Electrolux said bitterly, "I thought this was a heaven-sent opportunity meant for me, never imagining that it would mark the beginning of fate's merciless torment."
"After breaking through to the eighth rank, I asked my father to petition His Majesty to approve my marriage to Fuluo. As I was the greatest genius of our age, His Majesty naturally agreed to our engagement without hesitation. We would be married the day I broke through to the ninth rank."
"By then, I was already hailed as the person most likely to become a god. The reigning pope of the Glorious Holy See came to the Empire in person, expressing his willingness to take me as his disciple and have me inherit his legacy."
"For the Empire, and for Fuluo, I refused. At the time, the Holy See wielded enormous influence across the continent. In a sense, all three empires had to obey its commands, and I could sense His Majesty's resentment. For his sake, I would rather offend the pope than leave the Empire."
"After reaching the eighth rank, my cultivation began advancing noticeably more slowly. My teacher at the Royal Magic Academy told me this was because I had done nothing but cultivate all along, with too little experience of the outside world. He suggested that I venture out and experience more, exploring all the wondrous places on the continent, so that new insights could help me continue advancing. I accepted his suggestion and told Fuluo about it, hoping to take her with me on this journey."
"But Fuluo refused. Although she loved me deeply, she had an even stronger competitive streak in her bones. I knew she had always hoped to surpass me, yet the gap between us only kept widening. So she decided to remain at the academy and