As the days turned into weeks, the girls of Tianshui Academy fully absorbed the miraculous properties of the Immortal Herbs. Their progress was nothing short of meteoric; the training halls were constantly buzzing with the resonance of breaking through bottlenecks. By now, not a single member of the team remained below the Spirit Ancestor rank of Level 40.
The Martial Souls of the Zhu sisters had undergone a magnificent evolution. Their Hell Civets had transformed into Dark Night Star God Cats, granting them absolute mastery over darkness, wind, and the ethereal power of the stars. Wu Ling's Light-Dark Peacock had ascended to the Yin-Yang Chaos Peacock, a divine bird capable of wielding the primordial forces of extreme Yang and extreme Yin.
The original five members of the Tianshui squad also saw their attributes elevated to the level of Ultimate Ice. Now, when the Shui sisters performed their Martial Soul Fusion, their combined frost was so potent that they could easily suppress a Spirit Emperor.
Meng Yiran's Snake Staff, influenced by the Golden Dragon Sweet Potato, began a draconic evolution. Her weapon had reshaped itself into the Golden Earth Dragon Spear, placing her Martial Soul firmly within the "Super Class" category, alongside Dugu Yan.
However, the most dramatic changes occurred in Doudou and Xue Ke. Following Fu Ye's recommendation, Doudou had consumed the Moon-Scattered Immortal Grass, causing her White Dove to transcend its humble origins. It was now the Four-Winged Moon-Piercing Dove, a Super Martial Soul that, under the light of a full moon, could rival the power of a Pseudo-God.
Xue Ke, after absorbing the Sun-Chasing Immortal Grass, saw her soul evolve in a similar fashion. While Doudou drew strength from the moon, Xue Ke's power reached divine heights whenever she stood beneath the midday sun.
"Brother Fu Ye! My soul power has reached Level 40!"
o(≧口≦)o
Ning Rongrong, unable to contain her excitement after absorbing the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tulip, practically flew across the room and slammed into Fu Ye's chest, wrapping her arms around his neck. She had jumped four full levels in a single sitting!
The other girls, like Xue Wu and the Shui sisters, watched the scene with knowing, motherly smiles. They were more than happy to welcome a new "sister" into the fold. After all, the more help they had in the bedroom to face Fu Ye's inexhaustible stamina, the better. They were all secretly hoping that with enough of them, they might finally manage to leave him breathless for once.
"The herbs have done more than just boost your levels," Fu Ye said, patting Rongrong's back. "Your cultivation speed is permanently increased, and you'll find that you won't encounter any bottlenecks until you reach the Spirit Saint rank. These initial level jumps are actually the least important part of the gift."
Despite his words, the girls were still ecstatic.
"Brother Fu Ye, I'm already Level 50!" Zhu Zhuyun, Zhuqing, Xue Wu, Bing'er, and the others shared a triumphant glance.
"Hehe, we've reached Level 40 too!" Wu Ling, Rongrong, Yiran, and Doudou added, their eyes sparkling with youthful pride.
"And I've reached the Spirit Grandmaster rank of Level 30!" Xue Ke chirped, hopping toward Fu Ye.
Standing at just 1.45 meters, she looked dainty and adorable—a legal "little wife" that Fu Ye couldn't resist. He reached out and pulled her into his lap, prompting a collective pout from the other girls. They couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy; being small, exquisitely beautiful, and an expert at "massaging" certainly had its privileges.
Xue Ke felt completely at home. Here, unlike the cold walls of the Imperial Palace, she was loved. Her sisters never looked down on her for her background or her lower talent. It was a life a hundred times happier than the one she had left behind.
Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince's manor in the Heaven Dou Imperial City...
Qian Renxue, still disguised as Xue Qinghe, sat at her desk with a look of utter exasperation. Her "father," Emperor Xue Ye, had started dumping imperial ledgers on her, claiming she was old enough to care about the nation's finances.
She had initially been pleased that he was handing over more power, but then she saw the numbers.
"Are you kidding me?" she muttered. "Promissory notes for local officials? Does the royal family have no liquid assets left?"
Staring at a debt of hundreds of millions of Gold Spirit Coins, Qian Renxue felt that being the Crown Prince wasn't worth the headache. Not even as the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall could she conjure that much gold on short notice.
"Young Master."
A dark shadow flickered, and Snake Spear Douluo knelt before her.
"Report."
"The matter you asked me to investigate... Regarding the Heaven Dou treasury and Princess Xue Ke... she was..."
As Snake Spear Douluo finished his report, Qian Renxue's eyes widened in disbelief, followed by a surge of pure irritation.
()
"Ugh... fine. You may leave."
(￣▽￣")
She sighed as her subordinate vanished. "Fu Ye, you absolute bastard... you didn't just drain the treasury; you made off with my little sister too."
Six months passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, the bonds between Fu Ye and his "little girls" became even tighter.
Xue Ke had proven to be a quick learner. While Fu Ye had initially given her rest days, she had quickly adapted to the "intensity" of his nightly demands. For the past six months, she had been a permanent fixture in his bed, engaging in nightly "academic exchanges" that left her glowing with health and spiritual vitality. Whether it was conventional intimacy or more specialized "oral lessons," Xue Ke had become an expert in ensuring her husband's happiness.
Fu Ye, of course, was never one to play favorites. Thanks to his Time Boundaries, he could extend a single night into an eternity, ensuring that every girl in his harem received his full, undivided attention.
However, tonight was different. After a grueling three-day marathon where he had "fed" his wives so thoroughly that they were all physically spent and satisfied to the point of exhaustion, the girls had collectively declared a "strike." They had even formed a group chat to make sure no one sneaked into his room, fearing that any more "interaction" would leave them unable to walk for a week.
Fu Ye sat alone in his room, feeling uncharacteristically idle.
How boring... I should have paced myself. Now they're all hiding from me like I'm some kind of monster.
Just as he was contemplating whether to go for a midnight stroll, a soft, tentative knocking came from the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Brother Fu Ye? Are you awake? It's Rongrong."
Ning Rongrong's crisp, sweet voice drifted through the wood. Fu Ye blinked in surprise. Why would she be here so late? Perhaps she had a question about her new soul skills?
He stood up and pulled the door open.
"Rongrong, what brings you—"
The words died in his throat as the door swung wide, revealing a sight he hadn't expected.