Of course, Lily was just making things up. Her master had been in seclusion these past days—aside from knowing Luo Xiaoxiao existed and even giving her a thumbs-up, he hadn’t said a word.
She just wanted to see if this amusing silver-haired loli would do something even more entertaining.
And so Lily watched as the little girl bounced like a lively puppy, carried a small pillow from the bedroom, and carefully placed it on the chair.
A cushion made sitting more comfortable. After smoothing it out, she gently wheeled the chair behind Lily—positioned perfectly so Lily would land right on it the moment she sat.
“Please, take a seat.”
Lily smiled and sat. The pillow from the three-star hotel was soft, and surprisingly cozy.
Next, Luo Xiaoxiao dashed into the kitchen, grabbed a glass pot, then rushed back to rummage through An Li’s item pouch.
She’d done it many times before. An Li knew—and never stopped her. Trust? Or something else?
From the pouch, Luo Xiaoxiao pulled out several silver rods and skillfully assembled a simple stand on the table.
Her tiny hands were surprisingly nimble.
She filled the pot with water, added tea leaves, set it on the stand, lit a lighter underneath, and clutched a tiny fan, ready to fan the flames once it boiled.
“I’ll brew some fragrant tea… Just need a moment to cook it.”
Lily finally burst out: “You don’t *cook* tea like this—that’s how you make coffee!”
…
“I-I see,” I mumbled, awkwardly lowering the fan. “I thought they were the same.”
“Enough antics. Let’s talk seriously,” Lily said, fixing me with that same bewitching gaze. “Your situation isn’t safe. Danger lurks around you, and if your identity leaks? The Holy See’s followers will hunt you down with fanatical zeal.”
I muttered, “As long as you stay quiet, I won’t be exposed.”
Her words felt like a threat—*Cross me, and I’ll tell the Holy See.*
“No, that’s not it,” Lily shook her head. “I mean… you could solve this once and for all. Choose a different path.”
“…How?”
“Exactly as it sounds. To stop fearing the Holy See’s pursuit? Oppose them. And the only force that rivals them…” She gave a mysterious smile. “Join us. Saves my master the trouble of dragging you back later.”
I froze for a moment, then flushed crimson.
Ugh. She’s basically asking me to throw myself into their arms!
“Impossible, Miss Lily,” I sat up straight. “Asking me to travel thousands of miles to surrender? That insults my dignity… and my *ghostly* dignity too.”
Lily waved dismissively. “You’ll be brought back eventually. What’s resisting now worth?”
“Not necessarily,” I huffed. “You investigated me—you know I’ve got an incredibly powerful big sister beside me. She’s strong *and* a high-ranking official in the Holy See!”
*(I made up the last part. I had no clue what An Li’s real position was.)*
“So what?” Lily snorted. “Even the Pope and the entire Holy See combined might not defeat my master. And if power keeps growing? Even Heaven—their sacred foundation—may not stand a chance.”
I blinked blankly. “Huh?”
Didn’t get it.
Lily stood, leaned close, and counted on her fingers. “Right now, in the Mortal Realm, light and dark are evenly matched. In the next stage—the Transcendent Realm—yes, Heaven holds a slight edge. But look further. Beyond Transcendent Realm… to the Source Realm.”
She pulled out her phone, searched an image, and thrust it toward me. “See?”
I blinked. A cosmic star chart glowed on screen: black holes, star systems, granular nebulae—a breathtaking astronomical vista.
“What am I supposed to see?” I was totally lost.
“How is this unclear?” Lily’s voice rose with excitement. “When power reaches the Source Realm—look at light versus dark! Dark matter permeates the entire universe. It’s the foundation of the Source Realm! And light? Just a byproduct of burning stars!”
“What can light-based power possibly compare to darkness? It’s practically a one-shot wipeout.”
I stared at her, dawning realization clicking. This whole “Mortal Realm, Transcendent Realm, Source Realm” thing… it was like cultivation stages in xianxia novels: Yuanying, Dujie, Huashen.
After a pause, I asked carefully, “May I ask… which stage is Your Majesty currently at?”
Lily suddenly fidgeted. “Late Mortal Realm… the peak any human in the mortal world can reach. But my master is close to breaking through to the Transcendent Realm—a tier of power only found in places like Heaven, Hell, or Olympus!”
