Fang Hao closed his eyes, patiently waiting and recovering the spiritual energy he had expended. Beside him, his father contemplated the optimal path for his son's progress.
Suddenly, Fang Xiong turned his head in a specific direction and addressed someone, saying, ''Fairy Yu Rui, thank you for coming, and I apologize for disturbing your cultivation,'' extending a formal greeting to a female cultivator who had appeared silently.
''Lord Xiong Fang, there is no need to be so formal. After all, I am your wife's disciple,'' the lady replied with a smile.
Fang Hao turned around and was met with the sight of a breathtaking female. Her memorable blue eyes shimmered like jewels, contrasting with her sleek, glistening black hair. Dressed in green robes, her shapely form was subtly outlined.
She exuded an aura of beauty and grace, making her the second most beautiful woman Fang Hao had ever laid his eyes upon – the first being his mother, a fact he had no doubt about.
This new arrival easily surpassed even his old fiancée Natasha, whose beauty now seemed lackluster in comparison. In his eyes, these women outshone even the supermodels of his Earth.
"Ah, so this must be the child Mistress has spoken of for so long – the second offspring of the Fang clan. How intriguing," she remarked, her gaze fixed upon Hao as if peering into his thoughts and unravelling his innermost musings.
"But there is one matter I find perplexing, Lord. Why summon me when you are intending to instruct him in the ways of the sword Dao?" Her brows furrowed in confusion as she turned her attention to Fang Xiong.
Considering it, he chose to share some information. "Hao is extremely talented as an Array Master, the most gifted I have ever encountered," Fang Xiong revealed, noticing Yu Rui's eyes widening in surprise and fascination as she examined Hao more closely.
"How talented?" she inquired in a hushed tone, her curiosity piqued.
"The light shone black," Fang Xiong disclosed, deciding to reveal a significant detail.
"This should be impossible," she exclaimed, shaking her head. Her expression, once filled with fascination, transformed into a serious one.
"If someone is this talented in one domain, they can't excel in another. The realm maintains balance," she mused, pausing as she contemplated the situation.
"You are correct, Fairy. He possesses minimal talent in the sword dao; his true prowess lies within the supportive domain, with Array Master being his pinnacle," Fang Xiong concurred. He retrieved a scroll and began to add information, his focused attention was evident.
''Is this really necessary, Lord?'' Yu Rui questioned, her brow furrowing as she looked at the scroll in Fang Xiong's hand, realizing the gravity of the situation.
''Yu Rui, you should understand the Fang way of doing things, especially since you've been with us for so long. This is for the protection of both sides,'' Fang Xiong responded, reading through the scroll and ensuring its accuracy before handing it to her. He patiently waited for her to inspect and sign it.
''A dao contract, huh?'' She mused, reaching out to take the scroll from the air before carefully reading through it to identify any potential loopholes.
''There are indeed no loopholes, and the terms are fair. I accept this,'' she nodded, signing the contract. She added a small surge of energy that travelled to her core, enveloping it with an aura.
Feeling a weight on her shoulders, she sighed and added in her mind, 'It's not like I had a choice anyway.' Nevertheless, she understood and accepted the necessity of such measures. It was the way of doing things, as Fang Xiong had explained, ensuring the well-being of both parties involved.
If one didn't follow the contract or spilled information according to the clauses, their dao would shatter, leaving them vulnerable and ultimately resulting in death from old age. Of course, there were methods to break or bypass the contract, but they were expensive and often came with significant side effects.
Observing her as she signed the contract, he tossed a spare spatial ring her way. She examined it, nodding in approval. After transferring its contents to her own ring, she handed the ring to Hao.
''This is your ring now, Hao. Take good care of it. Also, I apologize for it being this late – happy birthday,'' his father's warm smile conveyed understanding, aware of what was on Hao's mind.
Hao nodded, a sense of joy welling up within him. It was his first present in this new life, a spatial ring – something he had longed for ever since he witnessed a guard summoning a flying boat.
Upon closer inspection of the ring, Hao noticed intricate rune language etched onto it, specifically forging runes.
Inside the ring, he discovered a small collection of spirit stones – his allowance, as his father had mentioned.
''You can store the manual and other items in it for now. Try it out,'' Fang Xiong instructed, guiding Hao on how to use the spatial ring. Hao quickly grasped the concept and tested it out.
''Thank you,'' Hao expressed his gratitude with a satisfied smile. Using his spiritual qi, he delved deeper into the ring, successfully adding the sword and manual inside.
Yu Rui glanced at Fang Xiong, acknowledging his approving nod, before continuing. "From this point forward, you shall be known as Hao. As my external disciple, you may address me as... Master Rui," she concluded, her tone steady and composed.
''Master Rui,'' Hao repeated, nodding in agreement. Rui looked at him and furrowed her brows slightly.
Fang Xiong, observing the unfolding situation, applied some pressure on Hao, causing him to kneel as a display of respect and acknowledgement towards his new master. 'This son of mine, does he lack common sense?' Fang Xiong thought with a hint of exasperation.
''He's not familiar with all the rules of cultivation etiquette, please pardon his unfamiliarity, Fairy Yu Rui,'' Fang Xiong explained, his tone apologetic.
Yu Rui let out a laugh, finding something amusing in the situation. "It's fine, Lord Xiong," she replied, showing her understanding as she watched him awkwardly kowtow before her.
''I will be teaching you about Formations and Arrays. Are you ready, Hao?'' she asked him, causing him to stop and sat down. Fang Xiong got up without saying a word, leaving them alone to begin the lessons.
Hearing the word 'ready,' Hao flinched involuntarily, his past experience still affecting him. Taking a deep breath, as if facing a formidable opponent, he replied, ''Yes, Master Rui,'' his expression serious and determined.
Yu Rui was taken aback by his intense demeanor, intrigued by her new disciple. "This will be interesting," she thought to herself.