"Mm, they're all cultivating?" Nangong Third Miss nodded, then looked at the three people—Guxing and the others—questioningly. It was normal for Guxing to cultivate, but why were the Young Miss and the others also cultivating? This should be the time when they were talking.

She guessed that Xiaoyao must have given them some good things, which was why they were cultivating.

At this moment, she felt somewhat emotional. Getting such good things once or twice would already be considered very lucky, but Xiaoyao kept giving them continuously. Under such circumstances, if the three of them weren't strong, it would be against heaven's will.

"Mm, they're absorbing Dragon Blood Pills. You should take one too—it'll be good for you," Xiaoyao took out a Dragon Blood Pill. Since he had given one even to Chi Chi, who wouldn't benefit much from it, he naturally would give one to Nangong Third Miss.

Monster beasts' blood qi was incomparably stronger than humans'—this was something humans couldn't compare with.

"What are Dragon Blood Pills?" Nangong Third Miss asked somewhat puzzledly while taking the Dragon Blood Pill and swallowing it.

"They're pills refined from Dragon Blood Stone Essence. Legend says Dragon Blood Stone Essence was formed from the essence blood left behind by ancient dragon clans. Whether that's true or not, I don't know, but Dragon Blood Pills can increase a person's blood qi—they're rare treasures," Xiaoyao explained.

"Oh, I see..." After Nangong Third Miss replied, she began circulating her qi to absorb the Dragon Blood Pill's effects.

...

"Glutton..." Xiaoyao pointed at Chi Chi, once again entering the state of teaching Chi Chi to speak.

"Chi... Chi..."

...

The next day, Third Master came to find Xiaoyao. He also had official business—very important official business. He brought the medicinal materials Xiaoyao needed for pill refining.

"Lingling, where's Xiaoyao?" When Third Master entered Xiaoyao's prince mansion, the first person he saw wasn't anyone else but Lingling. At this time, she was eating in the main hall, accompanied by Zhuque Leiting and Nangong Third Miss.

When his daughter was present, naturally he would ask his own daughter—he couldn't possibly ask the other two.

As for Lingling's several sisters, they had all gone to handle business. They were all people with serious matters to attend to, unlike some people who were so idle.

"He's in the courtyard spacing out, saying he's thinking about things. I think he's just spacing out," Lingling replied while eating.

"Third Master must be here to deliver medicinal materials. My husband has already given instructions—let me receive the items on his behalf," Nangong Third Miss stood up and spoke, positioning herself as Xiaoyao's fiancée.

No, this wasn't positioning herself as a fiancée—she directly called him "my husband," which wasn't saying she was Xiaoyao's fiancée but his wife.

Of course, some fiancées also liked to use such terms, depending on their level of intimacy. Obviously, Nangong Third Miss and Xiaoyao didn't have that kind of relationship—her form of address might just be an official way of speaking.

Yes, it must be so. If Xiaoyao heard this, he would also think it was just Third Miss's official way of addressing him, without any special meaning.

"Well, I should still speak with Xiaoyao directly, otherwise it wouldn't be proper," Third Master said. Pill refining was very important—he also wanted to ask Xiaoyao if he needed to prepare other things. Although in the imperial study, Xiaoyao had already written a list for Luo Yunqing and clearly explained both sides' requirements, basically leaving nothing more to discuss.

Third Master was just being cautious. At the same time, he wanted to chat with Xiaoyao. Even if Xiaoyao wasn't his son, he was still his nephew—not too far removed.

"Then I'll take you in," Nangong Third Miss said. She didn't call for servants to guide the way—Xiaoyao's prince mansion didn't have many servants. Some were soldiers, and they were all female.

Although this was called Xiaoyao's prince mansion, basically only the four of them lived here. Naturally, they only chose women to serve them. At the same time, since they usually weren't around, the servants just needed to maintain and watch the house.

When they returned, they would bring some personal guards. These guards were originally meant to serve them—they were specially trained, had considerable strength, and knew some combined formation techniques. Of course, they were all women without exception.

With few servants, naturally they had to do things themselves. Besides, she originally came to accompany the guest and now also wanted to check on Xiaoyao's situation.

She was the weakest among the four, so she had quickly absorbed the Dragon Blood Pill and completed her breakthrough, while the other three were different—they were all breaking through to Late Saint Level.

However, one was breaking through to Late Saint Level while the others were breaking through into Late Saint Level. The Young Miss and Nangong Suxin were currently still at Mid Saint Level and still needed some time to reach saturation at Mid Saint Level.

Guxing was different—she had already nearly reached saturation at Late Saint Level. With the Dragon Blood Pill, she would definitely break through. She was already in the final stages—she had already broken through and was just consolidating her realm.

As for the Young Miss and Nangong Suxin, it was uncertain whether they could break through. Currently, it seemed there was still some distance, but it was close now.

Without the Dragon Blood Pills, they might have needed another year or two. Now they probably only needed one or two months, plus with Xiaoyao's guidance, there shouldn't be any problems.

Just as Third Master stepped into the courtyard where Xiaoyao was, he felt a powerful aura exploding outward. He felt somewhat unsteady on his feet—this was the feeling of someone breaking through, and the realm after this breakthrough was considerably higher than his own.

If it weren't considerably higher, how could he feel unsteady?

Someone stronger than himself—could it be her...

"Xiaoyao, I broke through."

Guxing opened her eyes, looked at Xiaoyao with a smile, and said. At the same time, she looked at Xiaoyao expectantly, wanting him to praise her or at least say a few words to affirm her.

"Mm, very good. You're worthy of being my boss. Keep working hard—enter God Level, and then you can protect my safety," Xiaoyao smiled and said.

"Mm mm, I'll protect you," Guxing smiled, very happily. She liked praise, but she liked Xiaoyao needing her even more.

"Ah well, forget it, I'm not continuing. I can't break through," the Young Miss also jumped up at this time. She gave up—after all, the gap was quite large, and there was no need to force it.

"This is obvious—you don't need to say it. We all understand," Nangong Suxin's voice rang out. She was mocking the Young Miss, and she also seemed to have finished.

"Tch, you're the same. The pot calling the kettle black—no, you're even worse than me," the Young Miss said disdainfully.

"Too lazy to bother with you. Today I don't have time to fight with you—I want to be intimate with little servant," Nangong Suxin came to Xiaoyao's side, hugging his arm with a bird-like dependence.

"Intimate my foot—with you it's just pretense," the Young Miss pulled Xiaoyao away and put her arm around his shoulder. "Xiaoyao, let's go drink flower wine later."

"No time. I still need to refine pills now—I can't leave the alchemy room. Time is a bit tight—I can stay here at most one month," Xiaoyao shook his head.

"Yes, yes, business is important. As for drinking flower wine, how about I go instead?" Third Master interjected at this time. He couldn't let Xiaoyao be dragged off by the Young Miss to drink flower wine—if that happened, Luo Yunqing would probably be depressed to death.

Speaking of drinking flower wine, this was his only hobby in normal times, and he often encountered the Young Miss there.

"Drinking with you isn't fun," the Young Miss said directly.

"Don't you think it would be strange for you to go with Xiaoyao?" Third Master looked at the Young Miss and asked.

"Strange how?" the Young Miss asked, momentarily confused.

"Think about it—you're Xiaoyao's fiancée. Xiaoyao doesn't go drink flower wine, but you want him to go. Isn't this leading your own fiancé astray?" Third Master said with a smile.

"Not at all. It's not like he's never been to a brothel—drinking some flower wine isn't anything," the Young Miss shook her head.

"This is indeed a problem!"

Unlike the Young Miss's opinion, the Nangong sisters felt this was problematic. They couldn't let the Young Miss lead Xiaoyao astray like this. No matter what, they were also fiancées—they couldn't let their fiancé do such things, even if it was only nominal.

"What damn problem? I'm telling you all—whoever stops me and Xiaoyao from drinking flower wine will have to deal with me," the Young Miss immediately shouted. She wouldn't let this idea take root—she had to kill it, or she'd never have a chance to drink flower wine with Xiaoyao again.

"Drinking flower wine isn't a problem," Hei Xue said at this time. This statement immediately made the Young Miss feel much more favorable toward her, which was only because Hei Xue had spent quite a few days in brothels—she had been a top courtesan.

"Mm, it's nothing. Don't be so serious. Third Master, what did you need?" Xiaoyao waved his hand, ending this topic, and began speaking with Third Master.

"Nothing much—just came to ask if you need anything else," Third Master said with a smile.

"I've told you everything I need. Is there something you're unclear about?" Xiaoyao asked. He thought Third Master wanted to ask about some details.

"No, just wanted to confirm," Third Master continued smiling.

"If there are any problems, I'll find you. Have the items been delivered? Then I'll start immediately," Xiaoyao prepared to begin work. He didn't like to waste this time.

He still had some things to do, but they could be done simultaneously while refining pills. He just couldn't leave the alchemy room—it didn't mean he had to constantly refine pills. There would be plenty of free time in between.

During this time, he could think about things, guide Guxing and the others' cultivation, or even drink with the Young Miss.

"Starting already..."

The Young Miss said somewhat disappointedly and glared fiercely at Third Master, as if blaming him for coming so early for no reason.

Third Master felt so wronged—you could have asked Xiaoyao to start later. That wouldn't have mattered—there was still plenty of time. It was just that Xiaoyao himself didn't have time. If you want to blame someone, blame him.

(End of Chapter)