I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

Lilith was awakened by the sunlight streaming through the window.

She groggily turned over, pulled the blanket over her head, and mumbled, "...just five more minutes..."

The blanket remained completely still.

She tugged again, but it still didn't budge.

She opened one eye and found herself curled up in a ball, hugging the blanket to her chest, like a squirrel sleeping with its tail tucked in.

She pulled back the covers, turned over, and saw someone sitting on the windowsill.

A grey robe, a straight back, eyes closed, breathing long and deep like an old tree.

The morning light shone in from behind him, gilding him with a golden edge.

It took Lilith's mind several seconds to reboot.

where is this?

Oh, a cheap hotel.

Why is he still sitting there?

She sat up, her hair a mess, like a bird's nest blown by the wind. She stared at the person on the windowsill for five seconds—breathing evenly, motionless, like a statue.

"...You didn't sleep last night?" Her voice was hoarse, like a wind-up toy that hadn't been oiled.

"Going to sleep."

"I've taken the bed, you should stay sitting here—"

"Meditation is also a form of rest."

Lilith opened her mouth as if to say something, but then she remembered the embarrassing scene from last night and closed her mouth again.

She looked down at her clothes—a deep purple dress, with the buttons fastened neatly.

She was completely covered by the blanket, and she couldn't even remember how she got into bed last night.

"...Did you carry me to the bed?"

You fell onto my shoulder, and then I put you on the bed.

Lilith's face flushed slightly, but Ji Tian's next words immediately extinguished that warmth.

"Your sleep quality is very poor; you talked in your sleep seven times last night."

"..."

"The phrase 'Death to the Flame Demon' was mentioned four times, 'Little Cake' was mentioned twice, and 'Li Feiyu, you've finally met your match' was mentioned once."

Lilith's expression went from blushing to pale, then to ashen, finally settling on a look of utter despair, as if pleading, "Please, stop talking."

"I...I've said so much?"

"Seven times."

"No, I wasn't asking about the number of times—I meant, did I really say 'Li Feiyu, you've finally met your match'?"

"Um."

"..."

Lilith took a deep breath, swallowed the pent-up frustration, then threw off the covers and, with the last vestiges of dignity of a demon princess, sat upright on the edge of the bed, her hands on her knees, her back straight, and her chin slightly raised.

"Let bygones be bygones of last night," she said, her tone as solemn as if she were issuing a formal letter of credence. "Let's get down to business."

Ji Tian climbed down from the windowsill and stood in front of her.

He stretched out his hand, palm facing up.

A ball of flame appeared out of nowhere.

Lilith instinctively shrank back, afraid that the other party would throw a fiery punch at her.

But the flame did not fly towards her.

It floated quietly above his palm, its color changing from orange-red to golden yellow, from golden yellow to white, and then from white to a nearly transparent blue.

That's the color that only appears when the temperature is extremely high.

Lilith's eyes widened.

Ji Tian extinguished the flames and switched to another one.

A ball of water condensed in his palm, clear and transparent, with tiny ripples on its surface, like a handful of spring water drawn from a deep pool.

Then came the wind. A tiny whirlwind spun silently between his fingertips, but it still made Lilith's hair flutter.

Then came the soil. A seed sprouted, grew, blossomed, and bore fruit in his palm—the whole process took no more than three seconds. It was a small, pale purple flower, with dewdrops still clinging to its petals.

Then came the light. A soft glow emanated from his palm, warm and bright, as if he were holding a small patch of sunlight in his hand.

Then came darkness. The light went out, and darkness gathered in his palm—not a shadow, not an emptiness, but a substantial, heavy darkness, like a piece of the night sky that had been cut off.

Finally, there was thunder. A bolt of lightning, as thin as a hair, danced between his fingertips, crackling crisply, and the air was filled with the smell of ozone.

Seven elements: fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness, and thunder.

Lilith stared at his palm, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly, like a fish that had been pulled ashore.

"You...you are an all-attribute user?"

"Um."

"An all-attribute...all-attribute mage?"

"To be precise, he can be considered a Grand Magus."

Ji Tian thought for a moment. He wasn't really sure what realm in the cultivation world corresponded to the "Grand Magister" of this world. But he knew his own cultivation level—peak Golden Core, only one step away from Nascent Soul.

In this world, someone at this level, capable of unleashing "forbidden spells" with almost irreversible destructive power similar to nuclear weapons, should be considered a "Grand Magister."

Lilith's eyelids started twitching.

She recalled the embarrassing scenes from last night—she took off her coat, closed her eyes, and said, "This is my first time, please be gentle"—and the person opposite her was an all-attribute archmage.

What was she doing next? She was trying to hypnotize an all-elemental archmage.

He even planned to secretly kick him after he fell asleep.

It felt like an ant crawling up to a dragon, opening its mouth and saying, "I'm going to bite you," then yawning and falling asleep.

She looked down at her hands.

Slender, fair-skinned, and weak.

Then she looked up at Ji Tian with an expression that said, "I have nothing left to lose."

"What do you want to do to me?"

Ji Tian pulled up a chair and sat down in front of her.

"Last night, you showed me the innate supernatural abilities of the Nightmare Clan. I watched and learned them. This is cause and effect."

Lilith paused, taken aback. "...Cause and effect?"

"You taught me your techniques, so I owe you a favor. Cultivators value karma above all else. What is owed must be repaid."

He looked at her.

"So, I'm giving you two choices."

Lilith unconsciously straightened her posture even more.

"First, become my disciple. I am the sect leader of the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect, and I already have five disciples. If you become my disciple, you will be the sixth. I will teach you the true method of cultivation—not magic, but true cultivation. This path is long and difficult, but in the end, you can become a strong person in this world through your own strength."

Lilith blinked. "Cultivation?"

"A cultivation system older than magic. You can think of it as the underlying logic of magic."

"..."

"Second—" Ji Tian paused.

Before he could speak, Lilith slid off the bed with a thud, kneeling on the floor with her hands on the ground and her forehead pressed against the back of her hands.

"Master, please accept my bow!"

Ji Tian looked at her.

"I haven't mentioned the second option yet."

"No need to say anything more!" Lilith raised her head, her eyes shining like two purple stars. She had finally found a backer. "The first one is excellent! Very good! Especially good! I choose the first one! From today onwards, I am a disciple of the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect! I will listen to whatever Master says! If Master tells me to go east, I will never go west! If Master tells me to beat a dog, I will never chase a chicken!"

She paused, then added, "Master! I am now all alone and helpless. Fortunately, I have gained your favor. If you do not abandon me, I would like to take care of you in your old age."

Ji Tian remained silent for a moment.

"Don't you want to hear about the second option?"

"In no mood."

"What if the second one is better—"

"Impossible!" Lilith declared firmly. "Being Master's disciple—that's the best choice! What choice could be better? None! Absolutely none!"

She knelt there, her hands supporting her on the ground, looking up at him with an expression as devout as a pyramid scheme member who had finally found their organization.

"And," her voice suddenly trailed off, tinged with barely concealed grievance and relief, "I've been on the run for more than half a year. From one place to another, from the demon realm to the human kingdom, from the western border to the northern border, and then back from the northern border. I've suffered more than I have in the previous thirty years combined."

She sniffed.

"I don't want to run away anymore."

The room was quiet for a while.

"Okay." Ji Tian nodded. "Then let's go with the first one."

Lilith immediately straightened up, placing her hands neatly on her knees, sitting upright as if she were going to attend Her Majesty the Queen's interview.

"Thank you, Master!"

Ji Tian looked at her and suddenly felt that there was something familiar about this demon girl.

It's not talent, it's not bloodline.

It's that feeling of relief, like "finally I don't have to carry this burden alone anymore."

He nodded. "Get up. Let me get you something to eat first."

Lilith sprang to her feet immediately, moving as fast as a cat that had been propelled by a spring.

She ran to the bedside, picked up the gray cloak, draped it over herself, tied the straps, and pulled the hood down to cover most of her face.

Then she turned around and looked at herself in the blurry bronze mirror in the window.

"Master, is my outfit alright?"

"Just going to get some breakfast."

"I still need to pay attention to my image! I am a disciple of the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect, and I can't bring shame to the sect."

Ji Tian didn't say anything, and turned to walk out.

Lilith trotted after him, standing three steps behind, like a puppy that had finally found its owner.

As she reached the door, she suddenly remembered something.

"Master, may I ask you a question?"

"ask."

"What exactly is this second option you mentioned?"

Ji Tian did not turn around.

"I'll help you become the Demon King."

Lilith paused for a moment.

"—The puppet kind."

She paused again.

Then she quickened her pace to catch up, her tone filled with a sense of relief at surviving a disaster.

"Master, I think my choice of the first one was very timely. Very, very timely."

Ji Tian did not answer.

He pushed open the hotel door, and the morning light poured in, casting two long, long shadows.

Straight as a sword and steady as an old dog.

It hopped and skipped around like a rabbit.

"Master, what shall we eat?"

"casual."

"Can I order a small cake? I haven't had one in ages."

"OK."

"Then I'll also have egg tarts, egg rolls, pudding, cream puffs..."

"..."

Realizing she had gone too far and might have negatively impacted her already less-than-ideal image in her master's eyes, Lilith stopped her reciting-menu-like questions and forced a smile, "Hehe, I was just joking. I'm actually very easy to feed; all I need is a bowl of porridge, really."

"There's no need to be so formal," Ji Tian shook his head. "Now that you are my disciple, I am your family. As long as you don't hinder my pursuit of the Great Dao or your own cultivation, I will try my best to meet any conditions."

This is also one of the reasons why Ji Tianming, despite his high level of cultivation, has always been poor – he has given most of his money to his disciples.

He himself didn't care. Most things in this world related to his level couldn't be bought with money... Even if they could, his little money wouldn't be enough.

"Wow, Master, you're so kind! I'd also like macarons, sandwiches..."

She jogged after Ji Tian, ​​a wide smile playing on her lips beneath her hood.

He had been on the run for more than half a year.

Finally, I don't have to run away anymore.

Although this master is a bit strange, a bit cold, a bit unromantic, and seems to have some violent tendencies—

But at least he won't hand her over, and he'll let her eat the little cakes she likes.

This is enough.