The flames in the furnace gradually died down, and the heat distorted the air before dispersing.
Wu Heng stood and walked out. The runes on his body fell away as he moved. The skeletons waiting outside passed him with cleaning tools in hand and began tidying the area.
Not far away, Viola remained cross-legged amid the blazing flames. Her brown hair fluttered, Black Bird patterns covered her skin, and she continuously absorbed the energy around her.
As he entered the living room, the Empress Dowager controlled a puppet to bring him a towel. "How did it go today?"
"Things went fairly smoothly, but I didn't break through to the second stage." Wu Heng took the towel and wiped the dust from his body.
"It's good that things went smoothly. At your cultivation speed, it should happen soon. There's no need to rush," the Empress Dowager said from the side.
Xiaoxiao floated nearby, her eyes full of curiosity. "Auntie is so gentle today!"
Beni followed up, "Maybe she thinks more highly of Uncle now."
"Thinks highly of what?"
"I don't know either. Anyway, the two of them have gotten closer."
Xiaoxiao added, "I thought Auntie had fallen for Uncle too!"
Granda looked up from the book in her hands. "The way you address them makes it very easy to misunderstand."
The Empress Dowager shot a glare at the three ghosts discussing her right in front of her. "Do you have some prejudice against me? Was my attitude really that bad before?"
Xiaoxiao looked up into the air, refusing to answer.
Rabbit Girl Minnie walked over. "Master, the bathwater is ready."
"Alright!" Wu Heng nodded, then said to the ghosts, "We're heading out later. Xiaoxiao, don't run around."
"Oh, okay. I wasn't planning to go out anyway," Xiaoxiao said.
Wu Heng went