When the break ended, the female students walked into the Inner Garden Flower Hall in small groups and returned to their seats.

"...Huh? Where's that girl, Li Hanyou?"

Seated on a Golden Silk Cloud Sandalwood chair, Xiao Meiniang blinked her bright eyes and looked around. She noticed that Yang Yunfei and Chen Zihan had both returned, but Li Hanyou's seat was still empty.

"She's always disappearing. Who knows where she's run off to?"

Yang Yunfei pressed her lips together and said irritably. She had already noticed this during the break.

'That Fox Spirit relies on her good looks to hang around the Master all day, shamelessly trying to please him and curry favor. It's just...'

'Still, I'm much prettier than she is. The Master's favorite student must be me,' Yang Yunfei mused.

Xiao Meiniang's eyes narrowed. With a meaningful smile, she said, "She probably went to ask the Master a question about her Cultivation. She is quite diligent, after all."

The still-naive Chen Zihan smiled faintly. "Isn't that a good thing? The Master dotes on her and is willing to give her extra guidance. I imagine her achievements will be even greater in the future."

"You certainly take things in stride."

Xiao Meiniang rolled her eyes at her. 'This isn't just a matter of Cultivation,' she thought, 'it concerns my own...'

'But this girl is still young enough that she doesn't understand the gravity of the situation. She'll figure it out in another year or two.'

"How about... we secretly follow her next time?"

Chen Zihan suggested in a hushed voice, her eyes darting about.

'She wanted to see what Li Hanyou was really up to as well. Was she truly just asking the Master for help? Or perhaps...'

"Great idea! Then it's settled?"

Xiao Meiniang's beautiful eyes brightened, her mind buzzing with ideas.

Yang Yunfei nodded, adding silently in her thoughts, 'I don't need anyone to tell me what's going on. That hussy definitely went to seduce the Master...'

'But with Chen Zihan around, it was best not to say such things so bluntly.'

While the three girls were talking, Li Hanyou finally appeared outside the Flower Hall.

She had changed back into a more conservative, snow-white Magical Robe, her beautiful face looking dignified and radiant. The seductive, transparent qipao was nowhere to be seen.

'But the sharp-eyed Xiao Meiniang could already see it. There was an amorous glow in the hussy's eyes, her gaze shimmering like water. Something... indescribable must have happened while she was alone with the Master.'

'Of course! I knew it!'

Xiao Meiniang's expression turned cold, and she inwardly ground her teeth. 'That shameless vixen really did go and seduce the Master behind our backs.'

Yang Yunfei, beside her, reacted as well. She stared at Li Hanyou with an icy gaze and said coolly,

"Junior Sister Li, did you sleep well last night?"

"???"

Li Hanyou looked at her, baffled. "Last night? I don't know what you're talking about, Senior Sister Yang."

"Heh, I think I've made myself perfectly clear."

Yang Yunfei sneered. "Sleeping with the Master... I imagine it feels quite nice, doesn't it?"

"..."

No matter how dense Li Hanyou might be, she now understood that this Senior Sister Yang was jealous.

She huffed and replied with a smirk, "I wish! But the Master won't give me the chance. He keeps saying I'm still too young... Why don't you try, Senior Sister?"

"Oh, please. You think everyone's like you?"

Yang Yunfei rolled her eyes at her.

'But inwardly, she was already plotting. 'Maybe I should go ask the senior sisters, Tang Qiu Yao and Qin Yun, what kind of things the Master likes.''

Xiao Meiniang was about to say something more, but when she saw Ling Changqing's figure appear in the doorway, she instantly corrected her posture, her graceful back becoming ramrod straight.

Although Li Hanyou sat primly, her watery peach-blossom eyes remained mischievous, and she covertly shot Ling Changqing a flirtatious look. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Alright, I will now explain the new Qi Cultivation Spell..."

Ling Changqing spoke, his gaze unintentionally brushing past Li Hanyou's graceful figure.

'After just being... tended to by that girl, Ling Changqing felt a little weak in the knees. He had to admit, she was a natural-born succubus. The experience had been absolutely incredible...'

'Actually, Tang Qiu Yao had hinted before that, if necessary, he could take these girls into his chambers ahead of schedule, lest others start getting ideas about them.'

'But Ling Changqing always felt they were still too young, that there was no need to rush.'

'The truth was, he was already feeling overwhelmed from helping his Dao Companions with their Cultivation every night.'

'If four newcomers who had tasted the pleasures of the flesh were to join them, and they all ganged up to squeeze him dry, how would he even survive?'

'He would have to wait, no matter what. Once he reached the Golden Core Master Realm, his Physique and stamina would rise along with it. Only then could he consider taking on new additions.'

'Then again, having more Dao Companions for Dual Cultivation would indeed accelerate the progress of his Cultivation, and theirs as well.'

'So it was a win-win situation, provided his Physique could withstand it.'

...

「In the Women's Embroidery Tower.」

Dressed in a flowing, pale-gold gown with her hair elegantly pinned up, Ling Qiyue was reviewing the roster of the family's Cultivators. The Phoenix Wing Golden Hairpin in her hair swayed gently, casting magnificent shimmers of light.

Tang Qiu Yao, graceful and dressed in a snow-white gown, hurried in from outside. Her jade-like face was faintly flushed, and her bright, beautiful eyes shone brilliantly.

"And where are you coming from?"

Ling Qiyue lifted her head slightly and glanced at her.

With a graceful sway of her hips, Tang Qiu Yao settled her ample figure onto a Golden Silk Cloud Sandalwood chair padded with a soft silk cushion.

She accepted a teacup from a Maid and took a delicate sip. Only then did the stunningly beautiful woman speak in a relaxed tone:

"I just returned from an inspection tour of the northwestern part of the Changqing Continent. Our family's Cultivators discovered a Silica Copper mine on one of the vassal islands there. The reserves are quite decent!"