"How long?" the teenage boy asked, just as he opened his eyes.

"Way too long, Legion Soldier. But about 5 hours, in the outer world. Dalia is still asleep." the Serghoul answered in a measured voice.

In truth, he could feel an ominous vibe from the blonde boy, almost like his life would be in danger, if it came to blows.

'Definitely strong enough to fight Hualitep, then. Perhaps even more.' the Death Lord mused inward as he measured the new Re-Ascended Dian Realm in front.

"I certainly need to learn some Dao of Time then." Pef answered while scratching at his cheek, and listening to the glove's assessment.

"That isn't as easy..." the ghoul began to say before waving a hand. "But you already Mastered Time, didn't you? You certainly had a lot of free time."

"The basics, yes. Speed and slow, for now. Come, let us visit Dalia." Pef spoke in a level voice, and one that enforced his status as well. It was clear already who was the stronger cultivator here, and thus conflict was negated.

Nodding politely, the Serghoul normalized the ice cave and returned the visitor in the outer universe, and inside the Death Temple.

Pef glanced around for a second, before stepping towards the fine bed where his patient rested now. Then he placed a gentle finger on her forehead, and just let the glove do its magic. It would be faster and more complete an exam that way.

"Delia has reached Tier 4. I'll have Rejin send a Universe Ascension Pill over, in a few months. She just need to meditate and stabilize her soul now." Pef completed his diagnostic and tapped the air beside him, almost like knocking on an invisible door.

Soon enough, a violet portal appeared out of nowhere, right beside the new Tier 7 God. "Dealing with the Devils will cost you, Ghoul Lord. My General might not approve either." he warned the Serghoul, before stepping through and the portal winked out.

"Pef!" Yue exclaimed and jumped to hug her husband, instantly noting his new found strength. It was like Pef hadn't died at all, merely left for a long tour...and changed his body.

"My sweet Yue." he said in soft voice, and just held her in his arms. He was finally back now.

"Back so soon?" another voice intervened, from the floating disembodied shape of the Taotie.

"You're not dead yet, old badger?" Pef muttered as his hands glided down and fondled his wife's round ass.

"Hah. I saw what you did in the Lich Realms, blonde boy. It was clever of you, using the Serghoul for faster training. But you're still not strong enough." the Taotie spoke in an approving voice.

"Please tell me you're not going to fight right now..." Yue whispered in a dejected tone, although she expected this day will come.

"Not right now, of course. There's is still 2 years, and I have a lot of people to visit. But first...I've missed you." Pef said in a sweeter voice, and leaned in to kiss his wife.

For a week, Pef indulged in the sweet love he had missed so much, filling Yue up with hectoliters of liquid children. While other forms of love also worked for the Legion method, simply making love was the best ingredient.

At the same time, the violet mind stone on his forehead dislodged as well, and got swiped into Yue's inner world. This was precious knowledge, and would only be shared cautiously, to family and close allies. "So, we know it works, at least." Yue murmured softly as her Avatar held the stone in palm.

"Yes, but it will be very slow. Millions or even billions of years. Otherwise, some manner time of temporal dilation will be necessary." Pef answered with a tiny shrug. Even so, nobody else had a working cultivation method for reaching Tier 7, instead hoping for some heavenly insight or enlightenment, or some bloodline memories being passed on. And as it happened, those events were exceedingly rare, though not as rare as Dian Ascension Pills.

Yue nodded thoughtfully, as she went over the implications. "We could raise a hundred Captains quite fast, especially if grandpa is willing to help." she mused while her eyes glanced towards the violet metal ring on her finger.

"The Taotie will need his energy for something else. There are other means." Pef said in a dismissive tone, and rolled away from the bed.

An ivory table held a jade bottle filled with Godwine, and he drank a long gulp from it. 'It seems that Rejin has finally managed to match your former skill in the Dao of Wine. 76 percent.' the glove concluded as its user enjoyed the Godwine brewed with the blood of the Desolate Beast.

Pef glanced at his inner screen, where his own Dao of Wine has climbed once more to 93 percent.

'All this, and only 2 percent in Alchemy Dao. Perhaps I am still too young.' he spoke inward with a sad tone.

'Alchemy isn't a direct craft like making wine. In fact, it may be even more complex than Forging. And don't dismiss those 2 percents so easily. You have the knowledge of most ingredients and reagents use by Alchemy. That alone places you in top 100 in this multiverse already.' the glove explained in a stern voice.

The giant database it now shared with its user wasn't only for show. Where other cultivators had to read and explore for multiple lifetimes, Pef had everything downloaded into his mind, and he also had the Immortal Icefire now.

That had been quite the surprise as well, though the glove didn't mind. Beside a potent aid in fighting, the flames were needed to attain a higher Alchemy rank, and few if any Alchemists had such powerful flames.

"Want to come to the Mausoleum?" Pef asked gently as he turned towards Yue.

"Not right now, love. My own training is reaching the hardest part, and I don't want to be left behind." The indigo-haired woman spoke while shacking her head.

"Good. Take care of that old badger." Pef said as he stepped out of the Pearl Sea, and glided the Void between universes for a second, before entering the nearby realm.

Yue's eyes followed her husband as he emerged in the Shambala system, then re-focused towards the indigo-glowing spirit beast that appeared at her side.

"You see it, don't you? Do you doubt your little husband's strength now?" the Taotie asked in a serious voice.

"Pef feels like...he could squash this universe in his palms. Or even stronger..." the woman answered with a dreamy smile.

"Hmmm. I also know why he is doing this. But for that, he is not yet ready. Your little lotus General isn't hiding in the Gap between multiverses for nothing. The Legion has made a strong enemy, and numbers will not be sufficient to deal with this. I am quite curious how the General will achieve her victory, this time." The Taotie said while smiling a bit too wide, showing a row of immensely sharp teeth.

"Pef will not fight alone, grandpa. For I will be right at his side." Yue answered with steel in her eyes.

"Hmmm. Resisting Dragonfire isn't that simple, little one. I hope you can endure the next phase of the training." the old beast said in a low growl, as its claws extended and drew Yue into the training hell it had prepared.

For if Pef had lucked out with Icefire, Dragons had inborn flames, just as strong as any immortal flame. It wasn't a coincidence they believed themselves the rightful rulers of all Creation.