The battle against fate left Lin Luo in agony. Although Gui Qu Lai Xi’s "special aphrodisiac" prevented any severe injuries, the sensation of doubled pain was almost unbearable. Furthermore, the pressure of the Heaven-tier artistic conception could not be resisted by willpower alone; even if resisted, one's mental state would remain extremely fragile for a period.

In just one week, he had been drilled to the point of near death.

Of course, despite the suffering, this intensity of training benefited him greatly. Putting other benefits aside, the experience points for LV2 were nearly full. Since grasping the Heart's Eye, accumulating this experience was not difficult; normally, it would take about a year to complete. However, when his experience reached 80%, he merged with the ability of Creation, becoming a Rule-level powerhouse. While this boosted his combat power, it slowed down his progress.

It was like in certain online games where a character needed a hundred experience points to level up, but suddenly gained a skill that also required leveling. The character level’s experience requirement was then affected by this new skill, turning the hundred points into two hundred. Continuing to level up at the original pace clearly became unrealistic.

Had Lin Luo not encountered special opportunities, filling the LV2 experience bar would have taken at least another six months. But then again, a Heaven-tier punching bag was not the same as a bargain-bin item. In just seven days, he had accumulated the equivalent of three months' worth of experience. If he could endure just one more week, he wouldn't have to worry about the Contract Book's experience anymore.

With this motivation, Lin Luo ignored the strain on his body, working even harder to treat fate as his punching bag… or perhaps, he was fate’s punching bag.

Another week of grueling effort passed, and Lin Luo was finally released from the torment of his training. Gui Qu Lai Xi had been using fate as his sparring partner, a regimen that would not cease until Lin Luo fully comprehended the Heaven-tier artistic conception. The current stop was not because he had reached the Heaven-tier, but because Lefi Meizalance was finally emerging from seclusion.

“How should I put it? Sticking only to the piles of cultivation isn't good. Everything needs the right balance of tension and relaxation. Otherwise, even if your power increases, your mind will turn dull. She’ll be out in a few minutes. I’m giving you a few days off for now. Go handle matters with her, and we’ll resume sparring afterward,” Gui Qu Lai Xi said casually in front of a training chamber before turning and leaving.

“…” Lin Luo had no energy to retort. He constantly felt that Gui Qu Lai Xi’s tone was similar to those roles in old TV dramas: “Well, for now, I’ll grant you two days leave. First, settle your marriage business, then return to the palace to serve His Majesty. Do you understand, Little Eunuch? Little Swallow?”

Forget that analogy.

The combination of work and rest was, after all, what Lin Luo considered the best cultivation method. He naturally wouldn't miss this rare chance to rest. He had already filled the entire LV2 experience bar during this time and even reclaimed the World King's ability. It was time to consolidate; blindly increasing power was ultimately the Path of Yin, which was not advisable.

Besides, he hadn't seen the Hosts for a long time and felt a sense of anticipation, even if, for now, it was only Lefi... Thus, Lin Luo stood excitedly before the training chamber door.

A moment later, the door to the training chamber finally opened under countless gazes. A blue-haired girl slowly walked out, her expression slightly weary.

It was Lefi Meizalance. Her appearance and demeanor hadn't changed, but her aura was more contained, giving her a feeling of ethereal mystery. This was because her strength had increased. At Lin Luo’s level, he couldn't discern her current realm, but Lin Luo knew that Lefi was still Lefi.

“Lefi,” Lin Luo called out softly, standing by the door.

Gui Qu Lai Xi’s training was indeed strict. Even with Lefi’s current strength, she hadn't noticed Lin Luo upon exiting. It wasn't that Lin Luo had made himself undetectable; it was just that her intense cultivation had left her utterly exhausted, leaving no mental capacity to notice her surroundings. Moreover, Sky City was her home; she had no reason to be on guard in her own dwelling.

However, the moment Lin Luo’s soft call sounded, the foot the girl had just lifted froze mid-air. Her previously somewhat vacant eyes instantly erupted with emerald light, filled with shock.

She seemed hesitant to look, yet also gathering courage. Her gaze slowly lifted, finally landing on Lin Luo.

A thousand glances back for a single gaze—Lin Luo didn't know what kind of look that was, but he knew that if such a look existed in the world, Lefi was its perfect example right now. Her eyes were filled with expectation and ardor, mixed with the joy and trepidation that followed shock. If the liking stemmed from reuniting with her lover, then what caused the fear?

Perhaps fear of losing him again, or fear of something else. Lin Luo didn't know, nor did he know how many other emotions were contained within Lefi’s gaze. But he didn't need to know, because she understood all those emotions, and so did he. She had them, and so did he.

“Lefi, I’m back.” His voice was gentle again as he opened his arms.

Without hesitation, the girl moved like a gentle breeze, swift and tender. The next moment, she had plunged into Lin Luo’s embrace. Holding her, Lin Luo felt her body was so light, yet he also felt she was immensely heavy—heavy with her emotion and soul.

Lin Luo said nothing, simply holding her tenderly. The girl also remained silent, burying her face against his chest, silently soaking in the familiar scent. A moment later, when the girl lifted her head, her eyes were already flooded with tears—tears containing all her sorrow and joy.

“Do you know, when you left, I thought I would never see you again? You helped me fulfill my wish, yet I couldn’t help you guard yours. Do you know how much I hated my own powerlessness back then? If only I had been a little stronger, maybe that sad thing wouldn't have happened. Do you know, if Lin Xiaoke hadn't told us there was still hope, maybe I…”

“I know,” Lin Luo said softly, gently brushing aside some of her messy strands of hair and wiping the tears from her eyes. “So, I have returned.”

“You absolutely cannot do that ever again, do you understand?” “Mhm, I won’t try to bear everything alone anymore.” “In the future, I will protect you,” the girl murmured faintly. Her hands, previously resting on Lin Luo’s chest, now wrapped around his neck. She rose onto her tiptoes and pressed her cherry lips against his.

The moment their lips met, Lin Luo suddenly felt a fusion of spirits. A soft whirlwind rose from the ground, lifting the ribbon on the girl's forehead. Her blue hair danced in the wind, stirring the Wind of Contract: “Dark star night accompanies my journey, the rising sun carries the bright light, glory illuminates my spirit, echoing my breath in harmony, together we unlock the elemental shroud, entwining the rising wind, the two merge into one!” It sounded like an ode sung from the soul, the most beautiful song in the world. But this time, the bond being sung was not the fusion of human and Holy War Angel, but the Pact of the Heart.

“Pact of the Heart initiated, entering Agreement Mode. Agreement complete. Current Contract Master and Contracted Party have achieved Companionship. Current Contract Master gains Proof of Constraint—Sable Adjudication. Current Contracted Party gains Proof of Constraint—Sable Voice.”

Contract Master Lin Luo: Walker (LV2) Body Strength: A Spiritual Strength: A Overall Strength: Spirit-tier High Grade Level Up Requirement: Must complete two more agreements.

Contracted Party: Lefi Meizalance Body Strength: SS Spiritual Strength: SS Overall Strength: Earth-tier High Grade Proof of Constraint: Sable Voice Seal of Protection: Wind-Stilled Deity Heart of the World: Azure Heart (No. 20, Form: Shadowless and Formless, Heart-Melted)

This was Lefi’s current strength: Earth-tier High Grade, having completely surpassed her original state. Even Lin Luo’s strength during the Fourth Divine War was less than hers. While the speed of this progress was astonishing, upon reflection, it was entirely reasonable.

First, as a Host, she possessed unparalleled potential. Second, after Lin Luo's death, she transformed grief into power, throwing herself entirely into improving her strength. Finally, she was trained by a heaven-defying powerhouse like Gui Qu Lai Xi; it would be dissonant if her strength hadn't advanced at all.

However, this monstrous power posed a great pressure on Lin Luo. While it wasn't bad for the Host to become stronger, it indirectly suggested that his path of living off others (soft rice) was likely still very long.

“This training session was a failure; I didn’t manage to advance further. Sigh,” Lin Luo exclaimed, shocked by Lefi’s strength, yet she herself seemed dissatisfied with her current power, looking regretful.

Lin Luo knew that the Hosts’ training wasn't mandatory to break through every time. They went to the training room periodically and were scheduled to come out within fixed timeframes. Whether they could break through within that limited window depended on the Host herself. This was how Gui Qu Lai Xi knew when someone would emerge.

Lefi had entered the illusory space for the third time, and she was the earliest one in that phase, which is why she was the first to exit. It must be mentioned that time held no definition within the illusory space they entered; the limited time was only relative to the outside world.

“No, I think you are already very strong,” Lin Luo comforted her softly.

“That’s not enough,” Lefi shook her head. “Sister said that while we don’t necessarily need to reach Heaven-tier immediately, we must at least achieve the realm of the foremost expert beneath Heaven-tier. I am still too far from that goal.” This was true; Earth-tier High Grade was strong enough, but it was still quite distant from being the undisputed master below Heaven-tier. However…

“Who is Sister?” Lin Luo asked curiously. Was it Gui Qu Lai Xi?

“It’s Sister Yao Yao,” Lefi replied seriously.

“Huh?” Who was that? Lin Luo was stunned.