The starting point is auspicious; the fiancée will not call off the engagement.

Fang Zhou had just stepped into the courtyard with Hakimi in his arms when he stopped in his tracks.

The moonlight, like water, poured onto the bluestone slabs in the courtyard.

Beneath the crooked tree, a figure in moon-white stood quietly, the hem of his robe fluttering slightly in the night breeze.

Peak Master Liu had been waiting here for some time, with no spiritual light flowing around him and his aura concealed as if he were an ordinary person.

But it was precisely this natural feeling that set alarm bells ringing in Fang Zhou's mind.

He remained expressionless as he gently set Hakimi down from his arms. The furry little creature rubbed against his ankle and then ran off on its short legs.

"Senior Liu," Fang Zhou bowed respectfully, "What brings you here so late at night?"

Peak Master Liu turned around.

Her face appeared exceptionally soft in the moonlight, but her eyes were like a deep, still well, so calm that their depths were unfathomable. She didn't rush to speak, but simply gazed quietly at Fang Zhou.

After a moment, she smiled slightly.

"The Realm of Dharma Appearance"

Three words, drifting lightly in the night breeze.

Fang Zhou's pupils suddenly contracted, and his spiritual energy involuntarily began to circulate within him.

He instinctively wanted to deny it, but when he met Peak Master Liu's eyes, he swallowed the words back.

After a moment of silence, he gave a helpless laugh: "When did you figure that out?"

"I noticed it during the day in the front hall."

Peak Master Liu spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"You suppressed it very well. If it were someone else, even another peak Dharma Aspect cultivator might not be able to see through it. However, the gap between the Saint Realm and the Dharma Aspect is much greater than you imagine."

Fang Zhou remained silent for a moment.

"You don't need to be nervous."

Seeing the change in his expression, Peak Master Liu softened his tone somewhat.

"I have not come here to do anything to you. At such a young age, you have cultivated to the Dharma Aspect Realm. Looking across the entire continent, your talent is so high that it is rare in the world. It is the Fang family's good fortune to have such a prodigy as you."

Fang Zhou composed himself and decided not to hide anything anymore: "Peak Master Liu, you flatter me. I was just a bit lucky."

"On the path of cultivation, luck is always a part of strength."

Peak Master Liu shook his head. "I came here tonight for two reasons: first, to confirm my judgment with my own eyes; and second, to say a few words to you."

She paused, gazing at the bamboo forest in the distance under the night sky, and slowly began to speak:

"Ninghan is a stubborn and inflexible child. She always feels that she owes you something, and that this marriage is a debt she has to repay. I've tried to persuade her many times, but she won't listen."

Fang Zhou listened in silence without interrupting.

"After you saved her that year, a few years later I brought her into the sect. In terms of cultivation, she is not as good as you, but she is still a genius among geniuses. However, in terms of human relationships, she is as simple as a blank sheet of paper."

That makes sense, considering she spends all her time cultivating and doesn't interact with others. Her saying she wants to repay a debt of gratitude shows she genuinely wants to be kind to you.

After saying this, Peak Master Liu turned to look at Fang Zhou, his gaze filled with seriousness.

"Therefore, I have come today to ask you a favor in my capacity as her master."

Fang Zhou raised his head, his muscles tense, and his palms slightly sweaty.

Please treat Ninghan kindly.

Peak Master Liu's voice wasn't loud, but every word carried weight.

"Ninghan is a kind and sincere child. Regardless of the reason for this marriage, since it is to be done, please treat her well."

The night wind swept through the courtyard, rustling the leaves of the crooked tree.

After listening to what Peak Master Liu said, Fang Zhou's shoulders slumped slightly, and then he looked at Peak Master Liu seriously.

"Senior Liu, please rest assured. Although Ninghan and I have not seen each other for many years, we have known each other since childhood and can be considered childhood sweethearts. The Fang and Ye families are also old friends, so I will not mistreat her in any way, both out of courtesy and reason."

Peak Master Liu looked at him, seemingly judging the sincerity of his words. After a moment, she nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction appearing in her eyes.

"With your words, I am relieved."

She paused, then suddenly changed the subject: "How much do you know about the Holy Land?"

Fang Zhou was taken aback, not expecting her to suddenly ask this.

"I've read some ancient texts and know that the realm beyond the Dharma Aspect is the Saint Realm. But the texts are vague about how to break through to that level."

He answered honestly.

The cultivation texts that Fang family has been able to access over the years are at most those on the Dharma Aspect Realm; anything beyond that is a blank.

Peak Master Liu nodded:

"As expected. Beyond the Dharma Aspect realm, it's no longer a realm that ordinary families can reach. Now that you've reached the peak of the Dharma Aspect realm, there are some things you should know."

She hesitated for a moment, then slowly said:

"From physical tempering to Dharma form, one cultivates oneself. Spiritual energy enters the body, the elixir condenses, the Dao infant is nurtured, and the Dharma form manifests. Each step is a continuous tempering of oneself, bringing one's physique and soul to perfection. But the Holy Realm is different."

Fang Zhou listened intently. He had been cultivating alone for many years, and he had learned some cultivation knowledge on his own, after all, his father was only at the Nascent Soul stage.

"From the Dharma Form to the Sacred Realm, it is no longer about cultivating oneself, but about 'creating heaven and earth'."

"Based on the path you have come to understand, and with the power of the Dharma, create a space that is entirely yours in the void within your body."

This space is the 'Sanctuary'. Within your Sanctuary, you are the rules themselves. When an enemy falls into your Sanctuary, it's as if they've entered another world; their life or death is entirely in your hands.

Fang Zhou was deeply shaken. "Opening up a space, I myself am the rule; this domain of mine unfolds."

"The size and strength of a sanctuary depend on two conditions."

Peak Master Liu continued,

"Firstly, it's the depth of your understanding of your own Dao. The more profound your Dao, the more stable the foundation of your space. Secondly, it's the accumulation of your Dharma form's essence. The stronger your Dharma form, the greater the volume it can bear when opening up space."

She looked at Fang Zhou, her eyes filled with surprise:

"Your cultivation foundation is extremely solid, and your Dharma Aspect power far surpasses that of other cultivators at the same level. If I'm not mistaken, you're only one step away from that threshold."

Fang Zhou's heart skipped a beat.

"What you lack is not experience, but direction."

Peak Master Liu's tone became serious.

"The most crucial step from the Dharma Form to the Sacred Realm is 'Understanding the Path.' You must clearly know what the foundation of your cultivation is and what the Great Path you seek is. Only by finding this answer can you carve out your own world in the void."

"No one can help you with this step. Every path in the Holy Realm is unique. Some open the heavens with the Way of the Sword, some attain sainthood with the Way of Love, some are based on the will to protect, and some open up space with the intent to kill. Only you know what your path is."

Fang Zhou remained silent.

What is his path? He had never seriously considered this question.

For eighteen years, he focused solely on cultivation, leaving everything else to his natural talent.

For him, cultivation was more like breathing. He never needed to deliberately pursue any particular state of being, because those states would always come naturally.

"Now that I've said all that, the rest is up to you."

Peak Master Liu smiled slightly.

"Being able to see through your background before setting off is a pleasant surprise. At least when we get to the Myriad Saints Sect, I don't have to worry about the people Ning Han brings back suffering losses."

Fang Zhou came to his senses and solemnly bowed to Peak Master Liu: "Thank you for your guidance, Peak Master Liu."

"No need to thank me. The more you achieve in the future, the more secure Ninghan's support will be. I'm just planning ahead."

After Liu Feng finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves and his figure disappeared into the night like flowing moonlight.

The courtyard fell silent again.

The shadow of the crooked tree swayed gently on the ground, and the moonlight shone on the bluestone slabs, like a thin layer of frost.

Fang Zhou stood still, gazing in the direction where Peak Master Liu had left, without moving for a long time.

Sanctuary.

Create a space.

Based on one's own principles.

What is his Dao?

Fang Zhou looked down at his hands.

He suddenly remembered what Peak Master Liu had said earlier: "Your cultivation foundation is extremely solid, and your Dharma Aspect power far surpasses that of other cultivators at the same level."

His original essence was stripped away, yet he still managed to cultivate to the peak of the Dharma Aspect realm at this age. If his original essence hadn't been stripped away back then, what realm would he be at now?

But this question is meaningless. The past is the past, and he would never romanticize the path that has not yet been taken.

Fang Zhou stood under the crooked tree for a long time. The Hakimi that had been there earlier had somehow slipped back and curled up into a ball of fur at his feet, making soft purring sounds.

He finally moved, bent down to pick up Hakimi, and turned to walk into the house.

Fang Zhou pushed open the door, placed Hakimi on the soft cushion at the foot of the bed, got into bed himself, and closed his eyes.

The spiritual energy within his body surged like a river, circulating endlessly through one cycle after another.

Since things have come to this, let's go to sleep.

Fang Zhou was never worried about making a breakthrough.

When I need it, I will come; the sacred realm can be broken at any time.