In the small lodge occupied by the Mystic Law Academy, Li Jinyao was busy with her own matters. Tang Ruowei made her way in; perhaps the previous Grand Elder of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Huangfu Feng, had left too gentle an impression on people, for when she heard that this was a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect, she had no particular reaction. She naturally introduced herself to Li Jinyao, “Hello, Senior Sister Li. I am Tang Ruowei from the Qinming Sword Sect. I am… twenty-four years old this year and at the Foundation Establishment stage.”
Tang Ruowei was unsure how to continue the conversation. The girl in front of her clearly was a promising talent of the Heavenly Demon Sect, yet all she could think about was getting married. This reminded her of Su Xiangxue, the leader of the Pleasure Sect, who was still a maiden despite her status. Tang Ruowei sighed softly, “In the whole Qinming Sword Sect, or rather, the entire Righteous Dao Alliance, I think I am the only Foundation Establishment practitioner whose master is still just a Qi Refinement stage cultivator…”
From her sensed perception, it was clear that Li Jinyao's true essence was calm and stable, not at all like a rapidly advancing magic cultivator; it was more like she had thoroughly refined every step before moving forward again.
“Haha, in our alliance of demonic cultivators, those who do not know about the Sword Ancestor are probably from the weakest sects. After all, when it comes to personal safety, the first cultural class for any disciple entering the demonic path is about the Qinming Sword Ancestor. Generally, we do not initiate fights with Qi Refinement stage cultivators.”
Despite having been busy all day, Tang Ruowei walked out of the lodge with the others, stretching lazily at the dark sky while inhaling deeply. She rubbed her temples, preparing to return to her room for rest. Though she had merely assisted Elder Xu at the Mystic Law Academy with various calculations and simulations throughout the day, she had still gained a wealth of knowledge.
Tang Ruowei felt a bit speechless. The strong sulfur smell in her nostrils was a welcome change after a day of hard work. The intense mental strain of the day's activities left her feeling dazed and swollen-headed.
“Yes, it is quite remarkable,” she replied distractedly. “A Foundation Establishment practitioner at twenty-four?” Tang Ruowei thought briefly before nodding, “Anyway, the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Demon Sect, and that big demon I encountered before, both referred to him this way… Did Senior Sister Li also know him?”
“Ah?”
“Hello.” Li Jinyao greeted her with a beaming smile. Tang Ruowei's mind wandered; she felt a little odd talking to her, noticing the comfortable atmosphere they had now, perhaps because Huangfu Feng of the Heavenly Demon Sect had given off such a harmless vibe.
“I am also a disciple of the Heavenly Demon Sect, here to help out just like you. My name is Li Jinyao.” She smiled brightly, her presence slightly piquing Tang Ruowei’s curiosity.
“What did you say? Twenty-four and at the Foundation Establishment stage?” Tang Ruowei echoed incredulously before recalling the Grand Elder’s gentle demeanor, which was quite different from what she had expected from a demon sect member. Li Jinyao continued laughing, “I'm looking for a partner. The first thing I want is for him to be stronger than me so he can protect our family in the future, and his realm shouldn’t be too far beyond mine either. Otherwise, if he ascends and leaves me behind here in the mortal realm, that would not do…”
Tang Ruowei furrowed her brows. Was this girl really as invincible as she claimed? It was hard to wrap her thoughts around it. She suddenly felt that maybe she had misjudged Li Jinyao. This girl was evidently more thoughtful than she appeared on the surface.
“You must have some expectations. But as for competitive aspects, if we avoided our previously discussed realms, I'm actually quite confident I'd excel at cooking, laundry, and child-rearing,” Li Jinyao remarked nonchalantly.
“Now I wonder; would Senior Sister Li be able to surpass my master in practice?” Tang Ruowei asked, eager for more engagement. “What do you think?”
Li Jinyao smiled but didn't respond at once. Tang Ruowei noted that this vibrant personality stood bright against the dimly lit ambiance of the lodge they were in.
Eventually, they continued their conversation amid the mystic lights of the Academy, surrounded by people who had the same aspirations and dreams of cultivation and beyond. Between them lay an unspoken understanding – that both sought something deeper than mere power; a connection that might carry them through the myriad paths of life they traversed on the road ahead.