Mo Yun pulled the door open with a creak and immediately saw Bai Zhi's face, so flawless it looked almost like a perfectly rendered model, with an air of unreality.
She wore a moon-white dress. Her complexion was no longer pale and even held a healthy flush, while her long silver hair was tied high, making her look full of vitality.
Yet Mo Yun could still sense a profound exhaustion emanating from Bai Zhi.
That exhaustion was not physical; it seemed to stem from her soul.
Beyond that, Mo Yun's exceptionally keen perception also detected showers of light formed from blade radiance swirling around Bai Zhi.
These showers of light continually appeared and vanished, seemingly forming an absolute domain that caused even the surrounding space to cave in slightly.
Clearly, Bai Zhi's cultivation had advanced another step. She had now proved her Dao and become a Blade Saint.
As though noticing Mo Yun's confusion, Bai Zhi explained with a smile, "Aunt Bai made some progress with the Blade-Nurturing Art a few days ago. Combined with the changes the Star River Refinement brought me, I took the opportunity to step into the Blade... er, the Sixth Realm."
She had intended to say "Blade Saint," but recalling the information Mo Yun had shared earlier, she knew that beyond the Sixth Realm lay the Seventh Realm, the Eighth Realm, and even the Ninth Realm. Calling herself a "Saint" at merely the Sixth Realm now felt rather embarrassing.
As they spoke, Mo Yun invited Bai Zhi inside. The two once again sat at the stone table beneath the bamboo pavilion, where Mo Yun deftly boiled water, brewed tea, and handed her a cup.
Bai Zhi accepted the cup and took a contented sip, praising it. "Mmm, lovely tea!"
Smiling, she turned over her fair,