All the world's female cultivators. Strip!

Meng Weiyi tapped her chin lightly with a delicate finger and continued her analysis. "That sort of fortuitous opportunity should be limited, too."

"But it isn't nearly as scarce as the world imagines. At the very least, there's enough to support Her Highness in selecting a group of core disciples."

"And Her Highness has asked us to spread this news..."

"Once Elder Zhu Xiaoliang emerges from seclusion and her cultivation has truly entered the Tenth Realm, it will prove that Her Highness Zhaoyue really can make other female cultivators' cultivation soar as well."

"When that happens, a group of holy maidens and direct disciples from the various major powers-female disciples who could never possibly have been sent to the Divine Maiden Sect-will also join the Divine Maiden Sect."

"When that time comes..."

"Her Highness will select a few of these supremely talented female cultivators and let them consume those heavenly materials and earthly treasures."

"That way, the amount consumed will remain under Her Highness's control. There will be no danger of draining the pond dry."

"Instead, Her Highness will be able to choose, from all the top female cultivators in the entire Great Yu Dynasty, the ones who can still stand at the peerless pinnacle."

At this point, Meng Weiyi narrowed her eyes slightly. Unable to help turning toward the sect master's hall, she murmured in admiration:

"What a brilliant move, Your Highness Zhaoyue!"

"First, she had proclamations posted throughout every city, telling ordinary people and rogue cultivators: the Divine Maiden Sect does not confine itself to one mold..."

"It chooses talent alone, without caring about family background or bloodline, and uses Fanyin as proof."

"Then, through you and me, she tells every power in the world: I can make female cultivators' cultivation soar."

"Whether you come or not..."

"Whether your female disciples will be crushed by female cultivators from hostile sects in the future is something for you to consider, with Elder Zhu Xiaoliang serving as proof this time."

At that moment, Meng Weiyi suddenly broke into a smile.

"Such ambition Her Highness has. She means to gather all the finest female cultivators in Great Yu under her command in one stroke!"

"Now I actually feel..."

"Perhaps it isn't impossible that, in the future, Her Highness Zhaoyue will break the rule that has stood for thirty thousand years since the Great Yu Dynasty's founding and become the first woman to ascend the supreme throne as emperor."

"Do not speak recklessly!"

Xu Qingci interrupted Meng Weiyi coolly, a trace of warning in her voice.

"If someone else hears those words, they could bring death upon you."

With that, Xu Qingci said no more. She gave Meng Weiyi a slight nod, then turned and walked toward her courtyard.

Her white scholar's robes fluttered in the wind, her retreating figure aloof and detached.

"As expected of the eternally neutral White Deer Academy..."

Watching her retreating figure, Meng Weiyi chuckled and shook her head.

Then she turned and walked in another direction.

It seems I need to get this news out as soon as possible...

The Divine Maiden Sect's main hall.

After Meng Weiyi and Xu Qingci left, only Qi Zhaoyue and Fanyin remained in the hall.

"Teacher."

Fanyin lifted her head and looked timidly at Qi Zhaoyue.

Facing this disciple of hers, Fanyin, much of the coldness and world-weariness faded from Qi Zhaoyue's face.

She walked up to Fanyin, gently stroked her long hair, and asked with a smile, "Are you upset with your teacher for not choosing you first?"

At first, Fanyin blinked her large golden eyes in bewilderment. Then, as though she had only just understood what Qi Zhaoyue meant, she hurriedly shook her head.

She reached out with her little hands and hugged Qi Zhaoyue's arm, smiling until her eyes narrowed into slits.

"No, no! I'm already happy just being able to eat my fill!"

"Yesterday, I had a whole braised fish, a crispy roast duck, and such a big plate of braised pork..."

As she spoke, she stretched out her little hands to trace a great big circle, then patted her round little belly and said contentedly:

"It was my first time ever eating until I was that full. It was so delicious!"

Seeing Fanyin pat her little belly, Qi Zhaoyue's cheeks inexplicably reddened. She seemed to faintly hear the sound of "water" in her own lower abdomen...

But Qi Zhaoyue quickly shook her head, shaking those jumbled thoughts out of her mind.

She gave Fanyin a helpless smile.

"You..."

Qi Zhaoyue reached out and lightly tapped Fanyin's forehead with a finger, explaining:

"Your cultivation is simply too low. Even if I let you go now, you wouldn't be able to absorb much at all."

"So I intend to have you build your foundations first. I'll let you go later. There's no hurry..."

Fanyin nodded obediently. "Fanyin will listen to everything you say, Teacher!"

She did not care at all when she would be able to improve her cultivation. All she could think about was what delicious food the kitchen would make tonight.

Watching her gluttonous expression, Qi Zhaoyue smiled again and was about to say something more...

The next second.

"Mm..."

Suddenly, without any warning, Qi Zhaoyue let out a soft moan. Her body trembled, and she instinctively pressed her legs together, bending her knees slightly.

"Teacher? What's wrong?"

Startled, Fanyin hurriedly supported Qi Zhaoyue's arm and asked worriedly, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"N-no... It's nothing..."

Qi Zhaoyue's cheeks were scarlet. She bit her lower lip, her gaze wavering as she avoided Fanyin's eyes. There was also a barely perceptible tremor in her voice.

"Go on ahead. I'm a little tired and would like to rest."

"When I return, I'll teach you to cultivate."

"Oh." Fanyin nodded in confusion. Although she found it strange, she still answered obediently.

Only after Fanyin's figure had completely disappeared through the hall's doorway did Qi Zhaoyue breathe a sigh of relief.

She rose awkwardly to her feet, a trace of embarrassed anger and helplessness in her eyes.

"That damned Xu Changsheng..."

"I don't know how he came up with something so wicked. With just a stir of his Divine Sense, he can... I should never have helped him make such a wicked Law Artifact in the first place... Mm..."

Qi Zhaoyue's body trembled again, her long, white-jade legs so weak she could barely stand.

"Bastard!"

Qi Zhaoyue took a deep breath, forcibly steadied her mind, then waved a hand.

A silvery-white gate of light instantly appeared before her, faint lotus patterns flowing across its surface.

"I wonder... what he wants me for... Junior Sister Xiao Liang is already there with him..."

"Could it be... he misses me?"

At that thought, the corners of Qi Zhaoyue's lips unconsciously lifted a little. Perhaps even she herself did not notice.

She straightened her disheveled skirts, then stepped through the gate of light.

The next second, Qi Zhaoyue appeared in the sky above the Lotus Grotto-Heaven.

With a single glance, she spotted Xu Changsheng standing in the middle of the plaza.

Xu Changsheng was bare-chested, his skin covered in fine beads of sweat, his smoothly defined muscles brimming with explosive power.

In his hand, he held a stalk of verdant bamboo...

"What did you want me for?"

"I've already given instructions about the Tang-style straight saber, but they haven't found any better finished blades or materials yet. It will probably take a few more days."

Xu Changsheng shook his head. "It's not about that."

"Then what is it?"

"Strip."

Looking at Xu Changsheng, Qi Zhaoyue lightly bit her lower lip and hesitated.

"H-here in the plaza?!"

"Xu Changsheng, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Don't you have Xiao Liang?"