285: There are always people better than you.

[Time flew quickly, and ten days passed in the blink of an eye.]

[During these ten days, the Tianyu Immortal Dynasty was rife with hidden currents and extremely lively.]

[First, the massive case of treason, where all the blame fell upon Prince Ji Heng, Empress Han, and Prime Minister Han.]

[The cultivation of the three was abolished, and they were thrown into the dark and sunless Imperial Dungeon. The very next day, they “committed suicide out of fear of their crimes.”]

[Immediately afterward, the Families and officials who had followed Prince Ji Heng also began to “meet with accidents” one after another.]

[For example, Qi Deviation, relapse of old injuries, encountering rogue Cultivators, or even dying suddenly at home...]

[These matters were naturally not done by Ji Wuya.]

[He had publicly promised “to let bygones be bygones” while holding the human emperors seal. As the Son of Heaven, it was inconvenient for him to openly renege on his word.]

[But just because the Emperor didn't act didn't mean others were willing to let them go; with Eldest Princess Ji Hui's methods, things never needed to be done in the open.]

[No matter how great the power of these Families, their roots were planted in the Shattered Star Continent and they couldn't escape this realm. What awaited them was almost certainly slow decline, or being uprooted entirely.]

[However, there was also “accidental escape.”]

[The true direct Bloodline, young Prodigies, and Core Disciples of these Families had all vanished without a trace by the second day.]

[Only a few people knew that this was Langgan Pavilion secretly intervening to send these individuals out of the Shattered Star Continent.]

[Presumably, this was the enticing condition Langgan Pavilion used to persuade those old fellows to place their bets in the first place.]

[If they succeeded, everyone would ascend.]

[If they failed, they could still ensure the Family's continuation.]

[For them, with their remaining years dwindling and their Dao path hopeless, gambling for the possibility of a Family's future seemed like a worthwhile bargain no matter how you looked at it.]

[As for Han Xue and Han Jun of the Han Family, they were naturally among those “fleeing.”]

[Not only that, after Han Xue and Han Jun arrived safely at Tianyang Star with some of the Han Family's elite and accumulated resources, they immediately pledged allegiance to Langgan Pavilion.]

[However, before leaving, Han Xue still left a group of people to lie in wait as spies in Tianyu City—including Yu'er.]

[In her eyes, Yu'er's Aptitude was mediocre and her life was worthless, so naturally, Han Xue wouldn't specially take such a person with her.]

[As for Langgan Pavilion, Ji Wuya and Ji Hui naturally wouldn't dare offend them—mainly because they couldn't win a fight.]

[As for the wealthiest Jiang Family, they also felt there was no need to act, especially since Ji Wuya was currently injured.]

[These outcomes were all within your expectations.]

[At the same time, over the past ten days, the main gate of your manor has been “busier” than ever before.]

[Day and night, the street in front of your manor, which was originally quite wide, was constantly filled with various luxurious carriages and palanquins pulled by exotic beasts, blocking the road completely.]

[Especially during the day, it was packed with people, making it impossible to pass, and the noise could be heard several streets away.]

[Visitors came in an endless stream—not only forces and great Families within the Tianyu Immortal Dynasty, but also powers from other Dynasties across the Shattered Star Continent heard the news and mobilized.]

[The gifts they brought piled up like mountains, especially the imperial lotus fruit—it had almost become the “standard” item for paying a visit.]

[But the more important “gifts” were often their carefully groomed and talented descendants, the legitimate daughters of the Family, or the Core Disciples chosen through rigorous selection.]

[Everyone held the same thought: they didn't ask to be favored by you and taken as a disciple; even just meeting you once, becoming familiar, and leaving a slight impression would be an immense Opportunity.]

[Some even lowered their stance immensely, stating outright that they were willing to “send” the most outstanding young members of their clan to serve you as servants or maids, hoping only to gain a trace of your protection.]

[Your originally quiet manor had clearly become a “Holy Land” in the eyes of the powerful and Cultivators across the entire Shattered Star Continent, a place more worth visiting than the Imperial Palace.]

[Of course, you naturally refused all visitors.]

[The people outside naturally dared not force their way in, instead finding various ways to show goodwill.]

[For example, they each arranged for the elite young members of their clans to “voluntarily” serve as guards all around your manor.]

[For a time, the external “defenses” of your small three-entry, three-exit courtyard were actually a bit stricter and more thorough than those of the Imperial Palace itself.]

[You couldn't help but sigh with emotion.]

[This so-called fame seemed to bring nothing but endless trouble and increasingly complex entanglements of Karma.]

[If you still possessed your former Nascent Soul cultivation, perhaps you would feel smug, experiencing a bit of vanity and satisfaction.]

[But your current state of mind was completely the opposite.]

[You wished that no one knew of your existence, allowing you to return to that peaceful solitude where no one bothered you.]

[Now you only felt countless fine threads of Karma quietly wrapping around you from all directions. If you relaxed even slightly, they would tighten, dragging you into some kind of helpless, endless vortex.]

[That day, Ji Yao came again.]

[Naturally, you didn't let her in. It was the basket of imperial lotus fruit she was carrying that was sniffed out by Qin Han, whose nose was sharper than a dog's, and he joyfully “hauled” her inside.]

[In the courtyard, beside the stone table,]

[Ji Yao stood before you, her gaze lowered. Gone was her former arrogance, replaced by a cautious gentleness and apprehension.]

[She took a deep breath, her voice soft yet clear enough:]

["Senior Qin... My Imperial Father said... he wants me to come to your side and serve as a... a serving maid. He hopes... he hopes you... can accept me."]

[You put down your teacup, looked up at her, and suddenly smiled, your tone placid:]

["Speaking of which... I actually preferred your former rebellious and arrogant appearance."]

[Upon hearing this, Ji Yao's body trembled slightly. She bit her lower lip, raised her head, her eyes filled with complex emotions—embarrassment, and a trace of stubbornness:]

["Before... I was ignorant and looked down on others, offending Senior. Now... the Immortal Dynasty's turmoil has just settled. I... I know I am useless, but I promise... I will be obedient."]

[You looked at her without replying, simply picking up your teacup again.]

[Seeing your silence, her voice dropped even lower, almost choked, but she forced herself to hold it back:]

["I know Senior finds it troublesome and looks down on my meager cultivation and schemes... But I... I can learn. Serving tea, fetching water, sweeping the courtyard, looking after Clumsy... I can do all of it."]

[You slowly sipped your tea, your tone still without ripple:]

["Your Imperial Father sent you because he thinks I can protect you."]

["But staying by my side is not necessarily safe."]

["Furthermore, I don't want to incur too much Karma."]

[Ji Yao tightened her fingertips, gripping her sleeve. She remained silent for a long while before speaking again:]

["Then... what if I said I wanted to come myself? It's not my Imperial Father's intention, it's me... I want to leave that place, that identity."]

[You turned your gaze back to her, watching her for a moment.]

[The courtyard fell silent for a moment, save for the smacking sound of Qin Han munching on the imperial lotus fruit nearby.]

[After a long while, you put down the teacup, looked up at her, your gaze calm:]

["My Dao path is fraught with peril at every step, a near-certain death."]

["Staying by my side may not be an Opportunity, but more likely a disaster."]

["It might even... implicate the Tianyu Immortal Dynasty behind you."]

[Ji Yao suddenly looked up, her eyes shining with disbelief, and blurted out:]

["How could that be... Haven't you already achieved Soul Transformation, ranking among the Great Powers?"]

["Who else on this Shattered Star Continent, or even Tianyang Star, could possibly threaten you?"]

[Hearing this, you gently shook your head, a nearly imperceptible, self-mocking curve appearing at the corner of your lips:]

["Beyond the human realm, there are other humans; beyond the mountain, there are other mountains; beyond the Immortal, there are other Immortals."]

[You paused, your gaze fixed on the distant horizon, as if piercing through layers of star rivers:]

["Have you ever seen... the true end of the Immortal Path?"]

["If there truly is an end... is the one standing at that end truly... unrivaled?"]