By now, the stingray was swimming in the center of the great lake. Smooth as satin waters stretched in all directions, with only the distant overlapping mountains visible to the west, resembling crouching beasts. The cool moonlight shone upon the mountain ranges, and the white snow reflected the silver radiance toward the lake’s surface, diminishing its grandeur but adding a gentle glow, creating a scene of tender affection.

The stingray didn’t travel in a straight line. Feng Miao Jun noticed that it circumvented areas where small whirlpools appeared on the surface, suggesting turbulent undercurrents below that contradicted the peaceful surface. The creature preferred not to contend with these forces. Without this spiritual creature for transportation, ordinary people couldn’t paddle small boats to the center of White Elephant Lake, and thus couldn’t appreciate such beautiful scenery.

It’s often said that the most splendid views are found at perilous peaks, and this place was no exception. Without exceptional abilities, how could one enjoy magnificent sights denied to ordinary people?

Feng Miao Jun asked softly: “Why is it willing to carry us across the lake?”

Mo Ti Zhun sat with eyes closed, gathering his spirit as the cool breeze caressed his face: “Thirty years ago, it was being hunted when I intervened to save it. It gifted me its tail barb, and whenever I need to cross, I can summon it for assistance.”

Feng Miao Jun recalled the white horn he had used earlier, then looked back at the stingray’s tail. Sure enough, at the tip of its whip-like tail grew two spines that perfectly matched the white horn he had blown.

“White Elephant Lake is so vast, how can it hear the sound of your horn?” Sound traveling through water diminishes; beyond a certain range, it becomes inaudible.

“It’s simple—I also rode it across the lake when I arrived.” Mo Ti Zhun patted the creature’s back. “It will wait nearby for my return journey.”

She clicked her tongue in amazement: “Such intelligence! Monsters aren’t bad at all; they not only repay kindness but continue to do so for many years.” So devotedly, too.

Mo Ti Zhun snorted: “Monsters cannot be generalized. Like humans, different creatures have entirely different temperaments. The more profound their cultivation, the more astute they become. The great beasts from before the era often surpassed humans in intelligence, with many displaying extraordinary talents. Even now, some monsters infiltrate government positions, receiving salaries to adjudicate cases.”

She listened with dreamy yearning. This world truly contained too many illogical elements, like the great creature beneath their feet:

“Isn’t this being supposed to live in seawater? How did it enter White Elephant Lake?”

“White Elephant Lake’s waters connect to other major rivers that eventually reach the sea,” Mo Ti Zhun said softly. “Once you have cultivation, the world becomes more accommodating to you.”

The last sentence, by coincidence, touched upon what was in her heart. Feng Miao Jun finally carefully opened her mouth:

“Could I also… have cultivation?”

This dimension contained many things far beyond her understanding. If she could glimpse even a little, she would truly witness the colorful splendor of the world.

Mo Ti Zhun opened his eyes to look at her: “Do you wish to become my disciple? Is this your second condition?”

“I’m just asking,” she laughed dryly. “I haven’t decided yet.”

Mo Ti Zhun grunted: “Even if you had cultivation, you would still need to seek the blessing of Elemental Power. Have you also not decided whether to join the Jin Kingdom?”

She murmured: “Elemental Power?”

“You’re a princess, yet An Xia didn’t teach you these basics?”

She showed rare embarrassment: “Perhaps they did, but I wasn’t bright in my childhood and was too busy playing, so I don’t remember much.” Princess Chang Le had always been a beauty from a young age, admired by all, but unfortunately, her exterior and interior qualities weren’t proportionate—she had no connection whatsoever to natural intelligence. As a result, Feng Miao Jun couldn’t find much useful information in her memories.

Mo Ti Zhun gave her a strange look. It was difficult to imagine that such a sharp, almost supernatural girl was once dull-witted. However, a child’s development could be quite mysterious, and late intellectual awakening wasn’t uncommon.

“After the celestial essence gradually declined, neither humans nor monsters retained the ability to move mountains or seas. In terms of individual strength, humans were even weaker, yet they openly occupied the most fertile lands and drove monsters back into deep mountains and great marshes. The key factor in this was Elemental Power.”

“When people formed Kingdoms, they concentrated countless individuals’ strength in one place, calling it Elemental Power. Using Elemental Power to counter monsters meant employing the entire Kingdom’s strength, which most monsters couldn’t withstand. Over time, Kingdoms grew increasingly powerful while monsters became progressively weaker, quickly retreating into the mountains, unable to emerge.”

“So that’s what Elemental Power is.” She listened in a daze, unable to recover her composure. “I suppose ordinary people can’t utilize it?” All the humans she had encountered on her journey appeared no different from those in her original world, perhaps slightly stronger, but without any fundamental differences.

Feng Miao Jun didn’t realize her extreme good fortune. Elemental Power was something invisible and intangible that people had long discussed in mysterious terms. At least three hundred versions circulated simultaneously, and it was hard to say how much truth and contained. Those who could explain it clearly and concisely in just a few sentences were rare, and Mo Ti Zhun happened to be one of them.

“Of course not,” said Mo Ti Zhun. The three were drifting on the lake with nothing else to do. Seeing that their journey was progressing well, Mo Ti Zhun was in a good mood and didn’t mind educating her. “The coordiKingdom and arrangement of Elemental Power is handled by the Grand Preceptor, who then distributes it. The stronger and more loyal to the country one is, the more generously Elemental Power is allocated. If you originally had one portion of cultivation and gained one portion of Elemental Power, the final power you could release would exceed three portions.”

This meant that Elemental Power’s enhancement effect on an individual was greater than the sum of its parts. She looked at Mo Ti Zhun as if seeing him for the first time: “I had no idea the Grand Preceptor wielded such immense power!”

He snorted: “You think Elemental Power can be distributed arbitrarily? There’s a set of rules that the Grand Preceptor must follow.” After a pause, he continued, “Cultivation is difficult, but obtaining a share of Elemental Power is even harder. This path isn’t as glamorous as you imagine. With An Xia Kingdom destroyed, if you wish to gain Elemental Power, you must either join another country or—”

“You could restore An Xia’s Kingdomhood.”

Was this admonition or probing? Feng Miao Jun avoided answering directly: “There’s something else I don’t understand. You’re the Grand Preceptor who controls a Kingdom’s power, so why would anyone in Jin Kingdom dare to kill you? Aren’t they afraid that the Elemental Power will decline from strength to weakness?”

Mo Ti Zhun laughed softly: “Many people desire to take the Grand Preceptor’s position.”

“But in An Xia, after the Grand Preceptor was killed by Yun Kai, then…”

“By that time, An Xia’s State fortune had declined, making recovery impossible. This ‘power’ also refers to Elemental Power.” Mo Ti Zhun said languidly, “Countries, like people, cannot easily turn extreme misfortune into good fortune.”

Feng Miao Jun fell silent, staring at the water’s surface in a daze.

Apart from Elemental Power, was there also State fortune?

In Princess Chang Le’s memories, she frequently encountered the phrase “flourishing State fortune,” but had never pondered its deeper meaning.