Two weeks later, dark clouds stretch across the sky as rain falls in sheets over the ocean.
Waves rise and crash wildly, yet a lone ship glides smoothly as though sailing in calm water.
The crew and passengers stare in awe at the man seated cross-legged on the deck with his eyes closed.
"Captain," the man says without moving, "sail faster — I can't hold the waves forever."
The captain jolts out of his trance and shouts, "Yes, Dragon Master!"
He barks commands, and the crew springs into action.
Within moments, the ship's engines roar as steam hisses from the chimney, carrying them swiftly toward their destination.
Eventually, the vessel slices through the surging sea and reaches the small harbour of a coastal town.
Once docked, the captain orders his crew to stay aboard and guard the ship.
He then follows Merin and his group into the rain, astonished that not a single drop falls on him.
He looks up and sees a broad, invisible umbrella of natural energy shielding them all.
The town is modest and quiet, like many scattered along the islands of the Eastern Ocean.
Knowing one inn cannot accommodate everyone, the captain leads them past lantern-lit streets toward a row of inns.
Merin and Yanli, along with his siblings, Cui Li, Zhen Qi, and two other companions, take one inn together.
Merin and Yanli share a room.
Because they have become lovers.
More importantly, Merin knows the influence of his Rule Body can be held at bay by practicing the Yang–Yin Soul Connection Technique.
And only by sharing energy this way can a Spirit Master suppress the powerful and unyielding influence of their Rule Body.
He finally understands why so many Spirit Masters take multiple lovers.
He had once heard a story of someone who stayed faithful to one wife for years, only to take more lovers after reaching the Spirit Master Realm.
And it was not mere lust that drove them.
For with a Spirit Master's boundless energy and ever-pressing Rule Body, one partner could never be enough.
And only by cultivating these intimate connections could they resist the Rule Body's overwhelming power.
The Rule Body not only suppresses emotions but also stifles a person's creativity and empathy.
It doesn't discriminate between good and bad feelings—it dulls them all equally until someone becomes nothing more than a cold, efficient machine.
Merin never cared much about that before, because to him, it didn't matter if his emotions were suppressed as long as he achieved his goals.
But now that he knows how to block the Rule Body's influence—and that all it requires is someone of the opposite sex—he can finally keep himself balanced.
A few minutes after entering the room, Yanli and Merin changed into comfortable clothes.
He settles cross-legged on the floor to meditate, closing his eyes as his breath grows slow and measured.
Yanli looks at him with concern and asks, "Are you okay?"
Merin knows why she's worried—he had suppressed the ocean around the ship earlier so they could sail smoothly.
That sort of power comes with a backlash, and he's spent the past hours undoing the damage inside his body.
"It's under control," he replies calmly. "I'll be better by tomorrow."
Yanli hums in understanding, and, a minute later, he hears the bed creak as she lies down and settles in to sleep.
In the grand castle at the heart of the town, a man knocks firmly on a wooden door.
A deep voice commands him to enter.
The man steps into what looks like a study, where a tough, bald figure with bronze skin and sharp golden eyes watches him from behind a heavy desk.
Miju bows low, recognising the imposing figure as Azis, the town lord of Natu and heir to the powerful Bronze Ape bloodline.
Rising, Miju says respectfully, "My lord, a ship has docked at our harbour."
Azis arches a brow, puzzled.
"Is there a reason you felt the need to report this?"
Miju answers quickly, "There are two women among the passengers who possess divine blood like yours."
At that, Azis leans forward, eyes lighting up.
"Really?"
Excitement colours his voice as he imagines the possibilities.
His own children had all been born with only a faint trace of the divine bloodline.
With such low purity, none of them could ever ascend to the Spirit Beast Realm.
And every one of his lovers had been fully human, without divine blood or cultivation.
This was a rare opportunity.
"Invite them to dinner," Azis commands.
If they accept his offer to become his lovers, all would go smoothly.
And if they refused, well, that was hardly an obstacle for someone like him.
As an Ascendant Beast Realm expert, Azis feared no one in the surrounding islands — and he would have them one way or another.
Cui Li hears a knock at her door and opens it to find the inn's owner standing there.
The innkeeper politely explains that one of the town lord's servants is downstairs requesting her presence.
Curious, Cui Li follows him to the lobby and meets the servant.
The servant bows and relays the invitation from the town lord, requesting that Cui Li and Yanli join him for dinner.
Unable to decide on her own, Cui Li asks him to wait and hurries upstairs.
She stops outside Kanoru and Yanli's room and knocks.
"Who is it?" Yanli's voice calls from inside.
"It's me, Cui Li," she replies.
A moment later, Yanli opens the door.
Cui Li quickly explains the town lord's invitation.
Yanli stands quietly for a moment, then agrees.
Cui Li gives a short nod and makes her way back downstairs to inform the servant that they will attend.
Once Cui Li departs, Yanli closes the door and begins searching for a dress suitable for dinner.
She accepted the invitation because she hoped to learn more about the Eastern Ocean.
If the region proves safe and prosperous, perhaps her family could relocate and establish control over one of the towns.
That would allow them to gain cultivation resources more easily.
Although the Eastern Ocean region holds fewer rare and human-crafted treasures than the Eastern mainland, it is far less dangerous — an opportunity too valuable to pass up.
After the servant, Miji, returns to the castle, he meets Azil once more in the study and reports that both women have accepted the invitation.
He also mentions that one of the women is named Bai Yanli, is married, and stays in the same room as her husband.
Azil smiles coldly and orders his men to wait until dinner is underway before capturing all their companions — they will be taken the very moment the women arrive.
That evening, a carriage sent by Azil himself picks up Yanli and Cui Li, and after they enter, it quickly sets off toward the town lord's castle.
At dinner, they exchange polite conversation with Azil until the meal draws to a close.
Finally, Azil leans back and bluntly proposes that they become his lovers and bear him children.
Yanli and Cui Li stare at him in disbelief and ask if he's joking.
With a dark chuckle, Azil releases a trace of his Ascendant Beast Realm aura, making it very clear that he is serious, and threatens that he has already sent his guards to seize their people.
But Yanli and Cui Li simply exchange calm glances, utterly unfazed.
Both of them are Ascendant Beast Realm experts themselves, and either one could defeat Azil without trouble.
And as for the guards sent after their companions, they'll be lucky to survive.
Kanoru's men, all of them experienced Spiritual Core Realm warriors with powerful transformation techniques, would never be so easily subdued by a mere town lord's guards.
As the two women lean back in their chairs and look at Azil as if he's a fool, Azil feels a surge of rage.
Still, he forces himself to wait — the moment his men report their success, he intends to show these two exactly who truly rules this town.
A few minutes later, Miji comes running into the dining hall.
Before Azil can demand the good news, Miji blurts out in a trembling voice, "Lord, all of our guards were slain by the outsiders, and they're on their way here!"
Azil freezes.
With a sharp wave of his hand, a bronze claw forms in mid-air and grabs Miji by the throat.
"What did you just say?" Azil growls, his fingers tightening as Miji chokes and struggles for breath, unable to answer.
Cui Li laughs and leans back.
"Lord Azil, are your ears bad? Or did you simply not understand? All your guards are dead."
With a snarl, Azil throws Miji aside like a rag doll and fixes his furious gaze on Cui Li and Yanli.
"You outsiders are all dead," he spits. "And I'll start with the two of you."
The bronze hand surges toward them, only for a shimmering silver palm to manifest and stop it mid-strike.
Both Cui Li and Yanli rise, their Ascendant Beast Realm auras unfurling in an icy wave that silences the room.
Azil freezes as his conjured bronze hand shatters into mist under the pressure of their presence.
Eyes trembling, voice tight with fear and disbelief, he manages to rasp, "W–Who are you?"