Huan Changge and Lin Bao'er held their bowls in their left hands, chopsticks in their right, walking out into the sunlit courtyard. The wind was soft, and the scent of cooked rice lingered in the air.
Before them were five old rooms, a detached kitchen, a bathroom, and a weathered wooden door.
Still chewing on his food, Huan Changge wandered toward the door.
Boom!
With one casual kick, the door exploded off its hinges and flew into the distance. After all, he was within his Invincible Domain—even a gentle kick was devastating.
Eyes still half-lidded from enjoyment, he scanned the area.
"Mmm... we can only live in two rooms. My domain only covers that much."
Lin Bao'er glanced at him while munching her rice. "But Master, there are five rooms. Why can't we use all of them?"
Huan Changge turned and looked at her seriously, still chewing.
"No. We can't."
Something about his tone told Lin Bao'er not to press further.
They stepped into one of the domain-covered rooms to inspect it.
Dust. Cobwebs. Rotting wooden floors. Broken windows.
They both stared in disbelief, still eating. A moment later, they burst out the door.
Huan Changge rubbed his chin, thinking.
I control the entire domain. Can I also... repair it?
He turned toward his disciple.
"Disciple, behold your master's divine might."
He handed her his empty bowl.
Then, kneeling down, he placed one palm on the ground.
Domain Controller — Activate.
Suddenly, golden light surged from beneath his hand and spread across the domain.
In the blink of an eye—
Walls rebuilt themselves, moss and mold evaporated, broken windows repaired.
The temple gleamed as if newly constructed.
The rooms, beds, and doors became refined, clean, and even adorned with subtle spiritual engravings.
But more than that—
Trees that had once been dry, hollow stumps now blossomed with emerald leaves. Their bark glowed with spiritual energy.
They had become spiritual trees.
Lin Bao'er's eyes widened with awe.
"Master... this is amazing! Even the trees have become spiritual trees!"
Then, she turned her gaze outside the Invincible Domain.
Outside—nothing had changed. Dilapidation still reigned.
"Master, why didn't you fix that part too?"
Huan Changge scratched his head and looked away awkwardly.
"Ah... that? Ahem. I'll do it... later."
Lin Bao'er tilted her head, narrowing her eyes.
"Master... why aren't you doing it now?"
"AHHH! You scared me!" Huan Changge leapt backward, startled.
Lin Bao'er giggled, her face full of mischief. "Master, how can you be scared by my cute face?"
But before he could answer—
Whoosh!
A powerful presence descended from above.
Nine figures dropped from the sky, landing in the courtyard.
The leading man had a cold, cruel aura. Le Min, the group leader from Evil Dragon Cave. The other eight were his subordinates.
Le Min took a few steps forward, eyes locking onto Lin Bao'er.
"Well, well... if it isn't the Nine Sword Sect's precious little princess."
Lin Bao'er instantly drew her sword, fire in her eyes.
"You bastard! How dare you step into my master's place and sully it!"
Huan Changge casually walked up beside her, still chewing the last bite of food.
"Disciple, who is this ugly guy?"
Le Min's expression twisted. Being insulted by a man he couldn't sense any spiritual power from? Unforgivable.
"You piece of shit! How dare you call me ugly!"
He summoned his spiritual axe and charged forward.
But—
Clang!
Lin Bao'er stepped in front of her master and shattered the axe's strike with her immortal sword.
"I'll protect you, Master!"
Le Min's eyes went wide in disbelief.
How could a girl with lower cultivation block his attack?
Then he noticed her sword.
"That sword… it's one of the Immortal Treasures from the Upper World!"
His greed took over. He barked an order to his men.
"Take her down! Grab that sword!"
The eight subordinates lunged at Lin Bao'er.
She threw her head back and laughed maniacally before charging forward.
Eight vs. One.
Huan Changge calmly watched Le Min walk into the edge of his domain.
And the moment he stepped into the Invincible Domain—
Le Min froze.
A chilling aura enveloped him.
His limbs trembled. His axe dropped from his hands.
"What... what is this pressure? Why can't I move?!"
He couldn't sense even a hint of spiritual energy from Huan Changge—yet he was petrified.
Huan Changge slowly walked over, hands behind his back, and leaned close to Le Min's ear.
"Wait until my disciple finishes killing your men."
Out on the battlefield, Lin Bao'er cut down three enemies in swift, elegant arcs of her sword.
[System Notification: Lin Bao'er has killed 3 Cultivators at the first level of the Golden Core. Domain Value +900.]
[Domain Value: 910]
Huan Changge stood at the edge of the domain, watching calmly.
The sword in Lin Bao'er's hand gleamed with divine power.
But suddenly, she stumbled backward.
"Master! I'm out of spiritual energy~~~!"
Huan Changge's eyes widened.
She was fighting outside the domain.
"Come to me!" he shouted.
She turned to run toward him.
Thud!
A dagger landed just in front of her.
She froze.
Huan Changge's face paled with panic—not just fear for her life, but for something else...
Who will cook for me if she dies?!
Suddenly, evil laughter echoed from above.
Five more cultivators descended from the sky.
Ghost Skull Sect.
Le Min's remaining subordinates scrambled in fear, jumping away—and into Huan Changge's domain.
They all just gotten close to Le Min.
And just like Le Min, they froze.
Lin Bao'er ran toward her master, fear on her face.
"Master, they're from Ghost Skull Sect!"
But before she could reach him—
One of the Ghost Skull cultivators appeared right in front of her and grabbed her arm.
"NO!" Huan Changge shouted. "Let her go or I'll kill you all!"
The man laughed darkly. "Why should I? She's cute. I'll have fun with her first—"