Lin Dong and Zhong Lin were utterly shocked at this moment.

It turned out that the so-called Mortal Heart Refinement they spoke of was to visit a high-class brothel!

And to think they had been looking forward to Li Guanqi and Lin Dong’s method of cultivation.

Seeing Lin Dong standing there, somewhat at a loss, Zhong Lin gave a wry smile beside him.

“Alright, since we’re here for the New Year’s, let’s just go in.”

Lin Dong, however, stood in place, scratching his head awkwardly.

“That… must be quite expensive, right?”

“Maybe we should forget it. You guys go ahead, I’ll go back and rest.”

Li Guanqi, standing at the entrance, noticed his embarrassment and whispered to him.

“Don’t overthink it. The Spirit Stone you have can easily be exchanged for a hundred taels of gold in the mortal world.”

“Besides, we’re just going in for a drink and to listen to some music. It’s not as complicated as you think.”

Lin Dong was taken aback and murmured softly, “One piece? A hundred taels of gold?”

Zhong Lin chuckled beside him, “What else did you expect?”

Lin Dong said with some distress, “Does that mean the Spirit Stones we consume daily for cultivation are worth tens of thousands of taels?”

Li Guanqi fell silent for a moment. He understood Lin Dong’s feelings all too well, having once worried over a few silver coins himself.

But after following his grandfather Su Xuan for eight years, his mindset had changed significantly.

He no longer regarded material possessions as important. With money, there were ways to spend it; without money, there were other ways to live.

Finally, Li Guanqi smiled softly, “Forget it, let’s just take a casual stroll and experience Tianyu City.”

Hearing this, Lin Dong also breathed a sigh of relief, and the group exchanged glances without saying much.

They wandered the streets of Tianyu City, looking around curiously.

They would stop to buy some interesting snacks they encountered along the way.

At that moment, Li Guanqi’s nose twitched slightly, and he followed a fragrant scent to a stall selling osmanthus cakes.

The woman sitting behind the stall stood up and softly offered Li Guanqi, “Would you like to try some osmanthus cakes, young master?”

Li Guanqi was slightly startled. He had never seen such a pure and unworldly woman, like a lotus flower rising unsullied from the mud.

Her demeanor was gentle, not at all like those from the bustling mortal world.

Her black hair was wrapped in a blue silk scarf, and she wore a plain gray robe.

Her eyes were like clear pools, and her fingers, reddened by the cold, were slender and delicate.

As she parted her red lips and teeth, her eyes inquired softly, “Young master?”

Looking at the steaming osmanthus cakes, Li Guanqi smiled and said, “Four portions, to eat now.”

“Guanqi? What’s up?”

Ye Feng and the others found him, just in time to see the woman stand up, and they were all slightly taken aback.

They had not expected a mortal woman to possess such an ethereal quality.

While they were still in a daze, Li Guanqi had already paid and beckoned them to leave.

Ye Feng, excitedly pulling on his sleeve, exclaimed, “Such a beautiful woman! I never expected to find someone with such outstanding temperament in the mortal world.”

Even Zhong Lin, who had seen many beauties, couldn’t help but comment, “Indeed.”

As for Lin Dong, his face was flushed red, lost in thought.

Li Guanqi took a bite of the osmanthus cake and softly said, “Delicious.”

They casually found a restaurant and ordered some dishes, allowing themselves to relax.

Seeing Zhong Lin and the others lack enthusiasm, Lin Dong chuckled after eating, “Shall we… go anyway?”

Ye Feng, with a loud voice, draped an arm around Lin Dong’s shoulder and said, “That’s more like it. We’re cultivators who can soar through the skies; why worry about money?”

“Trust me, it’s a true test of refining the heart!”

Li Guanqi didn’t say much. It was better for Lin Dong to come to his own realizations, as it would benefit his future cultivation not to be overly fixated.

However, he would still keep an eye on Lin Dong’s state; if he truly became lost in indulgence, he would certainly intervene.

As for the Mortal Heart Refinement he mentioned, it wasn’t just talk, because he was only there to listen to music!

This was also a practice in self-control, though it might not be believed if told.

When the group returned to Qingxiao Tower, it was already packed to the brim.

The hostesses at the entrance were dressed to the nines, exuding a strong scent of rouge.

Upon seeing the group of four, they immediately flocked to them, but the men declined with indifferent expressions.

Only Lin Dong blushed and began to circulate his cultivation technique to calm himself down.

Seeing that the hall was full, Li Guanqi asked softly, “Is there a quieter private room available?”

The madam beside them, noticing their extraordinary bearing, already had an idea.

She smiled broadly and said, “Young masters, you’ve come at just the right time. There’s one private room left on the second floor.”

“Gentlemen, please follow me upstairs.”

Then she turned and ordered sharply, “Clear out the guests in Room Three immediately! Hurry!”

The waiter hesitated, “Uh… Room Three is occupied by Young Master Zhou from the city…”

The madam waved her hand impatiently, “Tell those kids to scram. We have immortals here!”

“If they’re not afraid of retribution, then damn it, let them keep the room!”

After speaking, the madam muttered to herself, puzzled, “Although many immortals have been coming lately, I’ve never heard of any disciple visiting a brothel…”

“Hurry up, take good care of them!”

“Ah, Zhiang~ you’re finally here, get changed quickly~”

The madam hurriedly led the women to the backstage.

After Li Guanqi entered the room, he found several servants still tidying up the table.

They all understood the situation but said nothing, standing at the doorway looking down at the hall below.

On the stage, six graceful women were dancing elegantly.

The music was soft and soothing, and the dancers’ movements showcased their perfect figures to the fullest.

The fluttering silk and their seductive glances drew rounds of applause.

Zhong Lin leaned on the railing and chuckled softly, “These women have put a lot of effort into their dance skills. Not bad at all.”

At this moment, Lin Dong had his eyes closed, suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart with his cultivation technique.

Opening his eyes, Lin Dong frowned and said in a deep voice, “A place for refining the heart! Truly lives up to its reputation!”

After everyone settled in the room, they casually ordered some specialty dishes.

Ye Feng tossed a Spirit Stone and said softly, “Bring up some good wine, and consider the rest a tip.”

The waiter, overjoyed at receiving the Spirit Stone, bowed and left with a big smile.

Soon, a line of women entered the room.

Li Guanqi said with a smile, “No need, you may all leave. We’re just here to listen to the music.”

The waiter didn’t dare to overstep and quickly ushered the women out.

Just then, a melodious and lingering sound of a zither suddenly rose from below!

Zeng zeng!