Swallowing the Stars: The cheat system only comes when I'm almost a god?

Honglian's body trembled uncontrollably again, and her hand holding the sachet instinctively hid behind her back as if she had been burned.

She forced herself to remain calm, straightening her still-developing chest, but her gaze darted around, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

"Sister Zi Nu is too kind. I just had some trouble sleeping last night, so I came out for a stroll. I didn't expect to run into you here."

"Oh."

A clear sneer came from Yanfei's side, who mercilessly shattered Honglian's fragile facade: "Just wandering around? And you even went so far as to wander to the door of the master's room?"

Princess Honglian, everyone here is a sensible person. We all know what you're planning by appearing here at this time. Why bother with this self-deceiving, childish act?

Yan Fei's words were like a sharp dagger, instantly piercing Hong Lian's carefully maintained composure. Her face flushed red, the color spreading from her cheeks to behind her ears.

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes quickly reddening and filled with tears.

Honglian took a deep breath, her chest heaving, as if she had used up all her courage, and said in a trembling voice, "I came here to save Han, for that homeland that is about to be crushed by the iron hooves of the mighty Qin!"

This reason completely surprised everyone, and the air in the corridor seemed to freeze for a moment.

Honglian bit her lower lip tightly, almost drawing blood, as she vented her pent-up despair: "I can tell that what the master said to me during the day was just a perfunctory gesture, a little politeness and pity given to me out of consideration for Yan Lingji."

Tears finally streamed down her face, and she said in a hoarse voice, "After I went back, I thought about it for a long, long time, and I realized my own limitations."

I am well aware that my talent is mediocre, and my comprehension is even more average. Even if I stay here to cultivate, it is almost impossible for me to possess the power to change the current situation in South Korea.

Her voice choked with emotion, yet carried a defiant stubbornness: "So...so I remembered what my mother had secretly told me before..."

At this point, her cheeks flushed again, and her voice suddenly lowered: "My mother once said that my father is always more likely to grant her requests in bed, and I... I thought... perhaps I could too..."

She couldn't say anything more. She suddenly lowered her head, and large tears dripped onto the smooth metal floor, splashing into tiny water droplets. What remained unspoken was the girl's helplessness and despair at her wit's end.

At this moment, Jingni's voice rang out, flat and stating a simple fact: "I just want to find a more stable support for myself and Ayan."

I am deeply grateful to Lady Yan Ling Ji for taking in my mother and me and offering us shelter.

But we all know the positioning and survival method of the song and dance troupe; entertaining people with beauty will eventually come to an end.

Beauty fades and love wanes—this is an age-old truth.

Ayan is still young, and she has a long future ahead of her. I cannot entrust our fate, mother and daughter, entirely to the momentary interests of others.

She paused slightly, her tone still calm: "So I think... perhaps a child would be a stronger bond, an even harder bond to sever."

Zi Nu shifted her gaze from Jing Ni to Nong Yu, who was practically curling up into a ball: "I really didn't expect that even you would appear here."

Her feelings for Nongyu were special; she practically raised Nongyu herself, and although they were sisters in name, they were practically mother and daughter.

When Nongyu heard Zinu call her name, she lowered her head even further, her voice as faint as a whisper in the wind: "It was...it was my aunt who taught me."

Her face was so red it looked like it was about to bleed: "My aunt said that no matter how good a woman's musical skills or reputation are in this life, it is ultimately not as important as finding a good husband."

She said she had lived a life of widowhood for so many years, and only she knew the loneliness and bitterness she had endured. She told me that I should never follow in her footsteps.

"?"

Honglian was a little confused by these words. Hu Meiren meant that her father was no good!

Yanfei, Yueshen, and Dasiming exchanged a silent glance.

Yanfei spoke again, pointing out the fundamental difference between them and the others: "It seems that, apart from us Yin Yang School, each of you sisters has your own troubles."

"Then I'll be frank. The Yin-Yang School is very pragmatic. What we've always sought is true immortality, and now that we have the opportunity to glimpse the whole picture from you, sir, we naturally can't miss it."

The Moon Goddess and the High Priest nodded slightly, and then everyone's gaze fell on Zi Nu, who had not yet revealed her purpose.

Why is this usually composed and smiling head housekeeper here? And what is her purpose?

Despite the crowd's gazes, Zi Nu's smile remained gentle.

She coughed lightly, straightened up, and her tone became more serious: "I know that with your charm, there will definitely be girls who can't resist going to see you tonight."

"Therefore, after obtaining Yan Lingji's consent, I came here to conduct a preliminary screening. I cannot allow girls like Honglian, whose motives are impure or who may cause trouble for the adults, to rashly go and disturb us."

After Zi Nu finished speaking, the corridor fell into a brief silence.

Immediately, Honglian, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, raised her voice sharply: "What right do you have to make decisions for me? South Korea is in imminent danger; this is my only chance."

"An opportunity?" Yan Fei sneered. "Princess Honglian, you overestimate yourself. Who do you think the Lord is? That he'd be moved by your little tricks?"

"That's still better than you Yin Yang School people only thinking about your own immortality!" Honglian retorted, tears streaming down her face. "At least I'm doing this for my country."

"National righteousness?" The Moon Goddess's lips curled into a sneer. "To conflate matters of the bedroom with the survival of the nation, Your Highness's 'righteousness' is truly unique."

Honglian's face instantly flushed bright red: "You—"

"Enough." Zi Nu raised her hand to stop the argument from escalating. Her gaze swept over everyone. "My dear sisters, the master is in the room. Ultimately, this matter depends on the master's own wishes. There is no point in us arguing here."

Jing Ni, holding her sword, said calmly, "Then what does Miss Zi Nu think should be done?"

A reading feast: a vast collection of books and an unparalleled reading experience.

Zi Nu smiled slightly: "Why don't we each rely on our own abilities? Whoever has the courage can go and knock on the door first, and once inside, no one else may disturb us."

"Okay!" Honglian agreed almost immediately. She wiped away her tears, straightened her back, and said, "Then I'll go first..."

"Wait." Yan Fei interrupted her, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her beautiful eyes. "Why should you go first? In terms of cultivation, knowledge, and the value we can provide to you, sir, aren't my Yin Yang School more suitable than a princess of a kingdom on the verge of collapse?"

Nongyu timidly raised her head, her voice barely audible: "I...I also..."

"What are you?" The High Priest glanced at her, his scarlet hands slightly raised. "Little girl, you have no right to speak here."

The atmosphere became tense again.

The women glared at each other, none of them willing to back down.

Time ticked by, and the air in the corridor seemed to freeze completely.

Just then, Honglian suddenly moved.

As if she had made up her mind, a resolute glint flashed in her eyes, and she suddenly pushed aside Zi Nu, who was blocking her way, and rushed toward Lin Yuan's door.

"You!" Zi Nu was caught off guard and staggered as she was pushed.

"Stop her!" Yan Fei shouted sternly.

But Honglian was incredibly fast; she ran barefoot across the metal floor, her silk nightgown billowing behind her.

For the sake of South Korea, she had completely abandoned her princess dignity, and at this moment she had only one thought in her mind—to rush to that door!

Jingni flashed forward, trying to intercept, but Honglian recklessly crashed into her.

Jingni frowned slightly and stepped aside, not wanting to actually hurt the other person.

In that brief moment of delay, Honglian had already rushed across most of the corridor.

"Follow me!" Yan Fei shouted in a low voice and took the lead in chasing after them.

The others exchanged glances, then followed suit without further hesitation.

Honglian gasped for breath, her heart pounding. Lin Yuan's door was so close—less than ten meters away.

A glimmer of hope ignited in her eyes, and she quickened her pace.

however……

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

Honglian crashed into an invisible wall, a sharp pain shooting through her forehead. Her body was thrown backward and fell to the ground.

"What?" She looked up blankly.

The people chasing from behind also stopped in their tracks.

Yan Fei reached out to touch it, but her palm struck a hard barrier. A transparent air wall blocked the entire corridor, preventing either of them from advancing any further.

Zi Nu shook her head with a wry smile: "So... you had already foreseen this, sir."

Jing Ni withdrew her hand and remained silent.

Nongyu looked at the wall, then at Honglian who looked completely lost, and suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous.

They argued here for half the night, only to find out they didn't even have the right to get close.

Honglian sat on the ground, staring blankly at the door that was so close yet so far away. Tears welled up again, but this time they were not from resentment or scheming, but from utter despair and shame.

She finally realized that her little schemes were probably nothing more than child's play in the other person's eyes.

"Let's go," Zi Nu sighed softly, turned and left, "Don't embarrass yourself here."

Yan Fei gave the wall a deep look, snorted coldly, and left in a huff.

The Moon Goddess and the High Priestess followed closely behind.

Jingni bent down to help Honglian up and whispered, "Let's go back."

Honglian was supported by her blankly, her steps unsteady.

Nongyu took one last look, then lowered her head and quickly left.

Soon, the corridor returned to silence, with only the transparent air wall standing silently, as if mocking everyone's unrequited love.

……

Meanwhile, in a room on the other side of the spaceship.

Yan Lingji lay on her side on the soft couch, her nine fox tails swaying leisurely.

Her eyes were closed, but a sly smile played on her lips.

Her Observation Haki clearly transmitted everything that had just happened in the corridor to her ears.

"Pfft—" She finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, rolling around on the tatami mat. "What a bunch of silly girls."

She sat up, her bare feet touching the soft carpet, a look of emotion flashing in her eyes.

She sat up, her bare feet touching the soft carpet, a look of emotion flashing in her eyes.

"If I could seduce Lord Lin Yuan with just my looks, I would have done it myself long ago. Why would they have a chance?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head.

Having followed Lin Yuan for so long, she knew all too well the discernment in this lord.

Beauty? In the vast universe, there are countless ways to change one's appearance. What is truly precious is talent and character, the potential to move forward together.

Yan Lingji gazed at the starry sky outside the window, her tone tinged with envy. "What he wants is a genius who can cultivate to become an immortal god simply through talent and a suitable environment, someone who can stay by his side for a long time, not a pretty vase that is good for nothing but beauty."

She looked down at her hands.

"Even I... because I was imprisoned in a water dungeon when I was young, I wasted the best period for cultivation. Since then, I can only rely on the relationship of being a fellow group member to cling to the thigh of others, and it is even more difficult to make further progress."

This was a deep-seated regret in her heart.

If she hadn't been imprisoned back then, if she had met the adults earlier... perhaps she would have had the chance to embark on that path too.

"However..." Yan Lingji's gaze sharpened as she turned back to the interior of the spaceship, "It's not that these people are entirely without a chance."

"Yan Fei..." she murmured the name. "Her talent and temperament are both top-notch. If she can break through the world's limitations or get close to that threshold on her own... then Lord Lin Yuan might give her a chance to follow him to a higher world to cultivate."

"As for the others..." Yan Lingji shook her head, no longer thinking about it.

She turned and went back to the couch, curled up, and her nine tails gently enveloped her body.

"Go to sleep, go to sleep. We have to go to the temple with the adults tomorrow."