Lin Zhaoyue watched Fang Yuan take Fang Qingyue into his arms from Zhao Lusi.

At the same time, the laughter slowly faded from Zhao Lusi face, replaced by genuine surprise.

"I can’t believe you actually managed to make a World Spirit willingly become your daughter."

There wasn’t the slightest hint of mockery in her voice.

She truly found it unbelievable.

Fang Yuan gently patted Fang Qingyue’s head while the little girl buried her face against his shoulder, occasionally glaring at Zhao Lusi.

Without another word, Zhao Lusi pointed toward the enormous crack in space.

"Normally, world Spirits are more like that."

Everyone followed her finger.

Beyond the spatial rift, Fang Lian was locked in a fierce battle.

Her sword danced relentlessly as she clashed against Drog Koram’s corpse, which moved with unnatural precision.

The world will was moving the lifeless body.

As the battle continued, Zhao Lusi’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"Oh my, she’s so strong. I want her."

Her gaze fixated entirely on Fang Lian, who was battling the possessed vessel beyond the spatial rift.

The moment those words left her mouth, Lin Zhaoyue’s expression instantly turned cold.

"She’s my daughter. Back off."

Her tone was calm, yet fiercely protective.

Zhao Lusi blinked before waving her hands dismissively.

"Relax. I only meant that I want to take her as my disciple."

"She already has a master."

"She can always have two."

"No."

Zhao Lusi raised both hands helplessly.

"Okay, okay. Geez."

She rolled her eyes.

"If you weren’t my wine supplier’s wife..."

She smiled mischievously.

"...I’d definitely make your life a living hell with illusions."

Fang Yuan frowned.

Wine supplier’s wife?

...What the heck was that supposed to mean?

Wasn’t she the one who forcefully took me as her disciple?

He had countless complaints.

None of them left his mouth.

Instead, he quietly watched as Fang Lian gradually gained the upper hand in her battle.

Only then did Zhao Lusi continue.

"Normally, World spirits rarely take forms of their own. Instead it possesses the strongest being in its world.

It isn’t even malicious. That’s simply its instinct. They nurture you into who you are by using their resources, it’s only right that they have the power to take it all back.

The strongest cultivator becomes the vessel through which the world’s laws are exercised."

She folded her arms.

"So, in almost every realm, no one truly surpasses the world’s laws. The strongest person is usually already being used by them."

Fang Yuan’s brows knitted together.

His gaze slowly lowered toward the little girl in his arms.

Fang Qingyue looked back at him with bright, innocent eyes before giving him a sweet smile.

Fang Yuan silently pushed the thought to the back of his mind.

The last time he had tried refining the world, she had willingly cooperated and nearly allowed herself to be refined alongside it.

Maybe she has a few screws loose.

He had no intention of finding out.

Instead, he turned his attention toward the battle beyond the spatial rift.

"Master, aren’t you going to help her?"

Zhao Lusi lazily shook her head.

"No. If I interfere, she’ll have a much harder time refining that world spirit after defeating it."

She glanced toward Fang Lian and nodded approvingly.

"Besides, she’s more than capable of winning on her own. That world spirit hasn’t matured enough to pose any real threat to her."

As she finished speaking, she turned toward Lin Zhaoyue.

The latter was already staring at her with undisguised hostility, looking as though she was one sentence away from attacking again.

Zhao Lusi’s lips curled into a mischievous smirk.

Lin Zhaoyue suddenly felt an ominous premonition.

Zhao Lusi simply winked and then she appeared right beside Fang Yuan and gave him a kiss.

"You shameless woman!"

Lin Zhaoyue’s furious shout echoed through the air.

Fang Yuan was startled.

He immediately stepped forward and caught her by the shoulders.

"Zhaoyue, what’s wrong? Are you alright?"

Lin Zhaoyue’s breathing was uneven.

A heartbeat later, her eyes cleared and when she realized she had been in an illusion just now.

Her expression darkened even further.

"That shameless woman..."

She gritted her teeth.

Even though she knew it had never happened...

The mere fact that Zhao Lusi had forced such an illusion into her mind was enough to make her blood boil.

Glaring at the direction Zhao Lusi had dissapeared to Lin Zhaoyue took a few slow breath before turning toward Fang Yuan.

"Husband, come. Our daughter will be able to refine that world as her own.

Instead of watching her, we should also start preparing our realm for its ascension into the higher realm. The sooner we finish, the better."

You dared to try stealing this empress’s man, even if it was only inside an illusion.

I’ll make sure you regret that decision for the rest of your life.

Fang Yuan blinked at her.

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask,

By the way, since when did Fang Lian become our daughter?

I thought you only made her call you ’Mother’ in name.

The question lingered on the tip of his tongue but then he quietly swallowed it.

At this point it wasn’t even worth asking.

It was as if she held the reins and he was the horse.

"Alright, darling. Let’s go make the preparations."

Lin Zhaoyue’s face instantly brightened at the title.

"Oh, and husband..."

She suddenly looked at him very seriously.

"Don’t even think about learning from that woman. I’ll teach you everything I know, I know a whole lot more than her."

Fang Yuan couldn’t help but smile.

He reached out and gently rubbed her head.

"Alright, my darling will teach me everything then. I’m looking forward to it."

Lin Zhaoyue immediately narrowed her eyes in contentment.

A soft, satisfied hum escaped her lips as she unconsciously leaned into his hand, looking every bit like a cat enjoying being petted.

After several moments, she slowly opened one eye.

"Husband..."

Her gaze drifted toward the little girl still comfortably nestled in Fang Yuan’s arms.

"...How much longer are you planning to keep Qingyue in your arms?"