Marcus and Xander watched in stunned silence as Elder Feng suddenly whisked Lucian away, their eyes wide with disbelief and confusion.

    "Wait... Why is the elder..." Xander''s voice trailed off, his mind trying to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

    Marcus''s golden brows furrowed, his eyes narrowing to slits as he watched Elder Feng and Lucian disappear into the mist-shrouded heights of Azure Sword Mountain.

    The wind whipped around them, carrying whispers of confusion from the examination grounds below.

    "This is... unusual," Marcus muttered, his fingers unconsciously tracing the hilt of his spirit sword, "For the sect elder suddenly to interrupt the recruitment process and personally escort a candidate... Something is amiss!"

    Xander nodded, his cheek still stinging from the earlier slap.

    "Senior brother, could it be that someone higher up has been watching the examination process and taken interest after seeing..."

    But Marcus''s frown only deepened as Xander''s words trailed off. Confusion and silence filled the air, like the mist that cloaked the peak of Azure Sword Mountain, broken only by the soft rustle of leaves as the wind passed through.

    "If someone of higher status has indeed taken an interest..." Marcus murmured, his golden eyes flashing with a mix of concern and calculation, "This complicates the matters significantly."

    The wind howled around them, as if echoing the turmoil in Marcus''s mind. He gazed up at the cloudy peak, where the most powerful cultivators of the Azure Sword Sect dwelled.

    "Senior brother," Xander asked cautiously, "if any elder has taken notice of your nephew, then..."

    Marcus''s hand suddenly shot out, gripping Xander''s neck, his fingers digging into the soft flesh with inhuman strength.

    Xander''s eyes bulged, his face turning purple as he gasped for air.

    "You''d better hope it isn''t the case," Marcus threatened, his golden eyes blazing with an infernal light, "Because if this matter hinders me from taking Isabella, then I''ll kill you first."

    The golden-haired cultivator''s robes whipped violently, his long hair a writhing mass of golden serpents. The air crackled with spiritual energy, as he tightened his grip.

    "I... I..." Xander clawed desperately at Marcus''s iron grip, his face a mask of terror.

    ...

    It was a cave abode, and by Lucian''s estimation created by hollowing a part of the Azure Sword Mountain, but unlike any cave he had ever seen or imagined.

    The ceiling arched high above, adorned with countless glowing small crystals that resembled a starry night sky, their soft light filling the cavern with a dreamlike radiance.

    The cave walls were smooth and polished, and adorned with various plants that clung to the stone, their deep green leaves were filled with vitality. Unknown types of vines with tiny, star-shaped flowers climbed up the walls, their small petals glowing with a soft, bioluminescent light.

    Beneath his feet, the floor was inlaid with black marbles that reflected the light from above, creating the illusion of walking on a mirror-like surface of still water.

    Lucian also smelled an intoxicating fragrance that seemed to permeate the air. It was a mixture of lotus blossoms and sandalwood incense. The scent was so potent that he could feel his mind clearing with each breath.

    "Why are you still standing there?" The same ethereal voice was heard, but this time it didn''t enter his mind but was heard aloud, echoing softly throughout the cavern.

    Strangely, the sound seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once!

    Lucian''s crimson eyes followed as he noticed the figure sitting atop a luxurious bed, wearing a black gown that seemed to absorb the light around them.

    The dress covered every inch of her body, flowing like liquid shadow across her figure. Only her face and fingers were visible, sickly pale as the moon.

    She had long, white hair that cascaded down her shoulders like moonlight.

    Although the woman was beautiful, but compared to his mother and sister, she wasn''t quite as breathtaking.

    Her features were undoubtedly striking — high cheekbones, full rosy lips, and grey eyes.

    Yet there was something unsettling about her beauty, a quality that made Lucian''s skin prickle with unease.

    There was a coldness to her beauty, like a perfect ice sculpture — breathtaking, yet devoid of the warmth of true life.

    Lucian quickly bowed slightly, and "respectfully" said, "Greetings, senior. Do you need something from this junior?"

    The woman''s lips curved into an amused smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes. She leaned forward, her movements fluid like water, and giggled softly. The sound was like tinkling ice crystals, beautiful yet cold.

    "Do you think I''m not beautiful enough, Lucian?" she asked.

    Lucian was stunned by her question.

    At first, he thought she might want to take him as a disciple because he had just displayed his Fire affinity.

    He was already prepared to accept. After all, why wouldn''t he accept such an opportunity?

    Would he reject it just because he had a System? That would be too idiotic!

    His System was passive, not one of those that handed out "cultivation resources" like running water for completing random missions.

    Though unexpected, he still replied politely, "Of course not. Senior, you''re as beautiful as the first snowfall of winter, as enchanting as the aurora dancing across the night sky. Your beauty is beyond compare, like a rare celestial phenomenon that leaves observers in awe. And..."

    But even as the flowery words left his lips, Lucian knew they sounded hollow.

    "But your eyes don''t have the same look when you look at your mother and sister!" She asked back, her voice a mixture of amusement and hidden meaning.

    Lucian was thunderstruck. His eyes darkened. How could she possibly know about his family so soon? Had she been watching him?

    "Senior, what do you mean by this?" Lucian didn''t even realize that at this moment he unintentionally spoke in his usual arrogant voice.

    Even if the person in front was many times stronger and could kill him with a wave of her hand, he wouldn''t tolerate someone prying into his personal matters, especially those concerning his family.

    "Look at you, being so protective. But before I answer why I''m so interested in you, let me first confirm something. And if it''s not as I think, I''ll kill you for speaking to me in that tone," the woman said nonchalantly, her grey eyes sparkling with intense anticipation.

    ***

    [A/N: I''ll no longer use Italian style to highlight the character conversations.]