I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

The disciples' quarters, Ophelia's room.

The door was ajar. Ophelia had just escorted her junior sister Lilith back to her room and was now setting up a chessboard, waiting for something.

She had a premonition that the woman would come after her and try to kill her, but the divination result was very auspicious, so she was unsure of the other woman's attitude.

Sure enough, not long after, rhythmic knocking sounded outside the door, but the woman did not push the door open and enter.

"Please come in."

Elena then pushed open the door and came in, standing at the entrance, her gaze sweeping across the room: the bookshelves were neat, the writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones on the desk were spotless, and a pot of exquisitely trimmed asparagus fern sat on the windowsill.

The entire room, like its owner, was aloof, restrained, and meticulous.

Ophelia stood up and bowed again, "Miss Pompeii."

"Just call me Elena," Elena walked up to the other person, her gaze fixed on the chessboard. "Reviewing the game?"

"Well, the sect leader played a game with me before, and I lost miserably. I'll think about it and see where I can improve."

Elena sat down opposite her, took out another Go set that Ji Tian had brought back from her storage ring, and placed it on the table. "Perfect timing, I also brought a Go set. He asked me to play a few games with you and chat with you."

Ophelia glanced at the brand-new chessboard and the warm chess pieces, and suddenly remembered what Ji Tian had told her last time, "I'll find you a chess partner." She then looked at Elena and made up her mind.

The two women looked at each other, and this time the tension in the air lessened considerably.

Ophelia tidied up the original chessboard and laid out the new chess pieces. "Miss Elena, you go first."

Elena did not refuse, picked up a black piece, and gently placed it in the center of the chessboard.

Tian Yuan.

Ophelia's eyelashes trembled slightly as she realized that the other person's move was more like a declaration.

Is this a victory declaration from the main wife?

She lowered her eyes, picked up a white piece, and placed it in the lower right corner, awaiting her opponent's questioning.

The two women played chess quietly, the crisp sound of the pieces hitting the board echoing in the room. Occasionally, someone would ask, "What kind of opening move is this?" and the other would quietly explain.

As dusk settled into the night outside the window, moonlight streamed in, falling on their hair, shoulders, and fingertips.

"Ophelia".

"Um?"

Ophelia paused slightly in her hand holding the chess piece, then looked up at Elena.

Elena kept her eyes on the chessboard, her tone calm, "He's a good person to everyone. You've been by his side for so long, you should know that very well."

Ophelia thought the other party was there to give her a warning, and after a moment of silence, she said softly, "The sect leader... has the Great Dao in his heart, and his affections for his children are just embellishments on his long path of seeking enlightenment. I have never asked for anything."

Elena finally raised her eyes, her brows furrowed with a smile, and said, "Not having asked for it doesn't mean I don't want it. I don't mean anything by it, I just want to tell you that I don't mind, but only if you don't put him in a difficult position, and don't put me in a difficult position either."

"……Um."

"No wonder they're taught by Ji Tian; even their 'hmm' sounds are identical."

Although Elena harbored such thoughts in her heart, she couldn't help but feel a bit of affection for him. Seeing that he did seem very well-behaved, she stopped making things difficult for him. "He will be traveling as a hero in the future, so you'll have to keep an eye on things at the Elf Royal Court."

"Huh? Can I go too?"

Ophelia's eyes lit up. Seeing that the other person's gaze and words did not seem to be deceiving her, she lowered her head with some guilt.

She never expected that her thoughts would be seen through at a glance, and she never expected that the other party, who already held the initiative and the moral high ground, would still give her a chance.

Putting herself in his shoes, if she were to win over Ji Tian first, she would definitely use all sorts of means to guard against anyone else, wishing she could occupy him forever while he was cultivating, ideally even sticking together during cultivation, accompanying each other day and night.

Unfortunately, Ophelia lost from the start; all her attempts to go beyond her station were nothing but wishful thinking.

She casually placed the chess piece on the board, her voice clear and tinged with gratitude, "Ophelia understands."

Elena stared at her for a few seconds, then smiled, reached out and scattered the pieces on the chessboard, "I'm not playing anymore, you win this game."

Ophelia looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "But the battle is still undecided."

"Winning or losing isn't important; there's plenty of time later. First, tell me how you met Ji Tian."

Ophelia was now completely captivated by Lady Elena's magnanimity. She lowered her eyes and unconsciously traced the edge of the chessboard with her fingertips, sorting through a memory that had been buried for many years.

"That was nearly four years ago, in late autumn, in the deciduous forest on the border of the Elven Kingdom..."

……

Ji Tian landed in front of the bluestone plaza and saw the other disciples who had just been drawn here by the sacred mountain, curiously examining the small hill and the sword on it. He sighed and said:

"Shirley, take your junior sisters back to cultivate. I'm going to refine this mountain; it'll cause quite a stir. Be careful not to get caught in the crossfire."

Sherry was quite obedient in this situation. She responded and pulled Alice and Jenny, who still wanted to join in the fun, away with one hand each.

Ji Tian was the only one left in the square.

He sat cross-legged at the foot of the sacred mountain, his hands forming a hand seal. Spiritual energy surged forth like a tide, enveloping the entire mountain. His divine sense penetrated deep into the rocks, carefully perceiving them.

This mountain is essentially a semi-natural "container," and nurturing the holy sword is only one of its functions. It contains a power akin to an authority, formed from the beliefs of countless people over thousands of years in "protection."

"What should I refine it into?" Ji Tian muttered to himself.

He is currently lacking a suitable treasure to protect the sect. This sacred mountain has a special texture and is accompanied by holy light suppression. If he can refine it into a large seal, he can use it to suppress and defeat enemies when he encounters them in the future.

"Excellent, let's refine it into the Heaven-Turning Seal!"

Having determined the refining method, Ji Tian no longer hesitated and began refining diligently.

……

In Ophelia's room, in the disciples' quarters.

After listening to Ophelia's story of their first encounter, Elena took a sip of her tea, her heart filled with emotion.

So that's how Ji Tian tricked that girl into his hands—no, how he took her as his apprentice.

When she was at her most helpless, most miserable, and so hungry that she was gnawing on tree bark, a figure in white descended from the sky, handed her a piece of dry food, and led her away in a relatively respectful manner.

Then he led her out of her confusion and weakness, taught her divination, gave her stability, and gave her a home.

With such kindness and spending so much time together, it would be strange not to be moved.

But the more Elena thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong: hadn't she done the same thing to Ji Tian back then?

He was taught to read, given magic books to read, and his emotional development was equally slow... except that he was given the title of "attendant" and used it to clear out the surrounding monsters, while Ophelia was an apprentice who assisted Ji Tian in managing the sect.

"That idiot...did he learn that from me?" she muttered under her breath, unsure whether she was cursing Ji Tian or herself.

Ophelia looked up. "What did you say?"

"It's nothing," Elena put down her teacup, about to get up to leave, but then suddenly remembered something and sat back down. "Oh, by the way, has your allowance been enough for you all these years at the sect?"