Holy Maiden, wait a minute. Why are you asking me to cultivate again?

Has my secret of the Primordial Yin-Yang Dao Body been seen through?

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Song Zhao's forehead, and his heart pounded like a drum.

"Don't be nervous, kid. She didn't see anything wrong. She just guessed that you have the ability to seduce women."

"Because she herself got infected, hahaha!"

The witch's laughter acted like a shot of adrenaline, calming Song Zhao's tense nerves.

The Grand Elder of Tianwu Sect, Cui Yu, has an excellent reputation within the sect. How could he be suspected of being a member of the demonic path?

But if the other party is truly a member of the demonic path, wouldn't the sect leader's insistence on making him a disciple reveal that he was there to spy on them?

Dongfang Huaizhen seemed to see through Song Zhao's thoughts: "You don't need to worry."

"I will arrange everything. You just need to report to the Grand Elder in three days."

"Remember, don't overdo it."

Song Zhao had no choice but to comply, saying, "I will obey the sect leader's command."

"Heh, also, after going to the Grand Elder's place, I've had less contact with the Holy Maiden."

After giving his final instructions, the figure above disappeared, leaving only a statue of a maid.

What does that mean? Did the sect leader realize that he and Su Fangyue were having an affair?

Song Zhao didn't know how she got back to the Holy Maiden's Palace, and she felt extremely melancholy.

Whether becoming the Grand Elder's disciple is a blessing or a curse is unknown.

Furthermore, he was already displeased when the sect leader threatened her to have less contact with the Holy Maiden.

On what grounds?

He and the saintess were already a perfect match, so why should he be threatened by others?

"I'm just too weak."

As Song Zhao walked in the courtyard, he muttered to himself, "I'll discuss this with the Holy Maiden once she emerges from seclusion."

Knock knock knock!

An untimely knock sounded at the door: "Is Fellow Daoist Song inside?"

"I am a steward from the Internal Affairs Hall. Your new identity token has arrived, along with the Grand Elder's disciple's handpan..."

So fast?

When Song Zhao arrived at the door, he saw a steward outside holding a sandalwood tray.

On the plate were a token, a handpan, and a small bag of spirit stones.

Song Zhao was slightly surprised: "You don't need me to hand over the mission?"

"unnecessary."

"You don't need me to hand over the wolf demon's claws?"

"No need, young man, you can take it."

Song Zhao scratched his head: "Didn't we have to follow procedures for everything before?"

The steward smiled and said, "The things that are ordered from above don't need so many procedures."

Holding the outer sect token and the disciple's hand disc, Song Zhao watched the steward's departing figure.

It turns out that the menial servants who borrowed money to bribe their way into promotions, fighting tooth and nail for those opportunities, were simply getting things done with a single word from someone else.

"Power is truly fascinating..."

"I should have known that sooner."

Two days later, in the quiet room, Su Fangyue slowly raised her eyelids, revealing a gentle smile.

"He's reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. That old handyman is truly my lucky star."

"It seems I'll have to ask him for help with my cultivation more often in the future."

Su Fangyue recalled those few crazy moments, her delicate face flushed, her pearly teeth biting her cherry lips, her eyes filled with infatuation.

"What happened?"

"Su Fangyue, Su Fangyue, you're supposed to be a saintess, can't you be a little more reserved? You're already reacting before you've even seen the person..."

After calming down, he left the quiet room.

Song Zhao swallowed the last Qingling Pill in the courtyard, preparing to break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

I've refined nine Azure Spirit Pills in the past two days, and my cultivation is finally about to break through.

To be honest, even if one's spiritual root aptitude is terrible, if one uses spirit stones and pills to relentlessly build it up, there shouldn't be any problems before reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

These ten Azure Spirit Pills are potent enough that they would be sufficient for anyone attempting to break through to the Qi Refining Perfection stage.

"Master Qiu of the Enforcement Hall is really rich."

Song Zhao smacked his lips to avoid starting to regulate his breathing.

He had worked as a handyman his whole life and still couldn't scrape together the money for ten Qingling Pills, but Master Qiu gave them to him without hesitation.

After I entered a meditative state and my breathing became long and steady, I heard footsteps coming from inside, gradually approaching.

"The Holy Maiden has emerged from seclusion?"

Song Zhao opened one eye and saw Su Fangyue standing smiling by the curtain in the courtyard.

"Old handyman, don't worry about me, you start cultivating."

She looked at Song Zhao with great curiosity, and after calculating the days, she was shocked to find that his cultivation speed was too fast.

"It seems the old handyman has benefited quite a bit from me; no wonder he always works so hard..."

Three hours later.

A clear, melodious sound rang out, and wisps of spiritual energy from heaven and earth formed a small vortex centered on Song Zhao.

The light of inspiration constantly emanates and dissipates until it disappears.

"call--"

Song Zhao exhaled a long breath, mobilized a small amount of his magical power, and confirmed that he had broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Just one step away from perfection.

"Old man, congratulations."

Although Su Fangyue offered her congratulations, her expression remained calm and cold.

"The Holy Maiden has also broken through! Congratulations!"

Song Zhao cupped his hands in greeting, and could sense that Su Fangyue's aura had improved significantly.

"Hehe, now that we've both broken through, why don't we take this opportunity to consolidate our realms?"

Su Fangyue sat opposite Song Zhao, her fingers tracing across the table, her fiery and naked gaze no longer concealing its intensity.

She tried to be reserved, but she couldn't resist.

"Um, I have something more important to tell you."

Song Zhao coughed, intending to tell them that the sect leader had come to see him.

But Su Fangyue couldn't hold back any longer and pounced on her like a kitten, her fair feet touching the ground as she began to bite and scratch.

"Wait, Holy Maiden!"

"What's so slow? What could be more important than cultivation?"

......

......

"What did you say? Master wants you to become a disciple of the Grand Elder?"

Su Fangyue brushed her disheveled hair aside, revealing an expression of disbelief.

"She also told you to have less contact with me in the future?"

Speaking of this, she felt very nervous, staring blankly at Song Zhao, whose face was flushed, and then touched her lower abdomen.

That doesn't make sense. She pretended to still have virginity when she went out, so there was no way her master could have seen through it...

Song Zhao nodded like a chick pecking at rice, hugged Su Fangyue's slender waist, and lowered his head deeply: "Do you think it will be dangerous for me to go to the Grand Elder's place?"

"After all, if the sect leader forces me to go through with this, wouldn't the Grand Elder become suspicious?"

"No, not at all."

"The Grand Elder is fond of playing the teacher. It's not the first or second time that Master has assigned her disciples. A third of the sect's stewards and elders, and half of the true disciples, have all served as the Grand Elder's disciples for a period of time."

Su Fangyue breathed out her fragrant breath and cupped Song Zhao's face in her hands: "It's okay, we can just meet secretly from now on."

"Let's do it a few more times. I guess we won't be able to train together for so long in the future."

"Alright, Holy Maiden, you're quite the little glutton."

"Heh, old handyman, you'd better be able to make this cat of mine fly."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Early the next morning.

After packing some things, Song Zhao set off for the No. 1 Palace on Tianwu Peak.

The palace is not located on the mountaintop, but rather at the foot of the mountain, facing south, and occupying a vast area.

Although it's called a palace, it's actually more like a small academy within the Tianwu Sect.

Inside the palace, Elder Cui Yu, dressed in a fiery red dress, was instructing the morning lessons.

Suddenly, she gathered her disciples around and said with a smile, "Today, a new disciple will be joining our hall."

"Anyone who can make him suffer will be rewarded with one hundred spirit stones!"

"But if he makes you suffer, you'll have to give me 150 spirit stones."

"To play or not?"