At Qian Xunji's command, even the Papal Hall seemed to tremble. Numerous powerful experts swarmed out like beasts unleashed from their cages, making the very air shudder.
"Move out!"
Clank! Clank!
The fully armored Palace Knights marched in unison, their heavy armor clattering. A force capable of destroying any of the Lower Four Sects had officially set out!
Under the cover of thick, dense night, they headed straight for the residence where Tang Hao and his wife were staying. Pope Qian Xunji personally led the team, creating such a massive commotion!
The news quickly spread, keeping many powerful Soul Masters awake all night. No one knew where the Spirit Hall's sword was pointing.
As Qian Xunji and his group stormed out of the city gates, Red Cardinal Mei Bensi ascended the mountain, heading toward the mountainside. With His Holiness the Pope's departure date uncertain, the vast Spirit Hall needed a temporary acting pope to handle recent affairs.
At this very moment, in the Wisteria Residence under the night sky, Ye Tian sat cross-legged on Bi Bi Dong's bed, positioned at the softest spot in the center. To his right, near the headboard, Bi Bi Dong sat almost shoulder-to-shoulder with him, also cross-legged. Her vacuum-sealed camisole was exceptionally cool. If one looked carefully, they could glimpse the peaks of mountains.
Her crossed white jade legs were like porcelain and snow. Several times, Ye Tian had wanted to reach out and give them a hard pinch, seriously telling this woman Bi Bi Dong to stop being so reckless!
Of course, given his current strength, he wasn't that kind of person. Every day, Ye Tian obediently cultivated with Bi Bi Dong on the bed. Eyes open, eyes closed—just like that, a night would pass.
Tonight was slightly different. Hu Liena had already awakened her Martial Soul and it was time for her to step into the path of cultivation. After all, they were fellow disciples. The medicinal aroma Ye Tian naturally emitted was beneficial for cultivation, so without question, Bi Bi Dong agreed to Hu Liena's request to join them on the bed for cultivation.
Now, the young lass sat to Ye Tian's left, near the foot of the bed, cross-legged in a proper manner, silently meditating. The three of them sat in a row, enveloped in the milky-white Pill Fragrance, their breaths long and peaceful, utterly quiet.
If nothing unexpected happened, they would remain seated on the bed until dawn. But as luck would have it, a voice full of reverence shattered the water-like night.
"Cardinal Mei Bensi requests an audience with the Holy Maiden!" The soul power-amplified voice emitted by Mei Bensi was extremely penetrating.
In the bedroom, the lamplight flickered momentarily. Ye Tian slowly opened his eyes and looked out at the night sky, his heartbeat slightly accelerating. Was it as he had guessed? Had Qian Xunji and the others already set out?
The moment Ye Tian stopped cultivating, the nebula-like mist of Pill Fragrance began to spin faster. With Ye Tian as the origin point, it rapidly converged, the milky-white fragrance growing increasingly dense. Eventually, it transformed into dewdrop-like droplets, swirling like meteors as they bypassed Bi Bi Dong and Hu Liena, brushing past their clothes, faces, and skin. Following a set pattern, they slowly returned to the Pill Spirit in his palm.
"Senior brother, someone is looking for teacher," Hu Liena opened her eyes, letting the droplets clinging to her face drift away. She couldn't help but sniff nostalgically—only by cultivating beside Ye Tian could one truly experience how 'fragrant' he was!
That state of comfort, breathing in the pill fragrance with undivided focus, effortlessly achieving a 'flow state' during meditation practice—it was truly an enjoyment.
Hu Liena now completely understood why Bi Bi Dong insisted on having Ye Tian spend every night in her bed.
He was practically a precious treasure!
"I heard you."
Bi Bi Dong's voice rang out, her phoenix eyes opening and closing with a shifting gleam.
The slick, fragrant dew of the pill essence slid across her face, threatening to escape from her 'sharp' lips. She pressed her lips together slightly, crushing the droplet formed by the pill fragrance and drawing it into her mouth.
Her furrowed brows relaxed.
Without even glancing at Ye Tian, Bi Bi Dong slowly rose and walked out.
"Let's end today's cultivation here for now."
With a snap!
After casually uttering those words, Bi Bi Dong pulled on a thick robe and left the bedroom.
She had also guessed—it must be related to Qian Xunji's movements; otherwise, no one would dare disturb her so late at night.
She draped the thick robe over herself, fastening it securely.
Strolling leisurely into the courtyard, before even approaching the rosewood gate, Bi Bi Dong raised her hand and wiped away the white pill fragrance still seeping from the corner of her mouth.
The surging Soul Power around her stirred up a gust of wind, blowing the courtyard gate open.
Bi Bi Dong then came to a halt.
Her gaze intertwined with the cool moonlight as she looked at the Red Cardinal standing outside the gate, a dozen steps away.
"What is it? Speak quickly."
"Your Highness!"
Mei Bensi immediately bowed and explained, "His Holiness the Pope has urgent business and has left Spirit Hall City... Hmm?"
Bi Bi Dong's bedroom suddenly lit up.
Mei Bensi swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and glanced curiously a couple of times.
"And then?"
Bi Bi Dong asked with a frown.
"Ah, then..."
Mei Bensi snapped back to attention and hurriedly lowered his head.
He chided himself for being overly surprised—the Holy Maiden had already taken on two disciples and was no longer alone. It was perfectly normal for someone to be in her room.
Collecting himself, Mei Bensi continued to explain in detail.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard as Mei Bensi relayed Qian Xunji's arrangements, Ye Tian turned on the light and retrieved a small, exquisitely crafted black box, tightly sealed, from his Soul Guidance Device.
"Senior Brother, what is this?"
Hu Liena looked curiously at the black box in Ye Tian's hand.
"You'll find out in a moment."
Ye Tian smiled.
Under Hu Liena's watchful gaze, he took out another box and handed it to her.
"You should recognize this box, right?"
"This...?"
Hu Liena sat with her knees bent, leaning toward Ye Tian as she thought for a moment.
Then, with a delighted laugh, she exclaimed, "I remember! This is the gift Teacher gave Nana when she accepted her as a disciple!"
"Exactly, now it's returned to its rightful owner."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Hu Liena thanked him and quickly opened the box.
"Wow! What a beautiful hair clip..."
"This storage soul tool is quite pretty."
Before Ye Tian's eyes was a golden hair clip adorned with a milky-white gem.
"Do you know how to use it? Just channel your Soul Power into it..."
As soon as Ye Tian finished speaking, Hu Liena retrieved a pouch filled with Gold Soul Coins from the Soul Guidance Device.
That was also a gift from Bi Bi Dong when she accepted her as a disciple.
"So amazing!"
Hu Liena's eyes sparkled as the pouch in her hand disappeared and reappeared, going in and out as she played with it delightedly.
The long-coveted storage soul tool was finally hers to use!
"Haha..."
Hu Liena couldn't help but let out a crisp, joyful laugh.
"Alright now."
Ye Tian couldn't suppress an amused smile as he gently patted Hu Liena's head.
"Shall I help you put it on?"
"Yes, please!"
Hu Liena stopped her playful antics and responded with near eagerness.
She lowered her head and instinctively leaned closer to Ye Tian, bending forward into his embrace.
"Senior brother, Nana is ready now. Please hurry up..."
As she spoke, she handed him the hair clip.
Ye Tian found it utterly endearing.
Taking the hair clip, he carefully fastened it in her hair before gently ruffling her vibrant orange locks.
"All done."
"Thank you, senior brother~"
Hu Liena lifted her head, touched the hair clip adorning her hair, and gazed at Ye Tian with eyes brimming with happiness, a sweet smile gracing her face.
"You're welcome."
Ye Tian replied with a smile, shaking the box in his hand.
"Next, we need to prepare for your Soul Hunt. This item is called Whale Jelly—a special substance found in the brains of whale-type Spirit Beasts."