The mountain wall crumbled open with a deafening boom.

Gao Feiyang crawled out, his face covered in ash and grime. His once-gleaming cloak was now caked in dust, its golden light significantly dimmed.

He patted the dirt off his body. Though he looked wretched, his flamboyant narcissism remained completely undented. He winked at Zhou Kai.

“Junior Brother Zhou, you must be laughing at me! A minor mishap, truly! Nothing to see here, nothing at all!”

Zhou Kai suppressed a chuckle. This guy was a living treasure.

Gao Feiyang scanned the area, noticing someone was missing. “Where is Senior Sister Fish?”

“The Young Miss sent a message just now,” Zhou Kai replied. “There is urgent business at Yantian Peak, so she summoned Senior Sister Fish to accompany her.”

Gao Feiyang slung an arm around Zhou Kai’s shoulders. “Junior Brother Zhou, come! Let’s go to my cave abode. We need to drink!”

Zhou Kai retrieved several bottles of cultivation-boosting pills and handed them over. “Senior Brother Gao, congratulations on successfully establishing your Foundation. A small gift, please accept it.”

“Aiya, Junior Brother Zhou, you’re too polite!” Gao Feiyang said, his mouth protesting while his hands moved with lightning speed to snatch the pills. His face bloomed into a smile. “We’re brothers! No need for such formalities!”

Arm in arm, the two entered Gao Feiyang’s cave.

After three rounds of wine, Zhou Kai broached the subject.

“Senior Brother Gao, back in Wangchuan City, the Fu Family’s Young Master, Fu Weilun, attacked me. Strangely, he knew my alias, ‘Han Cheng.’ Do you have any idea how?”

Gao Feiyang set down his cup, his expression turning serious. “Damn it. I haven’t even settled the score with you regarding that yet!”

He recounted the events at Broken Wood Bay: how Fu Weilun and his group investigated Fu Sheng’s death, performed a Soul Searching technique on a junior disciple, and how he himself was severely injured. He also detailed how Wangchuan City was subsequently breached by the combined forces of the Fu Family and the Yin Ruins Sect.

Zhou Kai frowned slightly. So that’s how it was.

“The Yin Ruins Sect…”

Li Youci had been unusually busy lately. It seemed this was undoubtedly connected.

After chatting a bit longer, Zhou Kai stood up to take his leave.

Once outside Gao Feiyang’s cave, Zhou Kai circulated his Mana, expelling the alcohol from his system in a fine mist. His eyes regained their clarity.

He stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing toward Yantian Peak.

The Yin Ruins Sect is practically at Calamity Abyss Valley’s doorstep. Could something have happened to the Lone Goose Palace?

He checked Shen Hanyi’s system panel. Seeing nothing amiss—and noting that her Comprehension had broken through the 10,000-point mark—he felt reassured.

Yantian Peak, Yunmeng Residence.

Fish Baibai stood in the courtyard, fidgeting uneasily. She and Li Youci had waited for a long time before Li Yunmian slowly emerged, leading four women behind her.

The four women were none other than Chen Ziyi, Chen Ziqing, Wang Qiaoqiao, and Lin Zhiwei!

“Aunt,” Li Youci acknowledged with a slight nod.

Li Yunmian hummed in response. Her gaze lingered on Fish Baibai for a moment before she turned and returned to her meditation chamber to continue her seclusion.

Li Youci stood gracefully in the courtyard. Her cool, clear gaze swept over the four women before settling on Fish Baibai.

“They have been refined into Spirit Platform Fuel Fire Talismans.”

“Spirit Platform Fuel Fire?!” Fish Baibai’s small mouth fell open, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.

Ignoring her astonishment, Li Youci abruptly changed the subject, her gaze sharpening into a blade.

“Why have you not yet lost your virginity? Must you insist on waiting for that worthless Rainbow Mist Spirit Spring?”

Fish Baibai’s pretty face flushed red. She stammered, “I… I…”

Before she could finish, Li Youci snorted coldly.

“Zhou Kai possesses the ‘Creation Spirit Yang Body.’ It is a physique one encounters only once in ten thousand years.”

“…That Rainbow Mist Spirit Spring, in comparison, is like a firefly trying to outshine the bright moon.”

After explaining the significance of Zhou Kai’s constitution, she produced a Jade Slip and tossed it to Fish Baibai.

“This is a Dual Cultivation technique bestowed by the Young Master. Commit it to memory. Now, take these four ‘Spirit Platform Fuel Fire’ talismans to Zhou Kai’s cave abode.”

Fish Baibai caught the Jade Slip, her mind in turmoil. She stole a glance at her Young Miss. Li Youci’s expression was cool and detached, revealing no emotion.

The Young Miss is… if I don’t become Zhou Kai’s woman soon, will she refine me into one of those talismans too?

Her heart was a tumult of mixed feelings, a vague, indescribable sense of grievance bubbling up.

It wasn’t that she was unwilling. It was just a young girl’s sentimentality. She wanted to savor the courtship, the feeling of being pursued, that tender, slowly blossoming affection.

Otherwise, why would she have taken out her treasured Dragon Spine Bone and refined it into Zhou Kai’s magic treasure? Besides, the Young Miss had always been good to her own people. If Zhou Kai simply asked, a spot in the spirit spring would naturally be his.

Fish Baibai had planned it all out. After soaking in the spirit spring, she would completely give herself to him. She had given him plenty of hints, but that blockhead Zhou Kai had never gone to ask the Young Miss for the spot.

How could she know that Zhou Kai simply felt it improper to beg Li Youci for such a precious resource without having achieved any merit? He was just waiting for the right opportunity.

Now, clutching the Jade Slip and thinking of Zhou Kai’s “Creation Spirit Yang Body,” the Young Miss’s uncompromising tone, and the fate of Ziyi and the others, the last shred of her reserve vanished.

Zhou Kai had just returned to his cave entrance when his communication jade talisman vibrated.

It was a message from Fish Baibai: “Junior Brother Zhou, come to my cave immediately. Important business.”

Inside Fish Baibai’s cave, several jugs of wine and plates of exquisite spirit pastries were arranged on the stone table.

Fish Baibai sat there, her pretty face flushed, eyes unfocused. She had clearly been drinking for courage.

Seeing Zhou Kai enter, she beckoned. “Junior Brother, you’re here. Sit.”

Fish Baibai picked up a wine cup and drained it in one go. Slamming the cup down, she seemed to borrow the alcohol’s strength.

“Junior Brother, you… you have to promise me one thing.”

“Senior Sister, please speak.” Zhou Kai remained calm, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

“In the future… even if your cultivation surpasses mine, you still have to… have to call me Senior Sister!”

Fish Baibai’s cheeks were burning red, her voice trembling slightly. This was completely different from her usual brash straightforwardness. It seemed like the most important condition she could think of.

Zhou Kai mused inwardly, That’s it?

He nodded immediately. “Of course. Once a Senior Sister, always a Senior Sister.”

Hearing this, Fish Baibai suddenly looked up, her large, watery eyes fixed on him.

“I… I promise you!”

“Hmm?”

Fish Baibai fumbled with her Storage Bag and took out the Jade Slip Li Youci had given her. She pushed it across the table toward Zhou Kai, her voice dropping to a mosquito’s hum.

“The Young Miss gave it… the Dual Cultivation technique… I’ve already memorized the chants…”

Zhou Kai picked up the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

Universe Qi Unification Return to Truth Mysterious Canon!

Wow, even the name sounds domineering!

According to the records, this technique held that all things bear Yin and embrace Yang to achieve harmony. Cultivators were no different. Yin and Yang birthed and restrained each other; neither could be missing.

This technique was not simple “Plucking and Replenishing.” Instead, it pursued the subtle union, perfect harmony, and mutual growth of Yin and Yang Qi across multiple levels: Essence, Vitality, Spirit, and even the Dao.

It was “Deep Interaction”—a harmony in diversity. Through this supreme harmonization, the goal was to cleanse the impurities of the mortal world and return to the origin, allowing the cultivator to draw infinitely closer to the Source Origin of the Great Dao.

The Young Miss is truly attentive toward me!

He chuckled inwardly. Actually, he wasn’t in a rush to claim Fish Baibai. Given the System’s nature, she likely provided Artifact Refining points. What he needed most right now were points to directly increase his cultivation.

However, when a delicious meal delivers itself to your door, who refuses to eat? Moreover, Fish Baibai was charmingly naive and cute. He was quite fond of her.

Still, the necessary Affection points had to be farmed.

Zhou Kai set down the Jade Slip. Looking at Fish Baibai’s blushing cheeks and eyes filled with anticipation and unease, he spoke softly.

“Senior Sister, don’t worry about the Rainbow Mist Spirit Spring. The sect artificially creates that using ordinary blood from Nascent Soul-level demon beasts mixed with herbs. Its effects are limited.”

He had naturally investigated the spring thoroughly during this time.

“In the future, I, your Junior Brother, will personally seek out genuine Great Demon Essence Blood for you and refine top-tier body tempering pills. I definitely won’t shortchange you!”

Listening to Zhou Kai’s gentle words and feeling his sincere gaze, the faint grievance in Fish Baibai’s heart dissipated, replaced by a warm current.

She bit her lower lip and softly uttered an “Mhm,” her voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of joy.

Zhou Kai smiled. He stood up, walked over to Fish Baibai, and scooped her up in a princess carry.

“Ah!” Fish Baibai let out a small cry, instinctively wrapping her arms around Zhou Kai’s neck. Her heart pounded against her ribs like a war drum.

Zhou Kai carried the petite girl and strode toward the bedroom.

“Eh? Why is it… pulsing…” Fish Baibai’s voice held a note of scientific curiosity, as if she were examining a new type of ore.

“Mmm… it feels a bit like holding a hammer handle…”

Her small hand moved restlessly, seemingly confirming the ergonomics.

A moment later, she challenged him with a provocative hum. “Tsk, just Bone Forging Layer 1… Junior Brother, you’re weak…”

Zhou Kai grunted, struggling against her grip. “Bone Forging Layer 3… truly terrifying…”

[Ding! Deep Interaction with Red Beauty Fish Baibai. Artifact Refining Exchange Points +12!]

The System’s prompt sounded in Zhou Kai’s mind as expected. He glanced at her attribute panel.

[Fish Baibai] [Vitality: Bone Forging Layer 3 (—/—)] [Divine Sense: 3237] [Spirit Root: Water (Mid-Grade 230/300), Fire (Mid-Grade 76/300), Earth (Mid-Grade 127/300)] [Cultivation Arts: Artifact Refining (Second Rank 300/300)] [Affection: 60 (Devoted)] [Point Type: Artifact Refining] [Points Provided: 12]