"Oh, that, I do owe you. Thank you, Lady Huiye," Tianming said with a smile.

"That wasn't sincere. I don't believe it," she said.

"Then what do you want me to do?" There was no free lunch in this world, and she definitely wasn't one that would help out without seeking something in return. But with the bar of the divine moonrace’s decency set so low by the moon guide and Huiyue Yin, Huiye Shi almost seemed annoyingly charming. Even so, Tianming knew full well about the pride and ruthlessness in her heart, so he didn't just assume she would be that good to him. He still had to take the time to find out what kind of person she truly was.

Huiye Shi was quite unhappy about how Tianming was giving her attitude in public. "Don't you know what I want? How could a man be like that? Don't you already know the truth?"

"Pray tell. What truth am I missing?"

"Right now, you stand at the top of the Flameyellow Continent. However, you’re nothing but livestock in the eyes of higher lifeforms like us. This place will only limit your growth and leave you languishing in obscurity. You have to expand your horizons. Follow me to a higher realm. Only after you find your footing in the Divine Moon Realm will others respect you. My brother wouldn't be able to humiliate you like that again, either. If you just stay here, you'll eventually become useless! I'm only telling you this because I pity you. Stop being so ignorant! What's so good about this rotten world that you aren't able to let go of it?"

She was no doubt angry. There was no way she would go so far and ignore the feelings of everyone there otherwise.

After hearing all that, Tianming laughed. "Lady, I won't regret the paths I pick for myself. I don't need your pity, so please go back."

His smile as he said that made her fume even more, especially when the others were still looking on. "Li Tianming, do you think that just because you defeated me and made me like you a little bit that you can do whatever you want? Are you really that ignorant about your status?"

Tianming merely kept smiling.

"I know why you don't want to leave with me now. Have your woman get her ass out here!" She immediately set her sights on Feiling. "You, come here."

Everyone turned to look at Feiling.

"Your Eminence...."

They could see that her eyes were as cold as Tianming's, but she seemed to have an added murderous air that normally wasn’t present. "What do you want?"

"Do you really like him?" Huiye Shi asked.

"It has nothing to do with you."

"Oh, I know now. You're just a useless accessory that selfishly stifles his bright future. What else are you good for? If you really love him, you should let him go. Let him come with me. You aren’t suited to be with him, you know? Don't be stubborn and think you can dominate him just because you’re a little pretty. Beauty is only skin deep. Only true power and status can bring dignity, understand?"

"I don't understand what you mean. All I know is that someone like you just comes off like you haven't been taught well growing up. All you know how to do seems to be disparaging others and not giving any basic semblance of respect. You're the one who truly isn’t a good fit for him. You think you're all that great just because you have some background, and all of us should have to bow and kneel to you? I'm sorry, but you have no right to barge into our relationship. You aren’t even a third wheel between Tianming and I. Did your clan only teach you how to fight and squabble without educating you on basic etiquette and manners?" Feiling said in a poised manner. Compared to Huiye Shi's childish tantrum, she truly seemed on a different level.

"How dare you? Are you asking to die?!" Huiye Shi's eyes turned red as tears began flowing.

"Who do you think you are? What else can you do apart from crying?" Feiling said.

"Die, wench!" Huiye Shi cried, sending her totems to attack Feiling.

Needless to say, Tianming blocked it and pushed Feiling back, turning to point his sword at Huiye Shi. This was his answer.

"Very well! Truly amazing! I really wasted my trimoon source for nothing!" Huiye Shi laughed pitifully as endless rage built up in her. Glaring at Tianming, she continued, "I’ve always been able to get what I want! You will not be able to escape my grasp! Even if I have to drag you along like a dog, I will take you away from here!"

Then she shot Feiling a dark, threatening look. Who knew what she was going to do? If it weren’t for the fact that he didn't have a choice, Tianming wouldn't have wanted to offend her either, but now that Feiling was involved, Tianming wouldn't want her to be troubled by it in the least.

After Huiye Shi left, everyone turned to look at their human emperor and goddess with troubled expressions, still reeling from the sheer oddity of the situation. However, they had to admit that hearing their goddess say that was almost cathartic.

"It's always your good looks that invite trouble. Why couldn't you have been uglier?" Li Caiwei sighed, diffusing the tension.

Everyone broke out in laughter, save for Feiling and Tianming. The atmosphere soon got a little awkward again.

"Then, how about I recite a poem?" Ouyang Jianwang said. The moment he spoke, Feiling turned to leave and Tianming hurried to join her at the newly reconstructed Soulburn Hall.

"Ling'er, don't be mad."

"I'm not mad." Though she said that, her face looked frozen like ice.

"Then...."

She entered the hall and closed the door just as he was about to enter. "Big Brother, I don't want to be looked down upon by others. Don't interrupt me."

It looked like Feiling was raving mad from the encounter. As long as Huiyue Yin and Huiye Shi didn't leave, they would come to cause trouble time and again. Next time, they might even come together.

As Tianming stood outside, Ying Huo and the rest watched wide-eyed from within his lifebound space.

"Darn, Ling'er was so badass!" Ying Huo said. "I'm falling in love! Tianming, my friend, go! Let's see who's tougher! You, or her? Don't hold back!"

Tianming sat down at the entrance and looked at the starry sky. "If it was possible...." His gaze soon turned cold. "Give us some more time. We’ll show them!"

......

The Hexapath Sword Palace under Xuanyuan Lake had collapsed from the grand battle, but had been reconstructed. Within it was the Hexapath Sword Insight Rock and Tianming. Before him sat the Hexapath Sword God, smiling as his beard fluttered in the wind. Tianming performed the Ninesky Beastsoul Formation and Asura Fiendgod Formation for the apparition.

"How did I do, Senior?" Tianming asked.

"You're a brilliant student."

"I guess it's not enough, then."

"You're a brilliant student."

"If I'm a brilliant student, you should start teaching me then!"

The Hexapath Sword God actually stood up. "You executed the formations decently. We can move on to the next step now."

"What's the next step?" Tianming's eyes were glowing. He would finally be learning the fifth move of Hexapath Samsara Sword!

"The next step is... let me see how you look without clothes on," said the Hexapath Sword God in a laughing manner.