The next day,
A young maid in a light blue robe led them to the State Preceptor’s private pavilion.
Lucian followed close behind, with Iris, Sylvia, Nysa, and Eris trailing him.
After they had walked for twenty breaths, they reached a wooden door carved with cranes dancing among clouds.
“Venerable State Preceptor is waiting inside,” said a thin guard beside the door, bowing before he opened it.
As they stepped inside, a surge of Spiritual Energy hit them, invigorating their spirits.
Immediately Lucian’s eyes swept across the room.
The walls were lined with paintings of ancient spiritual beasts and wars from past eras.
Along the north wall stood bookshelves packed with jade scrolls and books, each radiating faint Spiritual Energy.
With many shelves holding Spiritual Treasures, each with a unique aura, the room felt more like a small treasury than a meeting hall.
On the east side, there was no wall, only a transparent barrier that looked out over the east side of floating Royal City.
As the heavy snow fell, the Royal City looked like a true Immortal Realm.
At the city’s edge, the waterfall had partly frozen, casting rainbow patterns in the morning light.
In front of them, the old State Preceptor sat on the chair, looking at the snow-covered city indifferently.
A table filled with Spiritual meats and wine was placed before the old man as a middle-aged maid poured wine into jade cup.
Previously he was too exhausted to notice, but now as he looked at the old man again, his heart trembled fiercely.
Because he sensed the same kind of ethereal aura from the old man, just like the one he felt before from the soul of the Netherworld Demon Emperor!
Though the feeling was different, it had the same ancient and unfathomable feeling!
All these thoughts quickly flashed through his mind, but his face remained calm.
“Greetings, Senior,” They all spoke in unison, awe and respect on their faces, as if yesterday’s conversation with Eris had never happened.
“Come, sit,” The old man said, still staring at the snowy Royal City.
As they took their seats, the maid swiftly served them dishes.
Once the food was laid out, the old man spoke calmly, “You may leave.”
The maid bowed deeply and left, closing the door silently.
At this moment the old man smiled warmly, finally turning to face them as he placed a piece of meat in his mouth, “What are you waiting for? Start eating.”
Lucian was first to lift his chopsticks, and his women quickly followed.
The Spiritual red wine and food were exquisite. Each sip and bite sent rich Spiritual Energy through their meridians like streams.
After a moment,
“I never expected that your daughter would already have found a Dao Partner.” The old man’s eyes shifted between Lucian and Iris with interest.
Iris who had been watching and communicating with Sylvia and Lucian suddenly stopped.
Involuntarily her cheeks flashed crimson, her eyes darting away from Lucian’s gaze.
Lucian was speechless.
Why are you acting like a maiden after all the positions we’ve tried in bed?
But he chose to swallow his words.
Eris smiled, “It is fate.”
“Fath huh…” Then The old man sighed, “It’s just a pity that your husband…”
He didn’t complete the sentence, his eyes showing a hint of regret.
Eris smiled wryly, “I’ve already accepted my fate.”
The old man didn’t continue on that topic and turned to Lucian, “To think someone with the Emperor’s Bloodline was hiding in some small corner of the mortal world. Truly, the Heavens work in mysterious ways.”
From the moment they entered until now, he completely ignored Nysa and Sylvia as if they were some insignificant beings not worthy of his attention.
His focus remained solely on Lucian, with occasional glances at Eris and Iris.
He casually waved his hand and to Lucian’s disbelief, a drop of golden Essence blood came out of his heart, floating in the air before the old man’s gaze!
Lucian’s pupils constricted sharply and his complexion visibly paled a bit, yet he just smiled and didn’t explain anything.
Sometimes staying silent was better than speaking, especially to someone whose intentions remained unclear.
Iris and Sylvia’s brows knitted tightly, but Eris and Nysa swiftly tapped their thighs, signaling them not to act hastily.
They did not communicate spiritually, as Eris had explained it was pointless, based on her father’s past discoveries!
The old man didn’t seem to see their responses. He carefully examined the Essence Blood for a moment and said, “How fascinating. I can’t actually find the source of this Emperor’s Bloodline. It seems as though you are the very first to possess this Bloodline. There is also no Cause and Effect that I can trace.”
He turned his gaze to Lucian again and seeing his pale face, he chuckled, “Oh! Sorry about that!”
He waved his hand again and the drop of golden Essence Blood returned to Lucian’s body, seamlessly merging back into his Essence Blood as if this drop was never even taken out!
Lucian’s heart skipped a beat, his hand instinctively moved to his chest.
He couldn’t comprehend what just happened but a terrifying thought quickly crossed his mind!
Time?!
But just as fast this thought emerged in his mind, it vanished just as quickly.
Because he did not dare continue to think about this possibility.
The old man smiled like an elder teaching his juniors, “There are only few cultivators in the world who can still maintain their composure in front of me. Just as I felt, you’re indeed someone with great Qi Fortune.”
However, abruptly an unfathomable aura burst from the old man’s body!
It was as if the heaven was collapsing, earth was spitting, a horrifying Spiritual Pressure crushed down upon them.
“Tell me young man, why do you have the aura of the Outside?”
The old man asked in a deep voice, his voice seemed to carry the weight of Heaven, each word like heavenly thunder in their ears.
