"Master Holy Son, wake up; it's time for breakfast," a voice cut through the fog.
It was Ah Qin, starting her daily morning routine.
Ye Ran rubbed his sleepy eyes. Thanks to his remarkable skill of automatic hang-up, he no longer needed to meditate and could sleep well at night.
"Master Holy Son, good morning."
"Morning."
Ye Ran got up and prepared for the day. As Ah Qin helped him dress, she mentioned, "I've prepared your favorite Lotus flower soup, along with sapphire lotus seed soup and velvet snowballs."
"Fantastic, you've done well," Ye Ran commended, patting her head.
"Not a problem at all," Ah Qin replied, her eyes shining with warmth and a newfound youthful energy since yesterday.
"Wait, have you reached the Qi refining stage?" Noticing her completely transformed aura, Ye Ran couldn't help but be astonished.
"Yes," Ah Qin confirmed. "According to the Xuanji Light Sutra, I should now be in the early stage of Qi refining."
Ye Ran was surprised. Ah Qin's spiritual marrow body, being a rare sacred body, was truly remarkable. Combined with Apex's "dual cultivation ability" and the well-matched Xunaji Light Sutra, her cultivation speed was astonishing.
He frowned, concerned, and asked, "You haven't slept all night; have you been practicing?"
Ah Qin nodded sheepishly. "Yes."
Then she added, "But Ah Qin doesn't feel tired at all; in fact, I'm full of energy!"
Ye Ran shook his head. "While absorbing Spirit Power does replenish physical strength, mental fatigue can't be avoided. If you can't concentrate during cultivation, you might suffer from Qi Deviation."
"Oh…"
Ah Qin bit her finger, only half understanding.
Ye Ran sighed and said, "Lie down and rest for me now; just sleep here, and you're not allowed to get up until you've slept for two hours."
"But Ah Qin wants to practice."
"This is an order!"
"Yes."
Ah Qin obediently went to bed and lay down.
As she breathed in Ye Ran's scent on the bed, her heartbeat gradually accelerated, and her face turned ruddy, as if she had a fever.
Her eyes remained wide open, devoid of sleepiness.
"Master Holy Son, Ah Qin can't sleep."
"..."
Ye Ran lightly tapped her forehead, circulating spirit power within her body for a moment.
Ah Qin dozed off in a daze.
"I didn't expect her to be so diligent. Coupled with the blessings of her constitution and cultivation technique, her future potential is limitless," Ye Ran thought to himself.
"By the way, I wonder if the master has calmed down by now."
Recalling yesterday's events, he couldn't help but shiver.
"An attack with the head extended and a retreat with the head withdrawn. It's better to proactively admit my mistake to the sect leader and try to seek leniency."
...
Rakshasa Peak.
Youluo Temple.
In the Great Hall, Leng Wuyan sat on a black and gold phoenix chair, attentively listening to the old man beside her.
It was Sun Wei.
The Great Elder of Youluo Temple and an elder of the Three Dynasties Though her cultivation base was far inferior to Leng Wuyan's, her status in the sect was highly respected.
Even as the sect leader, Leng Wuyan held Sun Wei in high regard.
Sun Wei put down her teacup and said, "Have you reviewed the information sent yesterday?"
"This…"
Leng Wuyan felt a little embarrassed.
Due to Ye Ran's actions, she had been deeply upset last night; reading any information was the last thing on her mind.
"Lately, I've had some insights during my practice, so I haven't had the energy to check it yet."
"I see."
Sun Wei didn't question further, nodding and saying, "Cultivation is indeed a priority, but as the sect leader, you can't completely neglect sect matters."
"Well, Sun Elder is right," Leng Wuyan agreed.
Sun Wei continued, "Recently, the Righteous Way has been making frequent moves, and several major demon sects are unwilling to sit idle. Now, led by Hehuanzong and Shashengyu, a Devil Dao offensive and defensive alliance has been established, and they want to invite Youluo Temple to join."
"Offensive and defensive alliance?" Leng Wuyan sneered. "Since when did Devil Dao learn about this?"
"I believe they're feeling the pressure in the righteous way," Sun Elder analyzed.
"They've been acting too arrogantly lately, testing the limits of the imperial court and the sects of the righteous way. Now that they've been pushed to the forefront, do they want to drag others down with them? Do they think this seat is a fool?" Leng Wuyan snorted coldly.
"Then what is the sect leader's stance on this matter?" Sun Elder inquired.
"I have no interest in being associated with that group of scoundrels!"
Leng Wuyan's voice was icy. "I'm not concerned about their intentions; however, they must not plot against You Luo Temple! Otherwise, I won't distinguish between Devil Dao and the righteous way—I'll annihilate them all with a single stroke!"
Her eyes were deep, her black hair flowed, and her aura, resembling an abyss of prison, was terrifyingly imposing.