As I was about to mount onto ChiChu, my Spiritual Beast, a familiar aura brushed against my senses. As a cultivator at the Heaven Edge Realm, my connection to nature was profound. Sensing my aunt's aura was as natural as breathing.
"ChiChu, let's visit my aunt first!" With a single leap, I mounted ChiChu, and as she flapped her magnificent wings, soaring toward the sky, I couldn't help but be awed by the breathtaking beauty of the Heaven Secret Sect below.
Each structure harmonized with nature—overflowing waterfalls cascading into crystal-clear pools, vast forests whispering secrets of ancient wisdom, and expansive spiritual gardens alive with vibrant flora, all imbued with spiritual qi.
The sect's design felt like a sanctuary, a serene realm detached from the chaos of the outside world.
Although I could outpace ChiChu with my speed, the intoxicating thrill of riding my dragon through the skies was too exhilarating to resist. The sect master's manor stood atop the highest peak, an imposing structure that seemed to touch the heavens.
Its grand architecture was adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, while spiraling towers pierced the clouds, all woven into the surrounding landscape like an extension of the earth itself.
As we descended toward the other side of the manor, I felt a rush of nostalgia wash over me. My aunt, Yue Liqin, awaited on the other side of the vast abode, which nearly spanned the size of the entire peak.
Yue Liqin was a sight to behold.
With flowing black hair cascading down her back, her porcelain skin glowed with an ethereal light. She exuded a mature charm that belied her youthful appearance, looking to be in her twenties. Her eyes sparkled with wisdom and mischief, a captivating combination that drew me in.
It was forbidden to mention a woman's age, yet I couldn't help but feel she was ageless, a unique beauty embodying the grace of her lineage.
Her bloodline was a rare and powerful one—the Azure Phoenix Bloodline. This heritage granted her dominion over fire and wind, allowing her to manipulate the elements to create devastating attacks or gentle breezes. Her cultivation wasn't far from mine; she was a prodigy, truly one in a million. Growing up with her, she spoiled me endlessly, and my childhood moments had left an indelible mark on my heart. It was during those innocent days, sharing baths as kids, that I first sensed the stirrings of my dark nature—a secret desire that no one knew of.
As she stood gracefully, the aura around her radiated both maturity and strength. "You have grown stronger!" she exclaimed, her voice like a heavenly chant, sending delightful shivers through me. But her tone quickly turned serious. "But strength is only the beginning, isn't it?"
I offered her a warm smile, one that confirmed her suspicions. "Aunt Liqin, you've always seen through me." Despite being stronger than her, she remained my senior, my respect for her unwavering.
"You naughty boy! Still calling me aunt? Call me Senior or Elder Liqin!" she teased, pulling my ear playfully, her laughter like music to my ears.
"How can someone as beautiful as my aunt be called a senior? If I call you elder, how can you be different from Elder Wei?" I chuckled, my heart swelling at her infectious smile.
It had been two long years since I had seen this side of her, and she was more radiant than ever, exuding a Selene-like aura with an undercurrent of sharpness.
As my eyes probed her, I realized she had indeed attained the Sky Ascendance Stage. With this new level of power, she could control the weather of vast regions, summoning storms or gentle rains with a mere flick of her wrist.
"Congratulations, Aunt Liqin!" I exclaimed, my eyes shining with pride. She stopped giggling, a warm smile spreading across her face, the kind that melted my heart.
"Thank you, Yue Phaelo, but I can't be compared to you…" Her humility was endearing, yet I knew better.
"Don't downplay your achievements, Liqin. You did great, and you should be proud of yourself!" I stepped closer, feeling emboldened, my hand gently cradling her neck as I pulled myself a bit nearer.
"Yue Phaelo~" she gasped, surprise etched across her face. My actions caught her off guard, but she didn't pull away, her eyes betraying a mix of surprise and delight.
"Liqin~ let's celebrate your breakthrough into the Sky Ascendance Stage. Here, take this…" From within my storage ring, which was intricately connected to my cultivation system, I pulled out a ring made from a glittering blue diamond.
"T-the Heavenly Diamond?" Her voice trembled with shock and awe, and I smiled, reveling in her reaction. This was the response I always anticipated. All the efforts I had put into acquiring it had finally paid off, though how I got it was a story for another altogether.
Seeing Yue Liqin's smile, radiant and ethereal, her beauty unmatched even by the heavens, I couldn't muster an ounce of guilt for what I had done to the Sky Prince.
That gem now resting in her hands, the Heavenly Diamond, had once been his greatest treasure—a gift from the revered Sky Goddess on his birthday. My mother had pressed me to attend the event, hoping I'd make some alliances, but my interests lay elsewhere.
The party was extravagant, but while others mingled and laughed, I slipped away unnoticed. Deep within the grand palace, I found his vault. There it was—the Heavenly Diamond, resting on a pedestal as if waiting for me. Larger than two palms, it glowed with a shimmering light, an aura of divine purity surrounding it.
The temptation was irresistible, and with swift precision, I took it.
Now, seeing the awe in Liqin's eyes, I knew it had been worth the risk. She had no idea the lengths I had gone to for her, nor the danger I had navigated. But as her soft fingers caressed the diamond, I smiled.
In the end, it was hers. Just as, one day, she would be mine.
"Allow me, Qi'er!" I called with affection, reaching out to her delicate fingers. They were soft in mine, and a rush of excitement surged through me.
"Phaelo'er." Yue Liqin's voice wavered, her eyes widened in surprise as I held her finger.
Without hesitation, I gently slipped the glittering ring onto her delicate finger, feeling her subtle tremble beneath my touch. The moment seemed to linger, her gaze locked onto mine as the ring found its place.
My face closed in to hers, she didn't pull away!