A faint breath brushed against Luyi’s ear.
When she slowly opened her eyes, a dark crimson figure clung tightly to her side—like hugging an oversized plushie.
One hand rested on her chest; a leg pressed against her lower abdomen.
That dark crimson hair spilled like sunlit seaweed, tangled with her golden strands—intimate and tender, lingering and warm.
*Again…*
Luyi thought, then expertly pushed away the sleeping face beaming with a smile.
“!”
Alices jolted awake. Seeing herself nestled beside Luyi, realization dawned.
“Lord Luyi, I—”
“A thousand apologies! I must’ve entered the wrong room again!”
The girl apologized profusely, her tone humble.
Luyi merely waved a hand.
“It’s fine…”
She’d grown used to hearing apologies every month.
Just part of the routine.
......
Two weeks had passed since classes officially began.
Luyi had moved into the student dormitories of Stellar Abyss Academy.
As the top-ranked freshman, she could’ve requested a private room. But considering her poor social skills, survival instincts, and practical needs, she chose to room with Alices instead.
Alices already lived in a standalone villa—only needing to clear a spare room for Luyi.
*Even with better subordinates available… Lord Luyi still chose me?*
Alices had been moved to tears for days.
Consequently, her nighttime ambushes on Luyi grew even more frequent.
The air cooled, carrying the first whispers of autumn.
Luyi walked the academy paths, yawning.
“Feels like old times…” she murmured.
For the first half-year, freshmen attended unified academy courses: foundational classes, facility orientations, and future path planning.
After six months, they’d depart for various Stellar Abyss outposts and sub-temples to choose mentors—truly beginning their cultivation journeys.
But Luyi wasn’t heading to class.
As the Demon Sovereign, she couldn’t be bothered with lectures.
The instructors didn’t require mandatory attendance anyway—only passing the half-year foundational exam mattered.
Lately, Luyi spent most of her time in the Stellar Abyss Library.
As the most prestigious academy in the Abyssal Demon Realm, its collection dwarfed even the famed Soul-Sundering Library into dust.
“How rare…” Luyi murmured, tracing a fragmented text. “They even have surviving books from the Fracture Era…”
The Abyssal Demon Realm had suffered multiple historical fractures—some from invasions, others from internal collapse.
Its civilization was pure chaos.
Origins, history, script, legacy—all tangled beyond comprehension.
That such chaos had birthed their current strength was nothing short of a miracle.
This chaos meant modern Abyssal Demons couldn’t decipher ancient scripts, left only to guess at forgotten words.
But for Luyi, it was the opposite.
The older the demonic script, the more familiar it felt.
Even on her first encounter with this Fracture-Era fragment, she grasped its meaning almost completely.
......
Stellar Abyss Domain, Amethyst Moon Seat.
Within the main hall, Smoterg chatted casually with a guest.
A knock sounded. At his assent, a temple master entered, bowing deeply.
“Report,” Smoterg prompted.
“Lord Smoterg—we’ve received word. The Deputy Domain Lord has invited Prince Salros to become his personal disciple. The prince accepted earlier today.”
Smoterg smiled, nodding in satisfaction. “Noted. Your vigilance these past days is appreciated.”
“You may withdraw.”
“Yes, sir!”
The temple master retreated swiftly.
“My congratulations to you and His Highness the Eighth Prince,” the guest offered politely.
“Merely protocol for imperial bloodlines,” Smoterg replied lightly.
He wouldn’t deny Salros’s talent.
Any prince genuinely enrolling would receive such an invitation.
But nearly every academy elder knew Salros’s true purpose here.
He wouldn’t quietly graduate.
Still, a Deputy Domain Lord offering discipleship proved the academy’s respect for the royal family.
“I’m far more interested in Luluie and Louise,” Smoterg continued. “Louise—wild-tempered and lacking in talent, yet brilliant beneath the flaws. A Deputy will surely seek her out.”
He paused. “But Luyi… with her abilities… would the Domain Lord himself take notice?”
The Domain Lord of Stellar Abyss held a unique status.
His rank surpassed all kings—even emperors granted him ceremonial exemptions.
Fifty years had passed since he last took a disciple.
......
At that very moment.
As Smoterg voiced his silent question, an old man with snow-white hair walked slowly between library shelves.
Few students lingered here now.
Every rustle drew their eyes toward him.
Then their hearts nearly stopped.
*The Domain Lord!*
Why would he visit the library at this hour?
Searching for a book?
Or… a person?
*Luluie?*
Many glanced toward the golden-haired girl silently buried in ancient texts.
They guessed correctly.
The old man had come to offer Luyi his personal tutelage.
He felt his life ebbing away.
Even as Domain Lord, even with power beyond measure—his time was short.
And then Luyi appeared.
Nine stars ignited. The Sky-Beast bowed. Her terrifying talent made even him tremble.
As if heaven sent her precisely to inherit his legacy.
His steps quickened.
Rounding a corner, he spotted Luyi engrossed in reading. A smile touched his lips.
*This is the one…*
But as he drew closer—
His gaze fell on the unassuming figure standing guard beside her.
Even the Domain Lord froze in his tracks.
