In the depths of the void.

A meteorite, over ten miles in size, drifted aimlessly, its surface pockmarked and desolate, blending in with the surrounding debris of other meteorites and floating land fragments. It was lifeless and unremarkable.

This place was far enough from the Main Altar of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. The vast expanse of the void, spanning billions of miles, had shrunk in the distance to a thumb-sized azure gem, shrouded in faint blue and purple clouds, surrounded by hundreds of beautiful starry lights.

At this moment, there was some activity within the meteorite, like a hibernating venomous snake slowly awakening under a special signal.

Obscure divine senses communicated:

“…The fortune of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace has fluctuated again, seemingly increasing several times over compared to before? How is this possible?”

“Don’t forget, this is even after being concealed. The actual situation might be more exaggerated than we imagine. It’s unbelievable!”

“Originally, this sect’s fortune was already comparable to the Dao Court and those ancient clans. Now, just looking at the fortune, isn’t it the top superpower in the Great Void? What are those female cultivators up to?”

Inside the meteorite was a small cave mansion, about five or six miles in radius. Over a dozen figures, wrapped in thick black robes, sat around a golden moon-shaped Spirit Treasure, silently observing it.

The function of this Spirit Treasure was to remotely spy on the fortune, destiny, and some special causal lines of specific targets, ignoring most concealment methods.

However, the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace now had five Quasi Holy Emperors stationed. The resources of five female Dao Lineages had merged, making it barely possible to create special divine abilities and methods to ensure that the anomalies at the sect’s Main Altar were not easily detected by outsiders.

In the Spirit Treasure, the fortune anomaly above the vast expanse of the void lasted only a few moments before slowly dissipating, returning to its previous state. It was evident that the other party had employed new methods to conceal it.

But such methods couldn’t be preset in advance, leading to brief anomalies. If noticed by forces lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance, they would inevitably detect something amiss.

The leader of the black-robed figures frowned and observed for a while before finally speaking:

“This shouldn’t be caused by some Innate Spirit Treasure. I lean more towards a special genius seed breaking through to a new cultivation realm, causing their fortune to surge and changing the entire sect’s fortune! For example… that Qing Muling?”

Someone immediately questioned, “I admit that kid is extraordinary, but based on the intelligence we’ve gathered, he’s just a promising young talent. He’s far from being able to stand on his own! Even if he had a breakthrough, could he cause such a significant commotion?”

Everyone fell silent. Then someone speculated, “Could it be that a Great Golden Immortal from the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace recently broke through to the Quasi Holy Emperor level, causing such a change?”

“That wouldn’t be enough unless at least ten Great Golden Immortals advanced simultaneously to cause such a significant fortune anomaly.”

“Indeed, we’ve observed similar anomalies in the past. The Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace and the female Dao Lineages close to them must be secretly executing an extraordinary plan.”

“That makes sense…”

Logically speaking, the fortune of intelligent beings has its limits. Even those so-called monstrous genius seeds, direct pure-blood descendants of ancient clans, and Quasi Holy Emperors close to the peak of the current space-time Dao laws can’t escape this iron rule.

So, without knowing the real situation, they concluded this “correct” reasoning. Of course… if they understood Qing Muling’s origins, they wouldn’t think this way.

But special existences like Qing Muling are rare in the Great Void, even in billions of years, so it’s understandable they were confused.

“In that case, what should we do next? Just watching isn’t a solution; we must take action!” one black-robed figure said.

“What else can we do? To uncover the truth, we must infiltrate the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace and contact high-ranking officials to gain valuable information. As it stands, we have no way to proceed,” someone sighed.

The room fell silent again. They weren’t from the same sect but belonged to several Supreme Dao Lineage powers and secret organizations, specializing in intelligence gathering and trading. The Calamity Fate Palace was just one of them, and there were many other organizations in this business.

Now, with the demonic calamity descending, Dao Lineages, superfamilies, and top sects in the Great Void were all on edge. The intelligence business wasn’t as lucrative as before. However, many influential figures were still interested in news about the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace and were willing to pay a high price.

So, these competing organizations decided to temporarily set aside their differences and cooperate. They sent their best agents to infiltrate the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace’s territory, hiding in this desolate and lifeless small outpost in the void for several years.

But with all the spies inside the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace already cleared out, obtaining valuable intelligence this way was extremely difficult, and they had made little progress over the years.

They had considered secretly contacting high-ranking female cultivators patrolling or supporting other territories, trying to gather secrets from the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace. However, the results were disappointing.

Those sent to make contact were either captured or killed on the spot or paid a hefty price for a bunch of scattered, useless information. The valuable insights they sought were scarce, making their efforts futile.

After several attempts, their high-paying clients grew impatient, repeatedly urging and questioning them. The elders above frequently reprimanded the agents, adding immense pressure.

“Forget it, let’s keep trying!”

The leader of the black-robed figures said, “Report this situation to the higher-ups and request more support. Otherwise, we can’t make any progress.”

“Yes, that makes sense.”

…

On Imperial Dao Peak.

After crossing the tribulation, Qing Muling declined Qinghuan Emperor’s invitation, citing the need to rest and stabilize his realm. He went to Yu Lingzhou’s Dao Court for a meal.

After all, this Lolita Elder’s culinary skills were among the best in the sect. Enjoying a feast there allowed him to avoid the overly enthusiastic elders.

With the increasing number of Dao Companions and their rising cultivation levels, Qing Muling now had to consider reasonable tax avoidance—oh no, I mean reasonable sleep avoidance.

It was a bit frustrating, but it wasn’t his fault, right?

After all, the amount of Dao Rhyme was limited. All the senior sisters wanted it, and they all wanted more. There was never enough to go around, so… he had to resort to this.

Moreover, Qing Muling now planned to help his master quickly advance to the Quasi Holy Emperor level. Most of the Dao Rhyme had to go to her first, making it even harder to explain to the senior sisters.

Yu Lingzhou was naturally delighted by the arrival of her junior brother. She immediately instructed her maids to prepare meticulously, treating him with the highest standards.

This time, the feast was held at Ice Crystal Lake, a clear and cold spring lake spanning thousands of miles, surrounded by perennial glaciers and snowy landscapes.

The lake was home to many rare freshwater fish and spirit clams. The lakeside was a vast palace garden, filled with treasures and exotic plants that thrived in cold environments. Yu Lingzhou’s talent in this area was unmatched, and every detail was exquisitely arranged.

In a lakeside palace, within the ice crystal and jade-carved railings, was a large bath with spiritual mist rising. The bath walls, floor, and steps were adorned with countless pearls, jade, corals, and other treasures, connected to several top-grade spirit veins. The bath was the spiritual eye of these veins, and soaking here year-round brought countless benefits.

Around the bath were twelve jade cauldrons, each about a yard tall, with spiritual flames rising underneath, emitting intense heat. Each cauldron simmered a high-level exotic beast or spiritual bird, accompanied by numerous divine herbs and heavenly medicines. The rich aroma seemed to penetrate the divine soul.

“…The timing is almost right. Junior Brother, go lie in the bath first; it’ll be ready soon.”

The beautiful and pure Lolita Elder controlled the heat by the cauldron, wearing a thin, translucent dress. Her fair skin, slightly flushed from the heat, and her unbound chest moved gently with her actions, appearing voluptuous.

Qing Muling looked at the luxurious bath, large enough to swim in, and asked in confusion, “Isn’t this just a feast? Do we have to eat in the water?”

“This time is different,”

Yu Lingzhou explained with a sparkling smile, “These cauldrons contain Winged Fire Serpents, Earth Core Lava Jiao, Red Sun Flame Eagles, Heavenly Fire Golden Crow Lotus, Boiling Flame Golden Orchids… all fire-attributed rare medicines. If you don’t balance them with the extreme cold of this lake’s water, even a high-level body cultivator’s Dao body can’t withstand it!”

“Is that so? Alright then!”

Knowing she had ulterior motives, Qing Muling could only agree. He removed his clothes and stepped into the icy, refreshing water.

The bath had pre-placed jade stools and floating jade tables, with fine wines and appetizers ready for him to enjoy.

Hmm… After advancing to True Immortal, Junior Brother’s appearance and physique had become even more outstanding. Even in the bath, his mysterious and noble aura couldn’t be hidden. As expected of the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus in human form, a bite would probably taste amazing…

Yu Lingzhou’s eyes subtly glanced at Qing Muling, pondering silently.

In no time, the ingredients in the cauldrons were perfectly cooked. The maids served the white, golden, and pink meat pieces, along with the fragrant broth and various rare medicines, placing them on the jade table before Qing Muling.

The intense heat drove away the surrounding cold, making the jade table feel slightly warm to the touch.

“Truly extraordinary!”

Qing Muling marveled. According to her, these exotic beasts and spiritual birds were at least at the Xuan Immortal or Golden Immortal level, making them extremely rare. The divine herbs and heavenly medicines were even more precious.

These items were sourced from the sect’s public treasury. If not for Qing Muling, Yu Lingzhou wouldn’t have had such a feast.

“Alright, you all can leave now. Without my summons, do not enter. I need to have a private conversation with Junior Brother.”

Yu Lingzhou clapped her hands, dismissing all the maids. She then boldly removed her dress and entered the bath, sitting opposite Qing Muling.

“Junior Brother, try it. You won’t be disappointed.”

The Lolita Elder said with a smile.

Qing Muling nodded and began to enjoy the feast.

The meat melted in his mouth, its extreme deliciousness beyond words. He soon felt his body temperature rising, his organs feeling like they were in a furnace, with the intense heat coursing through his meridians, almost igniting him from within.

Fortunately, Yu Lingzhou quickly cast a few spells, activating the formation array under the bath. Ice-blue cold air surged out, significantly neutralizing the unbearable heat.

“Just eat to your heart’s content. If you can withstand the heat, this meal should save you at least thousands of years of arduous cultivation,” Yu Lingzhou said with a smile.

Qing Muling responded, and the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus in his sea of consciousness gently rotated, its hazy light filling his body. It easily neutralized the terrifying heat, allowing the essence to merge into his Dao body and divine soul, gradually advancing his cultivation.

Yu Lingzhou sat opposite him, enthusiastically enjoying her meal. She glanced at her junior brother, took a bite of spirit beast meat, sipped some spiritual wine, and continued watching him… feeling utterly content.

After three rounds of wine, Qing Muling thought for a moment and started a conversation: “Senior Sister, how far is it from a third-grade Great Golden Immortal to a Quasi Holy Emperor?”

Including those who had recovered from serious injuries, the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace now had a considerable number of Great Golden Immortals. However, there weren’t many at the peak of the third grade, apart from Xinyu Emperor’s eight junior sisters, the rest didn’t exceed double digits.

Yu Lingzhou, Yueyi Heavenly Lord, and Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord, having followed Qing Muling for a long time and reaping many benefits, were now at this level.

“It’s a vast distance!”

Yu Lingzhou sighed, “At this level of cultivation, it’s like being rooted. No matter how hard you cultivate, it’s common to see no progress for hundreds of thousands or even millions of years. Ordinary treasures and rare resources are useless.”

“Without meeting you, Junior Brother, our achievements in this life would be easily foreseeable. The Quasi Holy Emperor level would be an unattainable dream.”

Qing Muling pondered, “In the future, I might be able to help, but… it might not be a good thing for me, you understand.”

Yu Lingzhou’s eyes flashed. With her keen mind, she easily understood Qing Muling’s thoughts.

Benefits move people’s hearts, especially the enormous advantage of the Quasi Holy Emperor Dao Fruit, which can’t be measured by specific benefits. It’s a strategic resource that can change the fate of nations, clans, and even the rise and fall of super Dao Lineages.

If Fengge Emperor took that step, the situation Qing Muling would face was beyond doubt, hence his dilemma.

After some thought, Yu Lingzhou softly said, “I understand your difficulties, and I won’t make it hard for you. I’m sure everyone will understand and come up with a plan that satisfies you!”

“For example?”

“For example, letting you take over as the Supreme Sect Master of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace in advance!”

Yu Lingzhou said with a smile, “Mu Yinghua cares most about you. She won’t oppose you taking over. We senior sisters and Xinyu Emperor won’t oppose either, so it’s a sure thing for you.”

“Even so, it doesn’t solve my problem.”

Qing Muling frowned. Without enough cultivation, what good would being the Sect Master do? He couldn’t control the situation.

“Then go further, become the Grand Alliance Leader of the five forces. I believe the others won’t oppose! With a high enough position, they can only balance and restrain each other while trying to please you, without any coercion.”

Yu Lingzhou continued with a smile. Mu Yinghua and the others had discussed this many times, including Xinyu Emperor.

Since Qing Muling’s role was unique, why not make him the core, forming an unprecedented super female Dao Lineage power, even surpassing the Dao Court, Origin Star Palace, and ancient clans? With this foundation, unifying the Great Void wouldn’t be a fantasy.

“If that’s the case, it might be feasible.”

Qing Muling hesitated. What seemed like an absurd and unrealistic option could become a reality with the support of those female Emperors.

“Don’t worry, Junior Brother. If you’re willing, you won’t have to worry about the rest. We’ll arrange everything for you!” Yu Lingzhou assured.

“Yes, I trust you, Senior Sister.”

Qing Muling sighed in relief and began to enjoy the feast.

With the help of the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus, it took Qing Muling only a few hours to finish all the ingredients in the twelve jade cauldrons, digesting them without any discomfort, much to Yu Lingzhou’s amazement.

But given the many miracles surrounding her junior brother, this was just another one.

“Full? Shall we go cultivate now?”

The Lolita Elder gracefully circled around, her voluptuous body nestling into Qing Muling’s embrace, her breath fragrant.

Her meaning was clear: she had fed her junior brother, and now it was his turn to feed her…