Feng Zikang stood silently outside Lizhou City. He gazed at the chaotic starlight on the horizon. Ever since the Battle of Lizhou began, the workings of Heaven’s secrets had been obscured and difficult to discern; the starlight was dim, and even those at the Star Observation Hall might struggle to clearly perceive the changes in heavenly movements. For him, it was all vague, impossible to decipher.

He waited here because, during the banquet, Wu Mei had quietly requested a meeting with him.

The moon climbed to its zenith. The agreed time was the second watch of the night.

This hardly felt like a shy young woman arranging a rendezvous with her lover. Deep down, Feng Zikang understood that while Wu Mei might indeed harbor deep affection for him, after urging the Dragon Qi through secret arts, he was facing not just a lovestruck woman, but a formidable, commanding Empress-to-be.

“Senior Brother…”

A soft call came from behind. Feng Zikang turned to look. He saw Wu Mei, her hair adorned with jade and pearls, her complexion flushed, standing like a weeping willow swaying in the wind—trembling and hesitant. In her eyes, there was both yearning and apprehension.

Feng Zikang’s heart couldn't help but stir.

A devoted woman always possessed an ineffable charm. Even if Feng Zikang’s heart was as hard as iron, he couldn't help but be moved.

“Junior Sister, you have arrived!”

Feng Zikang composed his mind, offering a slight bow. “What is the purpose of this late-night summons? Does the Venerable Granny Kanshan have some instructions for us?”

Wu Mei lightly bit her lower lip. She had gathered immense courage to ask Feng Zikang to meet her here, but now, face to face, she didn't know where to begin.

He remained just as he was years ago: one man, one sword, ethereal and otherworldly. Only his gaze was sharper than before. Since Wu Mei began her cultivation path, she could sense Feng Zikang’s profound cultivation base, far beyond the scope of her understanding.

Had her years of arduous practice actually driven her further away from him?

No, impossible!

The pride in her heart would not allow her to accept such a reality.

“Senior Brother often passes through Lizhou, yet Little Sister has always missed the chance to meet you. I haven't even had the opportunity to thank you for saving my life. Now that we have this rare chance encounter, Little Sister must properly express her gratitude…”

Utterly unable to articulate what she truly wanted to say, Wu Mei was deeply dissatisfied with her own performance. Although the tone of her voice remained as calm as ever, she could feel her heart pounding wildly, as if it were about to leap from her throat.

“You already thanked me once. I also said that for me, it was merely incidental—a small effort. Junior Sister need not take it too much to heart.”

Saving this Lady Wu initially was not Feng Zikang’s intention. It was purely coincidence, encountering the Nine-Tailed Fox giving birth in the Southern Barbarian lands. At that time, he had no thought of rescuing beauties.

“For Senior Brother, it was a small effort, but for me, it was a life. How could I not thank you?” Wu Mei’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum, yet inside, her emotions were tumultuous.

What on earth am I saying?

She lowered her head, yet her gaze secretly darted toward Feng Zikang’s face. In truth, his features were not outstanding. If it weren't for the divine light contained within, the clarity in his eyes, and the subtle halo seeming to flow beneath his skin, he would only be considered of average appearance. But combined with his temperament and expression, he possessed an indescribable allure.

Luo Kedi was also spirited and valiant, and some fellow disciples possessed beauty that rivaled demons. But compared to Feng Zikang, it was like comparing a firefly to the bright moon—entirely incomparable.

“There is no need for ceremony.”

Feng Zikang still waved his hand lightly, smiling faintly. “Junior Sister summons me in the dead of night. Surely it isn't just to say thank you one more time?”

He could guess the young woman’s intentions, but his own heart remained uncertain whether this meeting was driven purely by sentiment or held some other objective.

He glanced at the flustered Wu Mei, feeling a slight amusement in his heart.

Feng Zikang had long since seen through the emotions of the mortal world. Long before he was beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, as a Heavenly Demon, he had extinguished all desire, leaving behind only boundless hatred. Even after possessing a new body and diligently practicing Daoist arts, his heart was one of pure emptiness; any minor private affection was long forgotten.

Moreover, following the Way of the Demon meant one could not easily fall in love. To have affection was to have a weakness—how could one roam the Three Realms unchallenged?

Even if he sought a dual cultivation partner, he should look for a woman of profound cultivation who could protect him—someone like the genius Luo Lianxin, or perhaps even Wen Lingsu of the Nong family. Though her aptitude might be less than Luo Lianxin’s, she had already reached the Core Formation stage and would at least not become his vulnerability.

This young girl had not cultivated long, and moreover, she strongly wielded the Dragon Qi, guaranteeing a lifetime of trouble. By Feng Zikang’s nature, he would naturally decline.

However, despite this, Wu Mei was currently tied to the great currents of the world’s fate, forcing him to play along, to utilize this affection.

He was utterly unconcerned by this base conduct.

Seeing Wu Mei stammering, unable to speak, Feng Zikang guessed that her request for this meeting was merely an impulse, without any firm plan, and certainly not an instruction from Granny Kanshan. Since that was the case…

Feng Zikang smiled faintly. “Perhaps you saw the bright stars and moon tonight and invited your Senior Brother to appreciate the beautiful scenery outside Lizhou City together?”

Wu Mei’s heart leaped with joy, and she quickly nodded. “That is exactly what Little Sister intended!”

Feng Zikang laughed heartily. “Such a fine night, with clear breeze and bright moon. To stroll hand-in-hand with Junior Sister would indeed be a joy in life. But how can such a time pass without fine wine?”

Wu Mei smiled gracefully, flicked her sleeve, and mischievously drew forth a flask of fine wine.

“This is fine wine brewed by my Master. Little Sister secretly brought a bit back; I must invite Senior Brother to sample it.”

This was the common technique of the Universe Within the Sleeve. However, Wu Mei executed it with effortless grace. For someone who had only been cultivating for a few years, this was remarkable progress.

Those filled with Dragon Qi naturally had an advantage in cultivation compared to others. Yet, their future troubles would be far greater. And if she truly ascended to the throne of Empress, this cultivation would not help her—it would only bring catastrophe.

An Emperor absolutely cannot cultivate!

This was an iron rule of the cultivation world. To prevent the reincarnation of a Human Emperor, to avoid the world’s Fortune being seized by one person, this had become the most crucial regulation to uphold.

In ancient times, Dao Ancestors ascended. Afterward, the Great Desolation was filled with endless warfare, yet no one else reached such a profound realm.

Later, someone carved a unique path, unifying the Heavens and the Earth, achieving the Fruit Status of the Human Sovereign. Thereafter, the entire world served one person, allowing him to reach a cultivation boundary only a hair’s breadth away from the Dao Ancestors.

From that point on, cultivators realized the immense importance of Heaven and Earth’s resources, leading to constant warfare and unrest in the world. Those who held the position of Human Sovereign exhausted all means to plunder the realm, solidifying their own Dao.

This was also one of the primary reasons for the shattering of the Great Desolation.

When the Great Desolation broke apart and countless cultivators perished, those who remained deeply reflected on their mistakes. To avoid repeating the disaster, they established this iron rule: the Emperor must never cultivate, lest he, through his sole power, drain the essence of the entire world, leading to an irredeemable situation.

In this world, the imperial line, stretching back over a thousand years, had strictly adhered to this rule.

Let alone the Emperor, even ordinary members of the royal family found it exceedingly difficult to even cross the threshold into immortal cultivation.