“Integration Stage? Eight Winds Integration? Great Ascension Stage? Supreme Sage Great Ascension?”
Tang Zhaoxue stared suspiciously at Jiang Huai in front of her, murmuring under her breath.
Is this for real? There are realms beyond Divine Transformation?
“How would I know if you’re lying to me?”
Her slender eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Jiang Huai.
Her bare snow-white feet lightly brushed the ground, like a feline contemplating whether its prey’s words were true.
Jiang Huai forced himself to remain calm, shrugged, and feigned nonchalance: “Because I have no reason to lie to you.”
“If what you say about men in this world being unable to cultivate is an ironclad rule, then where does my own cultivation come from? Over time, truth and lies will reveal themselves. If I’m lying, it benefits neither you nor me.”
Tang Zhaoxue pondered this, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest of her chair.
Jiang Huai’s words had indeed pierced the biggest doubt in her heart. The power this man wielded was undeniable.
She was both drawn to and wary of the realms beyond this world, but she found it hard to fully trust this sudden revelation.
After a moment, she suddenly smiled sweetly and beckoned Jiang Huai with a delicate finger:
“You, come here.”
Jiang Huai’s heart tightened. He didn’t move, warily asking, “What do you want? I’m telling you, I have a wife.”
Tang Zhaoxue gave him a half-smile, as if hearing an amusing joke.
She lazily toyed with her fingers and said softly, “Once you enter my sect, everything belongs to me.”
“Or rather, this entire territory belongs to me.” She paused and looked at Jiang Huai:
“Do you understand what that means?”
Jiang Huai was momentarily stunned. Thinking of Qin Qingyue’s decisive manner in the Nine Heavens Palace, he tentatively guessed,
“High rank and authority, where words become law?”
“Heh.” Tang Zhaoxue chuckled and shook her head, as if his understanding was too civilized.
“Looks like you still don’t get it.”
“In this territory, my words are the rules.”
“That includes the ownership of all men.”
“If I want them, then the right to a man’s first night all belongs to me.”
Of course, with her status and power, she no longer needed to actually exercise these rights, but it did nothing to prevent her from using them to assert her authority.
Jiang Huai was shaken, tilting his head slightly.
What is this? The first night rights all belong to you?
What kind of bull-headed sect leader is this?
“Forced grapes aren’t sweet.” He could only smile bitterly.
At this point, even if she really pinned him down and forced herself on him, he would have no way to resist.
This was his cultivation level right now. Though gifted and powerful, it was only among his peers.
Faced with such a “big car” in front of him, there was simply no room to fight back.
“Sweet or not, you’ll only know after forcing it down.” Tang Zhaoxue’s tone was lazy but carried an undeniable authority.
“However.” She shifted her tone, her gaze flickering over Jiang Huai’s tense body for a moment before suddenly changing her mind.
Forcing a reluctant man, especially one who might be connected to some powerful external force, was dangerous.
Perhaps it was better to cast a long line and catch a big fish—to see what secrets he was hiding. That would be more interesting.
“Enough.” She waved her hand magnanimously.
“I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll trust you a bit. I’ll arrange for you a place in the outer hall to rest for now.”
Jiang Huai felt a slight relief and immediately asked, “What about the person who came with me…?”
“As you wish.”
Leaving the words behind, she lightly clapped her hands, and two female disciples with solemn auras immediately entered.
“Take him to change his clothes, then send him to Tingzhu Courtyard,” Tang Zhaoxue ordered, her tone regaining the gravity of a Sect Master.
“Yes!” The two female disciples bowed and obeyed, then gestured a firm “please” to Jiang Huai, their posture commanding and non-negotiable.
Jiang Huai looked deeply at Tang Zhaoxue, unsure of what scheme she was playing.
He also wondered if Qin Qingyue would find this place.
After Jiang Huai left, the heavy stone door of the secret chamber slowly closed, sealing off inside from outside.
The playful and controlling lazy smile on Tang Zhaoxue’s face gradually faded, replaced by an almost gloomy expression.
She sat alone in the wide chair, her fingers unconsciously twining a strand of hair that fell down, her gaze fixed on the spot where Jiang Huai had just stood, reluctant to look away.
Want to force him?
The thought arose uncontrollably.
But then she bitterly shook her head, a trace of sorrow curling at her lips.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, but that she couldn’t.
A deep, unspeakable secret buried in her heart mocked her pride.
She was born barren in the nether region, never moist.
Like a eunuch among men—full of desire, but unable to truly release and experience pleasure.
Tang Zhaoxue had even tried secretly using lubricants, but felt nothing—not the slightest sensation. It was utterly dull.
For a woman of extreme female supremacy, with such high status and power, this was undoubtedly the greatest irony and tragedy.
Like a eunuch who became emperor.
Those bluntly explicit female symbolic statues scattered in her room were more like a pathological compensation.
What one lacked, they would overemphasize—the fragile mask of weakness.
This only deepened her curiosity about Jiang Huai. Why did he have cultivation? He was the only male cultivator in this world.
“Play a little?” she murmured to herself, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, eyes flickering with uncertain light.
Forced possession was impossible, but maybe she could try other means.
Control him in her hand, observe carefully, slowly probe, watch him struggle, test his limits, uncover the secrets he carried, and the elusive threat behind him called “Great Ascension.”
This seemed far more interesting than mere physical possession and better suited to her current situation.
A sly, scheming smile returned to her lips.
“Let’s play.” Tang Zhaoxue whispered to herself.
Even eunuchs have their favorites.
If she could keep a cultivator man by her side, it would suit her status and add to her prestige.
Once he was in her cage, whether dragon or tiger, he would have to lie low.
Tingzhu Courtyard
Jiang Huai was almost escorted by the two female disciples to a rather elegant but exceedingly secluded courtyard.
Outside the courtyard, clear restrictions were set up, isolating inside from outside.
He was gently pushed inside, and the door behind him silently closed, imprisoning him there.
After an unknown length of time, the door opened again, and Zhu Siyao was brought in by another female disciple.
As soon as Zhu Siyao entered the courtyard, her gaze immediately locked onto Jiang Huai. Seeing that he had changed into new clothes, her face tightened.
“Did you sleep with her?” she asked stiffly.
Jiang Huai shook his head and smiled bitterly, “Not yet. That Tang Sect Master seems to have other plans.”
Zhu Siyao’s brow furrowed deeply, disbelief written all over her face.
“Did she do anything to you?”
“No.”
“Hmph.” Zhu Siyao snorted coldly and said no more.
They entered the room. Although elegant, there was only one bed.
The atmosphere between them immediately grew more awkward.
“Do you think we can still go back?” Zhu Siyao turned to ask.
“I don’t know.”