Fate’s mother, Pricillia, was originally the director of the Central Technical Development Bureau. She had a daughter named Alicia, who died young due to a failure in one of Pricillia’s experiments. To recreate the happy times with her daughter, Pricillia initiated the "Fate" Project—the cloning project—making Fate a clone of Alicia.

Although Fate shared Alicia’s exact appearance, her memories were incomplete, which left Pricillia deeply dissatisfied, leading her to call Fate a failure.

Worse still, because Fate inherited Pricillia’s magical aptitude—a trait Alicia never possessed, manifesting as a brilliant, lightning-like radiance—Pricillia found it unbearable, frequently subjecting Fate to abuse and treating her with hypocrisy.

In truth, Pricillia never understood that even if Fate possessed Alicia’s looks and memories, their souls were different. Fate was Fate; Alicia was Alicia. They were two distinct individuals, and Pricillia’s quest to find comfort in Fate’s semblance of Alicia was doomed to be impossible.

Pricillia never abandoned the hope of resurrecting her real daughter, Alicia. After all, she had succeeded in the forbidden art of creating artificial life; she believed that somewhere, in some world, a technology existed to bring back the dead. Her target for this technology was the legendary land of Alhazard.

By using the Seed of the Holy Stone to cause a dimensional tremor, she could reach that place and perhaps revive her daughter. Thus, upon hearing news of the Seed of the Holy Stone, she dispatched Fate to seize it… In Lin Luo’s view, since Fate was still at the Temporal Garden, this mission should not have commenced yet. However, Pricillia’s abuse of Fate didn't start with the Seed incident. Elff’s current look of terror was certainly due to Pricillia tormenting Fate.

"Take me to where Fate is," Lin Luo pulled Elff up from the ground and said in a deep voice.

"Eh?" Elff seemed to just snap back to reality, startled by Lin Luo’s words. But Lin Luo paid no mind to her reaction, immediately pulling her toward the direction she had run from.

"Um, Fate she..." Elff wanted to say something, but hesitated.

"From your reaction, I can pretty much tell what’s happening. If you want Fate to suffer less, hurry up and take me there. It should still be in time, right?"

"O-Okay." Although Elff didn't know why Lin Luo knew this, or if he even had the ability to stop it, having someone help was infinitely better than hiding outside and grieving alone. She immediately led Lin Luo away, but as they ran, she couldn't help but vent her grievances to him.

"That woman... Mother Fate’s behavior is too abnormal. Her abuse of Fate isn't a day or two old. What is she doing? I don't understand at all. Isn't Fate her daughter? Why be so cruel? Someone like that, why would she be..."

You are correct; Fate is not her biological daughter. Although she shares her genes, she wasn't actually born—she’s just a clone... at least, that's how Pricillia sees it.

Lin Luo thought to himself. Right now, the only ones who know Fate's true identity are Pricillia and her familiar, Lynis. Even Fate herself is unaware, let alone Elff.

Moments later, guided by Elff, Lin Luo arrived before a massive door, standing over three meters high. The door was shut tight, and from within, a woman's low voice and the distinct sound of a whip striking flesh could faintly be heard.

"It's starting again, that woman is starting again!" Hearing these sounds, Elff immediately covered her head and crouched down, speaking in agony.

"Don't worry, it will be over soon," Lin Luo comforted softly, then reached out and placed his hand on the door, his expression shifting slightly. The door was protected by a magic barrier. Though not overwhelmingly strong—in the past, he could have shattered it with pure kinetic force—it presented more difficulty now. Of course, it wasn't a major problem, as he possessed abilities beyond mere physical combat.

Swish!

He drew the Mistrain Sword from his storage space and slashed lightning-fast across the door seam. The barrier fractured like tofu, and with a creak, the door swung open.

The instant the door opened, Lin Luo saw it: in the center of the room, Fate was suspended over a circular dais, while a long-haired woman in a magic-infused outfit, her face grim, stood before her, holding a whip and viciously striking Fate. However, when the door burst open and Lin Luo appeared, her action stopped instinctively.

This woman was Pricillia.

Pricillia had known about Lin Luo being at the Temporal Garden. Although she disliked having an outsider in her residence, Fate insisted on him staying. Besides, she had already obtained a Seed of the Holy Stone from Lin Luo, and he had been so gravely wounded he was nearly dead. Pricillia had let him be, never expecting him to burst through her door at a moment like this.

"Not just anyone is allowed in this place. Get out," Pricillia said. Lin Luo's sudden appearance caused her only a fleeting moment of surprise before she swiftly regained her cold demeanor. Even with a sword in his hand, she didn't consider it a threat.

Pricillia completely disregarded Lin Luo. A man who was almost dead just two days ago—what good was any strength he might possess now? In such a weak state, did he really think he could challenge her? She could crush him with a single finger. If it weren't for Fate's "face," she would have thrown him out days ago.

"My apologies. I was just taking a little tour and stumbled upon such a touching scene..." Matching Pricillia's attitude, Lin Luo paid her no mind either. He walked forward without hesitation, positioning himself in front of Fate, paying no attention to anyone else but rather examining the room's décor with feigned interest.

"I happen to be quite curious. Wherever I go, I like to take a look around, especially at those touching, heartwarming scenes that make me linger…" He finished by looking at Pricillia and smiling faintly, "I trust you don't mind me observing, do you?"

"You!" Pricillia's face changed. She realized Lin Luo was genuinely there to cause trouble. She had no idea what gave him the courage to speak to her this way, but... since he came, he had chosen death.

"So bothersome. Disappear!" Without the slightest hesitation, Pricillia thrust her hand forward, unleashing a massive beam of magical energy from her palm, hurtling toward Lin Luo's heart.

She hadn't used her full strength; there was no need to exert herself against someone half-dead. This single strike should be fatal. But!

Swish!

A glint of sword light sliced through the visible magic beam. The blade descended, stopping precisely at Pricillia’s throat. Lin Luo smiled, "This sword can cleave heaven, earth, gods, and demons. I imagine cutting through a mere life force should be quite easy, don't you agree?"

A flash of surprise crossed Pricillia’s eyes, but there was no panic.

"Stop!" Because Lin Luo’s action was so fast, it was only now that Fate reacted. Seeing her mother subdued by Lin Luo, she cried out in alarm.

Lin Luo turned and glanced at her. He saw that her clothes were somewhat torn, and faint red bruises marked the exposed skin—she had clearly taken several heavy lashes. If anyone else had dared treat Fate this way, he would have already swung his sword. But Pricillia was someone he absolutely could not strike down. Regardless of her abuse, Fate still viewed Pricillia as the kindest, gentlest, and most beloved mother. If he truly killed Pricillia, Fate might hate him for the rest of her life.

Lin Luo sighed inwardly, then retracted his blade, smiling. "Don't worry, I've been eating vegetarian lately." Then, he looked toward Elff, who stood shocked by the doorway. "Oh right, Miss Elff, could you fetch me a chair? And a book while you’re at it."

"Huh?" Elff froze, clearly unable to fathom why he needed a chair and a book at this moment. But whether it was Lin Luo's sheer imposing presence or something else, she immediately scampered out and quickly returned with the items.

During this time, Pricillia remained motionless. Fate, being suspended, could only watch with confusion. Only when Elff brought the chair forward did Pricillia direct her gaze toward her, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. Based on past encounters, Elff instinctively felt fear and subconsciously stepped back.

"The chair, of course, is for sitting." Lin Luo reached out and took Elff’s arm, and with that touch, Elff's fear vanished.

Lin Luo then took the chair from her, carried it in front of Fate, sat down with a thud, thrust the Mistrain Sword into the floor, and began reading a book, crossing his legs casually.

This scene stunned everyone present.

"What are you trying to do?!" Pricillia finally broke the silence, speaking in a low, tense voice.

"Don't you understand?" Lin Luo looked up at her as if she were an idiot. "I already said it. I love watching heartwarming scenes. So, I found a good spot to enjoy the show. Reading a book while watching a heartwarming drama is quite delightful. So please, don't mind me; carry on."

"..." At this moment, Pricillia's expression finally showed a visible change. She felt a surge of wicked fire rising uncontrollably within her. Carry on? How could she continue with him blocking her view?!

"Oh, one more thing," Lin Luo said, as if just remembering, flicking his finger lightly against the blade beside him as he looked toward Pricillia, speaking kindly, "In front of me... the Magisters of this world are meaningless."