[After consuming the Purple Crystal Jade Fruit, my cultivation has steadily advanced to the peak of Dou Master. My meridians have been tempered, my foundation deepened, and my roots solidified. I can attempt to break through to Dou Grandmaster at any time.]
[Xun Er came to find me today and gave me a high-grade fourth-tier medicinal pill, the Grandmaster Pill, as a gift for my birthday tomorrow.]
[I'll take this pill later. Tomorrow, on my fifteenth birthday, I'll break through to Dou Grandmaster.]
…
The women: "..."
This soft rice really does smell good.
…
[Once I break through to Dou Grandmaster, I can go take a stroll in the Tager Desert.]
[First, I'll head to Rock Desert City and have Big Brother and Second Brother bring the mercenary group back to the Xiao Family to develop.]
[While I'm at it, I'll bring Qing Lin home. Her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are worth nurturing, just like the Little Fairy Doctor.]
…
"Young Master Xiao Ting is coming to find me!" Qing Lin's emerald-green eyes were filled with joyful surprise.
She had been waiting, waiting for this day to arrive.
To her, the people and events on the Battle Qi Continent were nothing but a play—none of it felt real.
She wanted to stay by Xiao Ting's side. Only Xiao Ting was the reality she could grasp.
He was her salvation, her faith, her future!
…
[By my calculations, Queen Medusa probably hasn't found the Green Lotus Core Flame yet. Even if she has, she likely hasn't taken it away.
I'll find and take it first, then hand it over to Brother Yan to refine. I can use this to negotiate cooperation or make a deal with Queen Medusa.]
[I can guarantee her a perfect and safe evolution. I believe she won't refuse.]
[Once she breaks through to Dou Ancestor, the Xiao Family will gain another layer of protection.] [When Brother Yan goes to Misty Cloud Sect later, he can be more domineering.]
…
Yun Yun and Medusa exchanged glances.
They hadn't expected Xiao Ting to have such plans.
"He sure knows how to calculate—stealing the Heavenly Flame I found to help me break through," Medusa clicked her tongue, but her tone held no anger.
Yun Yun could understand.
Under normal circumstances, Medusa borrowing the Green Lotus Core Flame to break through would be a nine-death-one-life affair.
But if Xiao Ting had Xiao Yan refine the Green Lotus Core Flame and then help Queen Medusa break through, it would be absolutely safe and involve far less suffering.
Of course, Queen Medusa no longer needed to break through that way now.
"Sister Medusa, I was the first to say I'd help you break through to Dou Ancestor," Yun Yun spoke up.
Queen Medusa glanced at her. "Would you dare expose the matter of the Gate of Life and Death in front of Xiao Ting, or reveal that you and I have already cooperated?"
Yun Yun indicated she wouldn't—at least not for now.
Small changes, Xiao Ting would take as a matter of course.
But if the changes were too big, it might arouse his suspicion.
If Xiao Ting learned that Journal copies existed, there was a risk of falling.
"To me, this is actually good news." A faint arc curved at the corner of Medusa's lips, her eyes turning playful. "What kind of expression do you think he'll have if I go guard the Green Lotus Core Flame and happen to run into him?"
Yun Yun thought for a moment and smiled as well. "It'll definitely be very interesting. Why don't I tag along and watch too?"
To witness that wonderful moment when Xiao Ting's expression changed.
"Do you think that when Xiao Ting travels, the Gu Clan's young miss won't send people to secretly protect him?" Medusa shook her head gently, disagreeing with Yun Yun tagging along.
"That Gu Clan miss definitely has a copy too, and she's already befriended the Little Fairy Doctor. I'm afraid she already suspects us," Yun Yun felt it was already an open secret. "Even if she knows, it doesn't matter."
"What if the guards protecting Xiao Ting tell him about this?" Medusa countered.
Running into Xiao Ting by chance was fine—after all, he only knew the rough timeframe when she would find and take the Green Lotus Core Flame.
But if Yun Yun was nearby watching the show, even a fool would know something was wrong.
"Then should I go talk to this Gu Clan princess first?" Yun Yun's eyes flashed.
This had been her and Queen Medusa's plan all along.
People of the same kind should communicate first, at least to avoid becoming enemies.
"This matter should be done sooner rather than later. Let's go now."
Medusa stood up and stretched lazily. Her graceful figure and perfect curves were seen only by Yun Yun.
"Alright." Yun Yun nodded in agreement.
No one knew when Xiao Ting would set out for the Tager Desert, so this matter truly needed to be settled as soon as possible.
Xiao Ting hadn't updated the Journal content again. The two women moved swiftly. After leaving the Sect Leader's grand hall, they condensed Battle Qi wings and flew into the sky.
…
One hour later, the two appeared in the skies above Wu Tan City.
"Swish!"
A woman in black robes appeared, stepping on empty air and blocking their path.
A Dou Ancestor expert!
A show of force?
Yun Yun and Queen Medusa's expressions turned solemn. They simultaneously cupped their fists in greeting.
"Snake-People Clan Queen Medusa pays respects to Senior."
"Misty Cloud Sect Sect Leader Yun Yun pays respects to Senior."
The black-robed woman swept her gaze over their faces, a trace of doubt hidden in her eyes. She spoke indifferently, "Miss has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me, both of you."
"Please lead the way, Senior." Yun Yun and Medusa were not surprised by this situation.
Since Xun Er had already met the Little Fairy Doctor, she would definitely guess that they also had Journal copies.
She might even have sent people to secretly investigate them to confirm her suspicions.
It was possible that their recent actions had all been under Xun Er's control.
If they were in Xun Er's position—as Xiao Ting's girlfriend—they would definitely do the same.
Under the black-robed woman's guidance, Queen Medusa and Yun Yun entered Xun Er's small courtyard silently.
Even Yao Lao did not notice.
In the scenic pavilion, a young girl in a light green long dress held a book and read quietly. Opposite her sat a silver-haired woman in a purple dress, brewing tea.
"Aunt Ling, seal the space," the green-dressed girl said softly, turning her head toward the black-robed woman.
"Yes, Miss." Ling Yue turned into a black shadow and disappeared. A layer of spatial barrier formed silently.
"Please sit, both of you." Xun Er gestured for Yun Yun and Medusa to take seats, her expression calm and serene.
Once they were seated, the Little Fairy Doctor passed over teacups. "Please have some tea."
"Thank you." Yun Yun and Medusa thanked her.
The atmosphere at the scene became somewhat subtle for a moment.
Xun Er closed the book in her hands and smiled. "You two arrived later than I expected."
"Sister Medusa actually wanted to come a long time ago," Yun Yun said, relieved to see that Xun Er didn't seem hostile. "I asked her to help me verify the information brought by the Plane's Blessing."
"The inheritance left by Yun Potian?" Xun Er asked curiously.
"Yes." Yun Yun explained, "My Misty Cloud Sect's ancestor died due to a plot by the Hall of Soul. The inheritance he left behind..."
It was a quasi-heaven-tier cultivation method and Dou Technique involving soul realm advancement. Even ordinary Dou Venerate might not withstand it.
If the information leaked, the Misty Cloud Sect would be wiped out the next day.
But someone of Xun Er's background wouldn't do anything about it.
"As expected of the continental heaven's pride that the clan's elders all value highly." Xun Er praised.
The Wind's Ultimate Sword God was indeed a powerful inheritance.
"What is your positioning regarding Big Brother Xiao Ting?" Xun Er suddenly changed the subject.
Positioning?
Yun Yun and Medusa were puzzled.
The corner of Xun Er's lips curved slightly. "Sect Leader Yun Yun, do you only want to protect the Misty Cloud Sect, or do you want to befriend and cooperate with Big Brother Xiao Ting, or perhaps become his confidante?"
"Queen Medusa, do you want to be Big Brother Xiao Ting's pet, become a capable assistant by his side, or become his confidante?"
Yun Yun and Medusa: "..."
…