?

Next came the distribution of rewards.

"Ning Fan, Yun Qingyao, first-class first place."

"Ten thousand silver coins, one hundred Spirit Stones, ten Qi-Gathering Pills, seven portions of Body-Tempering Powder, two bottles of Rejuvenation Pills, and two storage rings."

"Zhou Bin, Chen Shanshan, first-class second place."

"Eight thousand silver coins, eighty Spirit Stones, eight Qi-Gathering Pills, seven portions of Body-Tempering Powder, two bottles of Rejuvenation Pills, and two storage rings."

After receiving their rewards, under the guidance of the steward Elder, the disciples stored their newfound wealth into their storage rings.

"The treatment for first-class first place is truly generous!"

Ning Fan sighed. Not long ago, when he had just passed the selection to become a Preparatory Disciple, receiving five Spirit Stones for a month's cultivation had kept him awake in excitement all night.

Now, having become a "nouveau riche," he could receive a hundred Spirit Stones every week for his cultivation alone. In the past, such a life was beyond his wildest dreams.

Then, the steward Elder led them to another storehouse to collect resources intended for auxiliary dual cultivation.

"Ning Fan, Yun Qingyao: ten Strength Pills, two portions of Tenderness Powder."

Listening to the names of these auxiliary resources, Ning Fan was stunned.

How did these names sound like common aphrodisiacs and love potions?

"One portion of Yin-Yang Harmony Powder!"

And here came another intoxicating draught.

Ning Fan's mouth twitched.

"One dual cultivation bathtub!"

After stuffing the large bathtub into his storage ring, the distribution of these blush-inducing resources was finally complete.

As they exited the outer storehouse, aside from Yun Qingyao, who remained as innocent and carefree as ever, the rest of the new disciples were blushing furiously.

The steward Elder, long accustomed to such scenes, chuckled and dismissed them, repeatedly urging everyone to make good use of their resources and seize every moment for dual cultivation.

Back at the cave dwelling, Yun Qingyao took out all the supplies and arranged them neatly by category.

"The Strength Pills are for Husband."

"The Tenderness Powder is for me."

"The Yin-Yang Harmony Powder is for us both."

"..."

After sorting them, Yun Qingyao raised her beautiful eyes, looked at Ning Fan-whose mouth was still twitching-and asked with utter sincerity:

"Husband, we are about to dual cultivate again, aren't we? Which one would you like to use first?"

"I..."

Ning Fan refused these potent medicines from the bottom of his heart.

He was a vigorous young man in the prime of his life; surely he could manage the work of cultivation on his own? What use did he have for such trivial aids?

Just as he was hesitating, Yun Qingyao had already begun mixing the Body-Tempering Powder into the dual-person bathtub.

Seeing this, Ning Fan could not help but ask again:

"Qingyao, what are you doing?"

"Didn't Elder Xu say we must temper our bodies together as soon as possible to consolidate our foundations?" Yun Qingyao replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Ning Fan clicked his tongue. If Qingyao, a maiden, felt no embarrassment, why should he, a grown man, be so reserved?

If he did not dual cultivate, how could he grow stronger?

After Yun Qingyao finished mixing, she took out two Spirit Stones and embedded them into the grooves along the inner rim of the tub.

This was no ordinary basin; it contained a built-in spirit-gathering formation designed to accelerate the absorption of medicinal properties and spiritual energy.

The two removed their robes and bathed together, the water rising to their necks.

As they entered the water, the medicinal potency stung his skin, and Ning Fan felt a sharp heat permeate him from the outside in. He quickly calmed his heart, adjusting his breathing to absorb the medicinal and spiritual essence into his physical form.

As the Tianxuan Heart Sutra circulated within him, the pain gradually faded. A rich, cooling spiritual energy coursed through his limbs and bones, merging deeply with his flesh.

Half an hour later, the energy within the Spirit Stones was fully depleted, and the two rose from the water.

"Truly remarkable. The spiritual energy that should have lasted at least two hours was completely absorbed in half an hour!"

Ning Fan was overjoyed, secretly marveling at the wondrous utility of the Tianxuan Heart Sutra.

However, compared to the solitary struggle of cultivation, he found that working in tandem made the labor far less taxing.

"Qingyao."

Ning Fan looked toward the other side of the tub.

"Hmm?"

"Let us go rest on the bed."

"Then, Husband, are you going to take the medicine provided by the Sect?"

Yun Qingyao tilted her head, watching him with curious eyes.

"I..."

Ning Fan was naturally prepared to refuse, but before he could speak, Yun Qingyao reached out with lightning speed and stuffed a pill into his mouth.

"Hehe!"

Yun Qingyao shook the bottle in her hand with a mischievous grin.

Ning Fan felt helpless.

He had not expected this girl to have such a playful side.

But in the next second, his expression changed drastically. He felt a surge of intense fire rise in his lower abdomen, threatening to overwhelm his consciousness.

"Ah, Husband!"

With a delicate cry from Yun Qingyao, water splashed violently from the tub!

Tianxuan Holy Land.

"Hmph, they still refuse to abandon their schemes against my position as Holy Maiden!"

Thinking of the Elder Council, Ye Honglian was filled with fury.

When she competed for the position of Holy Maiden, she had surpassed all other candidates by reaching the fifth level of the Tianxuan Heart Sutra, securing her appointment. Yet, she had been stuck at the sixth-level bottleneck for over a year, and rumors that her talent had dried up were rampant. When the Han family announced that Han Yufei had reached the seventh level, they used the ensuing outcry to lobby for her replacement.

Had she not accidentally broken through last night, today's Elder Council would have focused on only one thing: removing her from power.

"Strength... I need strength..."

Ye Honglian's face was as cold as frost. Han Yufei had held a grudge ever since losing to her, and now that their cultivation levels were equal, the political tide was turning against her. Her own family's influence was weaker than the Han family's, and the Grand Elder's decision to shelve the proposal today was only a temporary measure.

If Han Yufei made another breakthrough, even the Grand Elder would be unable to protect her position.

As she pondered this, she suddenly felt the jade pendant stir once more.

Having experienced last night's events, she knew exactly what was occurring. Her face flushed with shame and anger. She longed to tear the one who had taken her innocence to pieces, yet a cold, logical part of her mind reminded her of the immense benefit she had gained from the experience.

Since her innocence was lost and her need for power was dire, perhaps...

"Pah!"

She spat mentally, trying to banish such unthinkable thoughts. But as the jade pendant flashed with white light, she saw the sneering face of Han Yufei in her mind. Driven by a strange, irresistible compulsion, she gripped the pendant, and her body was pulled into the void.

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