Han Xue rested her chin on the table, puffing out her cheeks as she retorted.
"He's a freak. You can't find a second one like him on the entire continent. How can we compare ourselves to him?"
Han Xue curled her lips and lowered her voice.
"Sis, tell me honestly. Are you working this hard because you're afraid of being surpassed by that Xiao Yi Xian?"
Han Yue's face flushed slightly. She reached out and lightly tapped Han Xue on the forehead.
"Stop talking nonsense. Go back and meditate. If you don't complete thirty circulation cycles before nightfall, you can forget about dinner."
Han Xue covered her forehead and retreated to her room with a wronged expression.
Han Yue turned to look at the door of the West Wing. A faint five-colored glow shone through the crack beneath it.
She let out a soft breath, smoothed the folds of her skirt, and sat cross-legged on the stone stool, continuing to draw in the natural energy around her.
Meanwhile, inside the East Wing.
Xiao Yi Xian closed the ancient tome on poison theory in her hands and turned to Qing Lin, who was seated on the bed regulating her breathing.
Their gazes met in midair, and each saw in the other's eyes an urgent determination to grow stronger.
Inside the East Wing, Qing Lin withdrew the circulating Dou Qi within her body and opened her eyes.
She jumped down from the bed, hurried to Xiao Yi Xian's side, and lowered her voice.
"Sister Xiao Yi Xian, over the past few days, I asked the Han Clan's steward to look into the areas around Tianbei City."
Xiao Yi Xian placed the medicinal scroll in her hand on the table and turned toward her.
"What did you find?"
Qing Lin pulled a highly