Tao's expression caused Yan Zaizen to have a wary smile. In truth, he didn't believe that Tao would force the girl to service him or even kill her. Both Bai Lufeng and Tao may be arrogant, but they never kill without a justified reason.

Yan Zaizen has done the same, except when he added his protective spiritual sense onto Sun Huan. In that case, he unintentionally killed Blood Fiend Sect's members. He prefers crippling than killing unless the offense warrants death.

An example was Chen He, who guarded Bai Lufeng and watched him slowly wither to near death with pleasure. His death was warranted. So was Diyi's and those who directly harmed his master, Han Genji.

Therefore, he knew that Tao wouldn't demand something outrageous like death or slave for life. However, when they approached Yan Qiu and Tao said his demand, Yan Zaizen was instantly silenced.

It was...a little too tame.

"Apologize! And admit that you cheated! The truth!"

"..." Everyone was shocked. Many expected a former servant may ask for death, servitude, or something humiliating, but all Tao wanted was for her to publicly admit the truth.

"It seems a scholar's pride is an interesting thing." However, when he thought about it a little bit more, he felt Tao truly was far, far too tame. After being sentenced to death by his former foster parent, not once did he mention seeking revenge or going back. It was truly extraordinary.

"Cultivators...some are kind, some are cunning, some are honest, some are vicious, and some are deceitful. However, they all act true to their hearts. They seek that, and for those who don't, they're destined to forever be nothing more than a speck beneath the heavens. A memory that'll vanish, and their dao never forming." Pinaka's tired yet emotional voice resounded.

Enlightened, Yan Zaizen smiled. He always had pieces of why he liked being around Bai Lufeng and Tao, but that's because, no matter what, they were always true to their hearts. Those cultivators aligned very well with him. Not to mention, they weren't innately evil nor had a belief that murder solved all problems.

In the cultivation world, these three were an oddity, and yet...fate brought them together.

Yan Qiu apologized after getting her bearings, admitting how she cheated and who helped. Afterwards, she went to Yan Zaizen with an unusual gleam in her eyes. Her beauty was phenomenal to behold, and with that gleam in her eyes, many men couldn't stop their hearts from rapidly beating.

"Greetings, my name's Yan Qiu." Her voice was soft, but her eyes contained clear intentions. Yan Zaizen felt a little awkward being gazed at in such a way, it was reminiscent to Lin Feilin, but he didn't lose his cool. Instead, he stepped towards her, causing all present to hone in on his movements.

After getting in front of her, his hands slowly moved to brush against her forehead, moving aside a loose strand of hair on her head. After properly tucking it away, he drew his hands towards her chin. With his amber-gold eyes, he lifted her chin so their gaze perfectly matched.

From this touch, he could feel her rapid heartbeat resonate through her tender skin. "Yan Zaizen, but you can call me Zai." His words were spoken with a heroic and calm flare. At that moment, all the girl's heartbeats stopped.

In the cultivation world, allowing someone to call you only by your name was considered an intimate action. With that, he swiftly turned towards a spatial tunnel behind Tao. He walked away, his robe fluttering in the wind and his presence in abundance.

Tao laughed inwardly, recalling Lin Feilin and how Yan Zaizen was getting better at this. However, knowing him, it's far too unlikely that he'll give Yan Qiu the time of day. If anything, this was Yan Zaizen's punishment for enslaving Tao. Her heart will never forget his figure.

With the air of an expert and the tone of a hero, before he stepped into the spatial portal, "This meeting has concluded, but I'll be looking forward to the next." He walked forward.

They vanished.

"...I...Me too." Yan Qiu muttered softly. Yan Shijing witnessed this, but without Tao's knowledge of Yan Zaizen's developing habits, he was excited. If his great-granddaughter obtained the hand of an expert like that, the benefits they both would obtain could directly reach new, greater heights.

-----

Wu Clan, Yan Zaizen's Residence.

A spatial ripple appeared. Both Bai Lufeng and Wu Yuanxu were talking together. During which they discovered they have very, very little in common. Bai Lufeng was more of a hedonist while Wu Yuanxu was rather conservative. The difference in talent, upbringing, and age created this startling difference. While Bai Lufeng fought plenty of battles and seen many things in his three thousand years of life, Wu Yuanxu was a small character who lived for only several hundred years.

One suffered untold struggles for survival, life, and saw the cruelty that a long one brings. Such as watching your wife, children, grandchildren die. To the point that you stop keeping track of your seed. However, Wu Yuanxu wishes to start his own clan and watch his family rise.

Despite this difference, they did get along. Not like Tao and Yan Zaizen, but close.

From the spatial ripple, Yan Zaizen and Tao entered the room. Bai Lufeng and Wu Yuanxu's eyes brightened, they were expectant of Yan Zaizen's return. As they saw him with Tao in a brown slave attire, Bai Lufeng chuckled and commented, "You finally dressing appropriately?"

Tao coldly snorted, ignoring Bai Lufeng. However, his eyes couldn't help see a slight light in Bai Lufeng's eyes that was vastly different than he was before. He didn't know what he experienced, but for some reason, he felt it was far worse than being someone's servant for a year. Therefore, he didn't say anything else.

He went to the table and grabbed a wine jug, pouring himself a glass. He initiated conversation with Wu Yuanxu. As someone who was in the Deep Mines with Yan Zaizen, they exchanged a lot of stories, so he knew how this person helped him to his current path. It may have seemed small, but he understood a lot about soul cultivation from him.

Yan Zaizen faintly smiled, grabbing a glass himself and sitting down. During these three years, one experienced near death, one actually died and revived, one was severely tortured, and another made a sworn oath to be a slave for his entire life. Yet, now they were together, healthy and vibrant enjoying good wine and good company.

No matter how strong you get, this is what it means to enjoy life. To be surrounded by those who you want to be surrounded by. Drinking with those you wished to drink with and relaxing in the safety and comfort.

--------------------------------

[Author's Note]:

This represents the end of Volume 2: A Step Towards Heaven.

And the beginning of Volume 3.

I'll be taking a break for a week(From 28th to the 4th). I think, truly, I need to take a break during each volume's end(Which I plan to do from now on). We've reached 165 Chapters in a little over two months and it has been an amazing journey! But as many suggest, it's about time I take a relaxing break. I've done a 7 chapter week before, but that was mostly filled with writing. It's time for a real break.

The 10 Chapters unreleased for this week will be mass released for both *******(Depending on Tier) and here on Friday the 6th! So, next week, we'll be having a 26-Release Week. Biggest we've ever done. I'm excited to get this new volume underway! Next Volume will be the longest in length, filled with the most intense situations and battles thus far. Especially from the middle to end, I can't wait for you all to read!