In the evening – Blackwood Mountain, seat of the Grandwake Clan
Night had settled with its eternal stillness upon the slopes of Blackwood Mountain, where mist coiled around the peaks like dancing ghosts, bathed in the silver moonlight that seeped through scattered clouds to embrace the ground of the courtyard, glistening with the night's dew.
Xichen sat in the stone courtyard designated for his temporary residence, paved with dark blue gravel and rare mountain flowers that bloomed at night, spreading a faint fragrance as if nature itself breathed around him. On the table before him stood a clay teapot, its steam rising gently, surrounded by small ceramic cups that gleamed under the moonlight like grey pearls.
The tea had been carefully prepared by Su Huiyin herself, as if she wanted to leave a trace of her skill in every drop, like an initial covenant between a follower and a master.
Xichen raised the cup to his lips and closed his eyes as the ancient herbal flavor enveloped his senses, blending with the reverence of the mountains and the coolness of the night. Its taste was smooth, slightly bitter, resembling the life he had lived in this world.
Then... a thought crept into his mind, deep and heavy:
"What do I truly want to do?"
Three years had passed since he was pulled from his original world into this strange realm, where celestial powers contend, natural laws are worshipped as deities, and only the ruthlessly strong survive.
In the beginning, his goal was simple, primitive… survival.
He had to grow, to evolve, to become strong enough not to be killed by a mere glance from Yun Che, the accursed protagonist who, in his original timeline, had torn apart kingdoms and annihilated entire sects for whims or revenge.
At that time, it seemed impossible. Just a desperate dream of someone drowned in an unfamiliar world, with a weak body and an unstable aura.
But now… after three years, everything had changed.
Though he had not yet reached the stage where he could crush Yun Che without concern or fear, the gap between them was no longer what it used to be.
He had advanced, slowly, steadily, with merciless determination.
And with each step, something inside him changed.
Killing for survival was no longer the only motivation…
He no longer wanted only to protect himself…
Rather, he began to ask:
"And then what?"
What after destroying Yun Che?
What after becoming stronger than everyone else?
What after there is no longer any worthy enemy?
He raised his eyes to the moon, contemplating its silence.
In his previous world, the moon had never been this bright.
But here… the moon was closer, and more desolate.
A faint smile slipped between his lips, not mockingly, but serenely.
"I want…" – he whispered to himself in a semi-conscious state – "to soar above all beings, so that no law or force can impose anything upon me."
There was a promise in his voice, not to others, but to himself.
At this thought, Xichen felt his mind become clear and his body lighter. He had entered a state of enlightenment, and responding to this enlightenment, his aura soared to the heavens, and he achieved a new breakthrough.
8th Tyrant Profound Realm.
Although he had broken through a minor realm, his aura did not stop but continued to rise very quickly, achieving another breakthrough.
9th Tyrant Profound Realm.
Upon reaching the 9th Tyrant Profound Realm, his aura did not cease immediately, but gradually weakened and stopped completely upon reaching the Middle 9th Tyrant Profound Realm.
"I didn't expect that merely setting a goal would be this beneficial," Xichen muttered, unaware that he had just entered a state of enlightenment.
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on entering a state of enlightenment and achieving a breakthrough," rang a mature, charming voice from behind Xichen, filled with awe and respect.
"Was I in a state of enlightenment just now?" Xichen asked, casting a sidelong glance at Huiyin, who had arrived by his side.
She wore a white silk nightgown, flowing over her body like water, accentuating her mature curves with delicate precision. Her black hair was tied in a side ponytail draped over her shoulder, and her emerald eyes were slightly tilted as if half-asleep, yet held a soft glow, like light reflected off ice. In that moment, she embodied mature, serene femininity — a lady with a presence, needing no words to prove her status.
"Yes, Your Highness is incredibly talented and fortunate, as it is rare for anyone to encounter such an enlightenment as yours," Huiyin said with genuine praise, her emerald eyes full of admiration. "Most people spend their entire lives without ever experiencing enlightenment."
Even as she spoke, her hands never stopped working. She placed a new teapot before Xichen and refilled his empty cup, happy to serve her new master, even with something as small and seemingly insignificant as making tea.
"By the way, some followers of the Grandwake Clan have contacted the Medical Saint, and he will arrive tomorrow morning," Su Huiyin said as she presented the cup of tea to Xichen, who took it with a smile.
"Good," Xichen nodded with satisfaction, taking a sip of the tea from which steam still rose, allowing it to permeate his body and bones, leaving him completely refreshed.
...
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