Yu Lingzhou’s invitation was something Qing Muling couldn’t possibly accept right now, even if he wanted to.

After all, his Master Mu Yinghua’s demand for the Dao Rhyme was already giving him enough of a headache. Adding a more aggressive Lolita Elder into the mix would surely leave him with psychological scars. Better to wait for a while!

Fortunately, Yu Lingzhou understood her Junior Brother’s difficulties and didn’t insist. Instead, she and Qing Muling engaged in three days of closed-door cultivation—serious cultivation, nothing else.

With the help of the time-acceleration formation, Yu Lingzhou also experienced the benefits of the enhanced Light of Dao Enlightenment. Shocked and delighted, she felt more confident about her future prospects of attaining the Quasi Holy Emperor Realm.

Thanks to the newly derived Blue Lotus leaves corresponding to fortune, destiny, and blessings, the effect of the Light of Dao Enlightenment at the True Immortal level had increased tenfold compared to the Elemental Immortal level. Combined with Qing Muling’s ability to freely control the concentrated enhancement effect, the benefit to Yu Lingzhou’s Dao comprehension was quite significant.

Perhaps… once Qing Muling advances another realm and steps into the Xuan Immortal Realm, he could help her break through to the Quasi Holy Emperor Realm? Yu Lingzhou pondered this in her heart.

By then, if all goes well, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace would see the birth of multiple Quasi Holy Emperors, becoming the undisputed leader among the female cultivator alliances, with an unshakable status and voice.

Three days later, a refreshed Qing Muling enjoyed a grand feast prepared by Yu Lingzhou before returning to the back mountain of Imperial Dao Peak to reunite with his eagerly awaiting Senior Sisters.

Xuebing Xuan, Cheng Yulan, Qi Yalan, Luo Wanqing, Luo Huan, Yu Binghua, Fengxia, Dragon Ritual Princess, Kong Yuhuan, Su Yuanzhen, Qingchan Fairy, and the newly arrived Qi Shuyu and Su Yunmo were all present. Along with the Holy Maiden Mu Yingshuang from Qingqiu Hall and the Saintess Luo Qinghan from Lu Hua Palace, the scene was a dazzling display of beauty, with intoxicating fragrances filling the air.

“…You actually came back!”

In the rear hall, the fiery and stunning Luo Wanqing grabbed her Junior Brother, fuming with anger.

Seeing the resentful gazes of his Senior Sisters around him, Qing Muling could only concede, “I was busy with important matters, couldn’t help it. I’ll stay home with you all for the next month and won’t go anywhere. How about that?”

“Do you mean it?”

Dressed in a dark robe, with sharp eyebrows and a cold, alluring beauty, Qi Yalan questioned skeptically. This guy had a history of breaking promises, making it hard for the Senior Sisters to trust him now.

Although it wasn’t Qing Muling’s intention, plans couldn’t keep up with changes, and his Master’s orders took precedence over everything. But the Senior Sisters wouldn’t listen to his reasoning.

“Of course, I won’t break my word!”

Qing Muling vowed earnestly. Now that his Master Mu Yinghua was busy with official duties, Fengge Emperor was still in closed-door cultivation, and Yu Lingzhou and the others wouldn’t bother him in the short term, this promise should be secure.

“Alright then, you still have some conscience left!”

The elegant and serene Xuebing Xuan said with a smile, though in reality, Qing Muling hadn’t been away for long. But to the Senior Sisters who cared deeply for him, it felt like an eternity.

Dressed in a purple palace gown, the cold and mysterious Dragon Ritual Princess walked over gracefully, her full and rounded hips pressing boldly into Qing Muling’s embrace. With a charming smile, she said, “No time to waste, let’s go into closed-door cultivation now. Activate the time-acceleration formation and don’t come out until we’ve cultivated for a thousand months. Let’s see the effect of the Light of Dao Enlightenment at the True Immortal level.”

“Yes, we’re all at the Golden Immortal realm now. After this closed-door session, we should at least advance a few grades, right?” Yu Binghua said with a smile.

By now, any woman who had an intimate relationship with Qing Muling, whether it was Mu Yingshuang, Luo Qinghan, or the previously lower-ranked Qi Shuyu and Su Yunmo, had all successfully crossed the threshold of the Golden Immortal realm. Dragon Ritual Princess had even reached the eighteenth grade of the Golden Immortal realm.

In any Supreme Dao Lineage, such a number of Golden Immortals gathered together would be a formidable strategic force, holding significant status and influence. When Mu Yinghua first took over as the Sect Master of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, she was only at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.

Nearby, Su Yuanzhen, dressed in a red palace gown, gazed at Qing Muling with affectionate eyes. Since becoming this handsome youth’s Dao Companion, her cultivation had advanced rapidly, now reaching the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, making her the highest-ranked female immortal in his inner circle.

As long as she served him well, the Daluo Dao Fruit would be within her reach in the future, and even the Quasi Holy Emperor Dao Fruit might be possible.

So it was easy to understand why so many vixens outside were eyeing him, trying to get in. Although they didn’t know the secret of the Light of Dao Enlightenment, seeing the benefits the female immortals who followed Qing Muling had gained, anyone would know what choice to make.

Xuebing Xuan then instructed the maids to close the palace gates, announcing that Junior Brother was in closed-door cultivation for the next month and would not see any visitors. Then, they escorted Qing Muling into the bedchamber.

As the formations activated, in the luxurious and opulent bedchamber, Dragon Ritual Princess calmly removed her gown and inner clothes, revealing the collar around her jade neck, the blood drop pendant, and the black lace garter stockings with the same lace trim, her voluptuous and enchanting body fully exposed.

The other Senior Sisters, Qingchan Fairy, Kong Yuhuan, and others followed suit, removing their gowns to reveal various bold and intimate garments, or rather, just a few straps and silk ribbons, their exquisite and alluring bodies almost completely exposed.

Having been with Qing Muling for a long time, they were used to dressing this way. Outside, they wore normal gowns, but underneath, it was always this kind of seductive and alluring scenery, or even nothing at all, making it convenient for Junior Brother to do as he pleased.

Recently, the newest addition to this circle was the high and mighty, dignified Sect Master Mu Yinghua.

Under the layers of embroidered curtains, on the wide embroidered bed, Qing Muling sat in the center, closed his eyes slightly, and easily entered a deep cultivation state.

Soon, with his body as the center, the mysterious and profound Light of Dao Enlightenment emerged, spreading to a radius of ten meters before solidifying and stabilizing, enveloping him and his Senior Sisters.

“…Hmm, a month’s cultivation now is roughly equivalent to a thousand years of hard work!”

Dragon Ritual Princess felt the effect of the Light of Dao Enlightenment at the True Immortal level and concluded that for Dao Companions at the Golden Immortal level, it was indeed the case. For Su Yuanzhen, the effect was slightly less, about a hundred and fifty years, as she was already a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

For Dao Companions below the Golden Immortal level, the effect would be even more exaggerated. Of course, this was a matter for another time, as Qing Muling had no intention of taking in any more newcomers.

With the time-acceleration formation, a thousand months of closed-door cultivation would save the Senior Sisters a million years of hard work, an extraordinary effect.

Unfortunately, the Light of Dao Enlightenment only benefited others and had no effect on Qing Muling himself, otherwise, he would have long been a Great Golden Immortal.

The elegant and voluptuous Qingchan Fairy pondered for a moment and said, “If Junior Brother could accompany us in closed-door cultivation for a year, wouldn’t it be easy to reach the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm? Even the Daluo realm shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”

Dragon Ritual Princess shook her head slightly, “I wish it were so, but it’s not possible. Don’t forget, there are so many things waiting for him outside! Healing, tribulation crossing, nurturing spiritual herbs and grasses, selecting new core disciples… none of these can do without him. The time left for us is too little!”

The women sighed in agreement, a bit regretful, but knowing that the future was long. As long as Qing Muling was their rightful Dao Companion, their cultivation would eventually improve.

This time, there were no unexpected interruptions, and a month of cultivation passed in the blink of an eye.

When the bedchamber reopened, the Senior Sisters’ cultivation levels had increased by an average of six grades, with Dragon Ritual Princess reaching the twenty-fifth grade of the Golden Immortal realm. She had completed more than half of the thirty-three grades of the Golden Immortal path, with the Taiyi Golden Immortal Dao Fruit now within sight.

Su Yuanzhen’s cultivation had increased by one grade, making her a second-grade Taiyi Golden Immortal. In Qing Muling’s view, her foundation and talent were still not as good as his Master Mu Yinghua’s back then. Of course, there were also differences in the resources invested in their cultivation, leading to varying efficiencies in their closed-door cultivation.

“Junior Brother, remember to come back and play next time!”

Luo Huan, satisfied and content, hugged Qing Muling and kissed him, her tone teasing.

“…”

Qing Muling was speechless, giving her a sideways glance. What kind of terrible line was that?

“Junior Brother, go ahead and take care of your business. Don’t keep them waiting too long. Come back and continue cultivating afterward.”

Dragon Ritual Princess said softly, her beautiful eyes filled with affection. Under Qinghuan Emperor’s command, many peak Golden Immortals were eagerly waiting to cross their tribulations.

As soon as Qing Muling stepped out of the back mountain of Imperial Dao Peak, a steward elder came to deliver a message, summoning him and his Senior Sister to the Supreme Sect Master’s cave for a core elder meeting.

A month had passed, and the situation in the Great Void had not changed significantly. The Magic Clan’s massive armies continued to attack various celestial domains, but the female cultivator alliance’s territories remained largely intact.

However, covert actions targeting the female cultivator alliance had subtly increased, especially against Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace.

Certain forces, unable to obtain the information they wanted despite their schemes, had become enraged and desperate, resorting to risky measures.

“…In the past month, there have been nearly a hundred incidents of unknown experts attacking our disciples within the sect’s territory. Although the elders often provided timely support, some disciples were still killed or seriously injured.”

Fairy Butterfly said gravely, “To spy on our sect’s secrets, those people have become quite unscrupulous. If we don’t take strong countermeasures immediately, they will only become more brazen! What do you all think?”

Since the attackers specifically targeted disciples with relatively low cultivation levels and launched surprise attacks, it was difficult for Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace to prepare in advance. Even with timely rescue, casualties were unavoidable.

Xuebing Xuan frowned, “The demonic calamity is raging, and all Dao Lineage territories are under siege. Yet, they abandon their duties and focus solely on us?”

The Magic Clan’s armies didn’t care about the grudges and conflicts within the cultivation world, attacking all sects indiscriminately. Those engaged in shady business were no exception. The only difference was that their bases were generally more hidden, temporarily safeguarding their foundations.

However, many of their industries and important strongholds couldn’t be hidden or relocated. In the calamity engulfing the Great Void, being discovered and destroyed by those aberrations was inevitable.

Yun Miaozhi said calmly, “Wealth and resources move people’s hearts. The high prices offered by those behind the scenes are too tempting. So, despite the risks, they take on these jobs, even if it means paying a heavy price.”

Fenghua Fairy sneered, “To oppose Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace now, the price is more than just heavy. They must be seeking annihilation!”

This was no idle threat. With Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace’s current strength, they had the confidence to make such statements. If Xinyu Emperor and Mu Yinghua were willing, they could indeed wipe out one or two sects at a cost.

Of course, if the female cultivator alliance’s high-level members joined forces, they wouldn’t even need to pay that price, nearly effortlessly destroying a Supreme Dao Lineage power.

Ultimately, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace had been low-key, focusing on development and waiting for their strength to grow, appearing harmless to outsiders.

Mu Yinghua said calmly, “To ensure Muling’s peaceful growth, I didn’t want to stir up trouble. But now it seems we underestimated them, or rather… they think we’re easy to bully? Hence all these issues?”

“In that case, there’s nothing more to say. I decide to deploy the sect’s elite mobile forces to hunt down these troublemakers. Even if we can’t eradicate them all, we must make them bleed enough to feel the pain! What do you all think?”

“Excellent, I have no objections!” Yu Lingzhou said immediately.

“I second that,” Xuebing Xuan agreed.

“Seconded.”

“Seconded.”

…

Qing Muling thought for a moment and said, “Clearing out some minions won’t make much difference. We need to hit their bases. Does the sect have accurate intelligence on this?”

Fairy Butterfly smiled, “We didn’t before, but now, with the support of certain factions, this problem is solved.”

With the female cultivator alliance sharing intelligence channels, identifying the headquarters of certain underground forces wasn’t difficult. Now, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace just needed to deploy overwhelming force, striking swiftly and decisively before other forces could react.

Afterward, no matter how unwilling some big players were, they wouldn’t dare to cause trouble for a while.

Qing Muling said, “Then let me join the action. With my fortune suppression, we can ensure no unexpected changes.”

The error has been corrected.