Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

The night in Kunlun Heavenly Prison was quieter than ever before.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged on the ice jade bed to regulate his breathing. The Chaos Tree swayed slowly in his dantian, digesting the fragments of Heavenly Dao information he had absorbed that day.

His aura was deeper than before, and a faint halo of chaotic light flowed around him.

The wind and snow outside had stopped sometime earlier.

In the dark blue sky, the Milky Way cascades down like a waterfall, casting a cool, clear light.

Seven stone palaces stand silently on the ice field, their interiors glowing with warm light.

Inside the main hall, the fire in the hearth was burning brightly.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps rang out.

Lin Chen opened his eyes and saw his master, Bai Bingli, carrying a bowl of medicinal soup as she walked in.

She had changed out of her usual plain white dress and was now wearing a moon-white loungewear robe. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, making her look less aloof and more gentle.

"Master." Lin Chen was about to get up.

"Sit down." Bai Bingli walked to the bedside and handed him the medicinal soup. "You've exhausted yourself today. This is made with 'Warm Soul Grass' from the Ice Pool. It can stabilize your soul."

Lin Chen took it; the medicinal soup was warm and had a faint fragrance.

He slowly finished drinking and put the bowl aside.

Bai Bingli didn't leave, but sat down by the bed and quietly watched him.

The only sound inside the hall was the soft crackling of the hearth fire.

After a long silence, she spoke softly, "Chen'er, you've grown up."

In his voice, there was relief, reluctance, and a hint of indescribable complexity.

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat.

He looked up and met his master's eyes, which were like an icy pool—now, the pool was no longer filled with eternal ice, but rather with gentle ripples.

"Master..."

"Do you remember when you were sixteen, and the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Body flared up for the first time?" Bai Bingli reached out and gently stroked Lin Chen's cheek.

Her fingers were icy cold, yet strangely soft to the touch.

"I remember," Lin Chen said in a low voice, "It was only by having my seven masters take turns suppressing me with their own essence that I was able to save my life."

"That time, all seven of us exhausted our true energy," Bai Bingli recalled, a slight ripple appearing in her eyes. "You were unconscious for seven whole days."

"The first thing I said after waking up was, 'Are the masters alright?'"

She paused for a moment, then said, "That's when I knew we hadn't spoiled you in vain."

Lin Chen took her hand.

The master's hands were cold, and he passed on a wisp of warm, chaotic energy.

Bai Bingli did not refuse, but looked at him with surging emotions in her eyes: "We will be leaving tomorrow. I don't know when we will meet again after this parting."

"Masters can come back anytime," Lin Chen said urgently. "I will wait for you in Xiaoyao Valley, or..."

"Or what?" A laughing voice came from the doorway.

Hongluan leaned against the door frame, her red dress as fiery as fire, her smile as beautiful as a flower.

Behind her, the other five masters also walked in one after another.

The small bedroom suddenly felt crowded, but also warmer.

"We've been listening outside for ages." Hongluan walked to the bedside and sat down on Lin Chen's other side without any hesitation. "Sister Bingli, if you're going to say goodbye, just say goodbye properly. Why are you being so sad?"

She reached out and pinched Lin Chen's cheek: "You brat, we've raised you for twenty years, and now that you're all grown up and ready to fly away, aren't we allowed to be a little sad?"

"Third Master..." Lin Chen was helpless as she pinched him.

"Hongluan, stop fooling around," Qingshu said gently, sitting down on the chair by the bed.

She still held the book in her hand, but her gaze was fixed on Lin Chen. "Chen'er, you have now just begun to form your Chaotic Dao Body. The road ahead is long, so you must always remember your original intention."

"Yes, Fourth Master."

Zi Suan fiddled with the jade abacus and said with a smile, "I've calculated it. You're incredibly lucky with women, but you'll also face your share of romantic troubles."

"Those seven girls are all good; you must treat them well."

Xuanzhen silently walked to the corner of the wall, set up a combined soundproof and protective array, and then nodded to Lin Chen—meaning, don't worry, no one will disturb you.

Hua Yu hugged the white beast and hopped over, saying, "Chen'er, Chen'er, Xiao Yin said it will miss you too!" The white beast in her arms whimpered twice and rubbed its fluffy head against Lin Chen's hand.

The youngest, Seventh Master, immediately jumped onto Lin Chen's back, wrapping his arms around his neck: "Can't I stay? I want to adventure in the world with Chen'er!"

"Nonsense," Bai Bingli scolded lightly, but her eyes were filled with a smile.

The atmosphere inside the hall changed from initial sadness to warmth and liveliness.

Seven masters, seven different personalities, yet all of them were the most important family members in his life.

Looking at them, Lin Chen felt a strong sense of attachment.

Years of living and working together day and night, three thousand days and nights of meticulous teaching, countless times of protecting each other in life-or-death situations... this bond has long surpassed that of an ordinary master and disciple.

"Masters," he took a deep breath, his voice a little hoarse, "I..."

"What do you mean, 'you'?" Hongluan interrupted him, suddenly leaning closer to whisper in his ear, her breath warm, "Tonight, spend some quality time with your masters, hmm?"

Lin Chen's ears turned red.

The other masters also quieted down and focused their attention on him.

Those eyes held love, reluctance, and... something deeper.

Bai Bingli sighed softly, got up, walked to the door, and closed the palace door.

As she turned around, she untied the jade hairpin that held her hair back.

Her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, adding a breathtakingly beautiful touch to her cool and aloof appearance.

"Chen'er," she walked back to the bedside, her fingertips lightly touching Lin Chen's clothes, "Tonight, there is no master and disciple."

"Just us, and you."

……

The flickering fire cast shadows on the stone wall, intertwining and entwining.

Lin Chen was surrounded by his seven masters, with Hong Luan being the first to act.

She was always the most passionate and bold, and she kissed Lin Chen's lips directly.

The kiss carried her unique fervor, burning like fire, just like her.

"Third Master, you're still as domineering as ever..." Lin Chen mumbled.

"Call me Hongluan," she whispered, her fingers deftly untying his belt.

His outer robe slipped off.

Qing Shu put down her book, leaned in gently, and lightly kissed his neck from the side.

Her kisses were delicate and tender, like a gentle spring rain nourishing the earth.

"Chen'er, your blood is boiling, relax..." she whispered in his ear, her fingers stroking his firm chest.

On the other side, Huayu and the little master also came over.

Hua Yu curiously poked Lin Chen's abs: "Wow, they're even more muscular than last year!" Little Master then grinned and started pulling down his pants.

"Seventh Master, you're being a scoundrel again."

"Call me by my name!" the young monk pouted, dissatisfied. "My name is Xuejian!"

Zi Suan and Xuan Zhen were relatively reserved, but they also sat by the bed. One gently massaged his shoulders, and the other held his hand, channeling gentle true energy into his body to help him relax.

Bai Bingli stood a few steps away, watching quietly.

Her gaze slowly swept from Lin Chen's face to his gradually exposed body, her icy eyes melting away, leaving only deep emotions.

Finally, she stepped forward.

Hongluan and the others automatically made way for each other.