The camp had just settled when Shen Yue strode toward Ye Ziyun, wearing a confident smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Ziyun," he said smoothly, "let's set up camp together. That way, I can protect you."
Ye Ziyun didn't even hesitate.
"No need," she replied calmly, not sparing him more than a glance.
Shen Yue stiffened. "No need?"
"Karma will protect me," she added, as if stating an obvious fact.
" And I'll just go make camp with the female seniors" she said.
A few steps away, Nie Li coughed into his hand to hide a laugh.
A vein twitched on Shen Yue's forehead.
Nearby, Karma was busy lazily hammering a tent stake into the ground. He didn't even look up.
But his lips faintly curved.
"Bodyguard" he muttered under his breath. "I should start charging protection fees."
Ziyun shot him a look.
"Don't push it."
Karma raised both hands innocently. "Hey, I'm just here because someone's father begged me."
"He did not beg you!" Ziyun protested immediately.
Nie Li laughed again.
Shen Yue clenched his fists, his smile cracking at the edges.
The night air was still, broken only by the steady rhythm of insects.
Karma lay flat on the grass outside his tent, hands folded behind his head, staring up at the gaps between leaves where faint starlight filtered through. The firelight from the camp flickered softly in the distance.
Beside him, Nie Li sat cross-legged, unusually quiet.
"Only after the test two months from now ends will we get a vacation to return home," Nie Li said at last.
Karma hummed lazily. "Already planning your grand return?"
Nie Li didn't answer that. His gaze was fixed somewhere far beyond the trees.
"I need to get stronger before then," he said instead. "Much stronger."
Karma turned his head slightly, studying him from the corner of his eye.
"How strong are we talking?"
"Black-Gold Rank at least," Nie Li replied calmly. "If possible… even higher."
Karma let out a low whistle. "That's not 'getting stronger.' That's trying to jump off a cliff and land on the moon."
Nie Li ignored him.
"I've calculated my progression," he continued. "First, I need to obtain something important. After that, my cultivation speed will increase drastically."
Karma's lazy expression sharpened just a fraction. "You've mapped it out already."
"Yes."
Nie Li closed his eyes.
"Since cultivating the Heavenly God Technique, my soul ocean has changed. It's no longer chaotic. It's forming a structure… like a sphere slowly taking shape."
The wind rustled the leaves overhead.
"At the center, there's something," Nie Li said quietly. "A presence. I can sense it, but I can't fully reach it yet. My current level isn't enough."
Karma stared back at the sky.
"So your soul's building its own little planet," he said lightly. "Show-off."
Nie Li opened one eye. "This isn't a joke."
"I know," Karma replied, voice softer now. "Just don't rush it. If something's forming at the center, that means it's stabilizing. Crack it too early, and you'll shatter the foundation."
Nie Li went silent.
"…You're surprisingly sensible at night."
"Don't spread that rumor," Karma said immediately. "I have a carefree image to maintain."
The forest seemed to listen to them breathe.
After a moment, Nie Li glanced sideways.
"…What about you?"
Karma didn't move. "What about me?"
"Your progress. And your soul realm."
That made Karma open one eye again.
"You're checking on me now?" he drawled. "How touching."
"I'm serious."
Karma held his gaze for a few seconds, then finally sat up, brushing grass off his sleeve.
"It's quieter," he said.
Nie Li's posture straightened. "Quieter?"
"When I look inside now, nothing feels unstable," Karma continued slowly. "It's… aligned."
He paused, searching for words that didn't sound ridiculous.
"Like everything already knows where it belongs. Nothing is colliding. Nothing is resisting. It's just… waiting."
Nie Li didn't interrupt.
"The space is still endless," Karma added calmly. "Stars. Darkness. That throne thing in the center."
He said it casually, but there was no humor in his eyes.
"It doesn't feel heavy," he continued. "It feels like it belongs to me. Like I'm the only one allowed there."
Nie Li's fingers tightened subtly against his knee.
"Does it pressure you?"
Karma shook his head slightly.
"No. If anything, it's the opposite. When I focus on it… the outside world feels smaller."
A faint grin tugged at his lips.
"Unfair advantage, honestly."
Nie Li studied him carefully.
"And your rank?"
"Bronze stabilized," Karma replied. "It moves when I understand something. Not when I force it."
He tilted his head.
"You were right. It's not about pushing forward. It's about not letting it outrun me."
Nie Li nodded slowly.
"That's good. As long as your soul realm stays stable, your growth won't backlash."
Karma glanced at him sideways.
"You worry too much."
"And you don't worry enough."
Karma laughed softly, the sound blending with the night.
"Relax. If something feels off, you'll be the first to know."
Nie Li frowned. "Why me?"
Karma leaned back down, hands returning behind his head.
"Because," he said lightly, "you're the only one who stares at my soul like it's a research project."
Nie Li looked away, muttering something under his breath.
"…Just don't lose control."
Karma closed his eyes.
"I won't."
Above them, the stars burned silently.
Elsewhere — The Winged Dragon Family.
Under the silver glow of the moon, the tall gates of the Winged Dragon Family stood silent and dignified.
Inside one of the inner courtyards, a single lamp flickered near a window.
Xiao Ning'er sat quietly by the sill, the moonlight spilling over her shoulders. In her hands was a folded letter, its edges slightly creased from being read more than once.
"Nie Li left a note saying he went on an adventure…" she murmured softly.
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
"…Did Karma go with him too?"
The thought came almost instantly.
Of course he did.
Her gaze lowered.
"…Then why didn't he bring me along…?"
A servant stepped inside and bowed slightly.
"Miss, the Patriarch has asked you to come to the conference hall."
"Ah, okay," she replied, folding the letter carefully.
As she stood, her brows furrowed faintly.
"Father is looking for me so late at night… Could it be that something happened?"
Outside, the moon hung high above the quiet courtyard.
Winged Dragon Family — Conference Hall.
The heavy wooden doors opened slowly.
"Father, did you need me for something?" Ning'er asked as she stepped inside.
At the head of the hall sat the Winged Dragon Family Patriarch, Xiao Yunfeng. His brows were furrowed, his expression unusually tense.
Around him sat several elders, their gazes sharp and calculating.
Silence lingered for a moment.
"I called you here," her father finally said, voice steady but strained, "because there is something I want to ask you."
Ning'er walked forward calmly and stopped at the center of the hall.
She could feel it.
Ever since her father became Patriarch, these uncles had been eyeing him like wolves. And now… it seemed something had happened again.
Elder Xiao Yi leaned forward.
"Niece Ning'er," he began, voice smooth but pointed, "I heard that some time ago, you purchased a considerable amount of Purple Mist Herb at a high price."
Another elder added immediately, "Now the price of Purple Mist Herb has increased several hundred times."
"All that Purple Mist Herb is probably worth hundreds of millions in demon spirit coins," someone muttered.
"With that money," another elder said sharply, "the revival of our Winged Dragon Family is within sight!"
"And Niece Ning'er has made such a big contribution to the family," one of them added with a faint smile. "She truly is our lucky star."
Ning'er listened quietly, her expression unreadable.
So that was it.
Uncle Xiao Yi had found out about her purchase and come to pressure her father. They probably wanted a share—or perhaps all—of the Purple Mist Herb.
She lifted her head calmly.
"Uncle Xiao Yi, you may have gotten the wrong idea," she said clearly. "The Purple Mist Herb was a personal purchase. I used my own money."
Her father immediately backed her up.
"That's right. This is her own affair. No matter how much Purple Mist Herb she bought or what she intends to use it for, it has nothing to do with the family."
"Hmph!" Xiao Yi snorted.
"Ning'er," he said in a measured tone, "you should understand that the family is currently in a difficult situation. If you can hand over a portion of the Purple Mist Herb, it will be a good thing for you… and for the family."
"Niece Ning'er," another elder added, "you've always been sensible. I hope you can see the bigger picture."
"And contribute to the family's revival."
Ning'er's golden eyes sharpened slightly.
"Elder Xiao Yi," she replied evenly, "I used my own money to purchase the Purple Mist Herb. Surely that has nothing to do with the family?"
The hall grew quiet.
"Don't tell me," she continued, voice steady but firm, "that Elder Xiao Yi normally contributes all the medicines and armor he buys to the family as well?"
Xiao Yi froze.
"…You…"
Where did she learn to talk back like this?
Ning'er appears to be somewhat different now…Her father's eyes flickered with surprise—but also pride.
Xiao Yi's expression darkened.
"Ning'er's words make sense," he said stiffly. "I'd say this isn't the duty of a clan member."
He turned to the others.
"Everyone, this cannot be compared to a normal situation. A few dozen thousand catties of Purple Mist Herb can be worth over a hundred million demon spirit coins."
"With this much money," another elder said urgently, "we will be able to greatly alleviate the crisis we're facing. We also won't have to be reliant on the Sacred Family anymore!"
Then Xiao Yi's gaze turned sharp.
"Ning'er," he said slowly, "if you contribute this Purple Mist Herb to the family… you also won't have to marry Shen Fei anymore."
The hall fell into stunned silence.