Wild Dogs

As soon as she returned to the palace, she summoned Yang Fan and Xiao Baihua.

Seeing that Xiao Baihua had not yet reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, she scolded Xiao Baihua again.

Then she waved to Yang Fan.

"Stretch out your hand."

Yang Fan obediently extended his wrist.

Xiao Ling placed her hand on Yang Fan's wrist, and her eyes lit up immediately.

"You have now reached the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage."

Yang Fan nodded.

"Yes, I have reached the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, and I am only one step away from entering the Core Formation stage."

As he spoke, his voice trembled involuntarily.

He wanted Xiao Ling to understand that he was about to break through to the Core Formation stage.

Xiao Ling was determined to allocate more cultivation resources to Yang Fan's side.

Upon hearing that Yang Fan was about to break through to the Core Formation stage, Xiao Ling's expression became much more serious.

She stood up and paced back and forth.

"Alright, I'll immediately have someone prepare a quiet room for you, and then we'll prepare the things to fight your inner demons."

"You absolutely must break through to the Core Formation stage this time."

A glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes.

She then glared at Xiao Baihua with annoyance.

"You're such a waste, still cultivating so slowly."

Xiao Baihua muttered a couple of discontented words.

Yang Fan breathed a slight sigh of relief. Judging from Xiao Ling's expression, she still seemed to value him quite a bit.

There shouldn't be any problems.

He hurriedly stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to Xiao Ling.

"We can't blame Junior Sister Baihua; she's actually quite diligent in her cultivation."

Xiao Ling glared at him.

"You don't need to try to smooth things over for him. This little girl is getting more and more outrageous."

She sighed.

Yang Fan suddenly realized that, judging from Xiao Ling's attitude, she didn't seem to have that much resistance towards him anymore.

This might be a good opportunity.

He didn't say anything more.

A moment later, a maid came to inform Xiao Ling that the quiet room was ready.

Xiao Ling nodded, her brows furrowed.

"By the way, where did Luo Changhe go?"

Hearing Xiao Ling call Luo Changhe by his name directly, Yang Fan felt a little strange.

But the maid seemed used to it and simply bowed in response.

"Luo Changhe has been away from the palace for more than a year and has not yet returned."

Xiao Ling was immediately extremely dissatisfied.

"I wonder if that bastard has gone off to party again."

"If I catch him, I will definitely not let him off the hook."

She clenched her fists, looking indignant.

Yang Fan said nothing and silently stepped aside to wait.

Xiao Ling waved her hand.

"Alright, don't worry about him. Go and wait in the quiet room."

"I sent him a telepathic message to come here, and then the two of us will protect you together."

"You should break through to the Core Formation stage as soon as possible."

"Yes, I understand."

Xiao Ling nodded and looked Yang Fan up and down.

Seeing that Yang Fan was about to leave, she suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Yang Fan's arm.

Yang Fan turned around and looked at her in surprise.

Xiao Ling gently touched his forehead, and a surge of spiritual energy flowed in, causing the peach blossom petals to appear.

She nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good, the curse mark is still there."

She patted Yang Fan on the shoulder with a smile.

"You should understand what the cursed seal means, right?"

Yang Fan nodded seriously.

He had been in the Hundred Flowers Palace for almost three years, so he naturally knew what the cursed seal was all about.

Once he leaves the Hundred Flowers Palace's sphere of influence, the curse will activate and kill him.

He knew it perfectly well.

"You know that, so don't try anything funny."

"We will do everything we can to help you break through to the Core Formation stage."

"But if you dare to play any tricks, I can kill you at any time."

She patted Yang Fan on the shoulder earnestly and looked him over carefully.

Yang Fan was displeased, but he still wore a calm smile on his face.

He nodded slightly to Xiao Ling.

"I understand."

A hint of appreciation flashed in Xiao Ling's eyes.

She gently lifted Yang Fan's chin, glanced at him, and nodded slightly.

"What a pity. If you were from the Hundred Flowers Palace, I could really take you as my disciple."

She looked at Xiao Baihua.

"Baihua, get ready, your senior brother Gan will be arriving in a couple of days."

"You'll be responsible for greeting and receiving him then."

"What? Senior Brother Gan is here?"

Xiao Baihua raised her head, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Xiao Ling waved her hand.

"Don't ask any more questions. In short, he'll be staying here with us for quite a while this time."

"Then come with us to the Heavenly Mystery Palace."

"What? Go to the Heavenly Mystery Palace with him? How can that be allowed?"

Xiao Baihua found it hard to believe.

Xiao Ling lowered her head and stared at her coldly.

"What, do you have a problem with that?"

Xiao Baihua raised her head angrily.

"Mother, why bring Senior Brother Gan along? He's been traveling all these years. Is he really that close to our Hundred Flowers Palace?"

Xiao Ling's eyes immediately turned cold.

"What kind of talk is that? Your Senior Brother Gan is my disciple. When he travels, he is mostly doing his best for our Hundred Flowers Palace."

"Don't tell me you're unwilling?"

Xiao Baihua snorted coldly.

"Hmph, that guy surnamed Gan looked at me strangely."

Xiao Ling remained silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"Anyway, don't say any more of this. I'm going to take Senior Brother Gan with me no matter what."

Although Xiao Baihua wanted to say something more, she dejectedly stepped aside.

After a long while, she stubbornly raised her head.

"But can this Heavenly Secret Token take so many people? You and Father are going, I'm going, and this kid is going too. There are already so many people, can we still take him?"

Xiao Ling nodded slightly.

"Of course. One Heavenly Secret Token can bring five cultivators, and with your Senior Brother Gan, that makes five people."

"In short, with the five of us breaking into the Heavenly Mystery Palace, we're sure to gain a lot this time."

Xiao Baihua pouted. Although she wanted to argue, she knew her mother wouldn't listen to her, so she could only shake her head dejectedly.

Xiao Ling sighed.

"Baihua, you and your Senior Brother Gan are from the same school. No matter what, you cannot look down on him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Xiao Baihua grumbled in dissatisfaction, but there was nothing she could do.

She glanced at Yang Fan beside her and snorted coldly.

"You brat, why aren't you focusing on your cultivation?"

She glared fiercely at Yang Fan.

Xiao Baihua was indeed interested in Yang Fan at first, but now that she has discovered that Yang Fan has no interest in her at all, she naturally feels deep resentment.

Yang Fan, however, remained indifferent, slightly turning his head away to continue his arduous cultivation.

Xiao Ling glanced at Yang Fan.

"You don't need to worry about Baihua, just focus on your cultivation."

She took a deep breath.

"During this period, I will place you in a secret room. Please prepare in advance and bring the necessary supplies."

"Once inside, nothing but cultivation resources are allowed. Do you understand?"

Yang Fan's eyes narrowed, and he hurriedly nodded repeatedly.

Xiao Ling's words were already very clear, and he naturally knew he shouldn't disobey.

"Yes, Palace Master, I will definitely cultivate diligently."