Yaoyun enhanced Xiaomiao's physique and infused a cultivation technique into her with one stroke of her finger. She had also cleared her meridians and expanded her dantian, creating a firm foundation for opening her qi sea in the future. Having an immortal as a master was practically a guaranteed passage to the Illusory Core Realm! An apprenticeship with one was a gift so lavish that it would make countless others turn green with envy. Yaoyun was now merely a spiritual entity, too. If a true heavenly immortal were to formally take in a disciple, their disciple would likely receive far more unimaginable benefits. None of it made Wang Sheng regret becoming his master's disciple, though. On the contrary, he had always felt that he was more fortunate than he deserved for getting to join Qing Yanzi's sect. Hence, he became even more diligent in his cultivation. Xiaomiao stood still for three to four hours. When she finally opened her eyes, she immediately searched all around for her master. Finding Spiritless already sheathed, she breathed a sigh of relief. "How do you feel?" Wang Sheng asked from the side. Mu Wanxuan, who had been meditating on the sofa, also opened her eyes and looked at Xiaomiao with concern. "I feel…" Xiaomiao yawned. "There are so many things in my head that I can't digest them all. Brother, Senior Sister, I'll sleep for a bit. From now on, should I kowtow toward Spiritless to greet my master?" Wang Sheng smiled. Gently, he answered, "Just rest for now. You can think about that after you wake up. Senior Sister will take you to the room Big Sister prepared for you." Mu Wanxuan had already walked to Xiaomiao's side. With joy in her eyes, she patted the girl's head. The new room that Xi Lian had prepared for Xiaomiao was the one that Wang Sheng had used before. The bedrooms on the third floor were already occupied, but Wang Sheng still had an option. Naturally, he didn't choose to stay on the second floor. Such a heaven-sent opportunity to finally find a chance to meditate with his senior sister could not be wasted. They rarely had to sleep and spent most of their time in cultivation anyway. Once Mu Wanxuan had led Xiaomiao away, Wang Sheng began tidying the Divine Position Diagram and his desk. While he was cleaning, Xi Lian walked out of the entertainment room on the first floor. She was dressed in casual home clothes. Her T-shirt was several sizes too large, yet it was still stretched tight at the chest. Barefoot and holding a jug of iced cola, she looked alluring yet lazy. She leaned against the wall and unhurriedly said, "Little Fei Yu, there's something off between you and that Heavenly Court princess." Wang Sheng chuckled softly. "What do you mean?" "I sensed something strange that night." Xi Lian snorted lightly. "The Heavenly Court has its rules, yes, but its princesses aren't idiots. She knows perfectly well that you and Little Xuanxuan are deeply attracted to each other. If she were not interested in you herself…" Wang Sheng pressed a finger to his lips and pointed at Spiritless. "Ssshh." Xi Lian rolled her eyes. "Don't worry. She won't wake up anytime soon since she just spent her spirit power to open Xiaomiao's spiritual roots. Right now, she's bound to be in recovery. Anyway, even if we forget what happened last time, she just went as far as exhausting so much of her strength for the sake of someone with mediocre aptitude. We've got quite a problem here. Tsk tsk." Wang Sheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You're overthinking this, Big Sister. How could Yaoyun possibly take a liking to an insignificant cultivator who's still stuck at the Heavenly Abode Realm? Besides, while trapped within the Earth Qi Seal, we didn't interact much. Most of the time, we focused on our own cultivation. There's no need to dwell on things . We could end up offending Yaoyun." "I'm just letting you know."  ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥 Xi Lian stepped up to Wang Sheng, making him a little tense. Considering the state she was in, he felt as though she'd commit some indecent act upon him herself. The next moment, Xi Lian raised her small hand, pinched his ear, and gave it a hard twist. "If you ever wrong my Little Xuanxuan, I'll bite this ear right off!" "Ow ow ow! Big Sister, how could I ever wrong Senior Sister? Aaagh! That hurts!" Witnessing Wang Sheng grimace pleased the half-immortal fox. Making sure not to twist too fiercely, she released him after a light punishment. "I do trust you quite a bit." Xi Lian folded her arms and sipped her cola. "But think about it. Every woman around you is dangerously attractive. "I won't count myself, since my heart already belongs to someone else. It wouldn't be impossible to treat you like a little dessert on the side if I wanted to, though. Tsk, tsk, tsk…" Wang Sheng's expression turned serious.. "Big Sister, perhaps because of your devilish seed, you pay far too much attention to matters between men and women. Life is more than that. In my heart, apart from Senior Sister, all that remains is the path of cultivation. I long for immortality. I long for freedom. I wish to wander the boundless stars, witness a grand era of cultivation, and explore the ultimate truth of the Dao." "Eh?" Xi Lian blinked. "Have I been focusing too much on the wrong things?" "Yeah. Far too much," Wang Sheng said solemnly and earnestly. "As cultivators, we should not allow worldly desires to bind us. Because of your feelings for Daoist Master Qinglin, you've grown attached to such matters. In truth, though, things like that are not essential to cultivation. "You should spend less time playing games and go out more, Big Sister. You only helped for a few hours just now, and then you ran straight back to put on your helmet and play again. It has long been proven that if you stay cooped up too long, your mind will dry up, and you'll become sluggish." "Really?" Xi Lian laughed a bit guiltily and then licked her lips. "The games I play are mostly social, though." Wang Sheng sighed and patted her shoulder. Her skin was pleasantly soft to the touch. Gently, he said, "Forget it. I can't really blame you. Senior Sister and I haven't been around for the past few years. We essentially left you alone. I know the past decade hasn't been easy for you." "At least you know how to feel guilty." Xi Lian rolled her eyes and gave Wang Sheng a light smack. "I didn't help you and Little Xuanxuan for nothing. I worried so much about you two that my hair was about to turn gray!" Wang Sheng smiled and nodded. "I'll tidy up. Don't stay up too late, Big Sister." Xi Lian patted her chest, sending ripples across her curves. "Alright, go on. If you need help, just say the word. I'll lend a hand!" She then blinked, sensing something was off. Unfortunately, she couldn't immediately put it into words. Soon, Wang Sheng rolled up the Divine Position Diagram and carried it to the storeroom under the stairs. When he climbed the steps to the second floor, Xi Lian finally realized what was wrong. "Damn it! You're the one who's been rotting away indoors until you turned dull!" Wang Sheng's laughter echoed from upstairs, making Xi Lian grit her teeth. With a grunt, she stormed back to her gaming console, put on her expensive VIP virtual-reality helmet, and logged into the largest social platform. She promptly changed her ID to "Fei Yu Eats Poop!" The name instantly drew the attention of countless gamers on the leaderboards of several popular games. Within half a minute, friend requests began pouring in. Xi Lian tilted her head and opened the list. Vegan Monk: I am Huai Jing, disciple of the Heavenly Dragon Temple. Fellow player, I advise you not to use this ID. Third-Generation Boss of Longhu Mountains: Who the hell do you think you are to insult Brother Sheng?! I challenge you to a duel! Name the time and place! Northern Sea Has a Fish: Daoist Master Fei Yu is the pride of the Daoist sects. Please refrain from using this ID. Thank you. Xi Lian sneered, about to type a reply, when a system notification popped up. The screen went black, and she was kicked from the virtual community. Your ID has violated regulations. Your account has been temporarily frozen. It will be restored in three hours, at which time your ID will be modified. Xi Lian frowned. Her silver-white hair nearly flared orange as she threw back her head and roared, "Argh! Only corrupted forces rule this dark world! Stinking Fei Yu! I won't forgive you! Somebody restore my account right now!" Upstairs, Wang Sheng, who had been setting up his study, scratched his head. What did I do this time? Order had begun to return to Sakura Island, but a faint sense of unease had replaced the starry night sky's usual liveliness. A scream tore through the quiet night. In front of a bar, two middle-aged men in suits lay in pools of blood, while a young woman in professional attire sat on the ground, crying in terror. Beside the corpses, a shadowy figure stood silently. He donned the garb of a wanderer and a battered straw hat. The longsword in his hand glowed with blood. It seemed to have fused with his palm, ceaselessly drawing in streams of fresh blood before feeding its glow back into him. The taste of blood made his mind waver. In the reflection of the crimson pool, he seemed to see that night again. "Do you desire the power to change everything? Do you wish to remake this dying nation? Take up this sword. Offer your soul and blood to the devil within. Only then can you gain the power to change." The seductive, maddening voice still echoed in the depths of his mind. A sudden rush of air broke his trance. He sprang lightly aside. Where he had stood, several sharp daggers now quivered in the stone pavement. Before he knew it, shadowy figures had surrounded him. Only their eyes—cold and devoid of emotion—were visible. In Sakura Island's language, one of them said, "You've killed countless officials! What are you even trying to accomplish? The Hidden Villages have already placed a kill order on you. Out of respect for your past accomplishments, we may let you die with honor if you surrender now." "You still don't understand what I want?" "What you want doesn't matter! Do not try to justify the massacre you've committed!" The blood sword trembled as madness warped Akiu Masayo's voice. "Leave, or die. Those are the only options you have. This nation is hopeless. Only by tearing it all down can a truly beautiful and peaceful Sakura Island be born. Now, get lost! Once I have terminated these filthy parasites, I will come for the Hidden Villages as well." The shadowy figures lunged, their daggers unleashing arcs of light under the shop windows. Akiu Masayo slowly raised his head, revealing cheeks covered in dreadful crimson markings.