Near the gate, Big Fuzz let out another long, bored yawn, acting as innocent as a saint—completely ignoring the fact that he had just swallowed a 200-pound assassin whole.
"Has Young Master lived here for long?" Princess Tiffany asked, trying to sound casual while fishing for information.
"Yeah," Quinn nodded. "I've been stuck—I mean, lived here—for ten years."
Ten years?
Tiffany paused. Her mind immediately flashed to the legends of Cloud-Drifting Mountain. The thick black fog had covered this peak for centuries. Some said a hundred years, some said a thousand. The point was, this place had been a forbidden zone long before "ten years ago."
Yet this man claimed he had only been here for a decade?
Tiffany narrowed her eyes, her brain working overtime to connect the dots.
Impossible.
Look at this courtyard. It feels ancient, timeless. He says "ten years," but for an Immortal who has lived for millenniums, ten years is probably just a nap.
"He's definitely been here much longer," Tiffany concluded internally. "He's just keeping a low profile. I shouldn't pry."
Unaware that the Princess was writing his biography in her head, Quinn smiled warmly.
"Why don't you ladies come inside and sit for a bit?"
Quinn was genuinely eager. He had been alone on this mountain for ten years. A decade of talking to a robot system and a dog. Now, suddenly, two living, breathing humans—and beautiful women, at that—were standing at his door. He was desperate for some social interaction.
Princess Tiffany lit up with surprise and joy. This was exactly what she wanted. A chance to enter the Sanctum of the Immortal!
This is a golden opportunity. I need to get on this mysterious expert's good side while I can.
"Sorry to intrude on your privacy," Tiffany said politely.
"No worries at all," Quinn grinned, opening the door. "I love having company. Come on in."
He led the two women inside.
The moment Tiffany and Chloe stepped across the threshold, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
The room was filled with objects they had never seen in their lives.
For the past ten years, under the System's "brutal education program," Quinn had built countless gadgets. But his pride and joy was the crown jewel of his craftsmanship: The Ultimate Smart Home Ecosystem.
Every piece of furniture, every lamp, every window was connected to a central AI hub. Everything was voice-controlled. It was convenient. It was efficient. Even back on Earth, this level of tech would have been ahead of its time.
Of course, to the people of this world, a "Smart Home" was a concept beyond comprehension.
"Hey, Lil' Two," Quinn called out casually to the empty air. "Turn on the Air Circulation System."
Tiffany and Chloe exchanged blank looks. Lil' Two? Air Circulation System? What kind of demonic spell is that?
"Affirmative, Master. Activating Fresh Air Mode," a sweet, melodic female voice responded from nowhere.
Whirrrrr.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze began to flow from vents hidden in the corners of the room. The air was crisp, clean, and revitalizing. Quinn took a deep breath, accustomed to the luxury of filtered oxygen.
But Tiffany? Tiffany was absolutely thunderstruck.
She gasped, her body trembling. "This... this density... This isn't just air..."
As a cultivator, Tiffany was incredibly sensitive to energy. The moment the system kicked in, she felt it. It wasn't just wind.
It was Pure Spiritual Qi.
Rolling waves of Qi were flooding into the room from all directions, so thick it felt like she was breathing in liquid mana.
Tiffany was dumbfounded. The density of the Qi in this room was terrifying. It was at least a hundred times stronger than the "Spirit Gathering Formation" back at her Royal Mansion!
There must be a Heaven-Defying Formation hidden here, Princess Tiffany deduced, her mind reeling. A supreme array that reverses the laws of nature, forcibly dragging in spiritual energy from a thousand miles around!
She looked at Quinn with a completely different gaze. The polite curiosity was gone, replaced by absolute awe.
This man wasn't just a rich recluse. He was a Supreme Expert whose cultivation reached the heavens. And she had stumbled right into his lap.
If I can get this expert on my side, The Fang Clan would be nothing more than ants. He could wipe them out with a literal snap of his fingers!
But before she could fantasize further, the effects of the "Air Circulation System" hit her hard. As waves of dense Qi washed over her, Princess Tiffany's face flushed a deep crimson. Her delicate body began to tremble uncontrollably.
It's too much... It's too thick! I can't... I can't hold it back!
"Ah...!"
The next moment, a burst of radiant light erupted from Princess Tiffany's body. She slumped slightly, panting heavily. Sweat dripped down her flushed neck, soaking her collar. She looked exhausted, yet utterly euphoric.
She had broken through to the next cultivation stage. Just like that.
Quinn, standing off to the side, stared at her with wide eyes.
Is... is this how people cultivate in this world? Why did that look and sound so... suspicious?
"Thank you, Young Master!" Princess Tiffany said breathlessly, her cheeks still burning red. "I... I broke through!"
Quinn scratched his head, confused.
Okay, weirdo. What does that have to do with me? You just stood there and shuddered.
"Uh, congratulations," Quinn muttered. "Anyway, let me make you some tea."
Trying to diffuse the awkward atmosphere, Quinn busied himself at the table. Moments later, he returned with a steaming pot of tea and poured a cup for both the Princess and Chloe.
Princess Tiffany and Chloe picked up their cups politely. But the moment the aroma hit Princess Tiffany's nose, she froze.
"Wait..."
She looked down at the amber liquid in her cup, and her expression changed drastically once again.