As Ning Yunmiao led Xiao Lin to experiment with her ideas, in the bamboo house at the back of Green Lotus Peak...

Leng Youxue held an apple in one hand and a novel in the other, eating and reading with great interest.

"Hmm, this ending is nice, no tragic twists, just a warm and happy conclusion." Leng Youxue nodded in satisfaction, placing the novel aside and finishing the remaining apple.

"Phew, time to sleep. I stayed up late again last night, and that's not good for the skin."

She casually turned the apple core to ash and then lay down comfortably on the soft couch.

"Spring fatigue, autumn weariness, summer naps, and the unending sleep of winter. Ah, what would humanity be like without sleep? I can't even imagine..."

Muttering softly to herself, Leng Youxue pulled a small blanket over her flat stomach, closed her eyes, and prepared to sleep.

But after her eyelashes fluttered seven or eight times, she opened her eyes again.

"Tsk, annoying."

Sitting up, Leng Youxue raised her small hand and stretched it forward.

With her movement, the space her hand touched began to distort.

Leng Youxue reached into the distorted space and pulled out a token.

The token was a pale gold color, its material unknown, with the words "Lei Xiao" engraved on one side and a pattern on the other.

If Xiao Lin were here, he would find the pattern familiar... because the pattern on the back of the token was the same as the one on his right forearm, only it was gold due to the token's color.

Leng Youxue's gaze lingered on the pattern for a moment before she flipped the token to look at the words "Lei Xiao."

As she moved, faint lightning flickered on the token, purple electricity flowing.

"Annoying, annoying, go away."

Muttering irritably, Leng Youxue tossed the token aside, and it was swallowed again by the distorted space.

"I still have to go out later to deal with that kid's matter, better get some sleep."

Lying back on the couch, Leng Youxue pulled the small blanket over her stomach again, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.

This novel is available on "pawread.com".

...

Before Xiao Lin crossed over, he had heard of a genius shortcut from a bald strongman: do a hundred push-ups every day, a hundred sit-ups, a hundred squats, and then a ten-kilometer run.

At the time, Xiao Lin just found it amusing and never thought this kind of training would befall him.

Yet today, it really happened to him.

"So, Senior Brother, do you feel anything?"

Seeing Xiao Lin finish a hundred push-ups, Ning Yunmiao immediately approached, her face full of anticipation.

"Uh..."

Xiao Lin felt for a moment, then honestly shook his head, "No, I don't."

"Huh? How can that be?" Ning Yunmiao immediately showed a sad and pained expression.

[Clearly, this was a method I racked my brains to come up with...]

Actually, you didn't need to rack your brains so much...

Xiao Lin's mouth twitched slightly, and he said directly, "Fourth Junior Sister, I think we might be going in the wrong direction, let's try a different method."

"No, no, we haven't finished trying yet. We can still try sit-ups, squats, and running." Ning Yunmiao hurriedly stopped him.

"No, no, no, Fourth Junior Sister, I don't think this method from your hometown works." Not wanting to waste more time, Xiao Lin firmly refused.

"Then... what should we do?" Ning Yunmiao's bright eyes instantly lost their luster.

"Well, it seems that in the short term, it might be difficult to activate the power of this mark." Xiao Lin pondered his words and said to Ning Yunmiao, "Fourth Junior Sister, you don't need to rush. Understanding these things often depends on opportunity. When I figure out how to use this mark, I'll definitely find you first to see if you can get some inspiration from my insights."

Xiao Lin's words were actually a test to see if he could glean the time limit of Ning Yunmiao's task from her thoughts. If the task had a short deadline, he would be willing to spend more time finding a way to use the mark... although it might not be useful, it was better than waiting for a chance.

"Well, it seems that's all we can do for now..." Ning Yunmiao looked sad.

[I can't let Senior Brother keep experimenting with me because of this. He has his own life to live... and there's still half a year left for this task, so it should be enough, right...]

Why are you in such a hurry with a six-month deadline? I thought you only had a few days...

Xiao Lin rubbed his forehead, ready to offer Ning Yunmiao some subtle comfort, but suddenly sensed something and turned to look in a certain direction.

"Huh? Someone's coming?"

Ning Yunmiao also noticed the commotion and quickly looked up—the Flowing Cloud Sect's mountain gate was in that direction, so any noise from there meant someone had arrived at the sect. It could be a returning disciple, a visiting guest, or, of course, an enemy attack.

But since there was no message or bell ringing, it was obviously not an enemy attack.

"Uncle-Master Dongfang is back..." Xiao Lin raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh, so it's Uncle-Master Dongfang..." Ning Yunmiao nodded, about to continue thinking of ways to help Xiao Lin activate the mark's power, when she belatedly realized something and looked up again, blinking, "Wait, if Uncle-Master Dongfang is back, does that mean Lin Aotian is back too?"

"Yes." Xiao Lin adjusted his blue robe, "Fourth Junior Sister, since that's the case, let's go visit as we discussed before... Hey! Where are you going?"

"Uh..."

Ning Yunmiao, who was clearly trying to sneak away, paused slightly and returned to stand in front of Xiao Lin, her eyes evasive, "Well, Senior Brother, I just remembered I haven't brought in my clothes from outside..."

"Fourth Junior Sister, we cultivators can use a Dust Removal Technique to keep our clothes spotless, there's no need to wash them. At least think through your lies before you say them."

"Uh... then I forgot to feed Xiaobai today, I need to go feed the cat..."

"Xiaobai doesn't need food."

"Actually... actually, my friend is getting married, and I need to attend..."

"Do you even hear what you're saying?"

"Uh..."

Ning Yunmiao realized how poor her hastily made-up excuses were and blushed a deep red.

[Help, I can't think of a suitable reason... Why is it that I was fine before, but now I instinctively resist meeting that protagonist?]

Instinctively resist?

Listening to Ning Yunmiao's thoughts, Xiao Lin felt something was amiss.