As Ethan turned to follow the path toward the east wing, Isabella vanished into the palace depths with a playful flick of her cape. Waiting for him at the arched entrance was a young woman who looked as if she had stepped out of a legend. She had vibrant, forest-green hair and eyes that matched the deep hue of ancient moss. She bowed low, her voice as soft as a breeze through leaves.

"This way, Master Ethan," she said.

Ethan stared for a moment, his eyes lingering on her slightly elongated, pointed ears. "Crul... is that an elf?"

[Affirmative, Master. She is a Wood Elf, the most common lineage of the Elven races in this sector of the higher realms. They are often sought after by high-ranking noble houses for their affinity with nature and refined etiquette.]

A wide, instinctive grin spread across Ethan's face. This place has elves... maybe I should find one for some personal entertainment...

The thought flickered brightly, but then it hit a wall of sudden, heavy guilt. The chaos of the apocalypse, the agony of the Iron Mask, and the whirlwind of his rescue had pushed everything else to the back of his mind. Now that he was finally out of danger, he realized he hadn't thought of his women in days. As the blood began to rush downward, his heart felt a sudden pang of worry for those he had left behind.

"Crul... the others. Did they make it?"

[Master, do not distress yourself. The beacon sent as the vanguard contains my secondary sub-routines. It was programmed to guide them to safety and provide them with all the necessary protocols for survival. They are strong; they will endure until you find them again.]

Relief washed over him like a cold wave, allowing him to focus back on his surroundings. He followed the green-haired elf through a corridor that opened into what he could only describe as a "mini-palace." Calling it a room was an insult. It was a sprawling mansion of white stone, decorated with massive crystal chandeliers that bathed everything in a warm, magical glow. The furniture in the reception area looked like it had been carved from solid clouds—soft to the eye, yet firm and supportive to the touch.

"The Young Mistress has prepared this wing specifically for you," the elf said, leading him toward the bathing chambers. "Please, enter. Everything is ready."

The bathroom was a masterpiece of royal indulgence. The "tub" was a massive, sunken pool of steaming, scented water. Rising from the center was a colossal fountain carved from white jade: two lions roared at the base, while above them, a majestic dragon with wings unfurled roared toward the ceiling—the symbol of the Soaring Dragon Kingdom in liquid form.

As Ethan stepped onto the heated tile, a second elven girl approached. She had chestnut-brown hair but the same piercing emerald eyes. She moved toward him with silent grace, her hands reaching out.

"Permit me, Master," she whispered.

The brown-haired elf worked with practiced, delicate movements, peeling away the ruined fabric. As the shirt fell to the floor, exposing Ethan's battle-hardened physique, she let out a tiny, involuntary gasp. His skin was a map of power—sculpted muscle and the fading lines of his ordeal, now glowing under the warm light of the bath.

"The water is infused with Spirit-Root oils," the green-haired elf whispered, stepping closer to help him out of his boots. "It will mend the fatigue in your marrow, Master."

Ethan felt the tension of the last few weeks finally snapping. The guilt over his missing women was still there, but as Crul had said, they were safe. For now, he was a man who had returned from the dead, and his body was screaming for a different kind of release.

He didn't resist as they led him into the steaming pool. The water was silk against his skin. The two elves followed him in, their light silk tunics becoming translucent the moment they touched the water, clinging to their lithe, slender frames.

They weren't like the curvaceous women of his past; these elven maidens were built like willow trees—thin, elegant, and modest. Their breasts were small, firm peaks that rose and fell with their quickened breathing, and their hips were narrow but graceful. There was a joyful, ethereal energy about them that felt like a spring morning.

"You have suffered much," the brown-haired one murmured, her hands slick with soap as she began to knead his shoulders.

Ethan didn't say a word. He reached out, his large hands finding their slender waists, pulling them both toward him. Their emerald eyes widened, a mixture of shock and shy excitement dancing in their depths. They were servants, yes, but in this kingdom, serving a "monster" like Ethan was an honor they clearly coveted. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The green-haired elf was pinned between his hard chest and the marble rim. Her silk tunic, now a transparent second skin, revealed the delicate perfection of her elven frame: pink, firm nipples hardening as they brushed against Ethan's muscles, and a waist so narrow his large hands could nearly encircle it. She let out a sharp gasp, her pointed ears twitching as Ethan buried his face in the crook of her neck, sucking the soft skin until he left a mark of possession.

Meanwhile, the chestnut-haired elf didn't stay behind. She slid behind him, wrapping her slender arms around his neck while one of her legs hooked around Ethan's hip, searching for the heat of his length which was already pulsing with urgency.

"Master... we are yours," the brunette whispered into his ear, her voice cracking with heat. "The Princess said we could be... creative."

Ethan let out a guttural growl. The power disparity was overwhelming; he felt like a predator among two nymphs. Without letting go of the green-haired girl, he turned to capture the brunette's lips in a hungry kiss, his tongue invading her mouth with an authority that made them both tremble.

His hands didn't rest. While one hand squeezed a small, firm buttock, the other slid down between the green-haired elf's thighs, finding her already slick and yearning. The splashing water soon rhythmically hit the marble floor as the two spirits of the forest gave themselves to him, their high-pitched moans echoing off the statues of the lions.

-------------------

From this moment forward, to avoid confusion regarding cultivation ranks, I will include this footer with the current established levels.

Note: These are only the ranks mentioned so far to avoid spoilers.

Body Refinement Realm

Skin Refinement / Bone Refinement / Organ Refinement

Spiritual Gathering Realm

Spiritual Perception / Spiritual Mist / Spiritual Condensation

Spiritual Core Realm

Core Solidification / Core Awakening / Spiritual Collapse (Half-step Spiritual Core)

Spiritual Soul Realm

Spiritual Soul Awakening / Soul Nourishing / Soul-Core Fusion

Golden Core Realm

Prime Fusion / Core Perfection / Core Destruction

Spiritual Sea Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Dao Manifestation Realm

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??

Spiritual Transcendence

Stage 1 ?? / Stage 2 ?? / Stage 3 ??