I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.

The girl in the red dress who emerged from the old dried ginger swayed twice, instantly growing to the height of an ordinary person. She grabbed the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff with her left hand, supported the Blue Lotus Flower Disc with her right, and her phoenix-like eyes emitted a chilling glow as she spoke in human words toward Lei Xiang, “Will you end this yourself, or must I take action?”

Her words stunned Lei Xiang and the others into silence. The old dried ginger had become sentient! Blue Xi quickly reacted, summoning a blue silk ribbon that circled above their heads, ready to strike. But Lei Xiang stopped her. From his gaze, Blue Xi sensed his confidence and strength, so she withdrew, wanting to see how Lei Xiang would handle the situation.

Lei Xiang smiled gently, unfazed by her arrogant words. “You’re the spirit of their artifact, aren’t you? Do you really think you can kill me?”

The girl in red sneered, her words harsh and defiant. “None of your business!” Before she finished, the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff came crashing down with a gust of wind. Lei Xiang, having regained eighty percent of his spiritual power, lightly wrapped Blue Xi’s slender waist and nimbly dodged. In his hand appeared a palm-sized Celestial Shooting Spear, its muzzle aimed at the girl’s perfect head. “You’ve seen this spear before. It killed even the leader of the Elf Clan with a single shot. Do you think you’re stronger than them?”

The girl in red was momentarily taken aback. She had witnessed the spear’s power, yet she still trembled as she summoned another Blue Lotus Flower Disc. She pressed her slender foot to the ground, rising like a swallow and gracefully standing upon the disc like a lotus fairy. The disc, once adorned with six stone lotus buds, now blossomed another flower—four in full bloom.

Seeing this change, a gleam flickered in Lei Xiang’s eyes. He summoned the White Jade Bed and leapt onto it with Blue Xi. Like a silver shuttle, the bed darted back and forth, evading the attacks of the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff. How did this girl wield the staff—something Lei Xiang had struggled mightily to acquire—with such ease?

“Don’t think that just because you’re the spirit of an artifact, you can command them at will,” Lei Xiang said calmly, performing a series of hand seals. The Blue Lotus Flower Disc beneath the girl suddenly jerked, resisting violently before shaking her off and obediently flying back into Lei Xiang’s hand, shrinking to nine inches.

Caught off guard by this, the girl in red fell from the air, spinning rapidly to land without falling. Her surprise soon turned to anger as she reevaluated Lei Xiang’s strength.

Lei Xiang’s expression remained composed, his tone even. “Now we can have a proper conversation. You know I don’t want to use the Celestial Shooting Spear to kill you. This disc and staff belong to me. If I want them back, I have my ways. Perhaps we can still find a way to cooperate.”

The girl’s phoenix eyes flickered. She was beginning to believe him. Perhaps after all these years, she no longer had full control over the disc and staff. Yet her next words stunned Lei Xiang. “Mortal, you think I should obey you and serve you? Honestly, you’re not worthy!”

Lei Xiang was taken aback but soon grinned, revealing small tiger-like teeth. “From your tone, you’re not from the mortal realm. So this disc and staff aren’t from here either?” Ever since he had acquired the Blue Lotus Flower Disc at Lei Family Fort and accidentally bound it with a blood oath, he had never fully understood the disc’s true power or origin. The same went for the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff. But judging by how the disc had embraced him and how the staff had saved the girl’s refuge in the old dried ginger, Lei Xiang suspected a deep connection between them. He hoped the girl could explain.

But she brushed it off. “You don’t need to know so much. Just understand that I come from a realm higher than this one. If you lack the power to break free from here, then you have no right to control me.”

“Then do you think I have the strength to break out?” Lei Xiang asked.

The girl stared into his eyes for about ten seconds before speaking softly. “Mortals in your world rarely achieve true cultivation. You’re no exception. Although I learned some things about you from the disc and staff, you are indeed a rare talent here, progressing at a remarkable pace. Still, your chances of true success are slim.”

She seemed to sigh and continued, “I heard you specialize in artifact refinement—that interests me. What’s the name of your cultivation method? To create a unique treasure like the Celestial Shooting Spear in the mortal realm suggests not only genius but also an extraordinary technique.”

“Oh,” Lei Xiang’s heart stirred. When Zhu Chi left, he had mentioned that the Refining Spirit Treasure Mirror might be incomplete, implying there could be higher levels beyond the seventh layer. If this girl truly came from the Celestial Realm, perhaps she held some insight. But to maintain the upper hand, he didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he asked calmly, “Are you willing to make a deal now? Tell me why you care about my technique, and I’ll answer honestly.” He then withdrew the Celestial Shooting Spear, signaling goodwill.

The girl lowered her head, contemplating. Her tone softened. “I want to know your technique just to see if you can help me with something. If you can, then we can make a deal. Honestly, I want you to help me forge a magical artifact.”

Lei Xiang nodded slightly, finding the request reasonable. “Since you’re being upfront, I’ll be honest too. My cultivation method is called the Refining Spirit Treasure Mirror. It has seven layers and specializes in forging magical artifacts.”

The girl frowned thoughtfully. The name sounded familiar. Gradually, her brows relaxed, and a bright smile appeared. “I’ve heard of that technique, though I thought it had more than seven layers. It’s rare to see it in the mortal realm. If you reach its peak, you could definitely help me.”

“I’m currently at the fifth layer. If time permits, I believe I can assist you.”

The girl’s expression faltered for a moment but she quickly nodded. “When you reach the seventh layer, you can help me. I’ve waited all these years; a little longer doesn’t matter.” Lei Xiang smiled. “I have one condition: until I reach the pinnacle, that disc and staff remain under my control. When necessary, you must assist me. After all, it’s for forging your artifact.”

Without hesitation, the girl agreed. She then smiled charmingly. “Now we can properly introduce ourselves. I’m Tian Rui. What’s your name?”

“Lei Xiang! Are you going to live permanently inside the Blue Lotus Flower Disc?”

Tian Rui was momentarily surprised but then understood. “You call it the Blue Lotus Flower Disc? Haha, that’s amusing. Fine, I’ll stay with it for now.” She transformed into a streak of red light and prepared to enter the disc.

Lei Xiang quickly stopped her. “Wait, I have one more question. How long have you been living in this Blood Severance Space? Do you know how many exits it has?”

Tian Rui was stumped. “I came here during that meteor shower. Though thousands of years have passed, I’ve never left this space, nor do I know of any exits. Sorry, I can’t help.”

Lei Xiang shook his head. “That’s actually a problem for you too. We’re like grasshoppers on the same rope. If I can’t leave, I can’t refine your artifact, and neither can you.”

Tian Rui lowered her head, deep in thought. Though she didn’t understand the grasshopper metaphor, she knew the danger of being trapped. Moreover, she wanted Lei Xiang’s help to find refining materials. Suddenly, her eyes brightened. “I know a place. You should go there to look for clues.”

Gathering the Nine Treasures Lotus Staff, which now obeyed him as before, Lei Xiang and Blue Xi mounted the White Jade Bed and set off together.