He saw then that Bian Yixia’s eyes held little anticipation for carnal pleasure. Instead, they were filled with a fervent desire for the new martial art she was about to master.

’A Martial Fool, through and through...’

After that, the entire process went even more smoothly than Zou Feng had anticipated.

The only issue was that whenever Bian Yixia cultivated, three ’electric fans’ would occasionally materialize behind her, howling incessantly.

At first, he found it rather amusing. But after a while, it just became too noisy, even ruining the mood...

「3:00 AM」

Zou Feng walked out of the room, his legs trembling slightly.

As a True Qi Realm expert, he wasn’t about to collapse just from this.

But after doing it for so long, psychological factors still made his legs feel a little weak.

"Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill, Tiger Chapter (Integration and Mastery), Progress: 58%"

With Bian Yixia’s participation, the progress of this Skill skyrocketed!

This was actually beyond Zou Feng’s expectations. After all, Bian Yixia had only just advanced to the Fifth Grade.

Even if differences in Cultivation Skill type and constitution yielded better results in the early stages of practice, it shouldn’t have been this absurdly fast.

The only explanation was that the Six Harmonies Reincarnation Skill was extremely compatible with the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill.

During their Cultivation, the boost from those three ’electric fans’ didn’t just ruin the mood.

It genuinely helped ’speed up’ the process for both of them.

It seemed that with Three Cultivators, it would take less than a month for the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill to reach the Realm of Refining Fire.

As for the subsequent Peak Realm, Zou Feng didn’t bother thinking about it.

After all, the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill he was cultivating was incomplete; he only had the Tiger Chapter.

The Dragon Chapter was Gongsun Jinghong’s corresponding half.

Still, even just reaching Refined Skill should be enough to deal with Gongsun Jinghong’s ’Bow Strong Overlord’ soon.

As this thought crossed his mind, Zou Feng, who had only stepped out of his room for some fresh air, suddenly felt that something was wrong.

Frowning slightly, Zou Feng walked slowly toward the small pavilion not far ahead.

At this hour, anyone who was going to sleep was already asleep. Logically, the pavilion should have been empty.

And yet, a ’blurry’ figure now stood within it.

After studying the figure for a moment, Zou Feng composed himself and quickened his pace.

When he was ten paces away, Zou Feng bowed. "Greetings, Palace Master!"

The blurry figure was none other than the Biyou Palace Master, Su Qingyu.

She appeared blurry for the same reason as their last encounter: her entire body was still enveloped in a poisonous mist.

However, the mist had thinned somewhat compared to their previous meeting.

Su Qingyu didn’t respond immediately, clearly sizing up Zou Feng as well.

After a moment, she spoke softly, "No need for formalities. Sit."

As she spoke, Su Qingyu gestured to the stone stool opposite her.

Back when he was still in the Fourth Grade Realm, Zou Feng would have likely responded to such a casual request from Su Qingyu by claiming he wouldn’t dare.

Now, however, he had fewer reservations.

He was a True Qi Realm expert now. Acting too timidly would only earn him contempt.

"Yes!"

As Zou Feng entered the pavilion and sat, he wondered, ’Why would Su Qingyu come all this way to see me? What could she possibly want?’

’First, I can rule out her coming to stand up for Yin Suhong.’

’That would be completely unnecessary—just asking for trouble.’

’When I detoxified Bai Chen, I was certain Su Qingyu didn’t hold Yin Suhong in any special regard.’

"My Biyou Palace has never lacked for talent in Poison Skills, but a genius like you, Elder Zou... I fear we haven’t seen one in decades," Su Qingyu lamented suddenly.

Zou Feng immediately replied, "You flatter me, Palace Master. My humble breakthrough to the True Qi Realm was only possible thanks to the Palace’s nurturing."

"There’s no need for false modesty. While the Poisons of the five Gu Kings were indeed a great help in your breakthrough to the True Qi Realm, the Refinement of five such poisons is, in itself, an incredibly difficult feat!"

"I finally understand why Bai Chen couldn’t stop singing your praises the moment I returned to the Palace..." Su Qingyu continued.

’Ugh. So she already knew I refined the Poisons of the five Gu Kings.’

’That big-mouthed Bai Chen...’

’But is he not only showing his own appreciation for me, but also trying to get Su Qingyu to appreciate me as well?’

They exchanged a few more pleasantries. Seeing that Su Qingyu still hadn’t gotten to the point, Zou Feng decided to be direct. "To what do I owe the honor of the Palace Master personally visiting my humble home?"

Su Qingyu didn’t answer directly. Instead, she mused, "Actually, I find some of your actions... not quite like those of a traditional Poison Cultivator, as the world knows them."

"Oh? What makes you say that, Palace Master?"

"Just now... were you practicing a Replenishing Skill?"

’Hearing that, how could I not realize? The Biyou Palace Master had been here for a long time. She’d been listening outside for almost the entire night...’

Seeing the awkward look on Zou Feng’s face, Su Qingyu chuckled and added, "When you moved into the Silk Cave, you had plenty of targets for replenishment, yet you’ve remained rather... chaste. Don’t you think?"

"That’s hardly the style of a Poison Cultivator..."

Zou Feng gave a hollow laugh. "You misunderstand, Palace Master. I’m not practicing a Replenishing Skill. It’s a Dual Cultivation Skill, which requires partners who are compatible with the technique..."

Su Qingyu waved her hand, cutting him off. "The distinction is minor. Forget it. You’ll understand when the time comes."

’Her words made me wonder... has she seen through the true nature of the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill?’

’But if Gongsun Jinghong’s ultimate goal was replenishment, his name didn’t appear on the List of Gods...’

’In any case, I can’t just take everything she says at face value.’

Su Qingyu seemed about to continue on this topic, but in the next instant, her body suddenly trembled, and the poisonous mist around her began to surge violently.

"One moment!"

With that, Su Qingyu clearly began Cultivating, apparently trying to suppress the violently surging mist.

’It seems that even a First Grade Poison Cultivator isn’t a true master of poison.’ 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

’I wonder what kind of Exotic Poison she refined, or what Poison Skill she cultivated, for this mist to cling to her like maggots on a rotting bone, impossible to ever fully dispel.’

A full quarter-hour passed before Su Qingyu managed to suppress the restless poisonous mist again.

The once-dense mist had now thinned considerably, revealing Su Qingyu’s form.

But after only a brief glance, Zou Feng hastily averted his eyes and looked away.

Because beneath the mist, Su Qingyu was clearly wearing nothing at all!

’So this woman has been running around naked this whole time!?’

’She really is insane...’

Her figure and skin, however, gave no indication that this was an Old Witch. Every inch of her was the very picture of a ripe, juicy peach.

But the poisonous mist shrouding her head never thinned, so Zou Feng was still unable to glimpse her true appearance.

"Do you wish to see my face?" Having stopped Cultivating, Su Qingyu’s voice returned to normal.

Zou Feng couldn’t very well say he wasn’t interested, so he replied perfunctorily, "I admit I am a little curious..."

"With your current Cultivation, it’s better that you don’t. Otherwise..." The sound of licking lips came from within the mist. "You might find yourself unable to pull away..."

"Is not extreme beauty a kind of Exotic Poison in itself?"

’Could she be any more narcissistic?’

If not for his reservations, Zou Feng would have loved to respond by simply rolling his eyes.

"Alright, let’s get down to business." Su Qingyu cleared her throat. "You should be aware that in two months, I have a fated battle with that dog Emperor."

"You may have your doubts about the outcome, but I can tell you right now: he will lose. There is no question."

"However, the Royal Family has other experts, and Sects like the Celestial Essence Sword Sect are also watching this battle closely. Therefore, it is full of uncertainty..."

’Hearing this, I already guessed her main point.’

’To put it bluntly, this battle wasn’t as simple as Su Qingyu showing up for an appointment, fighting the Emperor of Great Yan, and calling it a day.’

’No matter how strong she was or how confident she was in her abilities, she still needed experts from her own faction to watch her back, or even to lend a hand if things went sideways.’

’And I, having joined Biyou Palace only recently and not having been groomed by them, would likely just go through the motions even if I were ordered to accompany her.’

’That’s why she came to discuss this with me so formally, in person.’

"If you can help me successfully slaughter that dog Emperor, the rewards will be substantial!" As she said this, Su Qingyu once again extended a foot from the poisonous mist.