Chapter 7

The illusion garden within the Palace of Ninefold Pleasure was in full, extravagant bloom today.

Cherry blossoms drifted upward in lazy spirals, defying gravity as they danced around floating islands of cloud-down moss. Rivers of liquid starlight wound between pavilions of translucent jade, their surfaces rippling with reflections of twin moons that hung low and bright even in daytime. Spirit butterflies the size of kites fluttered past, wings painted with shifting constellations. Tiny illusory phoenixes no larger than sparrows sang melodies that made the flowers open wider. The air itself tasted of peach nectar and warm milk, a subtle qi infusion designed to soothe even the most restless soul.

In the centre of this paradise sat a one-year-old child on a cushion woven from living phoenix feathers and dragon silk.

Li Wei, a reincarnated adult mind trapped in the most adored infant body in the Eternal Sky Realm. His chubby legs spread wide, silver curls bouncing with every excited wiggle. His golden-black eyes, those impossible twin eclipses that marked his perfect dual cores, were wide with pure delight as he watched a school of crystalline koi swim through the air above him.

“Fishies fly!” he babbled, clapping sticky hands together. “Pretty!Pretty!” Although he is an adult, he continues to act his body age.

Arrayed around him like a trio of heavenly guardians were three young women, core disciples of the True Yin-Yang Sect, each breathtaking in her own way, and each utterly, hopelessly devoted to the secret treasure that was their sect master’s son.

The first was Ling Meier, a stunning futanari with waist-length rose-gold hair and eyes the colour of spring dawn. She was Bai Yuelou’s personal disciple, hand-chosen for her perfect embodiment of the Harmony Path. Her robe of pale pink silk clung to generous curves, embroidered with swirling yin-yang lotuses that seemed to bloom and wilt with her breath. Currently, she was on her knees, letting Li Wei use her thigh as a pillow while she gently stroked his silver curls.

“Does our little prince like the flying fishies?” she cooed, voice soft as silk. “Senior Sister made them just for you today.”

The second was Huo Linger, a sexy futa with fiery crimson hair tied in a high ponytail and golden eyes that sparkled with draconic mischief. She was Huo Qinghong’s niece, born to Qinghong’s human younger sister before the dragon inheritance awakened. The family had always been pure human until Qinghong’s bloodline evolved, making Linger one of the few in the sect with direct ties to both human and dragon heritage. Her robe was black silk with golden flame embroidery, cut daringly to show toned midriff and long legs. She lay on her side, propped on one elbow, letting Li Wei play with the golden bangles on her wrist.

“Careful, little dragon,” she teased, voice husky with affection. “Those are made from your daddy’s shed scales. Very precious~”

The third was Xue Qingyue, a cool Yin Maiden beauty with ice-blue hair cascading like a frozen waterfall and eyes the pale violet of glacier lakes. She was Bai Xian’er’s direct disciple and rumoured lover, chosen for her flawless mastery of the Deep Yin Frost Path. Her robe was white silk with silver snowflake embroidery, cut modestly but unable to hide her elegant, willowy figure. She sat cross-legged with perfect posture, but her usual icy demeanour melted completely as she held Li Wei’s tiny foot in both hands, gently massaging it with frost qi that made him giggle.

“Our precious treasure’s feet are cold,” she murmured, voice like wind chimes. “Senior Aunt will warm them.”

Li Wei babbled happily, completely surrounded. Ling Meier leaned down to press a soft kiss to his forehead. Huo Linger blew a raspberry on his chubby belly, making him squeal. Xue Qingyue kissed each of his toes in turn, her cool lips leaving tiny frost flowers that melted into warm qi.

They had been like this for hours, spoiling him rotten with hugs, kisses, and endless affection. His existence was the sect’s most closely guarded secret. Only his parents, aunt, the Six Harmony Elders, and these three trusted core disciples knew he existed. To the rest of the realm, the True Yin-Yang Sect remained clueless at its highest levels, a deliberate misconception to protect their dual-core miracle.

Li Wei’s adult mind floated in a haze of contentment. If my old life could see now… surrounded by three heavenly beauties who live to spoil me rotten. And they’re all my senior sisters. This reincarnation package is broken.

He reached up with both chubby arms toward Ling Meier. “Up! Up!”

Immediately, she scooped him into her arms, cradling him against her chest. “As my little prince commands~”

Huo Linger pouted playfully. “No fair! It’s my turn!”

Xue Qingyue’s cool fingers traced his cheek. “We can share.”

They arranged themselves so Li Wei sat in Ling Meier’s lap, with Huo Linger and Xue Qingyue on either side, each holding one of his hands. He bounced happily, tail wagging.

Then, with the calculated innocence only a reincarnated adult could muster in a baby’s body, he tilted his head and asked the question he’d been building toward all afternoon.

“Big sisters… tell Wei’er ‘bout strong people? Other big houses like Mama and Daddy’s?”

The three women froze for a heartbeat, exchanging glances. They knew this day would come. Their little treasure was too bright, too curious. But they had prepared for it.

Ling Meier smiled gently. “Of course, little prince. There are twelve great overlords in our Eternal Sky Realm. Ours is third strongest, but all are very powerful.”

Huo Linger grinned, bouncing him lightly. “Want to hear stories?”

Xue Qingyue nodded, her cool voice warming. “We’ll tell you everything.”

And so, surrounded by three adoring senior sisters in a garden of impossible beauty, Li Wei listened as they explained the twelve overlords one by one, with the simplified wonder of storytelling for a beloved child, but with all the accurate details his adult mind craved.

They began with the Heavenly Mandate Empire—Rank 1.

“The biggest and strongest,” Ling Meier said, tracing a golden dragon in the air with qi that made Li Wei clap. “Ruled by Emperor Tian Longba and Empress Xia Yuelian. They have so many kingdoms and soldiers, more than all others combined. Their dragon banner flies everywhere.”

Huo Linger added dramatically, “The emperor can call heavenly tribulation with his seal! Boom!” She made explosion sounds that made Li Wei giggle.

Xue Qingyue’s voice was softer. “But they believe in order and righteousness. They protect many people.”

Next came Myriad Treasures Pavilion—Rank 2.

Huo Linger's eyes gleamed as she leaned forward, her crimson hair swinging. " The richest in all the realms! Mountains of gold taller than your daddy can fly! They sell everything—jade pills that make you live forever, swords that can cut through the sky itself, treasures stolen from the bellies of ancient dragons! And their boss, Shangguan Tianbao..." She lowered her voice dramatically, "...wears robes woven from phoenix feathers and never, ever stops smiling, even when he's crushing his enemies. His smile is scarier than any frown could be."

Ling Meier created illusionary golden pavilions. “They have auction houses bigger than mountains. Everything has a price.”

Then, next is our own sect.

“Third is us!” all three said together, making Li Wei beam.

“The True Yin-Yang Sect,” Xue Qingyue said proudly. “Led by your mama and daddy. We follow the path of harmony and pleasure, where yin and yang energies flow together like rivers joining the sea. Our sect cultivates the sacred union of opposites, male and female, fire and water, strength and softness. We're masters of hidden knowledge and secret cultivation techniques that allow two people to advance together through shared breath and mingled essence, turning even the simplest touch into profound power."

Li Wei babbled “Mama Daddy strong!” and they showered him with more kisses.

They continued down the list:

Heavenly Sword Sect (Rank 4)—“Sword uncles and aunties who love weapons more than anything. Very sharp and honourable. They’re the only sect that never accepts bribes,” Ling Meier says, growing serious. “If you ask a favour, you’d better be ready to pay with your life, sword, or heart.”

Primordial Elements Sect (Rank 5)—“Element big brothers and sisters who play with fire, water, earth, wood, metal and wind. They make storms and mountains move.”

Blood Asura Sect (Rank 6)—here their voices lowered. “Bad people who hurt others to get strong. We must be careful of them. They are very, very bad people,” Ling Meier says, her voice pitched for warning but low and terrifyingly firm. “The Blood Asura Sect uses forbidden techniques. They steal power from the pain and suffering of others, and their elders are famous for devouring the hearts and qi of even their own disciples.”

Xue Qingyue’s chill has gone absolute, her gaze locked on Li Wei’s eyes. “They are our enemy, little prince. If you meet them, remember this: never show fear, but never show mercy either.” Her words, though soft, hang in the air like a sword’s edge.

Venomous Immortal Palace (Rank 7)—“Poison aunties who make bad medicine. Very sneaky.” Ling Meier arched a brow, creating, with a flick of her sleeve, a cloud of illusionary emerald mist that slithered around Li Wei’s fingers. “The Venomous Immortal Palace is full of very sly poison aunties and uncles,” she said, lips pursed in mock disapproval. “They smile sweetly, but their words are like honey with hidden needles inside. They love to brew medicine that looks beautiful, but is secretly terribly dangerous.”

Myriad Puppet Immortal Sect (Rank 8)—“Myriad Puppet Immortal Sect is eighth,” she said, her voice laced with a sweetness crafted to cushion the blow. She conjured a parade of miniature warriors made from pale, spectral qi, their joints jerking in uncanny harmony as they danced across her palm. “They are very clever, and very strong, but they use their minds for…strange things. They make armies out of dead bodies and use them like toys. Some say their elders can make even mountains walk if they have enough puppets stitched together.”

“Like zombie people?” Li Wei blurted, frowning in horrified fascination.

Huo Linger gave a shudder so dramatic it made her ponytail whip like a flag. “Exactly! Zombie people and skeleton generals, all dressed up in beautiful robes but empty inside. They don’t care who they use. Sometimes, they take the bodies of their enemies, or even... their own friends.” Her voice dipped, and the garden’s sunlight seemed for a moment to shiver. “Creepy, right?”

He adorably nods.

Spirit Beast Sovereign Mountain (Rank 9)—“The Beast Sovereign sect is a wild clan. Their elders raise magical spirit beasts—giant wolves, thunder tigers, flying serpents! Even the bugs in their garden can bite through steel,” she said, her eyes going wide and wicked. “But the strangest thing about them, little prince, is their greed. They see every rare animal, every precious treasure, and they just have to take it home, whether it belongs to them or not.”

Heavenly Secrets Pavilion (Rank 10)—“Heavenly Secrets Pavilion,” she intones, “are masters of mystery. They watch the stars every night and claim to see fate in the clouds, the wind, and even the way a butterfly lands.” She conjures a tiny astral chart, dots of silver qi joining and splitting in cryptic patterns. “They know secrets before even the people in the stories do, and sometimes, they say things that sound like nonsense... until one day, it comes true exactly as they said. But sometimes it doesn’t come true."

Buddhist Light Temple (Rank 11)—“They’re kind monks who help everyone, and purify bad things,” Ling Meier said, her tone reverent in a way she reserved for only the purest stories. She conjured gentle halos of golden qi, spinning them in the air so that each ring pulsed with a steady inner glow. “The elders of Buddhist Light Temple have taken a vow to never harm the innocent, not even a single flower in their garden. They spend their days reciting ancient sutras, healing the hurt, and guiding lost souls back to the path.”

Li Wei, curled up in his triad of affection, clapped his hands. “Wei’er likes monks!”

The three giggles. “We like them too.”

“Especially the innocent one.” Huo Linger smiled brightly, but her heart was pierced by Xue Qingyue. “The young master is listening.” She whispers. “Sorry..”

Thunder Weng Clan (Rank 12)—their tones turned cold.“The old Thunder family used to be the strongest in the realm, back when the world was younger,” she begins, her voice low. “But pride is a heavy thing, little prince. The Weng Clan grew cruel, so cruel even their servants would rather leap from the clouds than serve them forever.”

Huo Linger’s nose wrinkles in distaste. “They treat even their own children like tools! If you’re not the strongest, they throw you away. And their ‘pets’—” she makes finger quotes, her crimson tail bristling “—are just wild spirit beasts chained and beaten until they break.”

By the time they finished, Li Wei’s eyes were wide, absorbing every detail his adult mind could store. The three senior sisters took turns hugging and kissing him between each explanation, cooing over how smart he was for understanding so much.

Meanwhile, deep within the Hall of Eternal Harmony, a very different conversation was taking place.

The massive taiji diagram rotated slowly beneath the assembled figures. Bai Yuelou sat at the head, nine tails fanned regally. Huo Qinghong stood behind her, one hand resting possessively on her wife’s shoulder. The Six Harmony Elders sat in their usual positions, faces grave.

Elder Lan Yue, the intelligence mistress, knelt before a floating jade projection array. Illusions flickered across it like windows into distant lands.

She began her report.

“First: the Blood Asura Sect has successfully raided Jade Prosperity City, the Heavenly Mandate Empire’s second-largest commercial hub.”

Bai Yuelou’s eyebrow arched. “That city lies on the opposite border from Blood Asura territory. It was ringed by three imperial legion garrisons and protected by high-ranking defensive arrays.”

Lan Yue nodded. “A traitor opened a portable void teleport formation from inside the city’s central bank vault. Three Asura Kings and twenty thousand blood demons poured through before defences could react.”

Huo Qinghong’s aura flared crimson. “Casualties?”

“Heavy. The city is effectively destroyed. Thirty thousand citizens were kidnapped for future rituals. Ten thousand devoured on site. The imperial elite legions arrived within hours and drove the attackers back, but not before…”

Lan Yue changed the projection. Images of ruined golden pavilions appear. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion’s greatest eastern hub.

Bai Yuelou’s lips curved in dark amusement. “Ah. Shangguan Tianbao’s precious vaults. The old merchant is going to be apoplectic.”

“Reports say he hasn’t stopped smiling, but his elders are terrified,” Lan Yue confirmed. “The bank vaults, auction halls, and trade guild records, everything looted or destroyed.”

Bai Yuelou leaned forward. “And our agents’ haul?”

Lan Yue’s smile matched her mistress’s. “Sixty percent of the total wealth, Sect Master. Our people blended with the chaos, some posing as fleeing merchants, others as opportunistic rogue cultivators. We acquired three calamity-era relics, eighteen primordial pill furnaces, and enough spirit stones to fund the sect for a century. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion has no idea True Yin-Yang fingers touched their gold.”

“Excellent,” Bai Yuelou purred. “Tianbao will blame only the Blood Asura. Let him fund the next crusade with his rage.”

Huo Qinghong grinned. “What next?”

Lan Yue changed the projection again.

This time, the illusions showed magnificent creatures in three forms: majestic qilin with storm-cloud manes and lightning horns in full beast form; elegant centaur-like warriors with human torsos and qilin lower bodies; and beautiful human forms with storm-marked skin and crackling hair.

“One hundred Storm Qilin have escaped the Thunder Weng Clan’s captivity.”

The room’s temperature dropped. Bai Yuelou’s tails lashed once. Bai Xian’er, seated beside her sister, went very still.

Lan Yue continued. “The Thunder Weng Clan has been breeding Storm Qilin like livestock for millennia, harvesting mature specimens to refine into Thunder Heart Pills. The escaped group includes twenty-three pregnant females and forty-one juveniles.”

Images appeared: Storm Qilin in chains, horns severed, bodies covered in refinement scars. Adults shielding children as lightning chains whipped them. Males sacrificing themselves in a final thunder explosion that shattered the prison arrays.

“Escape was triggered by Spirit Beast Sovereign Mountain’s failed raid,” Lan Yue said. “Ouyang Zhan’s team breached the outer prisons seeking specimens. The backlash shattered containment. Most adult males died buying time for females and children to flee.”

Bai Yuelou’s voice was quiet thunder. “They seek us.”

“Yes, Sect Master. Our border arrays registered their soul cries. They sense the nine-tailed fox and primordial dragon bloodlines. They believe we will protect them.”

Huo Qinghong’s fists clenched, draconic scales flickering across her skin. “The Thunder Weng Clan—those arrogant, filthy—”

Bai Xian’er’s seven tails flared with glacier frost. “They treat divine beasts as cattle. Just like they would have treated us, had we not hidden our bloodline.”

Bai Yuelou rose. Her presence filled the hall like moonlight given form.

“We grant sanctuary. Every Storm Qilin that reaches our borders will be protected. Elder Shui Jing. Prepare gestation pavilions and lightning-nourishing springs. Elder Mei Xing. Oversee pregnancies personally. And elder Feng Wu—”

The assassin elder knelt. “Mistress?”

“Erase their trail. No qi signature, no soul echo, no divination thread must lead here. The Storm Qilin vanished into the void. Anyone claiming they entered True Yin-Yang territory is spreading demonic lies punishable by death.”

Her smile was beautiful and terrible.

“Let the Thunder Weng Clan rage at Spirit Beast Sovereign Mountain. Let them suspect void anomalies. But our palace will remain untouched.”

The elders bowed as one.

“As the Sect Master commands.”

In the garden, Li Wei yawned, nestled between his three senior sisters. The stories of the twelve overlords swirled in his adult mind, power structures, alliances, weaknesses.

He reached up with chubby arms, pulling all three women down into a group hug.

“Love big sisters,” he babbled sleepily.

They melted, showering him with kisses until he drifted into contented dreams while storms very slowly gathered on distant horizons.