you to grow up safely. Your talent guarantees that you can ascend this world easily even if you stay in one place and cultivate peacefully.]
She earnestly said.
Shen Yuan got silent for a bit before shaking his head, “You know I would have lost out on a lot of treasures and relationships if I stayed in a single place. And what’s the point of reaching the top if you don’t have some people to stand there proudly? It will be… empty to stand there all alone.”
[…I guess that’s true.]
Yue Lan got silent as she felt Shen Yuan’s mood dropping slightly.
[…What happened?]
“The dream… that figure in the dream was exactly like this, standing proudly above myriad realms, but alone.” Shen Yuan exhaled a sigh before shaking his head. Discover exclusive tales on empire
“Anyways, I should head back quickly. It’s been over a day since I left the sect.” He said before looking at the azure horizon.
[…]
As Xueyan soared through the skies like a sword, the towering silhouette of the Radiant Lotus Sacred Sect began to appear on the horizon.
Mountains stood proudly amidst a sea of radiant Qi, their peaks glistening under the afternoon sun. Shen Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, the winds carrying a faint yet calming energy as they approached the sect’s boundary.
Xueyan transformed back into her smaller form and found her place comfortably on his shoulder. Shen Yuan dropped from the sky directly outside the Sect Gates.
The disciples guarding the gate tightened their grips on their weapons before deeply looking at the flowing dust to see who had come in this manner.
And soon, the dust cleared as they saw Shen Yuan, with his Core Disciple token hanging from his waist.
“Can I enter?” Shen Yuan asked with a light chuckle.