88: Chapter 88 Jealousy in the Sea, Su Yun's Plan

Over the next few days, the Heavenly Sovereign Alliance announced to the public that the Alliance Leader needed to enter seclusion to stabilize her Realm, and all affairs would be temporarily handled by the Council of Elders.

In reality, Nangong Xue barely left her room, spending all day in the secret chamber of her Sleeping Quarters.

Having tasted the sweetness of success, she became utterly addicted to the thrill of her power's rapid growth.

She demanded it every night, without fail.

And Su Yun was happy to play along, pretending to be a drained Puppet every day.

Under this "Dual Cultivation," Nangong Xue's cultivation progressed at a tremendous pace.

In just a few days, she broke through from the Middle Stage Void Refining Peak all the way to the Late Stage Void Refining!

If news of this cultivation speed got out, it would be enough to drive the entire Cultivation World mad.

The surge in power caused Nangong Xue's ambition to swell as well.

But at the same time, her dependence on and possessiveness of Su Yun reached a pathological level.

During the day, she would let Su Yun return to the Purple Bamboo Courtyard to "rest," allowing him to maintain his former appearance to avoid suspicion.

But as soon as night fell, she would punctually "summon" Su Yun to her Sleeping Quarters.

Nangong Xue lived these days with great satisfaction.

Only the group from the Mysterious Maiden Sect and the Wu Zhou Empire were as anxious as ants on a hot griddle.

Especially the four women: Leng Hanshuang, Phoenix Unrivaled, Lin Rou, and Liu Yuqin.

They waited outside the Purple Bamboo Courtyard every day, yet they couldn't even see a shadow of Su Yun.

"No, I can't wait any longer! That enchantress must have done something to Su Yun!"

Phoenix Unrivaled had the most explosive temper; after a few days, her patience had worn thin.

"Calm down, Unrivaled."

Although Leng Hanshuang was also burning with anxiety, she still maintained a shred of reason.

"Nangong Xue is now in the Void Refining Realm. If we try to force our way in, we're simply no match for her."

"Then what should we do? Just wait like this?" Lin Rou was also anxious. "Xiao Chen has been gone for several days without any news. What if..."

She didn't dare continue.

Liu Yuqin stood to the side, her eyes rimmed with red. Though she didn't speak, the worry on her face was impossible to hide.

Just as the women were consumed with anxiety, a slightly exhausted figure slowly walked over from the direction of Nangong Xue's Sleeping Quarters in the distance.

It was Su Yun.

He looked somewhat pale, and his steps were a bit unsteady, as if his body had been hollowed out.

"Lin Chen!"

Seeing him, the women were both surprised and overjoyed, and they quickly surrounded him.

"How are you? Did that Nangong Xue do anything to you?"

Leng Hanshuang was the first to rush up, supporting Su Yun's arm and looking him up and down, her voice full of concern.

Phoenix Unrivaled was even more direct, grabbing Su Yun's other hand to check his physical condition, cursing under her breath.

"Hmph, that bitch! If she dares to harm a single hair on your head, I'll fight her to the death!"

Lin Rou and Liu Yuqin also looked at him with pained expressions.

"I'm fine," Su Yun smiled at them, though the smile looked a bit "forced."

"You still say you're fine? Look at yourself!"

Seeing his "weak" appearance, Leng Hanshuang was both pained and angry, her eyes turning slightly red.

"What exactly is going on between you and that hypocritical woman? Why have you been staying with her these past few days? Have you been controlled by her?"

"Lin Chen, tell us honestly, have you taken a liking to that woman?"

Phoenix Unrivaled's questioning was even more direct.

"Is it that you think we're old and faded, no longer good enough for you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere suddenly became a bit delicate.

Although Lin Rou and Liu Yuqin didn't speak, the meaning in their eyes was much the same.

Looking at their jealous expressions, Su Yun found it amusing, but he still put on a tired face.

He waved his hand, signaling the Heavenly Sovereign Alliance Disciples who were watching the commotion to disperse.

Then, he led the women back to the courtyard where the people from the Mysterious Maiden Sect were temporarily staying.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go back first."

As soon as they entered the room, Su Yun immediately closed the door behind him and casually set up a soundproofing barrier.

Once that was done, his pale and weak complexion from the previous second instantly returned to a healthy glow. He stood tall and straight, without the slightest hint of being hollowed out.

The powerful aura belonging to the Middle Stage Nascent Soul was released without reservation. He was radiant and more energetic than ever.

"This..."

The women were all dumbfounded.

This change of face was too fast!

"You... you're okay?" Leng Hanshuang asked blankly.

"Of course I'm okay," Su Yun chuckled. He stepped forward and pulled Leng Hanshuang, who had been the most jealous just now, into his arms.

Leng Hanshuang's body stiffened, and she instinctively tried to struggle, but Su Yun held her even tighter.

"What are you doing! Let me go!" She was both embarrassed and angry, her cheeks instantly turning red.

Su Yun ignored her, leaned into her ear, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Silly, I'm using a move called 'Feeding the Devil with One's Body, Taking the Fuel from Under the Cauldron'."

"What does that mean?" Leng Hanshuang's ears felt itchy from the hot breath he exhaled, and half of her body went soft.

"It means that woman thinks she has control over me."

A wicked smile curled at the corner of Su Yun's mouth.

"Little does she know, she has already fallen into the trap I set."

Su Yun didn't explain much more, because he knew that when dealing with jealous women, no amount of reasoning was as effective as proving it through action.

He picked Leng Hanshuang up in a princess carry and, amidst her exclamation, strode toward the inner chamber.

"Weren't you worried that I was hollowed out?"

Su Yun turned back and raised an eyebrow at the stunned Phoenix Unrivaled and the others.

"Today, I'll let you all inspect me and see if I still have any reserves left."

...

After a bit of "education," the atmosphere in the room completely transformed from the previous tension into a gentle, spring-like paradise.

The resentment and worry in the hearts of Leng Hanshuang and the others all turned into water-like tenderness and deep admiration for Su Yun's unfathomable schemes.

It turned out he wasn't addicted to feminine charms, but was playing a grand game of chess!

Having soothed his harem, Su Yun resumed his "weak" appearance and leisurely returned to Nangong Xue's Sleeping Quarters.

By this time, after these few days of Dual Cultivation, Nangong Xue's cultivation had soared all the way to the Late Stage Void Refining, only one step away from the Peak.

She could feel that with a few more days of absorption, she might even be able to break through directly to the Dao Integration Realm!

This rocket-like speed of improvement had made her completely addicted.

Now, to her, Su Yun was no longer a simple Cauldron, but the key to her supreme power and her most precious private possession.

At the same time, her dependence on Su Yun had surpassed the critical threshold.

As soon as she saw Su Yun return, Nangong Xue immediately went to meet him, like a young wife waiting for her husband to return home, impatiently helping Su Yun undress.

"Where did you go? Why were you gone for so long?" Her tone carried a hint of insecurity that she hadn't even noticed herself.

"Nowhere, just went out for a walk," Su Yun replied woodenly.

"A walk? You're a Puppet, what's there to walk about?"

Nangong Xue's face darkened. She grabbed Su Yun's chin, her gaze becoming somewhat dangerous.

"I'm warning you, without my permission, you are not allowed to leave my side for a single step! Do you hear me?"

"Yes," Su Yun nodded obediently.

Seeing him so submissive, Nangong Xue's expression softened, and a look of infatuation returned to her face.

She held Su Yun's face as if admiring a peerless treasure.

"Good, that's more like it."

She didn't know that her pathological possessiveness was precisely the result of the "Heart Lock" Restriction Su Yun had planted, which was quietly fermenting.

She thought she was in control of everything, little knowing that she was already the prey in someone else's web.

Another few days passed.

The day for the opening of the God-Fallen Ravine Secret Realm finally arrived.

On this day, the Main Peak Square of the Heavenly Sovereign Alliance was once again crowded with people.

The remnant forces of the major Sects in the Southern Region had all sent representatives.

They didn't know what had happened here a few days ago; they only knew that the Heavenly Sovereign Alliance was going to take them to an ancient Secret Realm to make a fortune.

Nangong Xue stood on the high platform, dressed in a purple dress, looking absolutely elegant.

Her gaze swept over the Cultivators below, whose eyes were filled with greed and desire, and a cold, death-like smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

"The nutrients have all arrived."