"Glug glug..."
Zhu Zhuqing slowly stretched out her delicate body, submerging half of her face in the water, leaving only her eyes visible.
She felt the warm and vast energy seep through her fair skin and into her entire body, and she gently exhaled a series of bubbles, feeling a sense of joy in her heart.
After all, just soaking in this pool for a short time caused the Spiritual Power in the body to increase at a visible speed, and the meridians were repeatedly washed and widened, and even the Martial Soul seemed to let out a joyful whimper.
"That's so extravagant!"
Zhu Zhuyun nodded, her eyes filled with admiration, "I've seen quite a few rare and precious treasures in the Star Luo Imperial Family, but even after being in the Shrouding the Heavens World for so long, I still can't help but feel like a country bumpkin, but..."
She raised her arm, and water droplets slid down her firm forearm, each drop seemingly containing the luster of stars.
What startled her even more was that the pool water not only nourished her body, but also nurtured her soul; the comfort deep within her soul was simply intoxicating.
"This precious spiritual spring is nothing more than bathwater."
Zhu Zhuqing raised her head from the water, her long, wet black hair clinging to her cheeks.
"Sister, I feel... if I were to cultivate in this pool for three months, it would probably be equivalent to ten years of arduous training in the Douluo Continent."
"More than."
Zhu Zhuyun shook her head, a complex look flashing in her eyes. "Ten years? I think it'll be more than twenty."
"The energy contained in this pool is too high a level, so high that we can't even fully absorb it. Most of it just flows through our bodies, but even so, the benefits it brings are unimaginable."
She paused, then lowered her voice. " Zhu Zhuqing, do you know what this means?"
Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment, then spoke:
"That means we're very lucky."
Zhu Zhuqing said softly, "I'm so lucky to have come to this world, to have entered the Heavenly Court, and to have the opportunity to stand in such a pool of water."
Zhu Zhuyun smiled.
"Yes, lucky."
She scooped up a handful of pool water, watching the crystal-clear liquid slip through her fingers. "That's why we can't waste it."
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly flipped her wrist and splashed the water in her hand at Zhu Zhuqing.
"Ah!"
Caught off guard, Zhu Zhuqing was splashed in the face, and her originally cool demeanor instantly crumbled. She stared wide-eyed at her sister.
"You..."
"What? You're allowed to act all serious all the time, but I'm not allowed to joke around?"
A sly glint flashed in Zhu Zhuyun's eyes, and she splashed several more handfuls of water over.
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment, then a very slight smile appeared on her lips.
She rarely smiles, but at this moment her eyes held genuine warmth.
After all, if they were still in the Douluo Continent, she and her sister would never be in the same situation as they are now.
Soon, Zhu Zhuqing also 'refused to be outdone', splashing water with her hands, sending a spray of water flying straight at Zhu Zhuyun's face.
"You dare fight back, Zhu Zhuqing!"
Zhu Zhuyun laughed and dodged, her dark swimsuit drawing a smooth arc in the water.
The two sisters chased each other in the pool, splashing water everywhere. Their playful shouts and laughter echoed in the vast Nine Heavenly Pool.
Zhu Zhuyun also noticed that it seemed like the sisters hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time, except when they were very young.
During their time in the Star Luo Imperial Family, the sisters' relationship was complicated by the struggle for the throne;
After arriving in the Shrouding the Heavens World, he was constantly on edge, fearing that one wrong step would lead to utter destruction.
But now, in this undisturbed pool, faced with an opportunity that could change their fate, they could let down their guard and frolic like ordinary sisters.
Zhu Zhuqing dove into the water and emerged from behind Zhu Zhuyun, grabbing her sister's shoulders and trying to push her back into the water.
Zhu Zhuyun reacted quickly, twisting her waist to break free and grabbing her sister's wrist in return. The two began to struggle in the water.
The water rippled, reflecting the starry sky above, shattering into countless points of light.
Just then, soft footsteps came from the white jade ground by the pool.
Almost simultaneously, Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing froze, quickly separated, and stood firmly on their own.
They turned to look in the direction of the voice, their smiles instantly vanishing, replaced by respect and a hint of barely concealed nervousness.
Dressed in white, her hair as white as snow, her silver hair flowing like a waterfall.
Lin Hao walked slowly to the edge of the pool, stood with his hands behind his back, and calmly looked at the two women in the pool.
His gaze was indifferent, yet it caused Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing, who had just been playfully bickering, to lower their heads simultaneously.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Zhu Zhuyun spoke first, her voice trembling slightly.
Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips, remaining silent out of nervousness.
Seeing their reserved demeanor, Lin Hao waved his hand and said calmly, "No need for formalities."
"You can relax a bit when we're here. After all, you're my personal maids. What kind of behavior is it to be so reserved all the time?"
His voice was gentle, but it made the two women even more nervous.
"Yes."
Zhu Zhuyun responded, but still stood ramrod straight, her hands hanging neatly at her sides.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, but her body remained noticeably tense.
Seeing this, Lin Hao shook his head, unconcerned. He was already used to the awe others showed him.
He believed that things would get better once they spent more time together.
He casually sat down on a flat white jade stone by the pool, his gaze sweeping over the rising mist on the surface before returning to the two women.
"How long have you been in Heavenly Court?"
He asked, as if it were just casual conversation.
Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance, and Zhu Zhuyun answered, "Your Majesty, it has been almost three months."
The moment those three words appeared, Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing were stunned for a moment.
Three months.
They have been in this world and in the Heavenly Court for almost three months now.
And three months is that timeframe.
That allows you to choose between temporarily returning to the Douluo Continent or returning permanently.
As if they were telepathically connected, the two women subconsciously exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.
I'm returning temporarily, but I will never leave permanently.
Just kidding, this is the Shrouding the Heavens World, with cultivation resources, laws of heaven and earth, and Fortune that are completely incomparable to the Douluo Continent.
Soaking in this pool for three months is equivalent to ten years of arduous training in the Douluo Continent;
The spiritual energy we breathe here contains a Daoist essence unlike anything found in the Douluo Continent.
Moreover, they had already witnessed the astonishing speed at which their strength grew, and they had experienced the vastness and mystery of this world.
If one were to choose to permanently return to the Douluo Continent at this point and continue cultivating the so-called Martial Soul, it would be tantamount to cutting off one's own future.
Jiang Wanwan had told them that although the Heavenly Court had a clear hierarchy, these maids were not slaves, so they could ask for leave for personal matters.
Thinking it over, Zhu Zhuyun took a deep breath, looked at Lin Hao, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, in a few days we... may need to ask for a few days off."
"Oh?" Lin Hao raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
Zhu Zhuqing continued, "At home... there are some things that need to be taken care of."