lǐ fán méi yǒu mǎ shàng qián qù jiě jiù zhèng zài bèi tòng kǔ zhé mó de xiǎo gū niáng 。
李凡没有马上前去解救正在被痛苦折磨的小姑娘。
Li Fan did not immediately rush to rescue the young girl who was suffering from intense pain. Instead, he slowly flew over to her side by sensing everything happening around Lu Xuejing and gradually understanding the authority that belonged to the master.
ér shì tōng guò gǎn shòu lù xuě jìng shēn shàng fā shēng de yī qiè ， màn màn tǐ wù shǔ yú zhǔ rén de quán bǐng 。
而是通过感受陆雪静身上发生的一切，慢慢体悟属于主人的权柄。
"Um... I can faintly sense images surrounding her body. And I can directly speak in her mind and give commands."
“ ń … kě yǐ yǐn yuē gǎn shòu dào tā zhōu shēn de huà miàn 。 hái kě yǐ zhí jiē zài tā nǎo hǎi lǐ shuō huà ， duì tā xià dá mìng lìng 。”
“嗯…可以隐约感受到她周身的画面。还可以直接在她脑海里说话，对她下达命令。”
"This seems like an unnecessary step compared to using a communication spirit token earlier, as it might leave a gap."
“ zhè yàng kàn lái ， zhī qián de nà kuài tōng xùn líng fú fǎn ér shì duō cǐ yī jǔ ， fǎn ér huì liú xià pò zhàn 。”
“这样看来，之前的那块通讯灵符反而是多此一举，反而会留下破绽。”
"It's better to retract it."
“ hái shì shōu huí de hǎo 。”
“还是收回的好。”
Li Fan flew steadily towards Lu Xuejing without urgency.
lǐ fán jiù zhè yàng bù jǐn bù màn dì ， huǎn huǎn fēi dào lù xuě jìng de shēn biān 。
李凡就这样不紧不慢地，缓缓飞到陆雪静的身边。
Her face was pale, almost white, due to the prolonged agony. Her entire body seemed to have just been pulled out of water, drenched in sweat. The subtle curves of her figure were barely visible under the wet, transparent clothing.
chù zài zhǎng shí jiān de tòng chǔ zhī zhōng ， tā de qiào liǎn yǐ jīng cāng bái de rú tóng zhāng bái zhǐ 。
处在长时间的痛楚之中，她的俏脸已经苍白的如同张白纸。
With both hands, Li Fan controlled Lu Xuejing's trembling body and released his spirit energy into her system, circulating it around her body.
zhěng gè rén dōu hǎo sì gāng gāng bèi cóng shuǐ lǐ lāo shàng lái yī yàng ， bèi hàn shuǐ jìn shī 。
整个人都好似刚刚被从水里捞上来一样，被汗水浸湿。
The other party's body seemed completely unguarded against him.
líng lóng yǒu zhì de shēn qū zài zhān shī tòu míng de yī wù xià ruò yǐn ruò xiàn 。
玲珑有致的身躯在沾湿透明的衣物下若隐若现。
In a blink, Li Fan completed his exploration. The young girl revealed no secrets to his eyes.
lǐ fán shuāng shǒu àn zhù ， kòng zhì zhù lù xuě jìng bù duàn chàn dǒu de shēn tǐ ， líng lì chū tǐ ， zài tā tǐ nèi liú zhuǎn le yī quān 。
李凡双手按住，控制住陆雪静不断颤抖的身体，灵力出体，在她体内流转了一圈。
When he clearly saw the unique foundation establishment treasure in her dantian, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder.
duì fāng de shēn tǐ hǎo xiàng duì tā wán quán bù shè fáng yì bān 。
对方的身体好像对他完全不设防一般。
A vast snowy plain extending for thousands of miles.
zhuǎn yǎn jiān ， lǐ fán biàn wán chéng le tàn suǒ 。
转眼间，李凡便完成了探索。
Even faintly visible were miniature depictions of many cities and villages.
shào nǚ yě zài lǐ fán yǎn zhōng ， zài wú rèn hé mì mì kě yán 。
少女也在李凡眼中，再无任何秘密可言。
Instantly, information flashed into his mind.
kàn qīng chǔ lù xuě jìng dān tián zhī zhōng de zhù jī qí wù shí ， lǐ fán bù yóu dì xīn shēng gǎn kǎi 。
看清楚陆雪静丹田之中的筑基奇物时，李凡不由地心生感慨。
"Earth Treasure: Frosty Winter Crystal."
yī piàn bīng fēng qiān lǐ de xuě yuán 。
一片冰封千里的雪原。
"Worthy of being the top second-generation immortal from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. At just twenty-three years old, she has managed to establish her foundation base. Moreover, her treasure is perfectly suited to her body and cultivation technique."
shèn zhì yǐn yǐn kě jiàn ， xǔ duō chéng chí 、 cūn zhuāng de wēi suō jǐng xiàng 。
甚至隐隐可见，许多城池、村庄的微缩景象。
"She's started life at a level that ordinary cultivators can only dream of reaching."
yī dào xìn xī shà shí jiān fú xiàn zài tā nǎo hǎi zhōng 。
一道信息霎时间浮现在他脑海中。
"Too bad, her mind isn't too sharp..."
“ dì zhī qí wù ： lǐn dōng bīng jīng 。”
“地之奇物：凛冬冰晶。”
Li Fan's eyes turned icy cold, devoid of any sympathy.
“ bù kuì shì wàn xiān méng dǐng jí de xiān èr dài ， èr shí sān suì jiù néng zhù jī bù shuō ， zhù jī qí wù hái shì yǔ zì shēn tǐ zhì 、 gōng fǎ jiē shì xiāng xìng xiāng hé de dì zhī qí wù 。”
“不愧是万仙盟顶级的仙二代，二十三岁就能筑基不说，筑基奇物还是与自身体质、功法皆是相性相合的地之奇物。”
Continuing his research, Li Fan thought aloud:
“ tā de rén shēng de qǐ diǎn ， jiù shì xún cháng xiū shì niú mǎ yī bèi zi dōu wú fǎ qǐ jí de cún zài le 。”
“她的人生的起点，就是寻常修士牛马一辈子都无法企及的存在了。”
"The body contains only pure spirit energy. No other types of energy or traces of arrays and prohibitions..."
“ kě xī ， nǎo zi bù tài hǎo ……”
“可惜，脑子不太好……”
"The source of this pain..."
lǐ fán de yǎn shén yī piàn bīng lěng ， xīn zhōng wú bàn diǎn lián xiāng xī yù zhī yì 。
李凡的眼神一片冰冷，心中无半点怜香惜玉之意。
"... seems to directly modify the fundamental settings through the essence."
lǐ fán jì xù zì shēn de yán jiū 。
李凡继续自身的研究。
"Without a master, life loses its foundation for continuation."
“ tǐ nèi zhǐ yǒu chún cuì de líng qì ， méi yǒu qí tā rèn hé yì zhǒng néng liàng 。 yě méi yǒu zhèn fǎ 、 jìn zhì de hén jì ……”
“体内只有纯粹的灵气，没有其他任何异种能量。也没有阵法、禁制的痕迹……”
"This method is beyond comprehension."
“ zhè zhǒng tòng kǔ de lái yuán ……”
“这种痛苦的来源……”
Just as he was musing, Lu Xuejing had been tortured for so long that her breathing became weaker. She seemed on the brink of death.
“ jiù hǎo xiàng shì zhí jiē tōng guò běn yuán ， xiū gǎi le shēn tǐ de zuì dǐ céng shè dìng 。”
“就好像是直接通过本源，修改了身体的最底层设定。”
Her struggling movements weakened further, and her pupils began to blur.
“ méi yǒu le zhǔ rén ， jiù shī qù le shēng mìng lài yǐ yán xù de jī chǔ 。”
“没有了主人，就失去了生命赖以延续的基础。”
"Master... save me." The voice of Lu Xuejing suddenly echoed in Li Fan's mind.
“ zhè zhǒng shǒu duàn ， fěi yí suǒ sī 。”
“这种手段，匪夷所思。”
At this moment, perhaps driven by a survival instinct, she finally submitted completely to Li Fan.
tā zhèng àn zì gǎn tàn de shí hòu ， lù xuě jìng què bèi zhé mó le xǔ jiǔ ， qì xī yuè lái yuè ruò ， yǎn rán yào bù xíng le 。
他正暗自感叹的时候，陆雪静却被折磨了许久，气息越来越若，俨然要不行了。
Li Fan smiled slightly as he gently stroked her head.
jī hū lí sǐ wáng zhǐ yǒu yí xiàn zhī gé ， tā zhēng zhá de dòng zuò yě yuè lái yuè ruò ， tóng kǒng kāi shǐ huàn sàn 。
几乎离死亡只有一线之隔，她挣扎的动作也越来越弱，童孔开始涣散。
"Phew!"
“ zhǔ rén …… jiù wǒ 。” lǐ fán de nǎo hǎi zhōng hū rán xiǎng qǐ le lù xuě jìng de shēng yīn 。
“主人……救我。”李凡的脑海中忽然响起了陆雪静的声音。
Lu Xuejing's body arched sharply, as if finally able to breathe freely. She began to pant heavily.
jiù zài zhè ge shí kè ， huò xǔ shì zài qiú shēng běn néng de qū shǐ xià ， tā zhōng yú chè dǐ xiàng lǐ fán qū fú le 。
就在这个时刻，或许是在求生本能的驱使下，她终于彻底向李凡屈服了。
Due to the lingering effects of prolonged pain, her body quickly fell into irregular spasms.
lǐ fán wēi wēi yī xiào ， yòu shǒu qīng fǔ tā de tóu dǐng 。
李凡微微一笑，右手轻抚她的头顶。
Li Fan did not release his grip on her.
“ hū ！”
“呼！”
After an indeterminate amount of time, Lu Xuejing gradually returned to normal.
lù xuě jìng de shēn qū měng dì gōng qǐ ， fǎng fú zhōng yú néng gòu shùn chàng de hū xī le ， jù liè de chuǎn zhe cū qì 。
陆雪静的身躯勐地弓起，仿佛终于能够顺畅的呼吸了，剧烈的喘着粗气。
Her body and mind had reached their limits, causing her to fall into a deep sleep.
tóng shí ， huò xǔ shì zhī qián zhǎng shí jiān tòng chǔ dài lái de hòu yí zhèng ， chí xù le yī duàn shí jiān hòu ， tā de shēn zi yòu kuài sù là xià 。
同时，或许是之前长时间痛楚带来的后遗症，持续了一段时间后，她的身子又快速落下。
"Too young and naive. If I return like this, even if it concerns my life, I might still reveal too much."
kāi shǐ le bù guī lǜ de chōu chù 。
开始了不规律的抽搐。
"I need further guidance."
lǐ fán shǐ zhōng méi yǒu sōng kāi zì jǐ de shǒu 。
李凡始终没有松开自己的手。
Looking at the unconscious Lu Xuejing, whose face was flushed abnormally, Li Fan retracted his hand and pointed lightly towards her forehead.
bù zhī guò le duō jiǔ ， lù xuě jìng fāng cái màn màn huī fù zhèng cháng 。
不知过了多久，陆雪静方才慢慢恢复正常。
Cloud Water Illusion Technique, activate!
shēn tǐ hé jīng shén yǐ jīng dá dào suǒ néng chéng shòu de jí xiàn ， tā hūn chén chén shuì qù 。
身体和精神已经达到所能承受的极限，她昏沉沉睡去。
With hispromotion to Golden Core Realm, the intensity of his divine consciousness had undergone a qualitative leap. The dreams he wove became increasingly realistic.
“ tài guò nián qīng yòu zhì ， jiù zhè yàng huí qù ， kǒng pà jiù suàn shì guān zì jǐ shēng mìng ， yě yào lù chū mǎ jiǎo 。”
“太过年轻幼稚，就这样回去，恐怕就算事关自己生命，也要露出马脚。”
Through repeated cycles of dreamscapes, Li Fan, in the role of master, guided Lu Xuejing on how to respond to various scenarios upon her return.
“ hái xū zài zhǐ dǎo yī fān 。”
“还需再指导一番。”
In these dreams based on Lu Xuejing's memories, Li Fan gained some understanding of her mother, Lu Xi Chan. She was extremely domineering and had early on set a path for her daughter's cultivation.
lǐ fán kàn zhe zhèng chù zài hūn mí zhōng 、 liǎn shàng fàn qǐ yī mǒ bú zhèng cháng yān hóng de lù xuě jìng ， shōu huí yòu shǒu ， zhuǎn ér cháo zhe tā de méi xīn qīng qīng yī zhǐ 。
李凡看着正处在昏迷中、脸上泛起一抹不正常嫣红的陆雪静，收回右手，转而朝着她的眉心轻轻一指。
Busy with official duties, the main body could not always be by her child’s side. Only a clone remained to watch over her. Strict and unyielding, she had no emotional connection with her child.
yún shuǐ huàn mèng gōng ， fā dòng ！
云水幻梦功，发动！
"If it weren't for my intervention, I almost ruined that child."
suí zhe jìn shēng jīn dān qī ， shén shí qiáng dù yǒu le yí gè zhì dì fēi yuè ， lǐ fán biān zhī de mèng jìng ， yě yù fā zhēn shí qǐ lái 。
随着晋升金丹期，神识强度有了一个质的飞跃，李凡编织的梦境，也愈发真实起来。
Li Fan shook his head inwardly.
yī cì cì de mèng jìng lún huí zhōng ， lǐ fán yǐ zhǔ rén de shēn fèn ， bàn suí zhǐ dǎo zhuó lù xuě jìng ， yìng duì huí guī hòu de gè zhǒng kě néng qíng kuàng 。
一次次的梦境轮回中，李凡以主人的身份，伴随指导着陆雪静，应对回归后的各种可能情况。
...
ér zài zhè xiē yóu lù xuě jìng jì yì wéi zhǔ tǐ biān zhī de mèng jìng zhōng ， lǐ fán yě duì tā de mǔ qīn ， lù xī chán yǒu le gè dà gài de liǎo jiě 。
而在这些由路雪静记忆为主体编织的梦境中，李凡也对她的母亲，陆溪婵有了个大概的了解。
As the sun set once more, Lu Xuejing finally woke from an endless dream.
jí wéi qiáng shì 、 zhǎng kòng yù jí qiáng 。
极为强势、掌控欲极强。
The confusion in her eyes gradually faded as she instinctively called out to Li Fan upon seeing him: "Master..."
zǎo zǎo jiù wèi lù xuě jìng dìng xià le xiū xíng zhī lù 。
早早就为陆雪静定下了修行之路。
But quickly, she realized something was amiss. Her eyes flickered with panic while her body reacted instinctively.
gōng wù fán máng ， běn zūn wú fǎ shí kè péi bàn hái zi 。
公务繁忙，本尊无法时刻陪伴孩子。
The memory of the excruciating pain still vividly lingered.
zhǐ liú yī jù fēn shēn kān guǎn 。
只留一具分身看管。
Lu Xuejing lacked the courage to resist. After a moment's hesitation, she turned and knelt gracefully before Li Fan, forehead touching the ground.
shuō yī bù èr ， hé hái zi méi yǒu rèn hé qíng gǎn gōu tōng 。
说一不二，和孩子没有任何情感沟通。
Without his command, she did not move an inch.
“ ruò bú shì wǒ chū shǒu ， jī hū jiù jiāng hái zi jiào fèi le 。”
“若不是我出手，几乎就将孩子教废了。”
"Go now. Patience is key; wait for my orders." It took a long time for Li Fan to speak again.
lǐ fán àn zì yáo tóu 。
李凡暗自摇头。
"Yes, Master," Lu Xuejing bowed deeply once more.
……
……
She then rose and flew away with no signs of panic, her face resuming its haughty expression.
dāng tài yáng zài dù luò shān de shí hòu ， lù xuě jìng zhōng yú cóng wú qióng huàn mèng zhōng sū xǐng 。
当太阳再度落山的时候，陆雪静终于从无穷幻梦中苏醒。
"With Lu Xuejing's cooperation, I have much better chances of entering the Five Elements Great Heavenly Palace. Whether or not it succeeds depends on how things develop."
yǎn zhōng de mí máng zhú jiàn xiāo sàn ， zài kàn dào lǐ fán de shùn jiān ， tā xià yì shí dì hǎn dào ：“ zhǔ rén ……”
眼中的迷茫逐渐消散，在看到李凡的瞬间，她下意识地喊道：“主人……”
"Still, preparations must be made."
dàn hěn kuài ， tā jiù yì shí dào bú duì 。
但很快，她就意识到不对。
Li Fan watched as Lu Xuejing disappeared and soon transformed into a streak of light, returning to Tian Yu City.
yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī huāng luàn ， shēn tǐ què yǐ jīng xíng chéng běn néng 。
眼中闪过一丝慌乱，身体却已经形成本能。
Before his cultivation, Li Fan searched for information about Commander Guan Xingxiu, the commander-in-chief of the Tian Yu State Defense Corps. When Ji Hongdiao had allowed him to leave without restrictions previously, he mentioned that no unexpected incidents would occur.
zài jiā shàng gāng gāng nà rú zhuì wú jiàn liàn yù bān de tòng kǔ hái lì lì zài mù 。
再加上刚刚那如坠无间炼狱般的痛苦还历历在目。
Li Fan had a premonition that this commander's fate might not be good.
lù xuě jìng gēn běn gǔ bù qǐ fǎn kàng de yǒng qì 。
陆雪静根本鼓不起反抗的勇气。
Indeed, it was as expected: first dismissed from his post and placed under investigation. Then swiftly sentenced to have one major cultivation realm stripped away and exiled to the remote Lanlin State in the south.
zhǐ yóu yù le yī sī ， tā biàn fān qǐ shēn zi ， shú liàn dì cháo zhe lǐ fán yíng yíng guì xià ， é tóu chù dì 。
只犹豫了一丝，她便翻起身子，熟练地朝着李凡盈盈跪下，额头触地。
The punishment was severe.
méi yǒu lǐ fán de fēn fù ， yī dòng yě bù gǎn dòng 。
没有李凡的吩咐，一动也不敢动。
Besides Guan Xingxiu, two other commanders also received harsh penalties—though not as drastic as having their cultivation realms removed, they were reassigned from their positions and lost the opportunity for the Defense Corps Commander role.
“ nǐ qiě qù ba ， nài xīn zhé fú 、 xiū liàn ， děng hòu wǒ de mìng lìng jí kě 。” guò le xǔ jiǔ ， lǐ fán cái chū shēng dào 。
“你且去吧，耐心蛰伏、修炼，等候我的命令即可。”过了许久，李凡才出声道。
"This is a show of force to remind subordinates about our resolve in constructing the Heavenly Mysteries Lock Spirit Array."
“ nú bì zhī dào le 。” lù xuě jìng zài dù kē le gè xiǎng tóu 。
“奴婢知道了。”陆雪静再度磕了个响头。
"Whether you are wrongfully accused or a mastermind behind this plot, anyone involved will face severe consequences."
suí hòu qǐ shēn fēi zǒu ， xíng dòng zhōng yě bú jiàn huāng luàn ， liǎn shàng yě huí fù le zhī qián gāo ào de shén qíng 。
随后起身飞走，行动中也不见慌乱，脸上也回复了之前高傲的神情。
"While using some underhanded tactics to compete for the commander position is acceptable,"
“ yǒu le lù xuě jìng de sì jī pèi hé ， wǒ néng jìn rù wǔ xíng dà dòng tiān de jī huì dà le xǔ duō 。 jiū jìng néng bù néng chéng ， hái yào kàn shì qíng rú hé fā zhǎn 。”
“有了陆雪静的伺机配合，我能进入五行大洞天的机会大了许多。究竟能不能成，还要看事情如何发展。”
"... hindering the construction progress of the Heavenly Mysteries Lock Spirit Array is unacceptable."
“ bù guò ， gāi zuò de zhǔn bèi hái shì yào zuò de 。”
“不过，该做的准备还是要做的。”
...
lǐ fán kàn zhuó lù xuě jìng xiāo shī de shēn yǐng ， piàn kè zhī hòu ， shēn tǐ yě huà zuò dùn guāng ， fǎn huí tiān yǔ chéng zhōng 。
李凡看着陆雪静消失的身影，片刻之后，身体也化作遁光，返回天禹城中。
With the unexpected exit of three candidates, the successor for the next Defense Corps Commander was becoming clearer.
zài xiū liàn zhī qián ， lǐ fán xiān sōu suǒ le yī fān ， guān yú tiān yǔ zhōu wèi shù yuàn zhǐ huī shǐ ， guān xíng xiū de xìn xī 。
在修炼之前，李凡先搜索了一番，关于天禹州卫戍院指挥使，关行修的信息。
Originally considered a long shot and not seriously considering the election, he seemed destined to win...
zhī qián jì hóng dào yī fǎn cháng tài de fàng rèn tā lí kāi shí ， céng duì tā shuō guò ， bù yòng zài dān xīn yì wài huì fā shēng le 。
之前纪宏道一反常态的放任他离开时，曾对他说过，不用再担心意外会发生了。
From Tianyun State, Lu Junyi.
nà shí lǐ fán jiù yǒu yù gǎn ， zhè wèi zhǐ huī shǐ de xià chǎng kě néng huì bù tài hǎo 。
那时李凡就有预感，这位指挥使的下场可能会不太好。
Tianyun State...
yī kàn zhī xià ， guǒ bù qí rán 。
一看之下，果不其然。
Recalling that He Zhenghao currently worked in the Tianyun State Defense Corps, the saying "when one achieves success, all benefit" came to mind.
xiān shì gé zhí chá bàn 。
先是革职查办。
Unknown to him, this might bring some benefits his way.
Li Fan did not immediately rush to rescue the young girl who was suffering from intense pain. Instead, he slowly flew over to her side by sensing everything happening around Lu Xuejing and gradually understanding the authority that belonged to the master.
"Um... I can faintly sense images surrounding her body. And I can directly speak in her mind and give commands."
"This seems like an unnecessary step compared to using a communication spirit token earlier, as it might leave a gap."
"It's better to retract it."
Li Fan flew steadily towards Lu Xuejing without urgency.
Her face was pale, almost white, due to the prolonged agony. Her entire body seemed to have just been pulled out of water, drenched in sweat. The subtle curves of her figure were barely visible under the wet, transparent clothing.
With both hands, Li Fan controlled Lu Xuejing's trembling body and released his spirit energy into her system, circulating it around her body.
The other party's body seemed completely unguarded against him.
In a blink, Li Fan completed his exploration. The young girl revealed no secrets to his eyes.
When he clearly saw the unique foundation establishment treasure in her dantian, Li Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder.
A vast snowy plain extending for thousands of miles.
Even faintly visible were miniature depictions of many cities and villages.
Instantly, information flashed into his mind.
"Earth Treasure: Frosty Winter Crystal."
"Worthy of being the top second-generation immortal from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance. At just twenty-three years old, she has managed to establish her foundation base. Moreover, her treasure is perfectly suited to her body and cultivation technique."
"She's started life at a level that ordinary cultivators can only dream of reaching."
"Too bad, her mind isn't too sharp..."
Li Fan's eyes turned icy cold, devoid of any sympathy.
Continuing his research, Li Fan thought aloud:
"The body contains only pure spirit energy. No other types of energy or traces of arrays and prohibitions..."
"The source of this pain..."
"... seems to directly modify the fundamental settings through the essence."
"Without a master, life loses its foundation for continuation."
"This method is beyond comprehension."
Just as he was musing, Lu Xuejing had been tortured for so long that her breathing became weaker. She seemed on the brink of death.
Her struggling movements weakened further, and her pupils began to blur.
"Master... save me." The voice of Lu Xuejing suddenly echoed in Li Fan's mind.
At this moment, perhaps driven by a survival instinct, she finally submitted completely to Li Fan.
Li Fan smiled slightly as he gently stroked her head.
"Phew!"
Lu Xuejing's body arched sharply, as if finally able to breathe freely. She began to pant heavily.
Due to the lingering effects of prolonged pain, her body quickly fell into irregular spasms.
Li Fan did not release his grip on her.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Lu Xuejing gradually returned to normal.
Her body and mind had reached their limits, causing her to fall into a deep sleep.
"Too young and naive. If I return like this, even if it concerns my life, I might still reveal too much."
"I need further guidance."
Looking at the unconscious Lu Xuejing, whose face was flushed abnormally, Li Fan retracted his hand and pointed lightly towards her forehead.
Cloud Water Illusion Technique, activate!
With hispromotion to Golden Core Realm, the intensity of his divine consciousness had undergone a qualitative leap. The dreams he wove became increasingly realistic.
Through repeated cycles of dreamscapes, Li Fan, in the role of master, guided Lu Xuejing on how to respond to various scenarios upon her return.
In these dreams based on Lu Xuejing's memories, Li Fan gained some understanding of her mother, Lu Xi Chan. She was extremely domineering and had early on set a path for her daughter's cultivation.
Busy with official duties, the main body could not always be by her child’s side. Only a clone remained to watch over her. Strict and unyielding, she had no emotional connection with her child.
"If it weren't for my intervention, I almost ruined that child."
Li Fan shook his head inwardly.
...
As the sun set once more, Lu Xuejing finally woke from an endless dream.
The confusion in her eyes gradually faded as she instinctively called out to Li Fan upon seeing him: "Master..."
But quickly, she realized something was amiss. Her eyes flickered with panic while her body reacted instinctively.
The memory of the excruciating pain still vividly lingered.
Lu Xuejing lacked the courage to resist. After a moment's hesitation, she turned and knelt gracefully before Li Fan, forehead touching the ground.
Without his command, she did not move an inch.
"Go now. Patience is key; wait for my orders." It took a long time for Li Fan to speak again.
"Yes, Master," Lu Xuejing bowed deeply once more.
She then rose and flew away with no signs of panic, her face resuming its haughty expression.
"With Lu Xuejing's cooperation, I have much better chances of entering the Five Elements Great Heavenly Palace. Whether or not it succeeds depends on how things develop."
"Still, preparations must be made."
Li Fan watched as Lu Xuejing disappeared and soon transformed into a streak of light, returning to Tian Yu City.
Before his cultivation, Li Fan searched for information about Commander Guan Xingxiu, the commander-in-chief of the Tian Yu State Defense Corps. When Ji Hongdiao had allowed him to leave without restrictions previously, he mentioned that no unexpected incidents would occur.
Li Fan had a premonition that this commander's fate might not be good.
Indeed, it was as expected: first dismissed from his post and placed under investigation. Then swiftly sentenced to have one major cultivation realm stripped away and exiled to the remote Lanlin State in the south.
The punishment was severe.
Besides Guan Xingxiu, two other commanders also received harsh penalties—though not as drastic as having their cultivation realms removed, they were reassigned from their positions and lost the opportunity for the Defense Corps Commander role.
"This is a show of force to remind subordinates about our resolve in constructing the Heavenly Mysteries Lock Spirit Array."
"Whether you are wrongfully accused or a mastermind behind this plot, anyone involved will face severe consequences."
"While using some underhanded tactics to compete for the commander position is acceptable,"
"... hindering the construction progress of the Heavenly Mysteries Lock Spirit Array is unacceptable."
...
With the unexpected exit of three candidates, the successor for the next Defense Corps Commander was becoming clearer.
Originally considered a long shot and not seriously considering the election, he seemed destined to win...
From Tianyun State, Lu Junyi.
Tianyun State...
Recalling that He Zhenghao currently worked in the Tianyun State Defense Corps, the saying "when one achieves success, all benefit" came to mind.
Unknown to him, this might bring some benefits his way.