Panthers Martial Arts School.
The master's training room.
In the center of the room stood a ceramic furnace.
The red crystal burning in the furnace was surprisingly the precious Fire Magic Stone!
As fuel, the Fire Magic Stone could sustain temperatures comparable to those of a steelmaking furnace!
A crucible mounted above the furnace was melting bronze.
Steam rose from the crucible, the bronze already molten into a liquid state.
The entire training room, and much of it, was sweltering.
Alan sat across from the furnace, his face calm, his body untouched by the slightest sign of sweat.
He placed his hands flat on his knees, silently channeling his magic.
A hint of coolness flowed through his body, finally sinking into his hands.
Concentrating his palms with extreme cold magic, his skin and flesh became crystal clear, like ice and jade.
A faint chill emanated from his fingertips.
The temperature around Allen plummeted, as if in an icy cave.
The heat emanating from the crucible and the chill from Allen's hands blended in the air, forming a white mist.
In the training room, a strange spectacle of ice and fire quietly unfolded.
Allen stood up and walked over to the pottery furnace.
He extended a pair of crystal-clear hands.
Calmly and firmly, he plunged them into the crucible.
The molten copper hissed as it touched Allen's fingers.
Smoke rose.
In an instant, the copper in the crucible solidified upon freezing, transforming into a large block of bronze.
Allen pulled his hands out from the copper.
His hands remained as crystal clear as jade, yet shone with a chilling chill.
Smooth, delicate skin, without a trace of burns.
Alan dissipated his magic.
He looked at his hands, which had quickly regained their warmth and rosy color. He nodded gently, a faint smile in his eyes.
The day after killing Akuma, he had injected himself with the "Ice Soul Palm Awakening Agent" seized from him.
He had successfully awakened this fifth-tier ice-based martial art. After practicing for over a month, he had finally begun to grasp the essence of it.
Infusing his hands with Ice Soul Palm energy, he could instantly freeze molten copper.
Alan extinguished the furnace fire and opened the system page to view the test data for "Ice Soul Palm."
Activating this martial art requires at least 12 magic points, temporarily granting ice-based enchantments to natural weapons such as fists and feet.
During this period, limbs imbued with Ice Soul Energy are equivalent to level 3 enchanted weapons.
When striking an enemy, in addition to normal attack damage, additional frost damage is inflicted!
Furthermore, the Ice Soul Palm has two special effects.
First, it can be used to extinguish fires and counter fire-based martial arts or magic up to level 5.
Second, enemies struck by the Ice Soul Palm, if they lack cold resistance or are physically weak, will be instantly frozen and temporarily rendered incapable of movement.
Therefore, the Ice Soul Palm can not only kill enemies directly, but also enable a wider range of control tactics.
For example, on a flooded battlefield, a single palm strike to the ground will instantly transform the water beneath your feet into a smooth surface of ice, restricting enemy movement.
Outside the training room, a quarrel suddenly erupted.
Alan frowned slightly, but didn't intend to intervene.
Martial arts academies are known for fierce competition.
Among Allen's disciples, there are many fierce and aggressive individuals.
It's perfectly normal for people to exchange martial arts skills, get into arguments, and even fights.
Minor fights aren't a big deal.
If things get too serious, Kelly, Ella, and Renee will take action to discipline the rookies.
As the gym owner, Allen doesn't need to personally intervene and waste his energy on such trivial matters.
However, the arguments outside the window intensified.
The conflict seemed to be spiraling out of control.
This was the first time such a commotion had erupted since the gym opened.
Just as Allen was puzzled, a communication orb appeared before him.
The secret mark indicated it was from his sister, Kelly.
Alan grasped the orb and read the message.
The sound of his sister's angry voice entered his mind.
"Renee's ex-boyfriend, Phoebus, is here to challenge us!"
"If you don't show up, our maid will be snatched away!"
Phoebus...?
Alan scratched his head.
It took him a while to remember that Renee seemed to have such a fiancé.
To be more precise, it was her former son-in-law, a "golden phoenix" who had flown out of the slums.
He seemed quite talented, but unfortunately, his character was not good.
He pursued Renee with the intention of climbing up the social ladder, treating that silly girl like an "ATM."
He later enrolled at North Island College, sought out a new partner, and kicked Renee, no longer useful, out of the picture, severing all ties.
It must be that this guy got what he deserved; his new girlfriend fell in love with someone else, leaving him cuckolded.
Phoebus, frustrated in love and struggling at North Island College, thought of the silly Renee and decided to return.
Renee had been unlucky. Having such an ungrateful ex-boyfriend was bad enough, but she also had a bizarre grandfather.
He actually exploited his own granddaughter to cultivate Phoebus, an outsider, and demanded that Renee give up her spot in the secret realm.
Alan couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up for Renee, writing a letter to her grandfather to sever ties with this bizarre family.
He had a premonition that Renee's troubles wouldn't be easily resolved.
He had expected Renee's grandfather to personally come forward and demand his release.
If that were the case, he'd have a legitimate reason.
Never expected that before Renee's family could intervene, that ungrateful Phoebus would show up to cause trouble.
Alan couldn't help but wonder, does this guy really have no shame at all?
Perhaps the word "shame" simply doesn't exist in his vocabulary.
Shaking his head helplessly, Alan pushed open the window.
Looking through the window, he looked out at the courtyard where the arguing was coming from.
A red-haired young man was confronting the martial arts students.
In the courtyard, two disciples who tried to stop Phoebus from entering had been knocked to the ground by him.
The other disciples were also furious.
If it weren't for Kelly and Ella restraining them, they would have rushed over and attacked the uninvited guests.
The red-haired young man simply stepped over the injured and fallen martial arts students, a look of disdain on his face.
"I heard your master is a direct disciple of the Silver Moon Monastery?"
"Haha! If he were truly capable, he wouldn't have taught such a bunch of idiots like you!"
"It seems he's probably a fraud!"
"My fiancée is naive and unsophisticated, and she fell for this con man, thinking he was so powerful!"
"Poor Renée, she was tricked into signing a so-called indenture by your master. It's truly too much!"
"Let me be frank: your shameless tricks won't work on me!"
"What bullshit!" I don't recognize the indenture; it's just a piece of worthless paper!"
"If you know what's good for you, hand over Renee now!"
"If I don't see her today, believe it or not, I'll tear down your den of thieves!"
Phoebus's arrogance was too much for even the hot-tempered Kelly, and even the good girl Ella, who sneered and retorted:
"You ungrateful swindler, you have the nerve to accuse others of fraud! Sister Renee, you're truly unlucky to have met a scum like you!"
"Huh?!"
Phoebus turned sharply, glaring at Ella.
Kelly's pretty face frosted. She shielded her junior sister behind her and confronted Phoebus without a shred of weakness.
At this juncture, Renee pushed open the kitchen door and hurried into the courtyard. "Phoebus! Stop fooling around here!"
Phoebus turned at the sound, forcing a smile.
The sweet words on his lips suddenly faltered.
Renee wore a maid outfit, a bow-tied headscarf, and a short apron, revealing a pair of slender legs wrapped in snow-white stockings.
This look, paired with her large breasts and voluptuous hips, was particularly alluring.
Phoebus had never seen her dressed like this!
In fact, Renee wasn't one for makeup or dressing up, and her appearance wasn't particularly refined.
This was also one of the excuses Phoebus used to justify his decision when he later found a new love.
Unexpectedly, in just two years, Renee seemed completely transformed, becoming radiant and charming!
What was even more infuriating was that all these changes happened after he abandoned Renee! Phoebus had originally hoped to see a love-stricken, haggard Renée, thus highlighting his irreplaceable position in her heart.
The reality was quite the opposite.
Since leaving him, Renée had become even more sexy, charming, generous, and confident.
Her transformation from ugly duckling to swan had nothing to do with him; it was clearly due to the caress of other men.
It was easy for Phoebus to imagine that when Renée appeared in front of her new boyfriend in this maid uniform, something unsightly would surely happen!
If Renée was forced into the role of a lowly maid, it meant she had been completely tamed by the man and had lost all will to resist.
If she had chosen to dress like this, it would be even more unbearable—a slutty bitch!
The more Phoebus thought about it, the more irritated he became, his face darkening.
His imagination was only a fraction off from the truth.
The maid outfit Renee wore was actually the uniform dress worn by waitresses at the Panthers Tavern.
She, Kelly, and Ella had custom-made the same uniform and occasionally helped out at the tavern run by Alan's mother.
Back at the martial arts gym, Kelly and Ella changed back into their gi and began teaching their students martial arts.
Renee was in the kitchen preparing afternoon tea for Alan and didn't bother changing.
Serving her master in a maid outfit was appropriate, after all. Besides, Alan praised her for looking so sexy in it, and he couldn't help but want to touch her silky thighs.
Women dress to please themselves, and Renee relished Alan's praise and caresses.
As for Phoebus, she had long since consigned him to the trash can of her memory.
Renee ran into the courtyard, panting.
Her face flushed, her magnificent breasts heaving.
"Phoebus! Our relationship ended a long time ago. Stop messing around here—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Phoebus roared.
"Bitch!"
"Look at what you're wearing. Shame on you!"
"Take off your apron and come home with me!"
"Home?" Renee asked blankly, her doe-like eyes wide. "This is my home. Where else can I go?"
"What? You've forgotten your family?" Phoebus raged. "You've forgotten your grandfather's expectations?"
"The Cochise family doesn't care about mediocre people like me. One more or one less doesn't matter."
A hint of desolation crossed Renee's eyes.
"As for my grandfather, he's more eager for your progress than for me, a genius like you."
"You're only twenty, and you've already reached the late third stage. Ten of me combined can't match your talent."
"You're enough for the Cochise family. As for me, I've sold myself to the Panthers family and am now just a maidservant to Master Allen. You don't need to worry about me."
"Reni! How could you stoop so low?!"
Phoebus was heartbroken.
"How could the eldest daughter of the Cochise family serve as a slave to a nobody? You've disappointed me so much!"
"'Disappointing you' doesn't matter to me."
Reni shrugged and said calmly:
"Anyway, you've already broken off the engagement with me. We're done once and for all."
"I'm living a good life. There's no need to worry about a stranger's opinion!"
"You..."
Phoebus gritted his teeth, suppressed his anger, and put on a sincere face.
"Renee! Forget that breaking-off letter! It was just a mistake I made in the heat of the moment!"
"I've deeply repented. Please forgive me!"
Renee saw his heartbroken expression, sighed, and said calmly:
"Phoebus, you really don't have to be like this."
"You have talent and a promising future. You can definitely find a better partner than me who will provide greater support for your career."
"If you need my forgiveness, I can give it to you."
"But I hope you can come to your senses." I finally realized... I forgive you not because I can't remember the past, but because I truly don't care."
"Phoebus, I no longer love you, and I'm very happy now."
"Because I'm not lacking love, I can forgive you without hesitation."
"Because we're no longer in love, there's no way I can get back together."
"As for whether you can let it go?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't care."
Reni's calm words had a profound impact on Phoebus, a thousand times more devastating than her crying and cursing.
Phoebus could see that this woman truly had no interest in him anymore.
Before today, he had always been incredibly confident in his relationship with Renée.
He felt he always had the initiative, that he could always reclaim the woman he had once kicked away.
Because it came so easily, he didn't cherish her.
But only now did he realize that he had irrevocably lost her.
The relationship ended with Renee dumping him, leaving him a complete loser.
When Renee was completely devoted to him, he didn't love her; his emotions were all staged to get money from her.
Now, Renee's calm and resolute dumping of him left him fuming, nearly devastated, as if he had ever loved her.
The true devastation wasn't the breakup itself, but the awakening that accompanied Renee, which left him without the power to dominate a woman.
In the final analysis, it was this power that had captivated him.
Not Renee or any other specific person.
Phoebus's blood rushed to his head.
He trembled with jealousy and rage.
"Bitch! Don't you dare betray me—"
Phoebus swung his arm and slapped Renee!
Smack!
A massive hand suddenly swooped in and grabbed his wrist.
The overwhelming force launched Phoebus high into the air and flung him out.
Bang!
Phoebus tumbled out the door like a kite with its string cut.
"Alan!"
Reni, Kelly, and Ella cheered in unison.
"Are you all so idle?"
Alan waved his hand at the girls in annoyance.
"Go do what you need to do!"
"Be careful!"
Reni's eyes widened as she exclaimed anxiously.
The gate to the martial arts gym suddenly exploded.
A massive, five-meter-tall red dragon roared in!
Alan turned back, his eyes narrowed, and surveyed the dragon.
"Red dragon bloodline... third-level atavism? Interesting."
The red dragon transformed by Atavism Phoebus had already pounced within ten steps, opened its maw, and spewed out a stream of flaming dragon breath!
Alan remained unfazed amidst the raging flames.
The magic ring on his hand could resist all fire attacks up to level five.
The dragon breath of Atavism Phoebus also...
It's only level three.
"Your fire is just the right thing to test my ice."
Alan raised his right hand slowly.
Magic energy quickly gathered in his palm, transforming into a chilling chill.
His crystal-clear hand, as icy and jade-like, thrust forward.
The raging flames that surged forward were instantly extinguished by the icy palm's power.
Hound step!
Alan charged forward, one hand raised horizontally, pushing back the dragon's breath.
With a flash, he approached the red dragon.
As Phoebus, the atavistic, looked on in astonishment...
He lightly slapped his palm.
Ice Soul Burial!!
Bang!
The flawless, crystal-clear hand, like beautiful jade, struck the red dragon's chest.
The instantaneous burst of impact sent the red dragon flying!
The red dragon soared through the courtyard gate and tumbled out again.
Puff!
The moment he landed, the atavistic Phoebus spat out a mouthful of scarlet ice.
The chill that had invaded his body had frozen him stiff, making it impossible for him to maintain his atavism and transform back into human form.
Phoebus struggled to sit up, using his numb limbs to support himself.
He tried to stand, but his frozen legs refused to obey him, and he fell back heavily, spewing out another mouthful of icy blood.
Two figures emerged from the courtyard gate.
Reni, dressed in a maid's dress, followed closely behind Allen.
That delicate demeanor was something Phoebus had never seen before.
"You... you're so strong..."
Phoebus stared at Allen, his eyes filled with resentment and indignation.
"I admit I'm not as strong as you right now, but that doesn't mean you'll always be stronger than me..."
"If I had the same advantages as you...born into a wealthy family...trained as a sorcerer since childhood, with ample resources for cultivation, I'd definitely be stronger than you!"
"Excellent conditions, a wealthy family, training since childhood, ample resources for cultivation..."
Alan sneered and shook his head slightly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't have any of those things you mentioned before."
"But I have them all now, and you still have nothing."
"You've had opportunities to change your destiny, more than once."
"You've played a good hand so badly, who can you blame?"
"A Phoenix man from a lowly background, licking the boots of rich women to survive, working his way up the ladder, is understandable."
"But you're fickle and can't even handle living off a gigolo. That's your problem."
At this point, Allen's interest had worn thin. He turned to Renée and asked, "What are you going to do with this man?"
Any other woman, whether out of revenge for a heartless man or to prove to her new lover that she's done with him, would most likely kill him!
Renee understood all this, but a hint of pity still flickered in her eyes.
"A silly girl is a silly girl. No matter how much she suffers, she'll never learn!"
Alan sneered, but in reality, he wasn't surprised by Renee's choice.
One could even say that what attracted him most to this woman was the very "naive, innocent" virgin temperament he despised the most!
A girl as pure and kind as an angel should theoretically distance herself from hooligans and villains, and yet, she was deeply attracted to the bad boy.
Human emotions are so unpredictable.
Sighing to himself, Alan turned to Phoebus and said coldly:
"For Renee's sake, I'll spare your life!"
"Remember to leave your storage bag as compensation for my gate!"
"Get lost!"
...
The first day of April.
Alan arrived at the Silver Moon Secret Realm with his three female companions.
Kelly and Ella were wearing the uniforms of female disciples of the Silver Moon Monastery.
To Allen, the style was reminiscent of the cheongsams of his past life, highlighting the slender figures of his older sister and younger apprentice.
The high slit of the skirt allowed a glimpse of her stocking-clad legs as she walked.
Renee insisted on wearing her maid outfit, a copper pocket watch tucked into her apron pocket.
It was a small gift from Master Shiva, a token of his gratitude for her meticulous care.
The pocket watch lacked any special enchantments, but was exquisitely crafted.
Atop the large dial was a small one, displaying different times.
The large dial corresponded to real time outside the secret realm.
The small dial followed the rhythm of time within the secret realm.
A day in the secret realm was equivalent to six hours in the outside world.
Renee carried the watch so she could easily travel between the two.
Every morning, she would wake up early and make breakfast for Allen, Kelly, and Ella.
After the four of them had breakfast, Renee would leave the secret realm and go to the White Tiger Pavilion to help the silver-haired girl get up, get dressed, and comb her hair.
She would prepare breakfast for Master Shiva and clean her room before returning to the secret realm to practice on her own.
After dinner, Renee would return to the White Tiger Pavilion to bathe and rub Master Shiva's back, help her to sleep, wash her clothes, and then return to the Silver Moon Secret Realm.
After serving the mistress, theoretically, there was still the master to serve.
However, Kelly and Ella both clamored for Allen's laundry and cooking.
Reni felt a sense of loss at being "sidelined"...
Thankfully, the job of washing Allen's feet and warming his bed hadn't been taken away by her two competitors yet.
It wasn't that the job was technically difficult, but rather that it was too ambiguous for Allen to accept his sister and junior apprentice's personal service.
As a maid, Renee had every right to do this.
In fact, Renee herself was aware of this.
So, despite the skeptical looks from others, she insisted on wearing her maid uniform and staying by Allen's side.
Others might think she was willing to be lowly and spineless.
She knew that while the maid outfit emphasized her status as a servant, it also implicitly asserted her sovereignty.
There were some things that her sister, junior apprentice, and even her girlfriend couldn't bring themselves to do, but only a maid could face them with confidence.
By voluntarily assuming the duties of a maid, she was also binding herself to the obligations of a master.
For example, Allen couldn't refuse her services, even if they were excessive; otherwise, he wouldn't be acting like a master.
Alan might be reluctant to accept certain unpleasant but honest advice from others, out of respect.
Reni spoke freely, without restraint.
Because she was a "naive and innocent" maid, like a jester or clown beside the king.
It was the master's right to listen to her advice.
Disobeying her and becoming angry would lead to ridicule and loss of dignity.
A true gentleman was inevitably manipulated by minor figures like jesters, clowns, maids, and housekeepers.
If he refused to yield, was petty and unkind to his servants, he would be unworthy of a gentleman!
As long as Reni was willing, she could flirt with her master at any time, kissing and licking him, begging for favors.
Aside from her, no other woman in the world could approach Alan so unscrupulously. This was a special treatment that both Kelly and Ella envied!
No matter how annoyed Allen was with her, he couldn't bring himself to argue with her.
At most, he'd scold her, give her a kick on her butt, and tell her to stop messing around and go away.
In Renee's eyes, this level of punishment was the equivalent of pampering.
Renee thoroughly enjoyed her relationship with Allen.
She even occasionally felt complacent, feeling smug and self-satisfied, as if she were Allen's "mistress"!
The bow on her head seemed like a little devil's horns.