The next morning at dawn.

Su Xi stood in the courtyard, her long hair gently stirred by the breeze.

"I'm ready to open the third contract slot."

She turned and looked at the two men.

Yue Li walked up to Su Xi, his gaze soft as he looked at her. "Still going to the Meditation Tower?"

"Yes."

Su Xi nodded. "The environment there is the most stable, and the time flow is different."

Jun Mo walked over slowly from under the peach tree.

"Let's go, I'll accompany you over."

——

Havandu, the Elegant Orchid Pavilion.

"Master! You're back!"

The four little sprites came sprinting from the direction of the Spirit Plant Garden, chirping and chattering as they surrounded Su Xi.

Behind them, butler Carlos also walked over briskly.

"Carlos, is everything at the estate well?"

Su Xi asked while walking towards the direction of the Breeding Zone.

"Everything is operating smoothly, Master."

Carlos followed by her side, giving a fluent report on the recent situation.

Su Xi nodded, her steps not pausing. "I'm going to find Eve and Mia."

The Breeding Zone was divided into several small areas with clearly defined functions: incubation chambers with constant temperature and humidity, training grounds simulating different ecological environments, and energy infusion pools specifically for evolution.

Eve and Mia were conversing softly. Seeing Su Xi enter, they immediately stopped their discussion and bowed respectfully. "Master."

"No need for formalities."

Su Xi walked to the display stand in the center of the room, her gaze falling on the pet egg resting on it.

Compared to the last time she saw it, the changes in this egg were astonishing.

The surface of the eggshell had completely transformed into a warm, dark golden color, faintly emitting a metallic glow.

As Su Xi approached, the temperature of the eggshell surface slightly increased, and a clear feeling of closeness and dependence was transmitted over.

"Little one, you've changed so much."

She reached out a finger and gently touched the eggshell.

The faint glow on the eggshell's surface instantly brightened for a moment before returning to normal.

"Yes, Master. The evolution of this egg has exceeded our expectations."

Eve flew forward, her eyes shining with excitement. "Its shell transformation speed is very fast, and the life fluctuations inside are strengthening every day. According to this trend, it should reach the hatching critical point in about half a month."

Su Xi nodded and withdrew her hand.

"Come with me for a moment."

The group came to an open area outside the breeding room.

Su Xi summoned Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye shrank his size and jumped into Su Xi's arms.

Su Xi patted his head, then took out two items from her spatial storage.

One was a dark red diamond-shaped crystal, with what seemed like flowing lava inside—the Molten Fire Crystal.

The other was a crystal-clear polyhedral crystal stone, emitting a soft halo—the Pet Evolution Crystal.

Eve and Mia's eyes both lit up simultaneously.

"This is—!"

Mia's butterfly wings fluttered excitedly. "A Molten Fire Crystal! And an Evolution Crystal! Master, are you going to—"

"For Xiao Ye to use."

Su Xi took over the conversation. "Can these two things be used simultaneously? Will there be any conflict?"

"Yes! Absolutely!"

Eve's voice rose slightly with excitement. "Not only is there no conflict, the effect will be even better."

She flew in front of Su Xi, explaining with gestures of her small hands. "The Molten Fire Crystal contains pure fire elemental essence. It can greatly increase the potential ceiling of fire-attribute pets and may even trigger a bloodline evolution. The Evolution Crystal catalyzes the entire evolution process, making the evolution more thorough and stable."

Mia added, "If used simultaneously, the two forces will promote each other. The Evolution Crystal accelerates the absorption of the Molten Fire Crystal, and the powerful energy of the Molten Fire Crystal provides ample fuel for the evolution. This way, the evolution effect will also be more perfect."

Mia calculated for a moment. "Using both crystals simultaneously... the evolution will probably take about a month."

"Good."

Su Xi nodded. "I'll leave Xiao Ye in your care. Please make sure to take good care of him."

"Please rest assured, Master!"

Eve and Mia responded in unison.

At that moment, cheerful hoofbeats and clear, melodious cries came from the other side of the Breeding Zone.

Frost trotted over with elegant steps.

Its violet eyes instantly lit up upon seeing Su Xi, and the small, crystal-clear horn on its forehead glowed with a soft halo.

[Master.]

A crisp, tender, slightly babyish telepathic voice sounded in Su Xi's mind.

"Little Frost, you can use telepathy now?"

[Yes! Yes! I can!]

Frost's telepathic message came through.

"That's wonderful."

Su Xi gently stroked its soft neck fur.

"Chirp~"

A clear cry rang out as a crimson-gold shadow swooped down from the sky, landing steadily on Su Xi's shoulder.

[Master, I missed you so much.]

It affectionately nuzzled Su Xi's cheek, its crimson-gold tail feathers held high, its eyes full of joy.

"Little Heng can use telepathy too?"

Su Xi smiled and patted its small head.

[Of course! Master hasn't come to see us for so long. Frost and I both missed you terribly.]

Little Heng's voice carried a hint of grievance, and its little head drooped.

Su Xi's heart softened.

"I'll come pick you up in a few days. From now on, I'll keep you both by my side, okay?"

[Really?]

Frost and Little Heng's eyes instantly sparkled, becoming elated.

"Really."

After reassuring the two little ones, Su Xi turned and looked at Yue Li and Jun Mo, who had been quietly waiting to the side.

"All settled?"

Yue Li asked softly.

"Yes."

Su Xi nodded.

The three of them crossed the courtyard, heading towards the Meditation Tower that stood behind the Spirit Plant Garden, its entire body glowing white.

Standing before the tower door, Su Xi spoke softly,

"I don't know what the situation will be this time. It might be long, it might be short. During the time I'm not here—"

"We'll look after your parents."

Yue Li took over, his voice gentle yet firm. "We'll handle matters outside. Don't worry about it."

He took a step forward, reached out, and gently drew her into his embrace.

"I'll wait for you to return," he whispered in her ear, his voice tender.

Then he lowered his head and reverently kissed her forehead.

The kiss was as light as a feather, yet it contained a thousand words.

Yue Li released the embrace and took a step back.

Jun Mo walked forward.

He reached out, his long, powerful arms encircling Su Xi's waist, pulling her into his own embrace.

The faint, cool fragrance from his black robes instantly enveloped her.

Jun Mo lowered his head, his ink-dark eyes gazing deeply at her.

Something fervent and suppressed churned within them.

He didn't speak. He just slowly lowered his head and kissed her lips.

This kiss carried his unique brand of domineering and stubbornness.

His lips were slightly cool, but the kiss was blazing hot.

Su Xi was slightly taken aback for a moment but did not refuse.

She sensed his unease.

After a long while, Jun Mo slowly pulled away, his breathing somewhat unsteady.

His forehead lightly rested against hers, his ink-dark eyes so close she could see her own reflection clearly within them.

"I want to belong completely to you too."

He said in a low voice, his tone hoarse. "I also want to have... a mark that belongs to you."

His gaze subtly swept over the back of Yue Li's neck—though there was nothing there now.

Su Xi was stunned for a moment before understanding dawned, and she let out a light laugh.

She raised her head, meeting Jun Mo's deep eyes, a beautiful curve forming at the corner of her lips. "So impatient?"

The tips of Jun Mo's ears turned slightly red, but he stubbornly looked at her. "You're about to have a new partner again..."

Su Xi reached out, her fingertips lightly brushing past the shell of his ear, the gesture carrying a hint of provocative ambiguity. "Wait until I return. We'll take it slowly."

These words were spoken with profound meaning.

Jun Mo's Adam's apple bobbed, and the color in his eyes deepened.

Su Xi stopped teasing him, gently extricated herself from his embrace, and turned to walk towards the door of the Meditation Tower.

"I'm going in."

She waved her hand.

"Alright."

Both men responded simultaneously.

The door closed behind her, cutting off everything from the outside world.

——

"Time to clear some quests."

Yue Li said.

"Mm, I'm off too."

The two men exchanged a glance. A flash of silver light and a wisp of shadow later, they vanished towards two different directions.