286: Chapter 286 Would you be willing to entrust yourself to him?

Hundred Flowers Peak.

It was early spring, and nearly two years had passed since the establishment of Hundred Flowers Peak.

Amidst the verdant peaks, exotic spiritual flowers bloomed in competition, their variety even more abundant than before, decorating the entire mountain like a magnificent tapestry. Spiritual springs flowed murmuringly, nourishing all things.

On the peak, halls and pavilions were arranged in a well-ordered manner; female Disciples practiced sword techniques amidst the flowers or discussed the Dao in the pavilions.

Inside a pavilion surrounded by blooming flowers, Ling Hao was sitting opposite Baili Qiao, with spiritual tea and exquisite pastries placed on the stone table.

Baili Qiao was dressed in a purple palace gown with intertwined branch patterns, which made her look gentle and quiet, and the full curves of her hips revealed an astonishing plumpness even while she was sitting upright.

Ling Hao took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping across the sea of flowers with appreciation.

"This Hundred Flowers Peak is being managed better and better, Elder Qiaoqiao, you deserve much of the credit."

Baili Qiao's cheeks flushed slightly. "Sect Master, you overpraise me. It is the Disciples on the peak who are diligent, and Elder Nangong has contributed a great deal to the cultivation of spiritual plants."

She paused, shifting slightly in her seat, "Also, Sect Master, could you please not call me Qiaoqiao?"

Ling Hao withdrew his gaze, letting it fall upon Baili Qiao, and said earnestly, "But I think it sounds quite nice."

Baili Qiao met his gaze, her heart skipping a beat. "As... as you like, Sect Master."

After saying this, she changed the subject. "The Foundations of the Disciples on Hundred Flowers Peak have been restored, their cultivation has progressed steadily, and they have now fully integrated into the Sect."

"That is very good." Ling Hao nodded, his gaze moving downward with a teasing smile, "It seems that the environment of Hundred Flowers Peak is indeed nourishing. Elder Qiaoqiao, your figure is becoming increasingly... hmm, well-suited for childbearing."

Baili Qiao's face turned bright red in an instant, and she glared at Ling Hao reproachfully: "Sect Master! You... you again..."

"Oh my, it's so lively here; it seems I arrived at just the right time?"

A lazy, smiling voice came from outside. Nangong Mei, dressed in an ochre-red, waist-cinching gauze dress, stepped gracefully into the pavilion. Her plump and proud figure was vaguely visible beneath the daringly cut gauze dress. Her beautiful face wore a knowing smile, and her gaze drifted between Ling Hao and the blushing Baili Qiao.

Baili Qiao felt even more uncomfortable under her gaze, her ears turning completely red. Nangong Mei chuckled, naturally sat down on Ling Hao's other side, picked up a piece of pastry, and smiled, "Sect Master, you are in high spirits today, coming specifically to visit Qiaoqiao?"

"I was just passing by to check on the recent situation of Hundred Flowers Peak." Ling Hao said frankly.

Since the establishment of Hundred Flowers Peak, Ling Hao would come over from time to time. Hmm, the relationship between the Sect Master and the Elders must be maintained at all times.

"Why don't we go for a walk together?"

After sitting for a while, Baili Qiao suggested going outside to admire the flowers. Ling Hao and Nangong Mei naturally would not object.

The three of them chatted and laughed as they strolled along the path amidst the flowers. Before they knew it, they arrived at the depths of a secluded bamboo forest. Beneath the cliff ahead, an Immortal Cave filled with swirling Spiritual Qi stood quietly. The entrance was covered by a faint frost barrier.

A light green figure straightened up from the medicinal herb garden beside the Immortal Cave. Her neat ponytail swayed gently with the movement, and her well-proportioned figure was full of vitality.

Seeing Ling Hao, a flash of surprise instantly burst forth in her eyes: "Sect Master? Why are you here?"

Ling Hao looked up at the Immortal Cave and smiled in surprise, "So I have walked to Supreme Elder Zhaohua's Immortal Cave. Ling Ling, how is your Revered Master doing lately?"

Yu Lingling replied respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Sect Master. Revered Master's Lunar True Essence has already been repaired, and she is currently in seclusion to stabilize her Realm. When she emerges, her cultivation should be able to reach the seventh level of the Void Tempering Realm."

"The seventh level of the Void Tempering Realm, very good." Ling Hao nodded, then remembered something and asked with slight curiosity, "I heard from Ling Shuang that your Revered Master's temperament is even more 'aloof' than hers? This 'aloofness' seems to be unusual?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Lingling exchanged a complicated glance with Nangong Mei and Baili Qiao, then looked at the cold-shrouded Immortal Cave, sighed softly, and explained: "Sect Master, you may not be aware. According to the ancient records we have read, Revered Master... she is likely the legendary 'Stone Woman'."

"Stone Woman?" Ling Hao was startled. "Does that mean... she cannot engage in Dual Cultivation?"

"Physiologically, it is possible, but it is limited to just that." Nangong Mei took over the conversation, "The Supreme Elder has crystallized emotion souls, and her primordial Yin has returned to stillness. She is born lacking the perception of romantic feelings between men and women, so any Dual Cultivation Technique has no effect on her at all. In ancient times, there was a peerless Senior who was a Stone Woman, and she was the same. Throughout her entire life, until her Ascension, she never had a Dao Companion."

Baili Qiao added softly: "Because of this, the Supreme Elder's other emotions also seem to be frozen, becoming extremely introverted and indifferent. She is not deliberately cold, but rather... unable to feel, and has no way to express it. Therefore, in the eyes of outsiders, she appears even more aloof and cold than Ling Shuang."

Ling Hao understood in his heart. This seems to involve a Dao injury to the Origin, she really is the Stone Woman of the cultivation world!

"Yo, Sect Master, are you also setting your sights on our Revered Master?"

A charming and lazy voice sounded with teasing, and Yu Linglong walked over, treading on the air with bare feet. She walked to Yu Lingling's side, deliberately nudged her Junior Sister with her elbow, and teased: "Want to set your sights on our Revered Master? Then why not take down my Junior Sister Ling Ling first? I see that she is quite..."

"Senior Sister!" Yu Lingling's pretty face instantly flushed red, her ponytail seeming to stand on end, and she stamped her foot in shyness and annoyance to interrupt her.

Ling Hao coughed lightly, caught a glimpse of the blush on Yu Lingling's face, and said sternly: "Ahem... Deputy Sect Master Linglong, please watch your words. I am just concerned about the situation of the Sect's Supreme Elder."

Yu Linglong rolled her eyes with infinite charm and curled her red lips. Heh, I'd be crazy to believe you.

Just at this moment, a sound transmission talisman at Ling Hao's waist suddenly lit up with a faint light, and Hua Youyou's voice came out, "Sect Master! Yue Qianqian from the Wutong Divine Dynasty is visiting. She looks anxious and specifically asked to see you. I have arranged for her to wait at the Guest Welcoming Hall of Yingxia Peak!"

Ling Hao frowned slightly and said with a slight apology to Baili Qiao and Nangong Mei: "There is an urgent matter with the Wutong Divine Dynasty. It seems I cannot continue to accompany the two beauties to admire the flowers today."

Upon hearing this, Baili Qiao's cheeks flushed slightly, and she smiled gently: "Sect Master, your affairs are important. As for admiring flowers... there will always be time later."

Nangong Mei's eyes drifted, and she pursed her red lips and smiled: "That's right, Sect Master. The flowers of Hundred Flowers Peak won't run away, and we... naturally won't run away either. You go ahead and attend to your important matters."

Ling Hao nodded, said no more, and his figure turned into a stream of light, disappearing from Hundred Flowers Peak in an instant.

Watching Ling Hao leave, the blush on Baili Qiao's face faded slightly. She looked at Yu Linglong, and the habitual worry between her brows surfaced again, "Linglong, regarding the Golden Crow Holy Land... what exactly is the Sect Master's attitude?"

The gazes of Nangong Mei and Yu Lingling also immediately focused on Yu Linglong.

Yu Linglong's mouth curled into an arc, and she said leisurely: "Don't you already have the answer?"

Her gaze swept in turn over Yu Lingling's well-proportioned figure, Nangong Mei's proud chest, and finally rested on the full and pert hips of Baili Qiao, and she smiled mischievously, "Him? He wishes he could swallow you all whole; how could he bear to let you go?"

The three women were made to feel unnatural by her direct gaze and words. Nangong Mei chuckled, Baili Qiao lowered her head, and Yu Lingling bit her lip slightly.

Yu Linglong put away her joking manner and suggested: "If you truly want to avenge the sisters of Linglong Blessed Land with your own hands, there is a ready-made method right in front of you, one that will immediately raise your cultivation by one major Realm."

Nangong Mei, Baili Qiao, and Yu Lingling immediately understood. Having been in the Moonshadow Sect for so long, as high-level members, they naturally knew that if they became Dao Companions with the Sect Master and inscribed their true names on the everlasting light tablet, they could obtain a boost of one major Realm within the Sect's territory.

Yu Lingling looked at Yu Linglong, her clear eyes filled with a trace of confusion: "Senior Sister... do you think we should?"

Yu Linglong did not answer directly, but reached out and pointed to her own heart, her gaze profound as she said: "This question should not be asked of me."

She turned her head and looked in the direction of Yingxia Peak, her voice ethereal, "It should be asked of your own hearts. You know best whether you are willing... to entrust yourselves to him."