"Sigh..."
Yao Chen staggered as if struck by a heavy blow. He stood dazed for a moment before walking away, his expression bleak.
Though Xuan Yi was not his woman, his heart still ached.
"Once, I had a sincere love before me, yet I failed to cherish it.
Only when I lost it did I realize my regret.
Of all the pains in this world, none is greater than this.
If the heavens could grant me another chance, I would tell her three words: I love you.
And if I had to add a time limit to this love... I hope it would last ten thousand years."
Lost in melancholy, Yao Chen returned to the courtyard and sat alone, his mind drifting to the past.
If it hadn't been for Han Feng back then, would he have rejected Xuan Yi?
Nearby, Gu He watched Yao Chen sit in a daze, quietly speculating. He chose not to disturb him.
Yet little did he know—they were both men who had fallen from grace.
The moon rose and fell.
The setting sun cast long shadows.
The crimson dusk spread like spilled blood.
...
The Alchemy Chamber.
Xuan Yi leaned coquettishly against Zhou Yi's embrace, her gaze smoldering with charm.
"You scoundrel."
She smiled playfully, her beauty enchanting beyond measure.
"Then do you like this scoundrel?"
Zhou Yi tightened his arms around her soft, delicate frame, teasing her.
A deep blush spread across Xuan Yi's face as she shot him a glance.
For hundreds of years, she had lived in vain, letting time slip away meaninglessly.
Not until she met Zhou Yi did she understand the true meaning of life.
Yet fortune and misfortune are intertwined.
If not for those centuries of wasted time—
Would she have ever met Zhou Yi?
And even if she had met him, she would have belonged to another. How then could they have been together?
So in the end, those lost centuries... were worth it.
Zhou Yi gazed at Xuan Yi's face, radiant with happiness, and felt an immense sense of fulfillment.
He glanced at her again.
Windfury Dragonflame, ranked eighteenth on the Heavenly Flames List, a deep ochre in color.
Not bad.
Since cultivating with him, Xuan Yi's strength had soared, her soul growing far more powerful. Becoming a ninth-tier alchemist was only a matter of time.
Leaning close to her ear, Zhou Yi whispered, "Xuan Yi, shall we have a child?"
"Ah… this…"
Xuan Yi hesitated, her cheeks flushing deeply. After a moment, she murmured softly:
"Mm."
"Xuan Yi, you're wonderful."
The next day.
Zhou Yi emerged from his chambers at a leisurely pace, his mood soaring, utterly content.
"Young Master Zhou, you finally decided to step outside!"
A sultry voice rang out as soon as he stepped through the door.
It was Xiao Qing.
Her delicate features, imbued with an innate serpentine allure, bore a teasing smirk as she sauntered toward him, her slender waist swaying with every step.
"You impudent snake spirit! I require your assistance in my cultivation!"
Zhou Yi suddenly shouted.
Startled, Xiao Qing instinctively prepared to flee, but before she could react, he caught her in his arms.
A brief moment of surprise—then realization dawned.
Her smile deepened, becoming even more bewitching, as her pale arms wrapped around Zhou Yi's neck.
The night before, she had been secretly watching from the rooftop.
Naturally, Zhou Yi had noticed.
After all, the Zhou Manor was akin to his personal treasure trove.
How could anything escape his notice?
Having come to seduce him herself, how could he possibly refuse?
He always enjoyed making beauty's wishes come true.
The following morning.
Xiao Qing lay nestled in Zhou Yi's embrace, her flawless face flushed with a rosy glow. Her gaze brimmed with boundless affection as she exhaled softly.
"Yi..."
Her voice was a hushed whisper, filled with infatuation.
"It's getting late—your sister will start to worry."
Zhou Yi chuckled.
Xiao Qing rested for a while before returning home.
Watching her retreating figure, Zhou Yi smirked.
With Xiao Qing's help, Bai Suzhen wouldn't be far behind.
...
"Sister, I'm back!"
Xiao Qing returned home, her voice bright with joy.
"Where did you go?"
Bai Suzhen studied her carefully, her suspicions already forming.
Nine times out of ten, she had gone to find Zhou Yi.
Upon noticing the lingering blush on Xiao Qing's face, her suspicions were instantly confirmed.
"I went to see Young Master Zhou, of course!"
Xiao Qing didn't hide it. In fact, just mentioning Zhou Yi filled her with delight.
"Are you planning to stay here forever?"
Bai Suzhen asked.
"Why not? Besides, I've realized something—being with Young Master Zhou is wonderful. Not only is it joyful, but look! My cultivation has skyrocketed!"
She proudly displayed her dramatically increased strength.
"And I discovered that my cultivation speed has become much faster!"
"After asking Young Master Zhou, I found out…"
"Becoming his woman grants an invisible blessing, making training several times faster!"
Bai Suzhen stared at her in shock.
Xiao Qing's relationship with Zhou Yi was her own business—but a boost in cultivation speed several times over? That was outrageous.
If true, it was simply miraculous.
Yet Bai Suzhen remained skeptical.
Over the next few days, she carefully observed Xiao Qing.
Sure enough, her training was advancing at an incredible pace.
After discreetly confirming with Zhou Yi's other women, Bai Suzhen realized—it was all true.
Each day, Xiao Qing spent time with Zhou Yi.
Then she would return home, glowing with satisfaction, and eagerly recount everything to Bai Suzhen.
Gradually, Bai Suzhen's heart began to waver.
When the time was right, Zhou Yi prepared a special pill for Bai Suzhen.
Upon meeting her, he presented it and personally guided her through its refinement.
Her cultivation soared.
Even her bloodline strengthened.
Overjoyed, Bai Suzhen was deeply grateful to Zhou Yi.
"Suzhen, you are truly beautiful."
As she beamed in joy, Zhou Yi's gaze was intense, his admiration unreserved.
"Young Master Zhou flatters me..."
Bai Suzhen quickly looked away, not daring to meet his eyes.
With a swift motion, Zhou Yi pulled her into his embrace.
"Zhou…"
Before she could finish speaking, he lowered his head and kissed her.
As the saying goes—
One cannot bite the hand that feeds them.
With Xiao Qing's encouragement—
Zhou Yi's undeniable charm—
And the gift of an invaluable pill—
All of these combined into an unrelenting advance.
Bai Suzhen, though not yet in love, no longer resisted.
Under Zhou Yi's dominance, she too surrendered.
The long night was filled with romance.
Bai Suzhen's beauty was something to be cherished.
The next morning,
A shadow crept to the window, ears pressed against it, then peered through a crack.
Who else could it be but Xiao Qing?
"Come in already!"
This time, Zhou Yi didn't ignore her. He simply pulled her inside.
Xiao Qing yelped but failed to escape.
Then she calmed down. Instead of fear, she was delighted.
Bai Suzhen shot her an exasperated glare.
Xiao Qing shrank back but still made a playful face at her sister.
Ignoring them both, Zhou Yi turned his attention elsewhere.
A golden cauldron, brimming with boundless mystical power.
The Primal Chaos Golden Cauldron.
"Incredible!"
Zhou Yi's heart surged with excitement.
Though his current cultivation limited its use, its potential was immense.
With this treasure, his future strength would rise exponentially.
"This… is exhilarating!"
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