Chapter 651 – "A Mortal's Table, A Heavenly Meal"
The golden light of sunset bathed the Heaven Sect's floating palace, casting soft shadows over clouds and jade.
Just as the silence following Alex's polite teacup remark began to settle—
"Let's have dinner."
Everyone turned.
Yu Mei's mother, the ever-composed matriarch of the Heaven Sect, set down her cup and smiled gently.
"We've had enough tension for one day. I want everyone present at the long hall in half an hour."
The Sect Master groaned softly.
Fei Xue: "Wait, is this mandatory?"
Shui Yun: "She never hosts meals unless it's a marriage meeting."
Ru Yan: "Exactly, so who's the lucky couple—wait…"
Everyone turned to Yu Mei.
She was pink from ears to collarbone.
"Mother," she said quickly, "you don't have to—"
But her mother simply smiled.
"You said he cooks, didn't you?"
"Let's see if he can make our daughters smile and full."
Within the hour, the private royal dining hall was bustling.
The table stretched long and wide, capable of seating nobles, elders, and deities alike. But tonight, it hosted only the family.
And at the center of the open cooking platform…
Alex stood, sleeves rolled up, casually preparing ingredients like it was a weekend barbecue back on Earth.
Yu Mei stood near him, arms crossed, pretending she wasn't watching his every move.
"You really don't need to do this."
"Of course I do," Alex replied, slicing vegetables with surgical precision. "They're your family."
"Also," he added with a smirk, "I heard a few of your sisters doubting my cooking skills."
In the corner, Shui Yun sneezed.
Soon, the scent of grilled and simmering dishes filled the entire hall:
The Mortal's Menu:
Spicy Honey-Glazed Spirit Beast SteakGarlic-Butter Roasted Root Lotus with Gold SaltHeavenly-Pan-Seared Phoenix Mushroom Stir FryMana-Rice Wrapped Omelet PouchesSweet Ginger-Plum Broth with Floating Petal Dumplings
When the dishes were served—
Silence.
Fei Xue stared at her plate, then took one bite.
"..."
Another bite.
"…"
Then she slammed her chopsticks down.
"Why didn't anyone tell me mortals could cook like this?!"
Mei Lian's eyes sparkled. "It's better than those banquet chefs!"
Ru Yan held a spoonful in midair. "I think I just had a spiritual breakthrough."
Shui Yun muttered, "I'd marry for this meal."
The Sect Master, now fully recovered and still sore from being KO'd earlier, took one bite of steak—
Paused—
Then lowered his chopsticks with a defeated sigh.
"Fine."
"You can marry him."
Yu Mei's mother smiled knowingly.
Yu Mei nearly choked on her dumpling.
Alex just said:
"No pressure, right?"
The dinner had become... too peaceful.
Too delicious.
Too suspiciously perfect.
The food Alex cooked had broken something fundamental in the Heaven Sect daughters. Their lifelong arrogance, refined palates, and superiority complexes had all been shattered by grilled meat and herb butter.
And then—
Fei Xue, the eldest sister, lowered her chopsticks slowly and turned to Mei Lian.
"Mei Lian."
"Yes?"
"Do you want to swap husbands?"
The table froze.
A spoon clattered.
Yu Mei nearly choked.
Alex blinked.
"Sorry, what?"
Mei Lian leaned forward, very serious.
"My husband's cultivation is decent, but can he cook like this? No. He can't even boil rice without asking his sect attendant."
"He doesn't even slice lotus roots evenly."
"And this—" she motioned to her plate, "—is perfection."
Ru Yan chimed in, "Forget swap. Can we just roll back our marriages and start over?"
Yan Zhi wiped her mouth delicately. "I would literally duel my in-laws for this man's omelet."
Shui Yun, dreamily:
"What if we co-own him?"
Yu Mei slammed her cup on the table.
"Absolutely not."
All seven sisters looked at her.
Fei Xue raised an eyebrow. "So you do claim him?"
Yu Mei's face turned crimson. "That's not—he's not—!"
Alex leaned back, amused.
"Should I start taking applications?"
The table erupted in chaos.
"I was joking," Alex added quickly, hands raised in mock surrender.
Fei Xue, half-serious: "Too late. Applications are already forming."
Mei Lian, folding her arms: "Yu Mei, when's the wedding?"
Ru Yan, nodding sagely: "He's clearly a spirit chef sent by the heavens to test our loyalty. We failed."
Meanwhile, the brothers watched in stunned silence as their wives awkwardly began comparing them to Alex.
Qin Wu whispered, "I feel… replaced."
Ren Bo stared into his bowl. "I used to think I was charming."
The Sect Master silently took another bite of steak and muttered:
"...damn good rice."
After the laughter died down and the last bite of mana-infused dumplings vanished from the plates, the evening slowly settled into that soft, glowing quiet that only follows a truly satisfying meal.
The stars shimmered outside the open-air pavilion, silver threads gliding across the sky like painted brushstrokes. A faint breeze blew through the crystal lanterns, making them flicker gently.
One by one, the sisters left the table, still mumbling praises and complaints about reality not living up to Alex's cooking.
The brothers, sensing an opportunity to escape future teasing, retreated with quiet speed.
Even the Sect Master, grumbling under his breath, muttered something about "cultivating his pride back" before vanishing in a flash of light.
Soon, only Yu Mei and Alex remained.
She stood at the far edge of the balcony, gazing up at the stars, arms loosely folded.
He stepped beside her, quiet.
They watched the heavens for a moment.
Then Alex said, voice calm:
"So… your sisters want to steal me."
Yu Mei groaned softly, still facing the sky.
"Don't remind me."
Alex smiled faintly. "You're not jealous, are you?"
"I'm the one who brought you here," she muttered.
"You're not going anywhere."
Alex turned to her.
"So I'm yours now?"
She froze.
Just a fraction of a second.
Then turned to him slowly, face flushed but defiant.
"You always were."
The breeze carried her words gently, like petals falling into a quiet pond.
Alex didn't laugh.
Didn't tease.
He just smiled—softly, like the moment mattered more than anything.
"I remembered everything, you know."
Yu Mei blinked.
"You do?"
"The scarf," he said. "The coin you left in the vending machine for me. The way you looked around like everything was too loud."
"You weren't used to it. But you still smiled."
She looked down, her voice soft.
"I didn't think I mattered that much."
Alex reached out and gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"You did."
"You still do."
She stared up at him, and for once—just once—Yu Mei didn't have anything clever, elegant, or cold to say.
She just stood there.
Warm.
Still.
Breathing.
And maybe just a little closer than before.
Chapter 652 – "The Scent of Truth"
The stars had faded by morning.
Cloudlight shimmered softly over the Heaven Sect as dawn painted the jade pavilions in hues of gold and pale pink. Birds flew between towers. Spirit mist drifted lazily between the floating peaks.
Alex stood on the open terrace, casually adjusting his sleeves after washing his face.
Yu Mei approached quietly, arms behind her back, eyes fixed on him. She'd woken earlier than usual, feeling lighter than she expected… and heavier at the same time.
But when she got close—
She stopped.
Her nose twitched.
…Huh?
Something was faint. Barely traceable. But her spiritual senses, honed from years of cultivation and innate talent, didn't lie.
There were… other scents clinging to him.
They weren't perfumes.
They were subtle—threads of aura, warmth, skin contact, magic imprints.
Female.
More than one.
She narrowed her eyes.
Alex turned and smiled. "Morning."
Yu Mei didn't return it.
Instead, she walked right up to him, eyes sharp.
"Alex."
"Yes?"
"…How many women are close to you?"
He paused.
Then blinked. "You mean like—"
"Physically. Spiritually. Intimately."
Alex was silent for a second.
Then looked her in the eyes.
"Eight… no—nine. Maybe ten if you count the goddess who visits sometimes."
Yu Mei's eyebrow twitched.
"…Do you have a harem?"
Alex nodded once, calm as ever.
"Yes."
She stared at him.
Not angry.
Not disappointed.
Just—processing.
"And they all know?"
"Yes."
"They accept it?"
"They do."
"You love them?"
Alex nodded again, slower this time.
"I do."
"Do they love you?"
"Very much."
Yu Mei folded her arms.
There was a long pause.
Then she asked, quietly:
"Is there room for me?"
Alex's answer came immediately. Without hesitation.
"Always."
Yu Mei looked away—face unreadable, heart pounding.
"Good."
Unbeknownst to Alex and Yu Mei…
They weren't entirely alone.
Across the courtyard, perched on the tiled roof of a nearby pavilion—balanced in a most undignified way—were 7 of her sisters, all stacked, crouched, and clinging to beams like spirit raccoons.
Fei Xue whispered, "I told you they'd talk about something juicy."
Shui Yun hissed, "Would you stop stepping on my sleeve!"
Mei Lian: "I'm pretty sure this is illegal."
Ru Yan: "Quiet, I can't hear—he's saying something!"
They leaned in.
Alex's voice floated clearly across the courtyard:
"Yes. I have a harem."
Pause.
Blink.
Unstable roof tile noises.
Yu Mei's voice followed:
"Is there room for me?"
"Always."
And then—
7 Heaven Sect daughters simultaneously lost balance.
CRACK—!
WHUMP—!
"Ah—!"
"Not my hair—!"
"My robes—!"
They fell in a messy pile of limbs, silk, shrieks, and spiritual talismans.
BOOM.
Right into the courtyard fountain.
Yu Mei blinked.
Alex calmly looked over.
"…Neighbors?" he asked.
Yu Mei rubbed her forehead. "Sisters."
One hand rose from the fountain.
Fei Xue gasped for air. "You… do have a harem…"
Mei Lian wiped water from her eyes. "We heard it clearly."
Ru Yan, from the bottom of the pile: "I inhaled water but I still want to ask questions."
Shui Yun pointed dramatically. "Yu Mei! You didn't say your man was a full-blown reverse harem protagonist!"
Yan Zhi grumbled, "Wait, does that mean I'm no longer the prettiest person in his life? Because this is an identity crisis."
Yu Mei sighed and turned to Alex.
"You see?"
Alex nodded solemnly.
"Your family has excellent infiltration instincts."
The sisters were still tangled in the courtyard fountain, soaked, stunned, and all speaking at once.
Fei Xue was already plotting a second eavesdropping mission.
Shui Yun was declaring war on fate itself.
Ru Yan was trying to climb out using Yan Zhi as a step.
Mei Lian just sighed. "I married too early."
Alex gave the scene a glance. Then a second glance.
"They're not going to follow us again, are they?"
Yu Mei grabbed his wrist.
"Not if we move now."
He raised an eyebrow. "Wait—what—"
Too late.
In one smooth motion, Yu Mei spun and teleported both of them with a short-range formation array only accessible to core family members.
They vanished from the courtyard with a flicker of jade light—
Reappearing within the quiet stillness of Yu Mei's private room.
The space was elegant, calm, and unmistakably hers.
Flowing silks hung across the walls, embroidered with starlight and lotus blossoms. Dozens of cultivation scrolls were neatly stacked on one side, while a perfectly organized tea set sat waiting on a raised platform. A large bed with layered curtains shimmered at the back, untouched and pristine.
Alex blinked. "You kidnapped me."
Yu Mei folded her arms, still flushed. "I redirected you… with urgency."
He looked around.
"This room's very… you."
"Elegant?"
"Dangerous."
Yu Mei rolled her eyes.
"I just needed one moment without my sisters trying to auction off my future husband."
"Are you admitting that title now?"
Her ears turned red again. "…Don't push it."
Alex chuckled.
"So… what now?"
Yu Mei paused.
Then quietly said,
"Now I want to know what kind of man you are… without everyone watching."
Alex's expression softened.
Yu Mei still stood a few steps away, arms crossed—but her posture had changed. Less defensive. More vulnerable.
The silk curtains drifted gently with the wind from the mountain peaks. Light from a floating lantern danced across the polished floor, casting shifting patterns that shimmered like ripples on water.
Alex stepped forward.
"You've always been like this," he said softly.
"Carefully composed. Always in control. Like if you let your guard down, something would break."
Yu Mei's eyes flickered. She didn't deny it.
"I was born into a world where love is arranged, futures are traded, and strength defines worth."
"There was never space for softness."
She hesitated—then added:
"Except… when I was with you."
Alex moved even closer, until only a breath of space separated them.
"I missed you."
Her eyes met his. Bright. Intense. Fragile.
"You never even wrote."
Alex reached out slowly—so slowly—and brushed his fingers against her cheek.
"I forgot… for a while."
"But when I remembered… I couldn't forget again."
Yu Mei's hand rose to rest gently over his.
"You're not the boy I knew."
"And you're not the girl I remember."
He leaned his forehead gently against hers.
"But I still see her."
"And I think I still love her."
She gasped softly, her breath catching between words.
"You—"
Alex placed a hand behind her waist, pulling her close—not with force, but certainty. She didn't resist.
Their lips were just barely apart.
Her hands rested on his chest, trembling slightly.
"You're part of my world now," she whispered.
"Even if the heavens don't approve."
"They'll have to," Alex said.
"Because I won't leave again."
And then—softly, with all the gentleness the moment deserved—
Their lips met.
Their lips met—softly at first, as if confirming the years between them hadn't been imagined.
Yu Mei clutched his robes, holding him closer. His warmth, his presence—it wasn't a dream. He was here. He remembered her. And he wanted her, just as she was.
No titles.
No expectations.
Just her.
When they finally parted, Alex rested his forehead against hers once more, eyes half-closed, voice low.
"We've come a long way."
Yu Mei's voice was barely a whisper.
"And we still have further to go."
But she didn't want to walk that path alone anymore.
She guided him gently across the room.
There were no words. No tension. No rush.
Only silence, broken by the soft rustle of silk robes and the occasional brush of a breath.
When she lay down beside him, his arms around her, Yu Mei finally relaxed in a way she hadn't in years.
Her fingers lightly traced over his chest, and his hand ran slowly through her hair.
"Stay," she murmured.
"Always," he answered.
The lantern dimmed.
And beneath drifting clouds and quiet stars, the Eighth Daughter of the Heaven Sect—once distant and untouchable—slept in the arms of the one person she could trust completely.
Warm.
Safe.
Home.
Chapter 653 – "Meeting the First Star"
Morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting golden warmth over the quiet room.
Yu Mei stirred beneath the covers, her cheek resting lightly against Alex's chest. His steady heartbeat echoed in her ear, calm and grounding.
She opened her eyes slowly, studying the serene expression on his face. It still felt surreal. After everything—he was real. He was here. And last night… hadn't been a dream.
She hesitated… then whispered:
"Alex."
He stirred, eyes blinking open. "Mm?"
"I want to meet them."
He didn't need to ask who.
He nodded gently. "Alright."
Alex sat up, rolling back the loose sleeve of his right arm. On the back of his hand shimmered a faint, radiant symbol—complex and beautiful, like a celestial crest made of light.
Yu Mei's eyes narrowed curiously.
"What is that?"
"It's her mark," Alex said softly. "She rests inside me when she's not materialized."
With just a thought—
The symbol glowed—
And from it, a soft light bloomed into the room, gentle like moonlight on water.
The magic folded outward like a lotus petal—
And then she appeared.
Ciel.
She stood beside the bed, barefoot, radiant.
Silver hair flowed softly past her waist, shimmering with starlit purity. Her golden eyes sparkled like morning dew touched by sunlight. She wore a simple white dress embroidered with faint golden runes—elegant, yet modest.
She smiled the moment she saw Yu Mei.
"Ah… you must be Yu Mei."
Her voice was warm, soft, and genuinely joyful.
"Welcome."
Yu Mei blinked.
This girl—
Her aura was unlike anything she'd felt before.
Not power. Not pressure. Just… peace. Calm. Light.
She's like... the embodiment of kindness.
Alex looked to Ciel. "She wanted to meet you."
Ciel stepped forward and bowed her head slightly, hands together in front of her.
"Thank you for loving Alex."
Yu Mei's lips parted, surprised.
"I—what?"
"I'm always happy when he finds someone special," Ciel said sweetly. "Every new bond makes him stronger—and happier."
"You're my sister now."
Yu Mei stared.
For all her cultivation, her arrogance, her training—she had no defense against this kind of sincerity.
She found herself… flushing.
Then quietly replied:
"…I see why they all love you."
Ciel smiled.
"Can I hug you?"
Yu Mei hesitated—then nodded once.
The hug was warm. Honest. Strangely comforting.
And in that moment—
Yu Mei understood.
Ciel wasn't just Alex's first.
She was the heart of the entire harem.
The embrace ended slowly, and Yu Mei stepped back, still processing the warmth that lingered from Ciel's touch.
No aura. No spiritual pressure. And yet she felt as if she'd just been held by the sky itself.
Yu Mei took a quiet breath.
"Ciel…"
"Yes?" she replied gently, her golden eyes glowing softly.
"What… are you?"
Ciel tilted her head slightly, hands folded over her chest.
"Hmm. That's a long story…"
She turned to Alex briefly, as if asking permission. He gave her a small nod, silently letting her choose how much to reveal.
So Ciel looked back at Yu Mei, smiling faintly.
"I'm not human. I was never born in a womb, and I don't have parents."
"I am the will of a world."
Yu Mei blinked.
"A world?"
"Yes. The world he once lived in… and later changed."
Ciel stepped back slightly, her bare feet touching the polished floor without sound. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight.
"Its name is World Frontier. A place of adventure, danger, and limitless growth. But it was unstable. Broken. Fractured from the inside."
"When Alex arrived, everything changed."
Yu Mei glanced at Alex, who remained silent—letting Ciel tell it her way.
Ciel continued:
"Through battles, creation, and choices that no one else could make… he shaped that world."
"He cultivated not just power… but hope."
She placed a hand over her heart.
"Eventually, I awakened. The world's will took form. and I saw him."
"But I had no body."
She turned and smiled toward Alex.
"So he made one for me."
"A vessel. A shape just for me, so I could walk with him."
Yu Mei stared, stunned.
"You're saying… he created you?"
"Yes," Ciel said with gentle joy. "And I love him more than anything. But that doesn't mean I fear sharing him."
"I was born from love… and I want everyone he loves to be part of our family."
Yu Mei sat down slowly.
"You're… a planet's will."
"Technically, the manifested spirit consciousness of a planet."
"And you became his first?"
"Yes."
Ciel smiled again, this time a little more playfully.
"Though I've never called myself first."
"I just came before the others."
"But I'm happy to call them all my sisters."
Yu Mei lowered her gaze thoughtfully.
She had wanted to evaluate Ciel—test her like a rival.
But there was no battle here.
Just… a quiet, steady love.
So strong it didn't need to compete.
And for the first time in her life, Yu Mei whispered:
"…Maybe this harem thing isn't as crazy as I thought."
Ciel beamed.
Ciel's glow faded to a soft radiance as she finished her story.
She stood peacefully beside the morning light, silver hair cascading down like a river of starlight. Her golden eyes shimmered with quiet grace, and the intricate symbols on her skin pulsed faintly, like celestial runes breathing in rhythm with the planet she once embodied.
Yu Mei couldn't look away.
She had seen cultivators dressed in divine silk, sword fairies riding clouds, and spirit beasts that could turn into goddesses—but none of them looked like her.
Sitting calmly. Softly. Like she didn't belong to any world, and yet was the thread that held one together.
She's so… beautiful.
Yu Mei, proud daughter of the Heaven Sect, felt her heart skip just slightly.
Not from jealousy.
But something more like awe.
She looked at Alex.
"You made… this?"
Alex gave a small smile. "She made herself, too."
Ciel turned to Yu Mei and tilted her head.
"Is something wrong?"
Yu Mei looked away, clearing her throat quickly.
"No, I was just… evaluating your aesthetic refinement."
"Oh," Ciel said sweetly. "Do I pass?"
"...More than pass," Yu Mei muttered.
Ciel leaned in with a soft smile.
"You're beautiful too, Yu Mei."
"W-What?"
"It's true. I think your cultivation robes suit you perfectly. Very refined. Very powerful. And your expression is so noble… but I can tell your heart is very kind."
Yu Mei had fought Nascent Soul assassins, survived killer beasts, argued with arrogant sect leaders—
But this?
This was lethal.
She covered her face with her sleeve.
"Please stop complimenting me."
Ciel blinked innocently.
"Why?"
Alex chuckled under his breath.
"Don't tease her too much, Ciel."
"I'm not teasing," Ciel said softly. "I really mean it."
Yu Mei quietly stared into the corner of the room.
Her cheeks refused to cool down.
I came here to evaluate my future rivals…
Why does it feel like I'm falling into their pace already?!
Outside Yu Mei's private courtyard—just beyond the edge of a concealment formation that they thought was good enough—seven sisters, four brothers, and two very nosy parents crouched in the shadow of a hovering spirit crane platform.
They weren't even trying to be subtle anymore.
Fei Xue whispered, "She's out. The one named Ciel."
Ru Yan squinted through a jade mirror. "Is that a halo around her? Why is she glowing? Is she a cultivator or a moon goddess?"
Yan Zhi, blinking repeatedly: "Her hair is so soft. I want to touch it."
Shui Yun sighed dramatically. "If Alex doesn't want her, I'll marry her myself."
Ling Hua muttered, "I'm about to defect to his side entirely."
Mei Lian, taking notes: "Does anyone know the name of her hairstylist?"
Even the brothers were whispering now.
Qin Wu: "That's not normal beauty. That's divine-grade aesthetic. Like, formation-breaking levels of grace."
Ren Bo nodded solemnly. "I feel spiritually unworthy."
Tian Yun, the third son, added quietly, "If she just looked at me for three seconds, I think I'd repent for everything."
And standing just slightly apart…
Sect Master Tian stroked his beard, nodding deeply.
"Mmm."
"Yes."
"Exceptional wife potential."
The others froze.
Lady Xia, his wife, slowly turned toward him with a smile that was not a smile.
"Tian."
"Yes, dear?"
STOMP.
Her foot came down on his with precise, cultivation-level force.
"OW—!"
Everyone ducked instinctively.
Lady Xia, still smiling:
"You have a wife already."
"One who gave you twelve children."
Tian winced, holding his crushed foot.
"I was just appreciating spiritual balance!"
"Not looking!"
His wife raised a single eyebrow.
Tian coughed. "Appreciating... respectfully."
Back inside, Ciel tilted her head.
"Did you hear something?"
Yu Mei's brow twitched.
"Yes. I have… a feeling."
She stood, walked over to the door, and opened it swiftly—
Only to find all of them collapsed like dominoes in the hallway.
Sisters tangled in robes. Brothers holding one another's mouths shut. The Sect Master hopping on one foot. Lady Xia pretending she was just out for air.
Yu Mei stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
Alex appeared behind her and blinked at the pile.
"Are we popular today?"
Ciel leaned into view and waved politely.
"Hello, sisters!"
All of them blushed.
After being caught in the act like a bunch of underqualified shadow cultivators, Yu Mei's family was reluctantly herded into the room like guilty children.
The long sitting cushions were quickly filled by sisters in varying stages of flustered elegance, brothers trying to pretend they had dignity, and the Sect Master still wincing from his crushed foot, seated beside Lady Xia, who looked perfectly composed (but her hand remained very close to his thigh—just in case).
Ciel sat gracefully at the center, golden eyes calm, silver hair cascading around her like flowing light.
She smiled at them all with warm serenity.
"Thank you for welcoming me."
Fei Xue, arms folded, took the lead with the authority of the eldest sister.
"Let's start with the important question."
"How many years have you cultivated?"
Ciel blinked.
"None."
Silence.
Mei Lian: "None?"
Ru Yan: "Zero?"
Fei Xue narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying you reached your current… presence… without any cultivation base?"
Ciel nodded politely.
"Correct."
Yan Zhi whispered, "I'm rethinking my entire life."
Shui Yun muttered, "I did five hundred years of sword meditation for what…"
Tian Yun, one of the brothers, leaned forward hesitantly.
"Then… what are you, exactly?"
Ciel smiled gently.
"I am the manifested will of a planet."
"Alex created a vessel for me so I could walk beside him."
Silence again.
Fei Xue looked like she was buffering.
Qin Wu, the eldest brother, raised a trembling hand.
"Excuse me, what do you mean… a planet?"
Ciel folded her hands over her lap.
"A full world. It was once broken and unbalanced. But Alex came and reshaped it. When enough mana and life bloomed again."
Lady Xia looked intrigued now.
"You are the soul of a world?"
"Yes," Ciel said sincerely. "I love that world… and I love the man who saved it."
The Sect Master, despite his aching pride, couldn't help himself.
"So… you're immortal?"
Ciel tilted her head. "As long as the world endures, yes."
He sighed.
"And beautiful."
Stomp.
"OW! Again?!"
Lady Xia sipped her tea, serene.
"That one was just on principle."
Ciel turned back to the sisters.
"I don't want to take anything from you."
"I just want to walk beside the one I love, and support anyone he brings into his heart."
"That includes you."
She looked at Yu Mei, then at the others.
"I'll never compete. Only welcome."
The room went quiet again.
Then Fei Xue cleared her throat.
"Alright."
"She's in."
Yu Mei blinked. "You're the eldest. You don't get to just—"
"Nope. She's in," Fei Xue said, standing. "Anyone who makes me feel both useless and safe at the same time earns her spot."
Ru Yan nodded. "Plus, she glows. I trust glowing women."
Shui Yun added, "If I had her face, I'd forgive myself, too."
Yan Zhi said flatly, "If she started a cult, I'd probably join."
Even the brothers gave solemn, respectful nods.
The Sect Master, still rubbing his foot, sighed once more.
"Alex."
"Yes?"
"You win again."
Chapter 654 – "The Shape of This World"
The warmth of the morning slowly gave way to the crisp clarity of the day.
After the tension and teasing had cooled down—and most of the sisters had finally stopped staring at Ciel—Alex sat beside Yu Mei, a cup of spirit tea in hand, and turned to the Sect Master directly.
"I've been meaning to ask…"
"What kind of world is this?"
Sect Master Tian—still nursing his pride and his foot—lifted his gaze, stroking his beard with reluctant dignity.
"This world has five major continents."
He reached over and summoned a small projection array, illuminating a floating golden map in the air. Five immense landmasses circled a massive spiritual ocean, each pulsing with mana flow.
"We name them by their position: North, South, East, West, and Center."
Alex nodded, studying the shapes.
"Simple. Elegant."
"This—" Tian pointed to the westernmost continent glowing gold, "—is where we are. The Western Continent."
"Our Heaven Sect is its strongest force in Western Continent"
Lady Xia, sipping tea beside him, gave a proud little nod.
"Other sects exist, of course. Sword sects, beast sects, formations, poison, music… all the traditional arts."
Fei Xue added, "Some specialize in alchemy, some in soul arts, and some are just weird."
Ru Yan: "There's literally a flying sect made of soup bowls."
Alex blinked. "I'm sorry—what?"
Shui Yun muttered, "Don't ask. I lost a hairpin bet to one of them."
Tian continued, ignoring his daughters' nonsense.
"The Northern Continent is cold, ruthless. Known for its demonic paths and beast dominions."
"The Southern Continent is warmer—more open, but fiercely traditional. Their sects favor bloodlines and purity."
"The Eastern Continent is the most unstable. Constant conflict. Rogue sects. Mad formations. You'll either get enlightenment or explode."
"And the Central Continent…"
He paused.
"…is the oldest."
"It holds the most ancient legacies, the original immortal clans, and some beings who may have surpassed cultivation entirely."
Ciel tilted her head. "So it's the core of the world?"
Lady Xia nodded. "But they do not interfere."
Yu Mei leaned in slightly.
"Most people live their entire lives on one continent. Cross-travel is rare, due to ancient barriers, political hostilities, and unstable dimensional layers between them."
"Even we only send envoys across once a century."
Alex sipped his tea and muttered, "Sounds fun."
The Sect Master sighed.
"You say that now. Just wait until the Eastern continent invites you to a duel in a volcano."
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What about the Demon Sects?"
Everyone in the room suddenly grew quiet.
The air shifted—just subtly—but enough for Ciel to sense it.
Sect Master Tian exhaled slowly and gave a weary shrug.
"You just destroyed the Crimson Void Sect, didn't you?"
Alex nodded once. "They were trying to abduct mortals to use them as cultivation furnaces."
Tian let out a quiet grunt.
"Then I should thank you."
"And also warn you."
He leaned forward, steepling his fingers.
"In this world, there are no official laws. No king. No global court. The strong rule. The ancient sects guard their domains, and no one dares to play judge over the rest."
Alex nodded slightly. "An old cultivation truth."
"Exactly," Tian replied. "The demon sects—or 'Ma Sects'—are hated by most… but rarely confronted. Not because they are powerful. But because eliminating them brings no gain."
"No sect wants to lose disciples, elders, or resources over an ideological war."
Lady Xia added, her voice sharper,
"It's not that people don't want them gone."
"It's that removing them gives an opening for someone else to take advantage."
"You eliminate a demon sect, and suddenly your spiritual mines are exposed. Your borders are weak. Your enemies smell blood."
"So everyone tolerates evil… for the sake of balance."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "Cowardice disguised as strategy."
Tian didn't deny it.
"That's why your move—erasing the Crimson Void Sect—was so shocking."
Fei Xue folded her arms. "And a little hot."
Yu Mei glared at her.
Shui Yun added, "He did what everyone wanted to do but didn't dare."
"He shook the table," said Yan Zhi. "Now people are watching."
Ciel looked toward Alex quietly.
"You might have started something."
Alex simply leaned back.
"Then let's see who dares to finish it."
Alex casually reached for another cup of tea and asked:
"By the way… what currency does this world use?"
That single question—so mundane, so practical—caught everyone in the room off guard.
Sect Master Tian blinked.
Fei Xue raised an eyebrow.
Mei Lian leaned forward with mild interest.
Yu Mei sighed softly. "Only you would ask that right now."
Alex smiled. "I'd rather not accidentally pay someone with a platinum credit card again."
Tian cleared his throat and answered with the air of a man shifting mental gears.
"The standard currency is called spirit jade."
He held up his hand and materialized a soft-glowing green rectangular piece of jade from his spatial ring.
"There are five basic ranks," he explained, stacking the pieces with practiced ease:
Cultivation World Currency:
Low-grade Spirit JadeMid-grade Spirit JadeHigh-grade Spirit JadeTop-grade Spirit JadeHeaven-grade Spirit Jade(rare, often used in ancient transactions or artifact forging)
"Everything—resources, pills, artifacts, talismans—uses these as trade medium."
"Gold and silver exist, but they're for mortals."
Lady Xia added, "Some sects also barter with artifacts or favors, but the spirit jade system is recognized across all five continents."
After the explanation about currency, the room had just begun to settle again when Alex casually reached into his personal storage.
From a flash of golden light, he pulled out a single herb—long-stemmed, crystalline-veined, its leaves pulsing with soft bioluminescence. A faint breeze seemed to curl around it, carrying a scent of ancient forests, blooming thunder, and something no one could name.
He held it out.
"Is this worth anything?"
Everyone leaned forward at once.
The sisters squinted.
The brothers inhaled sharply.
Even the teacups trembled.
But it was Lady Xia—mother of twelve, renowned alchemist, and the woman who once refined a pill that made an Eternal Throne Realm elder cry—who reacted first.
She stood up, took the herb with reverent care, and examined it through three layers of alchemical analysis arrays.
Then she froze.
Her hands trembled.
"...Where did you get this?" she asked, her voice unusually sharp.
Alex blinked, slightly caught off guard.
"I bred it."
Lady Xia looked up slowly.
Her eyes didn't blink.
Her aura flared slightly, then calmed again.
"You… bred it?"
Alex nodded. "In a world I maintain. I planted some seeds there, and the local mana and environment encouraged evolution."
The room was silent.
Yu Mei sighed and whispered, "Of course you did."
Fei Xue just muttered, "What is he, a one-man heavenly realm?"
Lady Xia sat back down slowly, still holding the herb like it was made of starlight.
"This… doesn't exist in our world. Not in any record."
"It has five overlapping attributes. Balanced perfectly."
"If ground into powder and merged into a body-tempering pill… it would remove at least three natural meridian flaws."
Mei Lian: "Wait. That's possible?"
Shui Yun: "Forget currency—just sell one leaf of this and retire."
Tian, looking deeply at the herb, finally muttered:
"I see…"
"We don't have to worry about giving him a spirit jade allowance."
Lady Xia was still delicately holding the glowing herb like it was spun from divine silk.
The sisters watched with sparkles in their eyes. The brothers subtly edged closer. Even Sect Master Tian leaned forward, curious again despite himself.
Then Alex, in his usual casual tone, asked:
"So… how much does something like this sell for?"
Lady Xia turned slowly toward him.
"Sell?"
"Yes," Alex said, sipping tea. "If I had a few dozen more of these, what kind of price would they fetch?"
Everyone stared.
Yu Mei choked on her tea.
Fei Xue muttered, "A few dozen—?"
Lady Xia composed herself and answered like an alchemist trying very hard not to scream.
"If you auctioned one… just one… at a proper immortal city's alchemist convention…"
"You could fund an entire sect's yearly expenses."
Tian added grimly:
"A leaf of that herb, powdered into pill form, could resolve bottlenecks even for Domain Lords. The bidding war would be… legendary."
Shui Yun muttered, "We're about to become a resource nation."
Yan Zhi: "He's just casually growing sovereign-grade ingredients."
Alex blinked. "So… is that like, one top-grade jade per leaf?"
Everyone:
"NO."
Lady Xia pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Alex, dear… this could go for hundreds of heaven-grade jade pieces."
"If not thousands."
Ciel leaned over to whisper to Yu Mei:
"He doesn't know the value of anything, does he?"
Yu Mei whispered back:
"No. And I think he likes it that way."
Chapter 655 – "A Gift from the Greenhouse"
The room was still buzzing from Lady Xia's valuation when Alex casually leaned back and said:
"If it's that useful, I can give you a few."
The words dropped like thunder.
Everyone froze again.
Fei Xue: "Wait, give?"
Ru Yan: "Are we still pretending he's a mortal?"
Shui Yun, wide-eyed: "Do mortals casually hand out sovereign-tier herbs now?"
Lady Xia, who had almost fallen out of her seat, cleared her throat and asked, as gently as possible:
"You're serious?"
Alex nodded.
"I grow them in a greenhouse. It's part of a research dome I built in my spare time."
Tian, stunned:
"...A what?"
"A greenhouse. Enclosed biosphere. Controlled environment. I use it to hybridize mana plants and refine them."
He paused.
"You know, for fun."
Lady Xia's eye twitched.
Yu Mei whispered, "He means that literally."
Curious glances passed around the room.
Alex reached out, and a small portal shimmered open behind him—just wide enough to give them a glimpse inside.
A lush world of cultivated brilliance.
Towering spirit trees with glowing branches. Floating vines rotating around sun crystals. Pools of liquid mana surrounded by glowing herbs rooted in levitating planters. Some blossoms gave off warmth; others hummed softly, tuned to the laws of nature. The air shimmered with pure mana.
Ciel smiled fondly.
"He built that place when he was bored one weekend."
Lady Xia, slack-jawed: "...That's a holy land."
"No," Alex said. "That's just section A. The back half is where I store the hyper-evolving specimens. They eat the pests."
He waved again, and several herbs floated out of the portal in small containment crystals—each labeled and catalogued.
"You can study these. They're stable. No side effects. Most of them haven't been named yet, so feel free to give them titles."
Lady Xia caught one of the crystals and immediately activated her analysis formation. After a moment, she set it down carefully, her voice soft with awe.
"I can't even see the full structure without using triple-layered divine sight."
"This one alone could transform a failing alchemy sect into a leading force."
Sect Master Tian exhaled slowly.
"This kind of gift… if it were offered to any of the Five Great Clans… they'd kneel on the spot."
"And swear fealty."
Alex blinked. "That's weird."
Yu Mei smirked. "You're weird."
He gave her a sideways look.
"You fell for me anyway."
She flushed.
Ciel, smiling like the sun, floated behind him and whispered:
"Should I prepare a care package for Lady Xia?"
Lady Xia nearly cried.
Alex casually waved his hand, and with a quiet hum of mana-space displacement, five large black containers appeared in the center of the courtyard.
They were unlike anything anyone there had ever seen.
Sleek, metallic, and engraved with alien patterns, they emitted a soft mechanical pulse. Each box was heavy-looking, almost armored, with faint blue lights lining its frame.
"Here," Alex said. "Two tons of herbs. Sorted, packed, and stabilized."
Everyone stared.
Sect Master Tian squinted. "...What kind of spatial artifact is that?"
Fei Xue muttered, "That's not jadecraft. Or soulforged metal…"
Lady Xia, eyes narrowed, slowly circled the nearest container.
"What… is this box?"
Alex patted the top casually.
"It's a preservation vault. I designed them to maintain the perfect conditions for each herb inside. Temperature, humidity, mana flow—everything's adjusted automatically."
"They'll stay fresh for a decade without even opening the lid."
Ciel added gently:
"Each one can store up to 400 kilograms and seal against dimensional drift. He made them when we were… experimenting with cross-world agriculture."
Lady Xia blinked.
"Cross-what?"
Yu Mei whispered, "Just accept it."
Tian finally asked, "How do you open one?"
Alex walked over, knelt beside the front panel, and pressed three specific points in sequence. With a soft click and a hydraulic hiss, the container's top panel opened—retracting in a smooth slide.
Inside:
Dozens of neatly aligned spirit herb trays.
Each was glowing gently, suspended in magical gel, their aura stable and perfectly preserved. The scents that escaped were pure, rich, and almost overwhelming.
Lady Xia nearly fell to her knees.
"I'm going to pass out."
Fei Xue: "This looks like a treasury vault."
Mei Lian: "No, this is a treasury vault."
Shui Yun: "We could form a sect just from this box."
Alex nodded, satisfied.
"There's five of these. You can categorize, research, cultivate, or refine. Your call."
Lady Xia whispered, as if in prayer:
"I will build a shrine to you in the herb hall."
Tian groaned quietly. "Don't start worshipping the mortal."
Stomp.
"OW—!"
Lady Xia, still visibly overwhelmed, took a deep breath and composed herself with the calm of a queen—not because she wasn't panicking on the inside, but because her alchemist pride demanded dignity.
She snapped the container closed with a decisive motion.
Click.
Hiss.
The light on the box dimmed to standby blue.
Then she turned sharply.
"Summon the inner treasury elders. Now."
Moments later, several robed figures descended with speed and reverence, each wearing the embroidered crest of Heaven Sect's highest rank.
They bowed respectfully.
"Lady Xia. Sect Master. Young Mistress Yu Mei."
"What are your orders?"
She pointed to the sleek, futuristic box like it contained the bones of a long-lost dragon god.
"This vault—along with the other four—are to be transported immediately to the Deep Chamber of Eternal Flame."
"Have them sealed under twelve-fold suppression wards, and assign a rotating barrier shift of four elders per day."
The elders hesitated only for a breath.
They looked at the box. Looked at each other.
Looked back at the box.
None of them recognized the material.
None of them sensed enchantment.
None of them could read a single rune on it.
"What… is this thing?" one thought.
"Is this an immortal artifact? A lost divine vault?"
"Should I ask?"
"Nope."
"She'll stomp my neck."
Without another word, they bowed and followed the order precisely, conjuring up glowing platforms and carefully lifting the box with formation stabilizers.
Even though they didn't understand it, they knew one thing: Lady Xia was serious—and this box was going somewhere very protected.
As the last box floated away, one elder dared to whisper telepathically to another:
"So… do we open it?"
"Do you want to be turned into fertilizer?"
"Right. Never mind."