At the grand hall of the Armillary Sphere Star Palace, which still stood intact, sat the Ice Toad Emperor on the throne once occupied by generations of Sect Masters. Below her, on both sides, stood many high-ranking immortals from the Origin Star Palace.

“…Senior Sister, we’ve roughly finished tallying the assets of the Armillary Sphere Star Palace. What do you think we should do with them?”

The stunningly beautiful girl in a purple dress raised her hand slightly, and a jade slip sparkling with spiritual light flew from her hand, tracing a dazzling arc in the air before gently landing in front of the Ice Toad Emperor.

The Ice Toad Emperor delicately picked up the jade slip, her powerful divine consciousness sweeping over it, instantly comprehending all the information it contained.

“Is this all?”

She frowned slightly, her disbelief evident in her gentle voice.

The girl in the purple dress nodded: “This is all we could find. We’ve captured several of the core elders, searched their souls after executing them, and we didn’t even spare Yan Qinyang. There’s truly nothing more.”

The Ice Toad Emperor inquired, “And why is that? As far as I know, a Supreme Dao Lineage power shouldn’t have so little to its name, especially… since the Armillary Sphere Star Palace is considered one of the stronger ones.”

“It’s mainly due to the calamity of the Magic Clan in recent years; their losses have been tremendous…”

The girl in the purple dress explained that the Armillary Sphere Star Palace had faced a string of misfortunes in recent years, with their resources flowing out like water without seeing any return, leading to the sect’s decline, especially after the battle with the Origin Star Palace, which nearly drained their last bit of vitality.

Thus, after the Origin Star Palace’s followers finished tallying the resources, the total wasn’t particularly impressive, roughly equivalent to the profits of the Supreme Dao Lineage over seven to eight hundred years.

For a colossal entity with a legacy nearly ten million years old and territories spanning three vast immortal domains, such assets were indeed meager.

However, considering the vast territory, the number of suitable floating lands for habitation was not insignificant, and along with the surviving billions of ordinary citizens, it was a considerable fortune in itself. With proper management, the annual income from various sources would still be substantial, not to mention the profitable industries, resource mines, medicinal gardens, and the like.

“Let it be, then!”

The Ice Toad Emperor spoke indifferently: “Take all the movable wealth and resources, and pick some of the best people to take with us. As for the citizens of these territories… we can’t manage them for the time being, so let’s auction them off at a later date.”

The Origin Star Palace was just beginning to recover, and the Ice Toad Emperor didn’t have many forces at her disposal. It was already a stretch to regain control of her previous territories, let alone take on such a burden. It was better to sell it off for resources.

“Alright, we’ll handle it this way.”

The girl in the purple dress agreed, then asked, “Which one shall we target next? Are we certain it’s the Azure Fall Divine Sect?”

The Ice Toad Emperor nodded gently: “Let’s choose that one. Issue a final ultimatum first; if they don’t comply, we’ll wipe them out!”

“After this Supreme Dao Lineage falls, I believe the other forces will fully awaken and understand their place.”

With this move, the Ice Toad Emperor intended to prove to all the major powers in the Great Void that they were fully determined and capable of destroying Supreme Dao Lineages, and not just one or two.

With the bloody examples of the Armillary Sphere Star Palace and the Azure Fall Divine Sect, it was unlikely that any other organization would doubt the strength of the Origin Star Palace, including the Dao Courts.

Next would be negotiations and compromises. The Ice Toad Emperor didn’t want to be enemies with all the forces in the Great Void just yet. After all, the Master and her junior brothers and sisters would need time to return, so the current strategy was to prioritize stability.

…

At the Main Altar of the Calamity Fate Palace.

In the dark and profound bronze hall, the divine envoy Zihuang stood before an ancient red jade altar, her eyes slightly closed, silently praying.

The mysterious purple flame on the altar flickered unpredictably, morphing into various enigmatic shapes under the influence of unknown forces, occasionally sending back cryptic messages.

This was her special means of communicating with the higher echelons of the Heavenly Human Clan, bridging two different timespaces. Communication was not as easy as one might think, and the price the Heavenly Human Clan paid for Zihuang and Lingxi to traverse the barrier of time and space with their complete bodies and divine souls was significant.

Lingxi stood to one side, her expression as calm as still water.

After a moment of adjustment, the purple flame on the altar finally stabilized, and a faint voice emerged, echoing strangely: “Your mission doesn’t seem to be going smoothly?”

Zihuang sighed softly: “The people of the Calamity Fate Palace are insincere. They’re no longer as obedient as they used to be. They show respect on the surface, but who knows what they’re plotting in secret? Without their cooperation, Lingxi and I are indeed having a hard time here.”

The voice within the purple flame fell silent for a moment, then said: “The clan has taken stricter surveillance measures against the foreign cultivators who have entered this time. So far, nothing unusual has been found. As for the Qin Muling you’re looking for, he remains elusive. The elders believe he has not yet entered the secret realm, so there’s no way to track him.”

“I believe that. For now, we can only continue to wait.”

Zihuang nodded, the Calamity Fate Palace no longer had any spies in the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, and without their help, it was difficult to force Qin Muling into the secret realm.

The Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace still held onto the two hundred or so jade token spots, showing no signs of using them. Clearly, Qin Muling and some important people around him were still waiting for the right moment. Thus, Zihuang and Lingxi hadn’t completely given up hope, they were just a bit anxious.

“There’s something I must inform you of,”

The voice in the purple flame continued: “Those rivals of yours in the clan have been restless lately, jumping around and lobbying everywhere, even complaining to your superiors, claiming that you haven’t achieved anything significant despite being away for so long and shouldn’t continue to occupy the position of the divine envoy of the Hook Departure Divine Palace…”

Zihuang’s expression turned cold: “I knew it, that bunch of incompetent, arrogant dogs! Are they trying to dig a hole behind my back while I’m away? Too bad the Master foresaw this, with her watching, I don’t believe they can stir up any trouble.”

She was certainly not a naive and harmless person. Those incompetent fools had never been able to compete with her before, and now they stood even less of a chance. If they dared to make trouble, she could use the contingency plans she had left behind to teach them an unforgettable lesson.

The voice in the purple flame then said: “There won’t be any issues. I’ll keep an eye out for you too. Whatever belongs to you, no one can take away!”

After some more conversation, they concluded their exchange. The purple flame dimmed and extinguished.

…

At the Imperial Dao Peak, inside the Supreme Sect Master’s abode.

When Qin Muling reappeared, he found only Mu Yinghua in the vast hall-like dwelling; Xinyu and the Qinghuan Emperor were nowhere to be seen.

Of course, there were still many high-ranking female immortals guarding outside, and the Imperial Dao Peak itself was an Innate Spirit Treasure, ensuring its security. The previous sneak attack by the Calamity Fate Palace was an anomaly; without internal collusion, such an incident was unlikely to recur.

“Teacher…”

Qin Muling greeted respectfully, not yet sure what to say, but Mu Yinghua seemed to already know his thoughts, her voice soft and beautiful as she explained: “There’s been a situation at the edge of the sect’s territory. It seems that high-ranking descendants of the Magic Clan have appeared, so the Emperor decided to go and see for herself.”

“As for her, she’s discussing the selection of consorts with her daughter, the Dragon Ritual Princess.”

“Selection of consorts?”

“Yes, of course, it’s for you!”

Mu Yinghua looked at him with a smile, her beautiful and lustrous face and clear, deep eyes filled with a teasing smile: “So soon, you’ll have a few more endearing girls by your side! What’s more crucial is that their cultivation won’t be too high for the time being, roughly on the same level as you, so you can enjoy them to your heart’s content without worrying about any adverse effects.”

“…I won’t want them!”

Qin Muling sighed and stepped forward to embrace Mu Yinghua’s voluptuous and tender body, his attitude resolute.

He was certainly not a fool; a little thought made it clear what the Emperor was planning. However, as the future helmsman of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, he had to consider everything from the perspective of the sect’s interests.

The Qinghuan Emperor wanted to bolster her daughter’s status in the harem with this method, but it was not so easy for Qin Muling to accept.

Even if he truly wanted to add people, it was better to forget about those from outside. Weren’t the Senior Sisters from his own sect more appealing? Not to mention the Master and the elders!

Mu Yinghua’s beautiful eyes were soft and seductive, her hand gently caressing the handsome young man’s face as she spoke: “If you are unwilling, I will not force you. When the Emperor returns, she will surely make it clear to her. You just focus on improving your cultivation…”

As she spoke, she glanced around, hesitated for a moment, then decided to say: “Come to my place? There’s something very important I need to discuss with you.”

Qin Muling’s eyes lit up: “Okay.”

This meant going to her private chamber. Apart from indicating the importance of the matter, what he cared about most was the chance to be alone with the Master again.

Seeing the look in his eyes, Mu Yinghua understood what he was thinking. She tapped his head gently with her hand: “Don’t let your thoughts wander; I am your Master!”

Her voice was soft and sweet, without a hint of anger, but with a barely noticeable hint of annoyance.

“Right, right, right!”

Qin Muling agreed verbally, his arms naturally encircling her slender waist. Through the thin fabric of her dress, he could clearly feel her firm yet soft skin and its astonishing elasticity.

Mu Yinghua gave him a helpless look, her arms wrapping around the shoulders of the beautiful young man in her embrace. In a flash of light and shadow, they were already in the fragrant inner chamber of the boudoir.

This private space, belonging only to the Supreme Sect Master, had been visited by Qin Muling only a few times. Of course, apart from him, it was impossible for a second visitor to enter, including Xuebing Xuan, the Senior Sister, and the others.

“You… don’t mess around!”

As soon as Mu Yinghua saw the unusual look in Qin Muling’s eyes, she instinctively felt something was wrong. A blush appeared on her graceful face, and her warning tone grew heavier.

“Yes, I want the Master to see the effect of the Light of Dao Enlightenment; it should have some effect on you now, right?”

Qin Muling looked away as he spoke, then opened the splendid curtain and approached the large bed adorned with withered flowers and beautiful jade, naturally sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Mu Yinghua silently ground her teeth, her white fists clenched, feeling an urge to pick him up and whip him. This detestable thief… always took the opportunity to stealthily take advantage and she couldn’t really say anything about it.

Memories from the past resurfaced in her heart:

“Muling, slow down… you’re still young… be careful not to fall!”

“…Muling, you’ve grown up. It’s time for your teacher to start teaching you the foundational techniques of our sect.”

“…Muling, you learn so quickly. You’ve mastered it so easily. When your teacher started, I wasn’t nearly as prodigious as you!”

“…Muling, come back to the sect with me? Although you are a man, your teacher can make an exception for you.”

“…Muling, why do you look at your teacher so strangely?”

“…Muling, stop that, I am your Master!”

“…Not listening, huh? We have a master-disciple relationship; we can’t do this…”

…

What happened later need not be detailed. Anyway, given the young man’s special background and his nature, Mu Yinghua found it difficult to discipline him severely, and so did the rest of the sect.

With a sigh in her heart, Mu Yinghua’s voluptuous body still gracefully approached, slowly sitting beside Qin Muling. He naturally reached out, grasping the Master’s snow-white wrist, and the wonderful sensation of warm, soft, and silky skin came in waves.

“You…”

Mu Yinghua’s fair face flushed with rouge, her lustrous eyes seemingly filled with allure, her voice trembling slightly: “Don’t forget I am your Master!”

“Yes, Teacher!”

Qin Muling agreed readily. As he silently operated his profound technique, a pure and flawless, deep and lively light slowly emerged, expanding to a radius of thirty feet before gradually solidifying and enveloping him and Mu Yinghua in a bright halo.

But this time was different from before. The Light of Dao Enlightenment only stabilized for a few dozen breaths before slowly collapsing inward, eventually shrinking to a mere three feet in radius. Simultaneously, the concentration of Dao Rhyme within the light also increased, roughly equivalent to three to four times the level before.

“Muling, you…”

Mu Yinghua’s eyes widened in shock. This must be a new divine ability that Qin Muling had recently comprehended, capable of enhancing the effect of the Light of Dao Enlightenment in such an inconceivable way.

“How does the Teacher feel?”

“Very, very good,”

Mu Yinghua carefully sensed it, her excitement mixed with indescribable joy: “If I could continue to cultivate in seclusion like this, perhaps… the effect of ten days would be equivalent to two hundred years!”

By her estimation, Qin Muling would need to reach the True Immortal level to possess such a degree of the Light of Dao Enlightenment. Yet now, it had been significantly advanced, providing a noticeable effect even for someone like her, a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

If she could “alone” cultivate in seclusion with Qin Muling for ten or eight years, and with the effect of the time acceleration formation, wouldn’t the Daluo realm be within reach?

“Actually, the effect can be even stronger.”

Qin Muling glanced at the Master’s beautiful face, hesitated, and then spoke haltingly.

Mu Yinghua’s eyes showed evident anticipation: “It can be stronger? How so?”

How so? Wasn’t it like what the Senior Sisters did, needing to remove their dresses during cultivation?

It wasn’t that Qin Muling was lecherous; it was just that without the obstruction of clothing, the body and soul absorbed and integrated the Light of Dao Enlightenment more effectively. Of course, Mu Yinghua wouldn’t see it that way.

And if the Master could also use those blood droplets, stockings, uniforms, and so on, the thought was unspeakably thrilling. Of course, he couldn’t say that now.

Seeing the young man hesitating in front of her, she spoke gently: “It’s okay, tell me! No matter whether it’s feasible or not, your teacher won’t blame you.”

Qin Muling thought about it and decided to inform her of the method through his divine consciousness. Then, he transformed into a streak of light and swiftly fled from Mu Yinghua’s side.

If he didn’t run now, he would be beaten up by the Master, and no one would be able to save him.

But what was his cultivation in the face of a Taiyi Golden Immortal?

In just an instant, a big red brocade ribbon, like a soaring dragon, chased after him, binding his hands and feet securely, and then irresistibly dragged him back to the bed, pressing him in front of Mu Yinghua.

“Running? Keep running, why don’t you?!”

Mu Yinghua’s eyes held a frosty smile as she spoke, her body radiating strands of murderous intent, showing that she was indeed a bit angry.

“Teacher, spare me, I won’t dare again!”

Qin Muling could only beg for mercy honestly.

“Hehe, you still know fear…”

Mu Yinghua bit her lip, her hand raising lightly, and a soft whip, resembling a venomous snake and exuding chilling cold, appeared in her hand. As it swung lightly, it exploded with a loud “snap” sound.