77: Disciple Qin Feng pays respects to the sect leader.

"Senior Brother, what is wrong?"

Lin Yao noticed that his grip on her arm felt a bit off, and she couldn't help but ask with concern.

"It is nothing."

Qin Feng shook his head, loosened his grip, forced a smile onto his face again, and reached out to rub her head.

"I just feel that my Yaoer is truly wonderful."

Lin Yao was momentarily stunned by his sudden intimacy, her small face blushing slightly, but she still stood on her tiptoes and hugged him even tighter.

"Senior Brother, no matter what you encounter, Yaoer will always be with you."

Her voice was muffled, yet it carried an unquestionable stubbornness.

She did not know what Senior Brother was worried about.

But she could feel that he was very, very tired today.

Not just physically, but also mentally.

Although she could not share his burden, she could provide him with a harbor where he could rest at any time.

...

However, when her little head rested against Qin Feng's chest, her pert little nose sniffed imperceptibly.

A strange scent.

Very faint, very faint.

It did not belong to Revered Master, nor to Third Senior Sister, and certainly not to herself.

The source of that scent seemed to... come from something in Senior Brother's embrace that she had never seen before.

A flash of imperceptible sharpness flickered in the depths of Lin Yao's eyes.

"Hmph, Bad Senior Brother."

She muttered in her heart.

"Secretly hiding another vixen outside again."

"Once I find out, see how I tie you two scoundrels to the workbench and study you together!"

...

In the following days, Qin Feng lived a life that was both painful and happy.

Lin Yao seemed like a different person; she no longer thought about how to bully him the moment she approached him like before.

She would personally prepare various nourishing medicinal meals for Qin Feng, and use her soft, boneless little hands to massage him and soothe his muscles and bones.

That gentle, considerate, and understanding demeanor was simply more "virtuous wife and good mother" than Third Senior Sister Ye Nianxin.

Of course, that was only during the day.

As for Ye Nianxin, her gentleness was carved into her bones.

She did not fight, did not snatch, and did not cause trouble.

She simply and silently used everything she had to treat Qin Feng well.

She would brew the most nourishing spiritual soup for him.

She would use her pure wood-element spiritual power, carrying the fresh scent of plants, to cleanse his Divine Soul over and over again, allowing him to forget all his worries.

Of course, as a reward, Qin Feng would pay this gentle Fairy Senior Sister the consultation fee she deserved.

Just like that.

Under the meticulous care of three stunning beauties, Qin Feng lived a life that, to outsiders, seemed like that of an emperor.

His cultivation, in this day-after-day "exchange," soared crazily at a speed comparable to a rocket.

Early Golden Core Stage, stabilized.

Middle Stage Golden Core, Breakthrough!

Late Stage Golden Core, within reach!

However, beneath this seemingly calm and beautiful life, the mystery regarding "Bai Luoluo" remained like a thorn, deeply embedded in his heart.

He had tried to subtly inquire about Sect Master Bai Luoli from Zhao Muxue, Lin Yao, and even that research fanatic, Second Senior Sister.

But all he received was well-known official information.

The Sect Master of Tianxuan Sect, Bai Luoli, was a heaven-sent genius who reached the Mahayana Peak at three hundred years old, had ruled the Tianxuan Sect for a hundred years, possessed iron-fisted methods, and had unparalleled prestige.

Apart from that, there was nothing else.

It was as if she were a perfect symbol of the Sect, with no past and no private life.

As for the name "Bai Luoluo," it was unknown and unheard of by anyone.

This person seemed to have never existed at all.

"Could it be that the System really made a mistake?"

On this day, Qin Feng sat cross-legged inside his Immortal Cave, fiddling with the snow-white communication jade pendant and the half-piece of the phoenix token in his hands, his brows furrowed tightly.

He even began to doubt whether everything that night was just an illusion caused by his extreme exhaustion.

Just when he was unable to find an answer, hum—

A blinding golden light, without any warning, pierced directly through the layers of Restrictions he had set, and like a sharp sword, hovered before him!

It was a golden Jade Slip, with a lifelike Phoenix totem carved upon it!

A direct order from the Sect Master!

Qin Feng's heart skipped a beat!

Why is she looking for me?!

He subconsciously stuffed the jade pendant and token into his Storage Pouch, tidied his robes, suppressed the shock and anxiety in his heart, and turned into a streak of light, flying towards the Sect Masters Grand Hall at the summit of the Main Peak.

...

The Sect Masters Grand Hall was still as dignified and solemn as ever, so empty that it made one feel uneasy.

Bai Luoli, wearing a Black-gold Phoenix Robe, sat upright on the nine dragon throne, her expression indifferent, possessing an awe-inspiring majesty without even showing anger.

That invisible pressure filled every corner of the hall, making it hard for one to breathe.

"Disciple Qin Feng, pays respects to the Sect Master."

Qin Feng bowed, his attitude as respectful as could be.

"Rise."

Bai Luoli's voice was as cold and clear as jade stones striking each other, revealing not a hint of joy or anger.

She looked at the young man below, who was as handsome as jade and extraordinary in bearing, and in those sharp phoenix eyes, a flash of complexity that no one could understand flickered.

"Qin Feng."

She spoke.

"You have completed your Core Formation for half a month now; is your cultivation stable?"