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Qi Yuan was still cultivating in his secret cave residence when he received Ling Yuling's message.
This time, it wasn't in the Star Palace's pavilion, but in her own boudoir.
As a woman born to the Twin Saints, Ling Yuling had always held her head high, proud and graceful. She wouldn't allow herself to be seen as some frivolous woman who invited a man into her own chamber. However, she didn't know why she had done such a thing this time.
This feeling was unfamiliar, but she didn't hate it.
She even had a faint anticipation, and she couldn't help tidying herself up. She had just taken a hot bath, and her entire body glowed with rosy luster. She wore light and gauzy clothing, her fragrance rich.
When Qi Yuan appeared at the edge of the Star Palace and stepped into her boudoir, Ling Yuling's ears were already red. She turned her face slightly, pretending to admire the scenery outside the window.
Qi Yuan's gaze swept across her figure and fell upon her elegant back and soft black hair. Without saying a word, he walked behind her and gently embraced her from behind.
Ling Yuling stiffened for a moment, then let her body soften.
"You came," she whispered.
"I'm here."
Ling Yuling said nothing more. Her heart beat faster and faster. The feeling of a man's arms around her waist was unfamiliar and exciting. She bit her lip gently, then turned her head slightly and kissed Qi Yuan on the lips.
Qi Yuan, without hesitation, responded passionately.
His hand trailed up from her waist, brushing the delicate belt of her gauzy clothes. Ling Yuling's breath grew rapid, her body tensing. But she didn't stop him.
She turned completely around and wrapped her arms around Qi Yuan's neck, pressing against him.
The embrace quickly turned fervent.
As her outer robe slipped off her shoulders, Ling Yuling leaned her head back and gasped, "Qi Yuan, I want to…"
But at that moment, a powerful divine sense swept through the area, and her face changed drastically.
She hurriedly pushed Qi Yuan away and waved her hand, summoning a hidden formation to seal off the entire boudoir and block out divine sense.
Even though she was already a Golden Core cultivator, she could still be disciplined by the Nascent Soul elders if they found out.
"I thought you were fearless," Qi Yuan said with a smile.
"Don't tease me," Ling Yuling replied, pulling her robe back up, her face flushed and annoyed.
Qi Yuan laughed and gently embraced her again. "When I come back next time, let's continue what we didn't finish today."
Ling Yuling buried her head in his chest and murmured, "You better not go out and sleep with another woman."
Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are you jealous?"
Ling Yuling replied, "Yes, I am."
Qi Yuan smiled and lowered his head to kiss her red lips once more.
A few days later, Fan Jingmei came in person.
"There's news of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo."
Qi Yuan immediately summoned Zhou Yuan. After listening to Fan Jingmei's report, Zhou Yuan asked, "Heavenly Thunder Bamboo is a spiritual material needed to forge the Ten Thousand Thunder Banner, but the Yin Gui Sect wouldn't easily part with it. Why would they put it up for sale?"
Qi Yuan said, "They claimed they obtained it from some ancient ruin, but no matter where it came from, this is likely Ji Yin's scheme."
Fan Jingmei said, "They didn't directly offer it to us. They first posted it in the Tianxing City Market, and within days, a subordinate of the Yin Gui Sect came to our people with an offer to sell the bamboo in secret. But they only want to trade with the master of the Chaos Star Sea, and they even specified that... you must bring a female cultivator with you."
"Who?" Zhou Yuan asked.
"Me," Zhou Yuan said calmly.
Qi Yuan looked at her and refused directly. "Absolutely not."
Zhou Yuan frowned. "Why? It'll be easier for us to act if we follow their setup. Besides, my cultivation is only slightly weaker than yours. With you there, what can go wrong?"
Qi Yuan said coldly, "If it's really Ji Yin's trap, then it won't just be a trap. It will definitely involve a Nascent Soul cultivator."
Zhou Yuan still wanted to argue, but Fan Jingmei stopped her and smiled at Qi Yuan. "So, what's your plan?"
"I'll disguise myself and sneak into the Yin Gui Sect."
Qi Yuan had already made up his mind.
Fan Jingmei sighed. "Fine. But be careful. That sect is full of perverts. Don't be careless."
Qi Yuan asked, "Have you prepared the formations I asked for?"
"Already set up on a deserted island," Fan Jingmei nodded.
Qi Yuan didn't linger. He left with Xin Ruyin and Xiaomei, then placed a trap formation on that island. After that, he used his ever-changing spell to disguise himself as Wu Chou and slipped quietly into the Yin Gui Sect's territory.
Because the Yin Gui Sect wasn't alert and had many formation nodes, Qi Yuan used his formation skills to enter with ease.
He was here to steal the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo—not to fall into Ji Yin's hands.
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