Pile on the cultivation resources, and cultivation skyrockets!

She forced out a more genuine smile. "Thank you, Mother."

But over the next few days, Immortal Ziyang never appeared again.

Never mind higher-grade medicinal pills—she did not see so much as a single stalk of spirit grass.

Her cultivation progressed too slowly. Even cultivating day and night, she could only make the tiniest gains.

Having experienced the exhilarating rush of skyrocketing cultivation in her previous life, she found the contrast with her current pace so unbearable that she could not settle down to cultivate.

At last, Ran Zirou could no longer sit still.

She needed to find a man.

[Host, Ran Zirou has decided to seduce your godmother's Dao Companion.]

Li Zi was soaking in a medicinal bath in her room.

During her recovery, her scrawny body had filled out a little.

Her features had gradually blossomed: curved willow-leaf brows, clear, bright eyes, and luscious red lips. She looked delicate and adorable.

At that moment, she was soaking in a dark green medicinal solution, enduring the pain as its potency forcibly widened the meridians inside her body.

It felt as though every inch of her meridians was being forced apart by an outside power. The pain made her wish she were dead.

It left her fair, tender cheeks tinged with a sickly pallor.

Even the system felt sorry for her. It delivered gossip updates in real time, hoping to distract Li Zi and ease her suffering a little.

Li Zi shuddered, and an elegant, scholarly figure flashed through her mind.

Wait, does Ran Zirou really have no standards at all? My godmother's Dao Companion—the one who goes for both men and women?

[Yes. During Ran Zirou's stay at the Hehuan Sect, your godmother hasn't given her any cultivation resources, so she's decided to practice a dual cultivation method. But there aren't many men in the Hehuan Sect. The only talented ones left are the Sect Master and your godmother's Dao Companion. She can't get near the Sect Master, but she can get near your godmother's Dao Companion.]

There was even a hint of gloating in the system's voice. [That man is probably done for.]

Outside the door, Ji Zheng, Fu Chaoqing, and the Second Elder heard every word of the system and Li Zi's chatter.

Aside from Li Zi, the Fifth Elder now had six other disciples. Only these two were at the sect; the others were either in seclusion or away on missions.

Over the past few days, the two had put considerable effort into addressing Li Zi's constitution.

After resolving the matter involving Immortal Ziyang, the Second Elder felt deeply grateful to Li Zi and had volunteered to visit and help work out how she could cultivate.

They piled premium spirit medicines and medicinal pills into Li Zi's body.

At this point, all three lowered their voices as they discussed matters, listening closely to the conversation between Li Zi and the system.

That Ran Zirou really was no end of trouble.

She could actually seduce men even in the Hehuan Sect?

Li Zi asked curiously, System, why do you make this dual cultivation sound bad? Don't people in the Cultivation World often become Dao Companions and practice dual cultivation?

The system said, [That's different. Ordinary dual cultivation is a process of mutual giving. Both partners have roughly equal cultivation levels and practice gentle cultivation methods. Once their feelings are mutual, dual cultivation can benefit them both.]

[But dual cultivation methods are different. They forcibly absorb the other person's cultivation methods. They're domineering and insidious, and the one Ran Zirou practices is the most terrifying of all: the Devouring Cultivation Art. At its ultimate stage, she can even absorb other people's cultivation methods and make them her own.]

[What's even more frightening is its ability to bewitch people's hearts. After just one session of dual cultivation, they become addicted. That addiction keeps growing until they willingly hand over their cultivation to her.]

Li Zi was stunned. Then in the original story...

[Yes. In the original story, that's how Ran Zirou gained all her cultivation. Once the men in your sect practiced dual cultivation with her, there was no stopping them.]

The three outside were badly shaken as well.

They exchanged looks.

The three of them would also...

The Second Elder cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

"Immortal Ziyang and I discussed this before. We both suspected that Ran Zirou was practicing a demonic dual cultivation art. Immortal Ziyang said she would take her to the Hehuan Sect to observe her. This sinister cultivation method originated in the Demon Realm. Perhaps we can find traces of the Devil Lord through her."

He paused briefly, then his voice grew colder.

"It seems our suspicions were correct."

They had already suspected as much after hearing Li Zi's thoughts earlier.

However beautiful a woman might be, surely she could not make every man flock to her like ducks.

When something defied all reason, something sinister had to be at work.

And there it was. They had guessed right—it really was her cultivation method.

Ran Zirou was practicing a demonic cultivation art.

Ji Zheng scratched the back of his head, shaken by how close he had come.

"Good thing I didn't..."

The Second Elder gave him a cold look. "Once this secret realm closes, I'll speak to your Master and have you go into seclusion. With your constitution, everyone practicing a dual cultivation method will covet you."

Ji Zheng immediately lifted his chin and straightened his back. "Yes, Martial Uncle!"

Listening to Li Zi and the system chatter inside, the Second Elder sighed softly, a trace of tenderness crossing his eyes. "We have Xiao Zi to thank for getting us through this calamity."

Without Li Zi, Ran Zirou would probably have succeeded long ago.

Their Spirit Sword Sect would likely have suffered utter devastation from that point onward.

After she passed out from the pain for the tenth time, the medicinal solution in the tub finally turned a pale, fluorescent green.

Li Zi's meridians had also expanded to three times their original width.

Feeling top-heavy and unsteady, she put on her clothes and staggered outside.

Pile on the cultivation resources, and cultivation skyrockets!

When she looked up and saw Fu Chaoqing holding a tray, her heart clenched.

Now, the mere sight of Fu Chaoqing made her ache all over.

Fu Chaoqing wore a gentle smile on his handsome face.

"Junior Sister, here's a fourth-grade Bone-Regenerating Pill to strengthen your root bone, a third-grade Dust-Cleansing Pill to widen your meridians, and a sixth-grade Essence-Gathering Pill that will let you break through to the Fourth Tier of Qi Refining within two days. Which would you like to take first?"

That smile belonged to a devil!

Li Zi swallowed nervously. "Which one won't hurt too much after I take it?"

Fu Chaoqing smiled. "Then let's start with the Bone-Regenerating Pill."

After taking the Bone-Regenerating Pill, she felt a tingling itch throughout her bones, as though tens of thousands of ants were crawling through the gaps between them.