Seeing the timing was about right, Dan Shu quickly rushed toward Luo Dongqing's position, her eyes reddened, looking like she'd cry but didn't as she called out, "Brother Dongqing, what happened to you?" Dan Shu's sudden appearance startled Liu Sisi and the other two, especially Liu Sisi. She'd already cultivated for over a thousand years—yet the other had suddenly run in without her detecting anything at all.
Looking clearly at Dan Shu's appearance, she narrowed her eyes. Wasn't this the woman she'd bound and trapped outside?
At this moment, she discovered a group of people behind Dan Shu. Her expression instantly became alert, finally settling her gaze on A-Xin and Ji Yunman. Among all present, only these two women were unfathomable to her.
"May I ask what brings these seniors here?" Having cultivated for a thousand years, Liu Sisi was no fool. She glanced at the still-sleeping Luo Dongqing. Could it be these people came for Luo Dongqing? If so, she probably couldn't do anything to him.
Recalling what Luo Yuxin had said earlier, some regret flashed in her eyes. Demon spirits cultivated slowly to begin with. If Luo Dongqing truly could quickly surpass her cultivation and she could use him to cultivate in the future—that would be too easy. But faced with formidable strength, she chose to submit. If these two women truly had some relationship with Luo Dongqing, she could only give up.
A-Xin guessed Liu Sisi's thoughts and only said, "I came to find my disciple." Her gaze fell on Yin Lan. "Hearing her say there were some people inside, I came to look out of curiosity."
Liu Sisi's expression turned strange, but from these two sentences she understood one meaning. The other only cared about that woman in fiery red clothes. She wasn't here to save Luo Dongqing. Simply put—she had no relationship with Luo Dongqing and didn't plan to interfere.
So... she could still use Luo Dongqing to cultivate?
Liu Sisi smiled until her eyes curved. Already alluring and bewitching, her current appearance wrapped in gauze—any man catching one glimpse would lose his soul. She lightly glanced at Luo Dongqing and said to A-Xin with a smile, "I see. Sisi hit it off with Young Master Luo at first sight and invited him to my home as a guest. No other meaning." Her gaze turned to Yin Lan and Dan Shu. "Earlier I had some misunderstandings with these two young ladies. That was Sisi's fault. Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, if you all don't mind, Sisi is willing to treat everyone with the finest spirit wine and spirit fruit."
A-Xin was about to speak when Ji Yunman got ahead of her. "No need. A-Xin and I don't like alcohol. Since you just hit it off, there's nothing curious about it." She gripped A-Xin's hand tightly. "A-Xin, let's go back. We still have many things to do." She was still waiting for the Ji family to enter the world, announce her relationship with A-Xin, and oh yes—she needed to tell her master this good news.
These years, they hadn't always cultivated on the island. Basically every year they'd go out to train in other places. Elder Bai, after emerging from three or five years of seclusion, would contact her and had come to the island to visit. Only because after she was crippled at Seven Star Sword Sect, and Ji Haiqing also subsequently left the Ji family—considering Elder Bai's sake, they hadn't expelled her from the sect, but immediately formed a cooperative relationship with the Luo family.
Alliances between powers—she understood and comprehended, but wouldn't not care. Therefore, at Seven Star Sword Sect, the only one she cared about was her master, Elder Bai. For over twenty years, she'd never once openly returned to Seven Star Sword Sect. The sect owed her nothing, nor did she owe them. She simply treated it as if they had no relationship at all.
But this time, she had to appear high-profile. If the Ji family wasn't known to the world, it couldn't be considered a world-renowned great family. And she, Ji Yunman, also needed to be known by everyone.
Liu Sisi noticed these two equally outstanding women's intimate hand-holding appearance and understood inwardly. Thinking of the smile she'd just shown A-Xin, it could indeed cause misunderstanding. She no longer looked at A-Xin with those direct eyes. She couldn't provoke either of these two.
"Since you two have matters to attend to, Sisi won't keep you."
Having someone more formidable than her watching nearby also made her uncomfortable.
"Dan Shu, come out with us?" Yin Lan called to Dan Shu, who'd been keeping watch beside Luo Dongqing. She even walked over to pull her. Dan Shu raised her head, her face full of worry. "I need to stay here to take care of Brother Dongqing. Yin Lan, if you have something to do, go back first."
Right now she couldn't leave Luo Dongqing yet. Calculating the time, in the future Luo Dongqing would encounter two more women. The plot had already changed considerably—for instance, originally Luo Dongqing didn't meet Liu Sisi at this time. If she weren't constantly following by his side, she simply couldn't prevent these things. After changing the fate of those last two pitiful women, she'd naturally leave Luo Dongqing. She, Dan Shu, had never intended to always remain by Luo Dongqing's side.
Luo Dongqing really had good fortune—this life he still had three women accompanying him. Dan Shu lowered her eyes, some laughter in them. This life's Luo Dongqing probably wouldn't want too many women around him, especially women with cultivation lower than his. With each coupling he'd drop a tier—enough for him to suffer. Even if the woman was stronger than him, after relations with Luo Dongqing he'd also suffer severe losses. Anyway, from her observations, after each time, Luo Dongqing would fall into exhausted sleep.
[Perhaps this is karmic retribution,] Dan Shu said to the system. [In his previous life he treated women as playthings; this life he becomes women's cultivation tool.]
The system thought weakly: This was still the Evil God Lord applying just a small trick to torment Luo Dongqing this badly. Without the Evil God Lord intervening, the host wanting to stop Luo Dongqing probably wouldn't be so simple.
Dan Shu came back to her senses and saw Yin Lan's angry appearance, looking at her with reddened eyes. Yin Lan bit her teeth and said, "Fine, if you won't leave then don't. Anyway I have nothing to do—I'll stay with you."
Finally, A-Xin and Ji Yunman departed.
Returning to the small island, Ji Yunman called back all Ji family members and convened a grand family meeting.
Hearing the Ji family would enter the world, the Ji family members all rubbed their fists together, full of anticipation. Ji Yunman prepared to lead the Ji family into the world while having people go everywhere collecting rare items—beautiful, rare, and precious.
"What are you preparing these for?" Seeing the list Ji Yunman made, filled mostly with rare treasures, A-Xin asked.
Ji Yunman's cheeks were like two patches of rosy clouds. She said quietly, "For our wedding. Can't make it shabby." She glanced at A-Xin. The person she liked was so wonderful—how could she wrong her? She needed to present the Eastern Cloud Continent's best treasures before her. Not one piece, but countless baskets, many large boxes, letting her choose at will. Only this was worthy of her.
A-Xin understood and returned the list to Ji Yunman without stopping her approach. On the contrary, she felt some anticipation about how many she'd find.
After Ji Yunman went off busily, A-Xin picked through her own space, selecting nice items according to Ji Yunman's preferences and packing them into boxes. She pondered, then suddenly remembered that for marriage, she'd definitely need to notify the Demon Palace. These years she rarely returned to the Demon Palace. Whatever arrangements needed making, she'd send messages back.
Now in the Eastern Cloud Continent, people rarely saw the Demon Palace Master out and about. More accurately, over twenty years ago, the Demon Palace Master's figure seemed to have already vanished from sight. The Demon Palace's location was remote—basically no one could find it. Reportedly outside the Demon Palace were powerful formations. Perhaps the Demon Palace could be right before one's eyes without being discovered.
As usual, A-Xin sent a message to the Demon Palace, stating she was getting married and having them prepare items and come down the mountain. The wedding date would probably be this year.
She calmly sent this news back, not knowing the entire Demon Palace was in an uproar over it. Especially seeing in A-Xin's message that her marriage partner was Ji Yunman—everyone's expressions turned strange. The Demon Palace people didn't know about A-Xin's affairs on the small island, thinking their Palace Master was touring around the Eastern Cloud Continent.
The Demon Palace people were originally quite carefree. Though the Palace Master's marriage partner was Ji Yunman, they were only surprised briefly, not thinking anything else. Their Palace Master's strength was formidable—her choice simply wasn't something they could obstruct. Better to go down and prepare properly.
Many years ago, A-Xin had found the secret realm hidden in the Demon Palace and distributed the items inside to the Demon Palace members, instructing them to cultivate well. She'd also set up a mountain-protecting grand formation outside the Demon Palace, letting the Demon Palace members witness her formidable strength. Within the Demon Palace, there were those who'd had ideas. Once someone thought that since A-Xin hadn't returned to the Demon Palace in many years, they wanted to become Palace Master.
A-Xin received news from trusted subordinates, returned, and directly crippled and expelled that person from the Demon Palace without a moment's hesitation. After that, no Demon Palace member dared have other thoughts again.
A-Xin felt the treasures in her hands plus the Demon Palace members' preparations should let her have a satisfactory wedding. She didn't concern herself with these matters. Seeing Ji Yunman busy inside and out, she didn't want to be idle either. Thinking it over, she felt making interesting invitations for wedding participants would be good.
After Ji Yunman had been busy for quite some time, she suddenly noticed A-Xin rarely appeared recently. Only then did she realize that these days she'd been busy with matters without accompanying her. Feeling very guilty, she came to A-Xin's room. Entering, she saw A-Xin sitting there, holding a piece of red jade tablet in her hand, carving something.
"A-Xin." Ji Yunman called out. "What are you doing?"
A-Xin raised her eyes and smiled. "Making invitations."
Only then did Ji Yunman notice the table was covered with many already-carved invitations, all carved from red jade with faint spiritual power fluctuations. She picked one up to examine carefully. On the invitation's surface were actually carved two stunning women. Looking at those figures—who else could they be but her and A-Xin? Ji Yunman felt warmth flood her heart. A-Xin prepared so thoroughly.
Though red jade wasn't particularly precious, the exquisite patterns and text carved on it were the Eastern Cloud Continent's rarest. Especially those unmatched restrictions—truly marvelous.
"You write the characters." A-Xin pointed at the invitations. "You send the invitations."
"Alright."
Ji Yunman looked at the invitations made of red jade, pulled out some gold, directly melted it into a vessel, first carving characters, then plating a layer of gold on top. Catching the sunlight, they sparkled brilliantly.
She flipped through the invitation surfaces—images of two women in various different scenes. Some were scenes they'd experienced together; some weren't, but these unexperienced scenes were exactly what she'd imagined. Her eyes held only joy. Everything here was what she wanted to do with A-Xin.
One of them made invitations, carving exquisite patterns; one carved characters. Each sat to one side, neither disturbing the other. Occasionally Ji Yunman would raise her head to look at A-Xin, and A-Xin would happen to raise her head to look at her. Then both would smile at each other and continue with lowered heads. Ji Yunman's lips curved. These were the days she wanted—staying by her side, meeting her eye to eye, joining hands, spending a lifetime together.
A-Xin sensed this soul joyfully dancing. The other's happiness also made her soul extremely pleased.
[I don't want to live like this anymore.]
One day, Luo Dongqing roared at the system, eyes sunken, even his walking somewhat unsteady. Thinking of recent encounters made his heart irritable beyond measure. Originally just having Xu Xiangjun and Luo Yuxin would have been fine, but unexpectedly later appeared Liu Sisi. This Liu Sisi was formidable—a willow tree spirit who'd cultivated a thousand years and could transform into human form.
Willow tree spirit was fine, but this willow tree spirit was especially beautiful. Before her, he always couldn't control himself. Not controlling himself would be fine—before a beauty, how could he possibly control himself? The key point was after everything happened, he horrifyingly discovered that one time with Liu Sisi depleted most of his vital essence. He needed several days of cultivation to recover.
This would be acceptable—sleeping with a beauty naturally required paying some price. At first Liu Sisi treated him decently, but later seeing his cultivation not improving much, her true face showed. Now besides eating, drinking, and relieving himself, he was watched by Liu Sisi cultivating every day. His technique was special—after cultivating for a while, he had to couple with women to resolve the body's heat.
Originally with only Xu Xiangjun and Luo Yuxin beside him, because the technique was special and he cultivated quickly, his cultivation still increased rapidly. He controlled it himself—each time only resolving it once. No matter how Xu Xiangjun and Luo Yuxin tempted him, he remained unmoved.
Since Liu Sisi came, she watched him cultivate daily. Seeing when he wanted to resolve it, basically she'd take initiative herself. Because she was far stronger than him, he couldn't recover for several days. Naturally his cultivation increased slowly.
Liu Sisi blamed this on him.
"Luo Dongqing, what are you spacing out for again? Hurry and cultivate." Liu Sisi floated out from who knows where, hanging on a branch, sneering. "Your goal is to surpass me. Once in a while you should endure it. Don't fail to restrain yourself every time. I've heard you're the Luo family's genius. Don't use your lustful heart as an excuse."
Luo Dongqing couldn't deal with Liu Sisi and could only swallow his anger. He sat cross-legged and began cultivating while communicating with the system. [System, do you have any way to kill this Liu Sisi?]
[Host, I'm just an Imperial Women System. I can't help you kill women. Helping you attract more women is no problem though.]
Luo Dongqing gritted his teeth. [Fine, you're also a useless thing.]
Forget it, he'd do it himself.
This damn useless system—no wonder it was called Imperial Women System. Besides attracting women, it was utterly useless. If he'd known earlier, he definitely wouldn't have listened to the system and obtained this bizarre technique, causing him to be stuck cultivating only this for life. He'd thought about re-cultivating, but the system clearly told him this technique was special—even if he started over, he could only cultivate this one. He'd also thought about not cultivating, and as long as he didn't practice, there truly wouldn't be any reaction.
But he was the Luo family's young master. If his strength couldn't keep up, he could only be bullied. In the end, he had to grit his teeth and cultivate. With his talent, cultivating other techniques was simply useless.
"Luo Dongqing, hurry and cultivate. What are you spacing out for? Your spiritual power hasn't even fluctuated. Think sitting cross-legged means I can't tell you're slacking off?"
Hearing Liu Sisi's words, Luo Dongqing had to start cultivating. Ask him what he hated most now? Of course, the terrifying creatures called women.
If he could start over, he'd want to become a Buddhist cultivator and never interact with women again.
Seeing him spacing out, Liu Sisi took willow branches and whipped him, hurting him so much he grimaced but didn't dare resist.
"Elder Sister Liu, strike lighter. Don't break Little Brother Dongqing." Luo Yuxin quickly said. "If you break him, how can he cultivate?" She was still waiting for Luo Dongqing to help improve her strength later.
Xu Xiangjun touched the marks on Luo Dongqing's arm from the willow branches and blew on them. "Big Brother Luo, you should cultivate seriously. I'll blow on them for you—they won't hurt anymore."
Yin Lan accompanied Dan Shu standing to the side. Dan Shu held a basket of spirit fruit, looking longingly at Luo Dongqing. "Brother Dongqing, I heard from the elder sisters that your technique is special. They're doing this to spur you to cultivate hard and prevent you from slacking. The Luo family is powerful—the young generation depends on Brother Dongqing, so you must work hard."
"I picked fresh spirit fruit for you. After you break through, then eat."
Luo Dongqing looked at the pure Dan Shu. Shu'er was truly too innocent.
This was the only woman who just liked him, not his body.
Sure enough, Shu'er was the woman who loved him most and the woman he should treat sincerely.
"Alright, Shu'er, wait for me to break through."
This time, Luo Dongqing truly cultivated seriously.
Having cultivated with difficulty to now, others didn't dare provoke him. If because of technique problems he didn't cultivate, he wasn't willing.
Like in the modern world—despised and dumped by his girlfriend, working at a private boss's company and being bullied while groveling—he didn't want those days anymore. In this Eastern Cloud Continent, without some strength, his outcome definitely wouldn't be good. So no matter how bizarre this technique was, he had to practice it. At least cultivation was fast. The process being humiliating was a bit humiliating.
One day, a mysterious power suddenly emerged in the Eastern Cloud Continent. This power's members called themselves Ji family people. At first, they thought this Ji family was the original Ji family. Later, after probing, they learned the newly appeared Ji family wasn't the original Ji family.
The appearance of the world-renowned great family Ji shocked the entire Eastern Cloud Continent. This family's dominance left countless powers unable to react—instantly occupying territory.
Unable to stop the new power's emergence, all major powers accepted it. Attitudes changed one after another to befriend this new Ji family. Because of this family's formidability, the major powers' leaders personally visited.
They never anticipated that this new Ji family's head was someone they could never imagine.
The new Ji family head had a transcendent bearing, every gesture showing great family demeanor. They couldn't help recalling those events from long ago concerning this new Ji family head, left only with sighs.