Not long after leaving the Mittel Auction House, Lu Changfeng had already returned to his residence.
After pushing open the courtyard gate and walking inside, he saw Xiao Xun'er sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard, her belly swollen with pregnancy, fiddling with a little trinket in her hands.
Seeing him return, Xiao Xun'er gave him a gentle smile. "Brother Changfeng, you're back."
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng nodded and walked over. After sitting down beside her, he spoke.
"I just went to the Mittel Auction House and asked someone to help find a Seventh-Rank Magical Beast's Magic Core. Later, I'll refine a Seventh-Tier Pill for you to stabilize your pregnancy."
Xiao Xun'er smiled at first, but when she heard the words "Seventh-Tier Pill," her smile faltered slightly.
"A Seventh-Tier Pill? Brother Changfeng, since when could you refine Seventh-Tier Pills?"
Seeing Xiao Xun'er's astonished expression, Lu Changfeng replied casually, "I've always been able to. I just never told you before."
Xiao Xun'er was rather shocked to hear this. She had always thought Lu Changfeng's alchemy was at most at the fourth or fifth tier. After all, in a place like Wutan City, access to high-tier pill recipes and medicinal ingredients was limited.
She had never expected him to be capable of refining Seventh-Tier Pills. These were Seventh-Tier Pills! Even in the Northwest Continent, only a handful of alchemists could refine them.
Who would have thought her Brother Changfeng possessed such abilities?
The more Xiao Xun'er thought about it, the more incredible it seemed. It appeared she still did not know Brother Changfeng very well. Although she had often spent time with Lu Changfeng back in Wutan City, she had never asked in detail about his progress in cultivation or alchemy.
She had never imagined that Brother Changfeng had quietly reached the level of a Seventh-Tier Alchemist.
At this thought, Xiao Xun'er grew a little excited. The man she loved truly was no ordinary person. She smiled slightly and nodded. "All right, then I'll wait for your good news, Brother Changfeng."
Just as she finished speaking, a faintly regretful expression appeared on Xiao Xun'er's face.
"The only regret is that now I'm pregnant, I can't be intimate with you, Brother Changfeng. We'll have to wait several more months."
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng could not help laughing. He glanced at her and teased, "What's this? I never saw you so impatient before."
Caught off guard by his teasing, Xiao Xun'er blushed slightly and gave him an annoyed glare.
"I'm just worried you'll get impatient, Brother Changfeng. After all, you're a man with needs. I can't keep making you hold back forever."
Lu Changfeng smiled and shook his head. "All right, all right. Your most important task now is to take care of yourself and give birth to the baby safely. Everything else can wait until afterward."
She smiled at his words, but soon her expression grew worried again.
After a moment of inward silence, she finally could not help speaking.
"Brother Changfeng, I actually... am still a little worried. The Gu Clan must already know I've lost my virginity. My father probably won't sit idly by. He might send people over very soon. When that happens, they might take me away, and they might harm you too."
At the thought of the Gu Clan's terrifying strength, Xiao Xun'er still felt worried. No matter what, her father was a Nine-Star Dou Sheng, and there were so many Dou Sheng elders as well. Any one of them would be more than the Jia Ma Empire could withstand.
Although Brother Changfeng had considerable talent for cultivation, he would probably still fall short when faced with a colossus like the Gu Clan.
Just as she finished speaking, Lu Changfeng remained completely calm.
"Don't worry about that. Just focus on your pregnancy. No matter who the Gu Clan sends, I can protect you."
Seeing how confident Lu Changfeng was, Xiao Xun'er felt somewhat happy, but she was still worried.
After all, she knew the Gu Clan's strength better than anyone. It was one of the Ancient Eight Clans, a superpower standing at the pinnacle of the continent.
Although her Brother Changfeng was formidable, he had still grown up in a place like the Jia Ma Empire. He probably did not have a sufficient grasp of the ancient clans in the Central Plains.
Noticing her worried expression, Lu Changfeng knew she was concerned for him, but he did not explain further. Once the Gu Clan's people actually arrived, he would naturally put her completely at ease through his actions.
They had not reached that point yet, so anything he said was meaningless. It would be more straightforward to simply demonstrate his strength when the time came.
While the two of them were talking, they suddenly noticed a commotion outside the courtyard, and Lu Changfeng looked toward it.
A trace of puzzlement also appeared on Xiao Xun'er's face. "It sounds like someone's here. Who could it be?"
Lu Changfeng stood up and walked to the courtyard gate, peering outside through the gap.
Before long, he saw a young woman appear outside, followed by several people dressed as attendants.
The woman looked valiant and spirited, with attractive features and the bearing of someone in authority. Judging by her clothing, she was probably not from an ordinary family.
Lu Changfeng therefore did not rush to open the gate, but asked first.
"Who's outside?"
Hearing the voice coming from outside, the other party immediately cupped her hands toward the courtyard gate, her manner very courteous.
"I am Yao Ye, eldest princess of the Jia Ma Imperial Family. On the orders of my great-grandfather, Jia Xingtian, I have come specifically to visit Lord Lu Changfeng of this residence."
Lu Changfeng raised his brows slightly at her words. The Imperial Family's eldest princess? Jia Xingtian's great-granddaughter?
It seemed news of a Seventh-Tier Alchemist had already reached the Imperial Family. They had moved quite quickly.
After considering it briefly, Lu Changfeng reached out and opened the courtyard gate. Once it opened, Yao Ye saw a young man standing inside. He looked to be in his early twenties and was dressed very plainly, but he possessed a distinctive bearing.
Yao Ye was secretly astonished. She had not expected this Seventh-Tier Alchemist to truly be so young.
She hurriedly cupped her hands again. "You must be Lord Lu Changfeng. Please forgive my presumptuous visit, Lord Lu."
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng glanced at her and nodded calmly. "Come in and sit."
With that, he turned and walked into the courtyard. Yao Ye quickly followed, while her attendants remained outside.
Shortly after entering, she noticed a young woman with a heavily pregnant belly, exceptionally beautiful features, and a bearing far beyond the ordinary.
Yao Ye was inwardly shocked at the sight. This woman did not look simple either. She wondered what her background was.
However, she did not ask any questions and merely nodded politely to Xiao Xun'er in greeting.
After returning a simple smile, Xiao Xun'er looked Yao Ye up and down.
Why had the Jia Ma Empire's eldest princess suddenly come here? Could she have come for Brother Changfeng?
Just then, Lu Changfeng looked up at Yao Ye.
"What brings the eldest princess here in person?"
Hearing this, Yao Ye took an invitation from inside her clothing and offered it with both hands.
"Lord Lu, I have come on my great-grandfather's orders to invite you to visit the Imperial Family. My great-grandfather said that having a Seventh-Tier Alchemist like you emerge in the Jia Ma Empire is a blessing for the empire, and the Imperial Family ought to extend the hospitality of a host."
"If it is convenient for you, Lord Lu, might you honor us with a visit to the imperial palace for a chat?"