Three Months of Development? The First Spot in the Lotus Grotto-Heaven

At this moment, Qi Zhaoyue had already made up her mind.

The Divine Maiden Sect's first spot for entering the Lotus Grotto-Heaven would go to her innocent, adorable junior sister from the Heaven Sect, Zhu Xiaoliang.

Although Zhu Xiaoliang had joined the Divine Maiden Sect this time to gain experience and investigate her secrets, she was ultimately one of their own.

No matter how poorly their masters got along or how determined they were to outdo each other, Bai Yuqiong and Bai Yuer were still sisters by blood, and they always stood united against outsiders.

This was also a lesson countless people who wanted to sow discord between the sisters and see the Daoist Heaven and Earth Sects turn against each other had learned in blood.

One could say...

By now, the entire Great Yu Dynasty already assumed that the Daoist Earth Sect and Heaven Sect would unconditionally support Qi Zhaoyue in her bid for the throne.

As Qi Zhaoyue's master, Bai Yuqiong went without saying. As for the attitude of Bai Yuer, the Daoist Heaven Sect's sect master?

Zhu Xiaoliang's arrival already spoke for her.

After all, Zhu Xiaoliang was Bai Yuer's only treasured disciple.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Zhu Xiaoliang would be the next sect master of the Daoist Heaven Sect.

If she simply wanted to gather information, there was no need to send Zhu Xiaoliang in person.

At that moment, Qi Zhaoyue recalled some rumors about Zhu Xiaoliang's background that her master had once told her.

Supposedly, this junior sister's mother was a commandery princess from Northern Liang.

Back when internal strife broke out in Northern Liang, her mother fled into Great Yu to seek refuge.

Afterward...

She apparently also had a father she had sworn to kill?

At this thought, a little more of the kinship of fellow sufferers entered Qi Zhaoyue's gaze as she looked at Zhu Xiaoliang.

In that case, your senior sister will give you a hand.

Once your cultivation improves, you and your mother will naturally be able to reunite.

Qi Zhaoyue believed that, in this world, every obstacle existed because one's own strength was insufficient.

Violence was the only truth for solving problems.

Qi Zhaoyue looked at Zhu Xiaoliang, who was still racking her brains for a plan, and her tone grew much gentler.

"Junior Sister Xiao Liang, don't you just want to know why my cultivation has improved so quickly over the past ten years?"

"You also want to improve your cultivation quickly so that one day you can surpass me and make your master proud, right?"

"Why hide it?"

"Just ask me. I can absolutely tell you."

???

Zhu Xiaoliang had thought until her head hurt, yet still had no idea how to conceal her purpose without seeming abrupt or arousing Qi Zhaoyue's suspicions.

But now, hearing Qi Zhaoyue's sudden words, she froze.

She raised her head and looked at Qi Zhaoyue, her clear eyes filled with disbelief, and stammered:

"Y-you can just tell me?"

"Of course."

Qi Zhaoyue nodded naturally and said with a smile, "Come find me tonight after the hour of the Rat begins."

"I'll take you to a secret realm, where you'll stay for three months."

"During those three months, you'll learn why my cultivation has improved so quickly, and I can also guarantee..."

"After three months, your cultivation will break straight through to the Tenth Realm: Dao Comprehension Realm."

After saying this, a strange feeling inexplicably rose in Qi Zhaoyue's heart.

After all, at the thought of her innocent, pure junior sister, untouched by the smoke and fire of the mortal world, being developed by that bastard Xu Changsheng for three months, she actually felt a little...

The thrill of watching a fairy fall into the mortal dust?!

Pah, pah, pah!

Qi Zhaoyue quickly shook her head again and spat inwardly a few times.

What sort of nonsense am I thinking?

Just as Qi Zhaoyue's earlobes reddened slightly and she felt that Xu Changsheng must have corrupted her for her to think this way...

Zhu Xiaoliang, opposite her, was already utterly dumbfounded.

Her clear eyes were wide open, her little mouth slightly parted, and her face was filled with astonishment and disbelief.

She was astonished because, after thinking for so long, she still had not figured out how to explain her arrival at the Divine Maiden Sect without seeming abrupt;

And because her senior sister Qi Zhaoyue was actually willing to tell her outright the answer her master had sought for ten years without success...

The answer just came like that?!

Her disbelief came from Qi Zhaoyue's promise.

After all, starting from the ninth realm, the Dragon Transformation Realm, every realm was a heavenly chasm that could trap countless heavenly geniuses forever.

How many stunningly talented cultivators had remained trapped at the Ninth Realm Peak Stage their entire lives, unable to advance an inch?

With her current Ninth Realm Late Stage cultivation, if she cultivated at a normal pace, breaking through to the Tenth Realm: Dao Comprehension Realm would take at least five to ten years.

Yet Qi Zhaoyue had actually told her that she could let her break through to the Tenth Realm: Dao Comprehension Realm in just three months?

How was that possible?!

"Senior Sister, you said you could let me break through to the Tenth Realm: Dao Comprehension Realm within three months? Is that really true?!"

Seeing Zhu Xiaoliang's half-believing, half-doubting expression, Qi Zhaoyue smiled.

"With me as a living example, why would you need to doubt it?"

"Or do you think your aptitude is inferior to mine?"

Instantly, blazing flames ignited in Zhu Xiaoliang's eyes.

She had absolute confidence in her aptitude and did not believe it was any worse than Qi Zhaoyue's.

Since Qi Zhaoyue could do it, she could certainly do it too!

"I believe you, Senior Sister!"

Zhu Xiaoliang nodded vigorously, then said excitedly, "Then let me thank you in advance, Senior Sister!"

Sure enough, she even has to thank me...

For once, Qi Zhaoyue felt a trace of guilt at having deceived a child, but it quickly vanished without a trace.

She reached out and gently rubbed Zhu Xiaoliang's soft hair, saying:

"Then it's settled. Come find me tonight after the hour of the Rat begins."

However, although she trusted Zhu Xiaoliang, the matter of Xu Changsheng concerned her trump card.

Thus, Qi Zhaoyue still said cautiously, "Junior Sister Xiao Liang, I must make something clear to you beforehand..."

"You need to sign a Heavenly Dao Contract with me: after entering the secret realm, no matter how outrageous the things that happen inside are, or how far beyond your understanding they go, you must keep them absolutely secret."

"You must not reveal even the slightest detail, not even to Martial Aunt Yu'er."

"If you don't agree, then pretend I never said any of that, and keep slowly investigating how my cultivation improved."

Hearing Qi Zhaoyue's instructions, Zhu Xiaoliang immediately hesitated a little.

"Keep it absolutely secret? Even from Master?"

After all, that was her master, whose kindness to her weighed as heavily as a mountain, and her only family in this world apart from her mother.

But at the thought of her mother, Zhu Xiaoliang's gaze grew resolute.

In the end, Zhu Xiaoliang nodded firmly and said earnestly, "Don't worry, Senior Sister! I promise! I absolutely won't tell anyone, including Master!"

"If I break my oath, may my soul be annihilated and may I die a terrible death!"

Qi Zhaoyue smiled and rubbed Zhu Xiaoliang's hair again, saying, "Since we've agreed, head down first and submit your name."

"The Divine Maiden Sect's founding ceremony is almost over. Any later and you'll miss it."

"Mm-hmm!"

Zhu Xiaoliang nodded excitedly, then bowed to Qi Zhaoyue.

With a flick of her sleeves, she vanished from the spot amid a taiji and eight trigrams.

Master wasn't right about everything!

How was this senior sister of hers deeply scheming, someone who would never reveal the secret of her improving cultivation, as Master had claimed?

Senior Sister was clearly a wonderful person!

As far as I'm concerned, Master was simply overthinking it!

Watching Zhu Xiaoliang's happily departing figure, Qi Zhaoyue shook her head again.

Hopefully, Xu Changsheng can restrain himself a little over these three months. And I'll have to teach her how to refine it, too. Otherwise, if her belly ends up swelling...

Then I really won't be able to explain it to Martial Aunt.

While Qi Zhaoyue was pondering, she felt someone gently tug her sleeve.

Qi Zhaoyue lowered her head.

Her younger sister, Qi Lanxing, was looking at her with a face full of displeasure.

"Big Sister, you're so unfair!"

Pouting, Qi Lanxing said huffily, "Why would you rather tell that Zhu Xiaoliang about something this good than tell me?"

"I want to improve my cultivation quickly too!"

"I want to go to that secret realm too!"

Instantly, a flush of scarlet stained Qi Zhaoyue's earlobes.

Feeling a little guilty, she reached out and gently pinched Qi Lanxing's plump little cheek. "Naturally, I have my reasons for not telling you."

"Just be good and cultivate with Master, understand?"

"Oh..."

Qi Lanxing answered pitifully and lowered her head.

However, a glimmer of slyness flashed through her large, darting eyes.

Tonight, after the hour of the Rat begins?

While the two were talking, the Divine Maiden Sect's founding ceremony at the foot of the mountain was already drawing to a close.

The accepted disciples had all entered the sect grounds.

Those who failed to qualify were heading down the mountain one after another, their heads hanging in dejection.

And just then.

A dark figure appeared silently at Qi Zhaoyue's side like a ghost.