Investment Return System, Start by taking Demon Empress as a Disciple

Chapter 182: Could It Be Essential Oil for a Back Massage?

The passing of a single day was swift. After Leng Yanran had recovered, she took a bath in the Spirit Pool Hall and then stepped outside the main hall. Not spotting the figure of her Master, she furrowed her brows slightly.

She happened upon her junior sister amusing the demon beasts and decided to approach her to inquire about their Master's whereabouts. Within the main hall, each room could automatically isolate all exploration from outside once the door was closed. Naturally, she couldn't sense her Master's location inside the hall.

"Huh? Master mentioned yesterday that he had something to discuss with Aunt Lan. Right, it's been a whole day. Why haven't they come out yet? Y-Yourong even wanted to eat the meal Aunt Lan made."

Facing her senior sister's inquiry, Li Yourong blinked her eyes innocently and answered honestly.

"…So, you're saying Master and Aunt Lan have been out of sight for an entire day?"

Upon hearing her junior sister's words, Leng Yanran clenched her fists slightly, a foreboding sense hanging over her.

"Yes!" Li Yourong nodded. "After Senior Sister rested yesterday, Master set up this spirit barrier and then left with Aunt Lan."

Li Yourong didn't detect her senior sister's unusual mood and recounted the events, nodding as she recollected.

"…"

Leng Yanran fell silent instantly, privately speculating whether her Master had assisted Aunt Lan in her cultivation. Or could it be that Aunt Lan had taken the initiative and… Argh, how infuriating!

"S-Senior sister, are you feeling unwell? Is there something wrong with your health? By the way, where's your little tail, senior sister? Oh, and your little vermilion bird?"

Li Yourong noticed her senior sister's odd behavior and couldn't help but express concern. Then, she curiously glanced behind her sister, only to realize that the peach-heart-shaped tail from the previous day was nowhere to be seen.

"Nothing."

Leng Yanran shook her head, sighing helplessly.

As for the peach-heart-shaped tail, she had temporarily put it away, intending to keep it concealed whenever possible. She then tapped the small pouch hanging from her waist, and a fiery-red little head poked out. Since the last time she fed it with spiritual rice, it seemed to be continuously digesting the spiritual energy within.

"Little Vermilion Bird, are you awake? Here, have some spiritual rice. When you grow up, can you give me some feathers?"

Li Yourong gazed at the Little Vermilion Bird. Instantly, her interest in the ordinary demon beasts waned, and she stepped closer. With her large eyes just inches away from the bird, she smiled playfully.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp?"

The Little Vermilion Bird, though still a bit afraid of Li Yourong, as she had wanted to eat it when they first met, recognized her as an ally after being fed. It had a craving for spiritual rice, yet it wasn't too keen on losing its feathers. Who knew how many feathers Li Yourong wanted? She might pluck it bare! It tilted its head, pretending not to understand.

"Well… if you chirp, I'll take that as agreement!"

Seeing the situation, Li Yourong blinked and added. In response, the Little Vermilion Bird fell silent and gazed at her quietly.

"Uh, if you blink, I'll take that as agreement."

Since the Little Vermilion Bird didn't chirp, she changed her approach.

"…"

Hearing this, the Little Vermilion Bird decided to just close its eyes and keep them shut, not blinking at all.

"Sister, look! The Little Vermilion Bird seems like it can't survive anymore. Its eyes won't open. Quick, ask Aunt Lan to boil some water! While it's still fresh, we shouldn't waste it!"

Li Yourong suddenly exclaimed in delight.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!?"

In the end, the Little Vermilion Bird yielded, blinking frantically at Li Yourong, agreeing to provide feathers in the future when it grew up. Only then did Li Yourong reveal a triumphant smile, placing a handful of spiritual rice near its beak.

…

A day later, Chen Daoxuan, under the care of Ao Lan, had already donned his clothes.

"Do you want to wash up in the Spirit Pool Hall? Also, if you're planning to cultivate, you can go into the Tower of Enlightenment. Time flows 365 times slower there than in the outside world."

Chen Daoxuan looked at the beautiful woman lying in front of him and spoke softly.

"My Lord, you should wash up first. I'll rest for a while. I'm quite tired…"

Ao Lan rested her arm on her forehead, sweat covering her body. Chen Daoxuan's valiant and skillful combat had left her somewhat drained. Now, she was drenched in sweat.

"Sure, rest well."

Chen Daoxuan didn't dwell on it, and he went to the Spirit Pool Hall first. Immersed in the liquid, he felt a bit fatigued, so he took a short nap.

When he woke up, it seemed only half an hour or so had passed.

"Yanran is really diligent. She works hard in her cultivation and even remembers to wash my clothes. Not bad. Sigh, life as a Master is so simple and unadorned, yet monotonous."

Getting out of the pool, Chen Daoxuan saw that the clothes he had left on the hanger had disappeared, replaced by two sets that were obviously cleaned by Yanran. As expected, he could still catch a faint, delicate fragrance when he brought the clothes close to his nose.

After dressing, he didn't linger, leaving the main hall directly.

"Master."

Seeing Chen Daoxuan appear, both disciples approached and bowed respectfully.

Especially Leng Yanran, at the sight of her Master, the peach-heart-shaped tail that she had hidden couldn't help but wiggle in delight, swaying from side to side.

"Master, where's Aunt Lan? Yourong's hungry, wants to eat."

Li Yourong pointed at her stomach while speaking.

"Eat, eat, eat. Occasionally indulging in a feast is enough. Cultivators can't indulge in lavish meals every day. Learn from your senior sister, so that I can save some spirit."

Hearing this, Chen Daoxuan raised his hand in mock seriousness and tapped her head, making Li Yourong pout, covering her head, feeling wronged.

His motivation to encourage Li Yourong's advancement wasn't solely for the system points he would gain. His main concern was that if there was too much difference in the timing of their breakthroughs, Leng Yanran would reach the Upper Realm before her.

He had to decide whether to stay behind or accompany her to the Upper Realm. The best solution was for Li Yourong to catch up in cultivation so she could face the Heavenly Tribulation around the same time as Leng Yanran.

"Master, what have you been doing with Aunt Lan?"

Leng Yanran tilted her head, casually inquiring.

"I simply helped your Aunt Lan resolve some hidden issues in her body. Additionally, I offered guidance on her cultivation and gave her some precious materials."

Chen Daoxuan's expression remained calm as he spoke with a mix of truth and ambiguity.

"Oh, I see."

After hearing this, Leng Yanran nodded slightly, but then her eyebrows furrowed. The means by which the Master resolved hidden issues… Could it be… the Back-Opening Aromatic Oil technique?

However, when it came to the Back-Opening Aromatic Oil…

"Master, recently, I've broken through so many realms. I'm afraid I might have left behind some issues. Could you help me resolve them too, Master?"

Leng Yanran spoke, burying her head deeply. The hidden issues were just a pretext. She really wanted to experience the Back-Opening Aromatic Oil again.