I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

The few days in the village passed more slowly than Ji Tian had imagined, but also faster than Elena had expected.

Every morning, Ji Tian's mother would get up early to cook porridge. As soon as she lifted the lid, white steam would fill the kitchen window.

Elena went from initially saying "no need to bother" to helping with things like starting the fire, picking vegetables, and even learning to wrap a type of pleated dough. Her mother said it was called "Swabian," but Ji Tian always called it square dumplings.

Elena's wrapped shapes were crooked and uneven, but Ji Tian's mother didn't mind. Instead, she praised her for being "skilled" and said, "You'll get better with more practice."

Old Jack didn't say much, but he swept the yard clean every morning and even replaced the straw next to the chicken coop.

Ji Tian ran around the village every day, improving the spirit-gathering array. The old yellow dog next door always followed him, wagging its tail. Old John, the neighbor, exclaimed that the old dog was very intelligent and knew who was the most capable in the village.

On the evening of the third day, Ji Tian said, "I need to go back to the sect. I have some things to discuss. Do you want to come with me?"

Elena was helping Ji Tian's mother collect the sheets that had been drying in the sun. Upon hearing this, she simply tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, smiled, and shook her head: "It's not the right time yet. The sooner you go, the sooner you'll come back."

He nodded, turned and walked out of the courtyard, disappearing under the locust tree at the village entrance.

The sect remains the same as always.

When Ji Tian appeared on the bluestone square, the red dragon was dozing under the ancient pine tree. It opened its eyelids slightly, but when it saw that it was Ji Tian returning, it closed them again.

Ji Tian didn't disturb the old dragon and walked straight to the main hall. A quick scan with his divine sense revealed the locations of all the disciples:

Sherry was beating up a silverback bear in the training ground, Jenny was weeding in the herb garden, Ophelia was reading sect scriptures in the library, Alex was practicing "controlling swords with qi" in the back mountain, Mason was learning fire magic from Alice in a more distant place where there were no flammable materials, and Lilith was meditating outside the spirit spring cave - her posture was quite upright, at least she wasn't asleep.

He rang the bronze bell in the main hall, its deep sound echoing through the mountains.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, everyone had gathered in the square. The red dragon slowly moved over and lay down to the side.

Ji Tian stood on the steps, scanned the crowd, and got straight to the point: "I'm going on a long trip. It could take several months, or even half a year."

Shirley was the first to ask, her eyes lighting up: "Where to?"

"The capital city."

"Want to fight?" Shirley asked, eager to try.

Ji Tian said expressionlessly, "Accompanying someone to school."

The astute Lilith seemed to have guessed something, and peeked out from behind the crowd, whispering, "Is that... Elena?"

Ji Tian glanced at her and nodded.

Ophelia lowered her eyes slightly, her eyelashes trembled for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Ophelia will temporarily handle sect affairs. Daily cultivation continues as usual; no slacking off is allowed." Ji Tian handed a token to Ophelia remotely. "The array control and pill storeroom are all inside. In case of emergency, find Old Dragon."

Red Dragon snorted: "I'm being made to watch the kids again."

"You are a guest retainer," Ji Tian said, then took out a large bag of magic crystals.

The red dragon's vertical pupils lit up instantly, and the tip of its tail involuntarily curled up.

"……All right."

There was nothing I could do; he gave me just too much.

Ji Tian didn't reply, his gaze falling on Alex: "Your Sword Heart Clarity Technique must not be broken. You must get up at dawn every day to practice your sword and not slack off."

Alex bowed: "Your disciple understands."

"Mason, your fire-related lessons will be taught by Alice. Although she's unreliable, she's truly skilled in the art of fire."

Alice puffed out her chest: "Did you hear that? Even Master said I have real talent and learning!"

Mason nodded repeatedly, as if coaxing a child.

Ji Tian then looked at Lilith: "Contemplate for three hours every day, no slacking off. I'll check when I get back."

Lilith shrank back, her tone somewhat submissive: "I know..."

"Finally," Ji Tian paused, "while I'm gone, don't tear down the sect."

Shirley grinned: "Don't worry, Master, it won't collapse. At most, half of it will crumble."

Alice's voice echoed from behind.

Ji Tian didn't want to ask anymore.

He turned around, stepped into the void, and his figure vanished.

It was already dark when we got back to the village.

Elena sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, holding the unfinished "Introduction to the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect" in her hands, flipping through it by the bright moonlight.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up: "You're back?"

"Um."

"Have the sect made the arrangements?"

"It's all arranged."

Elena didn't press the matter. She simply closed the booklet, stood up, and said, "Your mother has been nagging you all day, saying you must not be eating well away from home. I'll pack some dry food for you before you leave tomorrow."

Ji Tian nodded.

On the morning of the fourth day, Ji Tian's mother got up before dawn.

The kitchen was filled with the clatter of pots and pans for a while. When Ji Tian and Elena finished washing up and walked into the main room, the table was already full of things: cured meat, pickled vegetables, black bread, and a jar of homemade sauce.

Ji Tian's mother stuffed the items into the cloth bag one by one until it was bulging, and then tied it tightly with hemp rope.

As she tied the rope, she muttered, "Nothing bought outside tastes as good as homemade. You can eat on the road..."

Old Jack stood to the side, hands behind his back, his lips moved, and finally he only said one sentence: "Be careful on the road."

Ji Tian took the cloth bag, walked up to his father, and murmured, "Take care of yourself."

Old Jack was taken aback by what he heard, seemingly not expecting his usually taciturn son to speak like that.

He laughed heartily, but his eyes were a little red. "Hey, don't worry, your mother and I are doing great! In recent years, we even feel like we're getting younger and younger."

Under the old locust tree at the village entrance, several elderly people who had nothing else to do also came to see him off.

Old John tapped his pipe: "Ji Tian, ​​next time you come back, bring a chubby little boy with you!"

Ji Tian ignored him, helped Elena, whose ears were red, onto her horse, and then mounted another horse himself.

The two rode their horses along the dirt road out of the village.

"Your parents are very good," Elena suddenly said.

"Um."

Once they reached a place out of their parents' sight, Ji Tian used magic to distort the horse's five senses, causing Elena to close her eyes, and then broke through space.

The world changed color, and when Elena opened her eyes again, she was surrounded by a desolate wilderness.

The distant mountains are dark and inky, while the withered grass nearby trembles in the wind. An official road stretches out into the distance from our feet and disappears into the twilight.

Elena looked around, puzzled, and asked, "Where is this?"

"A hundred miles from the capital. There is a spatial restriction ahead, preventing direct teleportation into the city."

Elena nodded without asking any further questions. The two walked along the official road, facing the morning sun.

"Ji Tian".

"What's wrong?"

Are you nervous?

"I'm not nervous."

"I'm a little nervous." Elena looked at the capital city in the distance, which was still invisible but whose presence could already be felt. "There are many important people in the capital, many rules, and many... things that are beyond our control."

Ji Tian turned his head and glanced at her: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Elena paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled brightly and said:

"Let's go then."