319: Chapter 319 Senior Sister, at least pretend to be me!

Just as they stepped out of the Divine Tree Forbidden Ground, Ling Hao and Su Fengyi saw Ye Xinglan hovering in mid-air.

She wore her deep purple star-patterned Daoist robe, her silver-white double buns perfectly neat. Her porcelain doll-like face was set tight, revealing no emotion.

A flash of awkward discomfort crossed Su Fengyi's face.

Ling Hao, on the other hand, allowed the corners of his mouth to lift slightly.

Ye Xinglan's gaze swept over the two of them. "Supreme, they came to me looking for you several times earlier."

Turning to Su Fengyi, she added, "Your Majesty, Gu Qingyao has already handled most of the backlog of state affairs; the remaining few require your personal decision."

Having said this, without waiting for a response, her figure flickered and vanished from the spot.

Ling Hao rubbed his chin, gazing in the direction of Ye Xinglan's departure, lost in thought.

Why do I always feel like this little National Preceptor... has a sour taste to her?

...

Inside a side hall of the Stargazing Palace.

Ling Hao introduced Shui Liuli to the six Disciples, including Chi Wanhe.

"Ahem,"

Ignoring Chi Wanhe's resentful gaze, Ling Hao cleared his throat. "This is your new Junior Sister, Shui Liuli, who is also Elder Shui's niece."

Shui Liuli gently greeted the six Senior Sisters one by one, and Chi Wanhe and the others responded with smiles, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

After paying her respects to Xia Yingying, her gaze fell upon Yue Xinxi.

Yue Xinxi instinctively took a half-step back and said, "I... am not his Disciple."

Thanks to their curiosity about the new Junior Sister, Chi Wanhe and the others soon enthusiastically pulled her aside.

Seeing there was nothing else to do, Ling Hao rose to leave.

Just then, Yue Qianqian stormed in, full of energy, and headed straight for Lu Changning with an excited face.

"Sister Lu! I succeeded!"

Catching sight of Ling Hao, her eyes lit up. She reached out and tugged at his sleeve, "Good Supreme, you come too!"

It turned out that after being "chased away" from under the Wutong Divine Tree by Ye Xinglan these past two days, Yue Qianqian had latched onto Lu Changning, calling "Sister Lu" all day long, begging to learn how to make pastries.

In Linshui Pavilion, Yue Qianqian's residence.

Yue Qianqian couldn't wait to pick up a freshly baked pastry and brought it directly to Ling Hao's lips, her large eyes sparkling as she waited for his verdict.

"Hurry and taste it!"

Lu Changning was quietly pouring tea nearby.

Ling Hao tasted them one by one, full of praise, making Yue Qianqian beam with joy. He casually picked up a piece and fed it to Lu Changning, using his fingertip to wipe away crumbs from the corner of her mouth.

"What about me, what about me?"

Seeing this, Yue Qianqian immediately tugged at Ling Hao's sleeve and acted coquettishly, "You fed Sister Lu, it's only fair that you feed me too!"

As she spoke, she actually sat directly on Ling Hao's lap, her soft, warm body, carrying the sweet scent of the pastries, pressing against him without any gap.

She tilted up her delicate little face, red lips slightly parted like a fledgling bird waiting to be fed, her eyes full of anticipation.

Ling Hao chuckled, picked up a dainty little pastry with his fingertips, and placed it into her mouth.

Yue Qianqian squinted in satisfaction, chewing carefully, but accidentally got a tiny crumb on the corner of her lip.

Ling Hao's gaze fell involuntarily on that crumb, and then it was firmly drawn to those cherry lips, glistening with moisture.

Her lips were soft and full, and her breath, as she parted them slightly, was like orchids.

An inexplicable tremor surged in his heart. With a stir of his thoughts, almost following instinct, he leaned down and gently kissed her.

The moment their lips touched, Yue Qianqian's body stiffened abruptly, her clear eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.

She seemed completely unprepared for this development, her long eyelashes fluttering rapidly.

That warm touch carried a strange attraction, and she began to clumsily and awkwardly respond.

She mimicked his movements, carefully sucking and pecking. Her nose was filled with his clean, pleasant scent, mixed with the sweet aroma of the pastries, making her feel a bit dizzy.

After a long while, Ling Hao slowly pulled back a little.

Yue Qianqian maintained her slightly tilted-back posture, her eyes hazy, her cheeks flushed crimson.

She instinctively raised her hand, lightly touching her own lips with her fingertips, murmuring in wonder, "...Is this what a kiss feels like? Warm, soft... and a little sweet..."

...

Another day. In the Imperial Garden, Ling Hao and Su Fengyi discussed the specific regulations for interactions between the Wutong Divine Dynasty and the Moonshadow Sect.

"Moonshadow Sect Disciples may go to the Wutong Divine Dynasty's Heaven Patrol Division for training, with the Fengwu Guards responsible for leading and guiding them."

Su Fengyi pointed to the clauses in the Jade Slip.

"Qifeng Palace female officials and outstanding women of the Divine Dynasty, upon passing the trials of the Nine-Turn Corridor or the Ten Thousand Flower Heavenly Steps, may go to the Moonshadow Sect or Wind Spirit Sect for advanced studies."

Ling Hao added.

Gu Qingyao stood by, pen in hand, recording swiftly.

The two finalized several more points.

Resource exchange: The Wutong Divine Dynasty would open up mining rights for certain rare spirit mines, while the Moonshadow Sect would provide a quota of Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring.

Technical exchange: The Wutong Divine Dynasty's Artifact Refining and Beast Taming techniques could be periodically exchanged and discussed with the Moonshadow Sect's Alchemy and Formation Dao.

...

The core of the regulations lay in resource complementarity and personnel mobility, effectively led by the Moonshadow Sect, making it easier for Ling Hao to weave a deeper network of connections within the Wutong Divine Dynasty.

The general regulations were finalized, and Gu Qingyao would handle the subsequent details. Su Fengyi left first due to state affairs.

Ling Hao turned to Gu Qingyao. "Do you have anything else to do, Qingyao?"

Gu Qingyao had intended to say she needed to return to Wutong City immediately to handle the piled-up affairs, but as the words reached her lips, she met Ling Hao's deep, gentle eyes, and her heart felt as if it had been lightly tickled by a feather.

The refusal turned on the tip of her tongue and, as if by some strange impulse, changed into: "No... urgent matters for now."

The two then strolled side by side in the blooming Imperial Garden.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows, while a breeze brought waves of floral fragrance. Ling Hao's gaze fell upon a cluster of blooming hosta flowers beside the path; the flowers were pure white, elegant, and stood tall and graceful.

He casually plucked the one in full bloom and turned to look at Gu Qingyao.

She stood there, gentle and quiet, her light cyan feathered robe accentuating her ethereal temperament.

Ling Hao raised his hand and naturally tucked the hosta flower into her cloud-like hair.

Gu Qingyao's body stiffened slightly, then she lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her fair cheeks, and her earlobes quietly flushed with a faint red.

The elegant flower adorned her hair, complementing her gentle appearance and adding a touch of soft beauty.

Ling Hao admired his "masterpiece," a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He whispered, "Do you feel that here in the Wutong Divine Dynasty, your talents and ambitions are like the flowers in this garden—beautiful, yet confined to a single corner of the world? Perhaps I... can provide you with a broader stage where you can soar."

Gu Qingyao's heart skipped a beat.

She raised her eyelids and met his smiling eyes, in which stars seemed to flicker, making one unable to resist wanting to explore further.

After a moment of thought, a bold idea surfaced, and she tentatively asked in a low voice, "A broader stage... could it be... the Tianyuan Immortal Dynasty?"

A light of admiration burst forth in Ling Hao's eyes.

"Correct!" He nodded approvingly, his smile deepening. "Qingyao is indeed intelligent, understanding at the slightest hint. I like this sharpness of yours."

The word "like" was intentionally slowed down by him, carrying a special meaning that caused Gu Qingyao's heart, which had just calmed down, to lose its rhythm again.

Just as Gu Qingyao was about to speak, a dull booming sound suddenly came from one direction.

Ling Hao looked in the direction of the sound. "What is that over there?"

Gu Qingyao said helplessly, "That is the Qifeng Palace's sparring arena, usually a place for female officials to spar. These past two days, Senior Sister and your third Disciple have basically been 'living' there."

"Shall we go take a look?"

"Mm."

On the Qifeng Platform, two figures were locked in intense combat.

An Hongxiu's crimson combat outfit was like fire, her red Protective Aura rising like blazing flames; Du Yuqing's black dress was tightly bound, the Golden Lotus Seal on her forehead flickering on and off.

The two fought evenly, with Qi energy overflowing everywhere.

Ling Hao watched for a moment, catching the subtle hesitation in their Moves. He spoke at the right moment.

"Hongxiu! You are rushing to change your Move before the spear momentum is spent; if your power is divided, it dissipates! Remember, when the spear strikes, it should be like a dragon, focused on a single point! Concentrate your power at the spear tip!"

An Hongxiu abruptly withdrew her spear momentum, a flash of brilliance in her eyes. When she thrust again, the trajectory was clearly more refined, the red Protective Aura swirling around the spear shaft and concentrating at the tip, its power increasing sharply!

Ling Hao turned to Du Yuqing. "Yu Qing! Your Hanyue Fist has more than enough ferocity, but the protective power of your Golden Lotus Seal is not fully synchronized with your fist force! When the Golden Lotus Seal lights up is the moment of greatest defense and optimal counter-shock! Try to align the burst point of your fist force with the flickering rhythm of the Golden Lotus Seal!"

Du Yuqing furrowed her brows slightly, not stopping her movements.

She took An Hongxiu's refined spear thrust head-on, her body swaying slightly. The Golden Lotus Seal on her forehead suddenly lit up, and at the very instant the light was brightest, she let out a low shout. Her fist momentum erupted like a volcano, the fist wind and the light of the Golden Lotus Seal seemingly merging into one, actually forcing An Hongxiu back a step!

The two withdrew their stances and stood, their eyes shining with realization and excitement.

An Hongxiu regulated her breath, her gaze sweeping past Gu Qingyao beside Ling Hao, pausing slightly, but then she said directly, "Supreme's guidance is wonderful! Why not... engage in Dual Cultivation with me again to help me thoroughly digest this realization?"

Ling Hao: Huh?

Gu Qingyao: Huh?!

She looked at her own Senior Sister, dumbfounded, screaming in her heart.

No! Senior Sister, I'm still standing right here?!

At least... pretend for my sake?!