After leaving Li Youci’s cave dwelling, Zhou Kai immediately ordered two martial nephews from Taiji Peak to fetch Chun Tao and Xia He from the outer sect.

His thoughts, however, drifted to Shen Hanyi.

Among his confidantes, Shen Hanyi was the only one with a special constitution. Her combat prowess was unmatched, her swordsmanship divine. She was destined to be a top-tier powerhouse.

She absolutely cannot come to harm.

He checked the system panel. Her status was normal. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

For the next six days, Zhou Kai kept his promise, staying overnight at Fish Baibai’s cave.

Relying on the profound mysteries of the Universe Qi Unification Return to Truth Mysterious Canon, Fish Baibai broke through her bottleneck naturally, stepping into the fourth layer of Bone Forging—the mid-stage of the second realm!

Zhou Kai didn’t hold back. He poured all the Crafting Exchange Points he had gained from her right back into her stats. Crafting was time-consuming work; naturally, it was best left to his women.

Fish Baibai’s proficiency was already maxed out at Grade 2. With this massive injection of points, she leaped straight to Grade 3! A mid-stage Bone Forging cultivator who was also a Grade 3 Artificer? In the Eastern Domain, such a person existed only in theory.

Ordinary cultivators would need to be in the late stages of the second realm, or even at perfection, to even touch the threshold of Grade 3.

Fish Baibai was shocked and overjoyed. She tackled Zhou Kai, biting and kissing him, shouting praises of her Junior Brother’s might.

On the seventh day, Zhou Kai finally returned to his own cave dwelling at the summit of Taiji Peak.

Inside, six graceful figures had been waiting for a long time.

Chun Tao and Xia He, both possessing superior beauty and slender figures, stood timidly behind Wang Qiaoqiao. They lowered their heads, stealing curious glances at Zhou Kai.

“Qiaoqiao, you have good taste,” Zhou Kai praised generously.

Wang Qiaoqiao bowed immediately, her voice soft and submissive. “Master flatters me. Sharing Master’s burdens is this servant’s duty.”

“Master?”

Zhou Kai raised an eyebrow. Wang Qiaoqiao had always been shrewd; this new form of address was unexpected. And referring to herself as “this servant”? It felt strange, but knowing her adaptability, he didn’t dwell on it immediately.

He looked at Chen Ziyi and the others.

The three women looked at him not with their usual intimacy or attachment, but with clear… fear?

Chen Ziyi’s fingers curled nervously. Lin Zhiwei lowered her eyes instinctively. Even Chen Ziqing, usually the master of feigning fragility, pressed her lips tight, afraid to meet his gaze. They acted with extreme caution, as if terrified of provoking him.

This was definitely not their normal behavior.

Before Zhou Kai could ask, Chen Ziyi stepped forward, curtsied deeply, and spoke with a trembling voice.

“This servant… pays respects to Master.”

Lin Zhiwei and Chen Ziqing followed suit, their bodies shivering slightly as they bowed in unison.

“This servant pays respects to Master.”

They were imitating Wang Qiaoqiao. Calling themselves “servants.” Calling him “Master.”

The smile vanished from Zhou Kai’s face. A sense of foreboding rose in his chest.

He instantly recalled Fish Baibai mentioning that Li Youci had performed a “secret technique” on them.

“Chun Tao, Xia He. You two withdraw for now,” Zhou Kai said, his voice dropping to a cold baritone.

The two new girls bowed and retreated.

Once they were gone, Zhou Kai fixed his gaze on his four original women.

“What is going on? Why are you speaking like this? Who taught you that?!”

The four women lowered their heads in silence. The atmosphere in the cave grew oppressive.

Chen Ziyi’s lips moved as if she wanted to speak, but the words turned into a soft sigh. Her eyes reddened.

“Zhiwei,” Zhou Kai turned to Lin Zhiwei, softening his tone. “You have always been honest. Tell me. What happened?”

Lin Zhiwei trembled. She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. Two clear streams slid down her cheeks as she choked out a sob.

“Master… this servant… this servant is ready to serve you in Dual Cultivation.”

She broke down, weeping uncontrollably.

“This servant… we sisters know our aptitude is shallow. We are useless. If we can aid Master’s Great Dao… if we can be of use… then it is our fortune…”

Zhou Kai’s heart sank.

He decided to bluff. “Does this ‘secret technique’ damage your foundations? How do your bodies feel?”

Hearing the words “secret technique,” Lin Zhiwei flinched violently, her face draining of color. She assumed Zhou Kai knew everything. She thought his absence for the last week meant he had tacitly approved Li Youci’s arrangement—that he agreed they were better off as tools.

Hearing his question now, she felt a mix of bitterness and relief.

“Miss Li said… the Spirit Platform Fuel Fire Talisman… does not damage the foundation.”

Lin Zhiwei’s voice was thick with tears, but she forced herself to be brave.

“This servant… I do not dare hope to stand beside a future Nascent Soul True Lord forever. I only beg Master… please do not discard us…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence, dissolving into tears again.

“Spirit Platform Fuel Fire Talisman?”

Zhou Kai frowned. The name sounded like a support aid. If Lin Zhiwei said it didn’t hurt their foundation, the heavy stone in his chest lightened slightly.

But seeing them this terrified? They must have been subjected to immense pressure.

Li Youci, discovering his “Creation Spirit Yang Body,” likely decided that Ziyi and the others were dead weight due to their low cultivation. She must have used her overwhelming Divine Sense to intimidate them into accepting this role.

Even if it was for his benefit, Zhou Kai felt a spark of anger.

“Discard you? Nonsense!”

He laughed loudly, sweeping Lin Zhiwei into his arms and grabbing Chen Ziyi’s cold hand. He looked at the weeping Chen Ziqing and the forcibly composed Wang Qiaoqiao.

“This Husband said I would keep you by my side. I will not break my word!”

“Whatever we were before, we are now. No more calling yourselves ‘servants.’ Do you hear me?”

Tears shimmered in their eyes—a mix of touching relief and lingering grievance.

“Come!” Zhou Kai waved his hand with heroic flair. “Let this Husband see exactly how powerful this Spirit Platform Fuel Fire Talisman really is!”

He paused, glancing at Chen Ziqing. “Except you, Ziqing. We wait until your Foundation Establishment Pill is ready.”

Chen Ziqing nodded obediently, secretly wiping her eyes.

[Ding! Deep Interaction with Confidante Chen Ziyi. Vitality Exchange Points +20!]

[Ding! Deep Interaction with Confidante Lin Zhiwei. Divine Sense Exchange Points +20!]

[Ding! Deep Interaction with Confidante Wang Qiaoqiao. Spirit Root Exchange Points +20!]

Zhou Kai’s brows knitted together instantly.

Something is wrong.

Ziyi was a body cultivator, and Qiaoqiao a spell cultivator, but both were still at the first major realm (Qi Condensation/Skin Refining). Why were they providing 20 Exchange Points?

That was the yield for a Second Realm confidante!

He hurriedly pulled up their attribute panels.

[Name: Chen Ziyi] [Vitality: Bone Forging Layer 5 (Pseudo)]

[Name: Lin Zhiwei] [Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Layer 5 (Pseudo)]

[Name: Wang Qiaoqiao] [Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Layer 5 (Pseudo)]

Bone Forging Layer 5 (Pseudo)? Foundation Establishment Layer 5 (Pseudo)?

Their cultivation and vitality had been forcibly raised to the mid-stage of the Second Realm. Yet, he couldn’t sense any corresponding aura fluctuations from them.

And what did “(Pseudo)” mean?

More critically, the numerical values for their Cultivation and Vitality had no upper limit displayed. Usually, it would show “Current/Max.”

Now, there was only a fixed number.

Did this mean… they could no longer cultivate on their own?

Zhou Kai frantically opened Chen Ziqing’s panel.

[Name: Chen Ziqing] [Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Layer 5 (Pseudo)]

Sure enough! Even Ziqing had been forcibly elevated.

Zhou Kai checked his own status. His Cultivation and Vitality had indeed increased significantly—Cultivation by 200 points, Vitality by 100. This matched the exact amount “drained” from the girls.

His mind raced. He attempted to add a single Vitality Exchange Point to Chen Ziyi.

[Ding! Point Allocation Failed!]

Failed.

Zhou Kai sat up abruptly, throwing on his outer robe. His face was dark as thunder.

He walked out of the cave dwelling with fast, angry strides.

He had feelings for these women. They had been with him since he was nothing!

Does not damage the foundation?

Bullshit!

He was going to Yantian Peak.

He was going to find his “Senior Sister,” Mo Qianyuan, and demand an explanation for this so-called Spirit Platform Fuel Fire Talisman.