There was no hesitation in his voice, but Qian Renxue interrupted him immediately.
"No."
Her word was soft and firm
"Teacher," she said gently, "you have already given me all you could.."
"You taught me magic."
Her aura flickered faintly, the spiritual pressure of a Divine Mage subtly radiating, power of God Level.
(Author's note: Divine Mage = Demigod Mage.)
"My magical cultivation has already stepped into Divine Mage level. Even in your world, that would have been considered nearing the apex."
Electrolux's grey eyes sharpened.
"But—"
She did not allow him to continue.
"Teacher."
Her voice softened in a way that made even Tianmeng fall silent.
"If something happens to me… can you fulfill one wish of your disciple?"
It seemed, there was no calculation in her tone, only sincerity.
"I have never asked anything else of you."
Electrolux felt something tighten within his chest.
"I wish would not have to fulfill your request under such circumstances," he said slowly.
His voice was steady—but heavy.
"Say what you want."
Qian Renxue closed her eyes briefly.
Then she smiled, looking into his eyes as if she was not walking toward certain death.
"While all the preparations are done in Spirit Hall, I want you to make a move if another Divine Intent comes to make trouble. After all, you should have healed and at least be able to use ninety percent of your power."
Electrolux answered with a simple, heavy, "Yes…"
For a fleeting second, his gray eyes burned with brilliant gold—ancient, sacred, and unfathomable.
Qian Renxue did not react.
She had seen it and had long since understood.
"Teacher," she said gently, as though nothing had happened, "I think you should stay put in the Undead Demiplane… I will come soon."
Electrolux's gaze deepened—
"If I fail," she continued quietly, "and if what is sealed within me breaks free…"
The Spirit Sea darkened faintly at those words.
" You Join the Gods of this world, to end me."
Tianmeng froze, Electrolux's expression changed instantly.
"You want me," he said slowly, "to destroy you."
She smiled faintly.
"If necessary."
Silence, Electrolux looked at her for a long time.
He saw no fear, only acceptance.
"You overestimate me," he said finally.
"If the entity within you fully awakens, even I may not be sufficient."
"I know," she replied calmly.
"That is why I asked you to hide in the Undead Demiplane."
Her eyes hardened slightly.
"Because if it comes to that… you must survive long enough to try."
Tianmeng's voice trembled.
"You're talking like you've already prepared for death…"
Qian Renxue glanced at him.
"I have been prepared for death since the day I knew what was sealed inside me."
She turned her gaze outward again—through the Spirit Sea, through the forest, through the continent.
"But I do not intend to die."
The air shifted.
Resolve condensed.
"I intend," she said quietly, "to force the Gods to acknowledge a truth."
Electrolux asked, "Which truth?"
Her lips curved.
"That mortals are not chess pieces."
"And that the author of this era…"
Her purple eyes blazed faintly.
"…is no longer them."
Electrolux looked at her deeply and without another word, he out of her Spirit Sea. Though he remained in soul form, his mastery over holy necromancy made his spiritual body more solid than most living beings. A wave of his hand tore open space. A shimmering blue portal unfolded like rippling water.
Before entering, he paused.
He did not turn back immediately. For a long moment, he simply stood there.
Then, slowly, he looked at her—his disciple, who had grown from a proud child of Spirit Hall into a being standing at the threshold of divinity.
As if carving her figure into eternity.
Then he stepped forward.
Just before crossing the threshold—when his back was to her and she could not see his expression—his gray eyes ignited once more into blazing gold.
A smirk appeared on his face which was not Electrolux's smile, then the portal closed.
—
Qian Renxue's expression trembled for a fraction of a second.
Sadness surfaced, then her emotions froze.
Her face became calm—, like an endless glacier sealing a volcanic core beneath it, then the phantom of endless pupils flashed across her face.
This time the corruption had not assaulted her violently when she ascended.
It had seeped in quietly, like mist merging into water, fusing with her.
She knew, that the being hidden behind Electrolux could enter the Collective Subconscious Ocean—the sea formed by the dreams of all intelligent beings of this plane. It could observe and spy on her through it.
That was why it had not obstructed her proposal to send Electrolux into the Undead Demiplane.
Qian Renxue lowered her eyes.
She had manipulated her own teacher.
Her path did not allow weakness. Weakness would be exploited. Weakness would become a lever prying open the seal. Weakness would become a thread for outer corruption to pull.
If she had to bear sin—She would bear it alone.
—
Inside her Spirit Sea, Tianmeng Silkworm began screaming.
"Hey! Hey! What happened?! That old man really left? You two can't just make decisions like that! What crazy thing are you planning now?!This level of stress might give me a heart attack. Am I safe?! I'm telling you, I am a million-year soul beast! I am extremely precious! If something happens to me—"
Qian Renxue smirked faintly.
"Shut up, Tianmeng. I don't think silkworms can have heart attacks."
In the boundless blue-yellow ocean of her Spirit Sea, the plump white worm rolled dramatically.
"You don't understand! A silkworm's heart is very delicate! Extremely delicate! Especially a handsome and talented one like me!"
Her lips curved slightly.
Outside—
Her body scattered into countless shimmering bubbles, each bubble refracting rainbow light like fragments of broken dreams. Within every bubble flickered a scene—a sleeping child, a praying believer, a scheming noble, a wandering soul master.
—