Pregnancy Has Hope

"What about the third step?" Murong asked.

Zhou Hao shrugged. "The third step and subsequent steps are actually tests that come after the passionate love phase. They don't have much to do with us, since we aren't really a couple yet."

Murong raised an eyebrow slightly and said softly, "Then why did you speak as if it were all true? You even broke it down into steps. Why not just talk about the second step?"

It made her quite expectant.

Zhou Hao chuckled sheepishly. "If I don't break it down into steps, how can I show that I'm organized?"

Murong rolled her eyes and then said, "It's about time. Think carefully about what we should do to deepen our relationship over these next three days. I'll see you in three days."

Her words still lingered, but she had already vanished.

Zhou Hao reached out his hand, then helplessly let it fall. He really wanted to say that if she didn't want the Phoenix Egg, he could break the seal on it and take it for himself.

He completely believed that Murong had the ability to break the seal on the Phoenix Egg.

However, since she had already left, he could only wait for next time.

Zhou Hao then entered his cultivation state. He needed to reach the Spiritual Consciousness Realm as soon as possible so he could leave.

Actually, he could leave now. As long as Zhou Yuanbao took him out, it would be fine. However, he still wanted to follow the normal procedure.

Du Tianhong had told him that he could only leave the secret chamber after reaching the Spiritual Consciousness Realm. Naturally, Du Tianhong was worried that his strength might not be enough, and he might perish outside.

As long as he reached the Spiritual Consciousness Realm, Zhou Hao guessed that he should have the ability to protect himself outside and live a bit more freely.

Ice and Snow Divine Realm

Murong took out the Storage Ring that Zhou Hao had given her and muttered, "It would be great if it could bring living people back."

Unfortunately, the World Stone didn't have that function. The World Stone's function was to allow her to return to where she came from. It could carry inanimate objects but not living beings. Otherwise, she would have brought Zhou Hao back to the Ice and Snow Divine Realm long ago.

She withdrew her thoughts and looked at the Storage Ring in her hand. This Storage Ring had a seal on it that required a blood-based master recognition to use. Moreover, it contained a soul projection that was already in a semi-activated state.

This was similar to the seal on the Fire-Phoenix Egg, designed to prevent Zhou Hao from monopolizing it.

Fortunately, Zhou Hao hadn't performed the blood-based master recognition before. Otherwise, he would probably have to see Du Tianhong again.

Murong efficiently recognized herself as the master. The soul projection inside didn't fully activate for two reasons. Firstly, the activation conditions hadn't been met, and Murong met the conditions for master recognition.

Secondly, Murong possessed the Chaos Body, which could contain everything in the world. Once she recognized herself as the master, all the seals on the Storage Ring were broken.

The Spirit-Womb Ring was the same way. It wasn't that Murong refused to be teleported to the Sky Dome Continent, but rather that the moment she recognized it as her master, all the seals within the Spirit-Womb Ring disappeared. Naturally, it couldn't open a teleportation channel to summon Murong.

If Murong knew that she had missed an opportunity to "spend time together" with Zhou Hao, what would she think? She would probably be very upset!

Of course, she didn't know that now.

Murong took out all the items from the Storage Ring.

Just like Zhou Hao's Storage Ring, there were two jade slips, three bottles of pills, an exquisite long sword, and a large pile of spirit stones.

She disdained the spirit stones and pills, ignoring them directly. The long sword was not bad, but judging by its style, it should be a Dragon-Phoenix Sword, with a matching pair.

The other sword was likely in Zhou Hao's possession, and its quality was acceptable.

She only glanced casually at these items. What she cared about were only these two jade slips.

According to the instructions left by Du Tianhong on the jade slips, the jade slip on the left was the Spirit-Womb Art that Zhou Hao mentioned.

Murong picked up the jade slip and poured her spiritual consciousness into it to examine it.

She directly ignored the opportunity for enlightenment left by Du Tianhong.

After she finished reading the Spirit-Womb Art, she was silent for a long time, and then suddenly a stunning smile bloomed on her face.

"A genius! The founding ancestor of the Spirit-Womb Sect was truly remarkable. There's hope for me to get pregnant."

After understanding the Spirit-Womb Ring, Murong's mood was excited. Within it, she saw hope for pregnancy. Although the chance was still slim, it was hundreds of times better than all the previous uncertainties.

As long as she and Zhou Hao could cooperate well, they would definitely be able to conceive a child.

Murong was in a great mood. She immediately ordered her subordinates to prepare a banquet, as she wanted to celebrate properly.

After instructing her subordinates to prepare the banquet, she quietly went to the Pill Hall in the imperial palace.

"Your Majesty, your presence here makes this humble servant feel incredibly honored!" the old, white-haired man quickly stepped forward to greet her.

Murong got straight to the point. "I've come to ask you to refine some Truth Serum Pills. There's nothing else, so don't be afraid."

Zhu Danzi smiled. "Your Majesty, please tell me your commands. This humble servant will definitely do his utmost and spare no effort."

He was clearly much more relaxed than before.

Murong waved her hand. "Go and refine them! I'll give you three days."

Zhu Danzi hesitated and then tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, how many are needed?"

Murong thought about it. Given how much Zhou Hao lied, she would need at least ten.

She nodded slightly and said softly, "Ten."

Zhu Danzi's smile became even brighter. Ten pills in three days, he was confident he could manage.

Murong glanced at the tall alchemy furnace in the center and asked, "Is it repaired?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Danzi's smile vanished instantly, and he looked at Murong with vigilance.

Murong shot him a speechless glance. "I was wrong back then for smashing your alchemy furnace, but I compensated you! I even built you a Pill Hall."

Zhu Danzi rolled his eyes internally, cursing, "You call that smashing my alchemy furnace? That was my life's work! I was just one step away from success, and I had to start all over again.

And what about building a Pill Hall? Wasn't that just to confine me and force me to refine pills for you?"

However, he only dared to complain in his mind. He understood the principle of bowing your head when you're under someone else's roof.

Seeing his grim expression, Murong guessed he was reminiscing about unpleasant memories.

She decided not to linger and provoke Zhu Danzi further, but there was one thing she had to mention.

"Spend more time teaching your disciple. It takes him a whole day to refine a [Foundation Strengthening Pill]. His skills are lacking."

Hearing this, Zhu Danzi's face darkened further. Those so-called disciples were forced upon him.

But what could he do? It was the same old story: when you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head.

Besides, apart from these unpleasant matters, life in the Pill Hall was actually quite good. He had access to any materials he wanted, and he could splurge on researching new pills without any restrictions or disturbances. It could be considered his ideal research sanctuary.

But that didn't change the fact that he was being held captive.