"No need, Xiao Jiu needs spiritual energy right now, you can absorb it."

Ye Qingchen shook his head and smiled.

Ji Jiuying frowned slightly upon hearing this. There are people who refuse high-grade spirit crystals?

"Qingchen, don't refuse. If you don't want it, I'll feel bad taking it all." Although she desperately needed spiritual energy, this spiritual vein mine belonged to Ye Qingchen, so she should give him half.

After several attempts to decline, Ye Qingchen saw her insistence and nodded in agreement to her request.

The two quickly revealed the large piece of spirit crystal. Looking at the large piece of spirit crystal, Ji Jiuying couldn't wait to enter a state of cultivation.

"Qingchen, let's absorb this spirit crystal together."

Knowing he couldn't dissuade her, Ye Qingchen nodded, and the two simultaneously entered a state of cultivation.

Two more days have passed.

Hei Xiangling and Bai Lisha also arrived outside the cave. The oppressive feeling from the powerful figure immediately followed, and the person in the shadows gasped.

The moment they landed, the two realized that there were many people lying in ambush all around them. Hei Xiangling said quietly, "Xiao Bai, what should we do with these people in the shadows? Should we kill them all?"

"Sister Xiangling, the person in the shadows means no harm; perhaps they are protecting this place."

Shirai Sa said.

Unbeknownst to them, those in the shadows were also discussing the same question: "Sir, those two women are so strong, could they be enemies?"

"They're not enemies. Just do our own job and mind your own business." Yoruichi shook his head, his eyes falling on Hei Xiangling. He recognized the woman; she was someone from the princess's entourage.

"That brat has been in this cave for days and still hasn't come out."

“Xiao Jiu is eager to improve her strength lately, and she spends almost all her time cultivating,” Bai Lisha sighed. If she were that diligent, her master would probably laugh his head off.

"Xiao Bai, I feel like that brat's aura is a bit weak. Should we break in?" Hei Xiangling's brows were full of worry.

“Sister Xiangling, the most taboo thing in secluded cultivation is being disturbed. If we rush in rashly, I’m afraid…” Bai Lisha didn’t finish her sentence, but Hei Xiangling understood her meaning and her brows furrowed slightly.

"Hey Xiangling, didn't you say before that Xiao Jiu was heartless and annoying? And that you said you'd leave her soon to find the gods..."

"What, you're reluctant to leave? Are you worried about her now?" Bai Lisha teased.

Hei Xiangling choked for a moment, "No...no, I still really hate that brat. Just think, if she accidentally dies, I'll have to find another person to contract with, which is such a hassle. Besides, that brat's hot pot and barbecue are pretty good, so I've reluctantly stayed by her side."

Shiraisha smiled and pursed her lips, revealing a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

"But speaking of which, what exactly is hot pot?"

"that is······"

The two of them completely forgot about their business once they started talking about food.

The sky was overcast and gray.

Ji Jiuying frowned slightly. A continuous stream of spiritual energy surrounded her, constantly tempering her entire body, but she couldn't break through that barrier no matter what she did.

She waved her hands a few times, then decided to break through the barrier while cultivating the Divine Control Technique. Sure enough, cultivation cannot be rushed. Just as Ji Jiuying entered the state, her cultivation barrier broke through two stars in succession.

Ji Jiuying was overjoyed. Spirit crystals were indeed a good thing. She stopped what she was doing and continued to cultivate the Divine Control Technique. After an unknown amount of time, Ji Jiuying slowly opened her eyes, her brows full of smiles.

"Congratulations, Mother! You've reached the eighth level of the Spirit Venerable realm. Soon you'll be able to go up and find Father."

Little Phoenix clapped her hands and laughed, but Ji Jiuying's lips twitched slightly as she listened to her words. "Little Phoenix, don't talk nonsense."

“Little Phoenix isn’t talking nonsense. You are my mother, and Gong Mingyue is my mother’s man, so naturally he is also Little Phoenix’s father.”

Little Phoenix tilted her head and said with a serious expression.

Ji Jiuying smiled awkwardly, unable to find a rebuttal for a moment. She wondered what kind of expression A Yue would have if he knew that he had inexplicably gained a divine beast daughter.

"Little Phoenix, who told you these things? You're not allowed to say them again..."

Little Phoenix interrupted Ji Jiuying: "Mother, it was Father who said it. Does Mother not want him to be Little Phoenix's father?"

Ji Jiuying was somewhat taken aback. She had just been worried that Gong Mingyue would mind, but who would have thought that these words were spoken by him and Xiao Huang'er? A sweet feeling welled up in her heart.

"Of course I want to! Since Little Phoenix likes to call him Daddy, then let her call him that!"

"Okay, Mother."

Little Phoenix nodded happily.

The two walked hand in hand to a spot not far from Ye Qingchen. Seeing that he was still cultivating, Ji Jiuying did not go up to disturb him. Instead, she took out the Evil Fire and took out a book on formations from her space to read. Meanwhile, Xiao Huang'er returned to her space to play with Xuanming.

About fifteen minutes later, a faint sound caught Ji Jiuying's attention.

Ye Qingchen slowly opened his gentle eyes, and Ji Jiuying quickly closed the book in her hand, threw it into her spatial storage, and walked over with the evil fire in her arms.

"Congratulations, Qingchen."

Ye Qingchen stood up slowly and said with a smile, "Thank you, Xiao Jiu."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on the bear in her arms. Noticing his gaze, Xie Huo glanced at him arrogantly with a nonchalant expression before closing her eyes again.

"I wonder how many days have passed. Let's go out."

"good."

The two smiled at each other, and Hei Xiangling and Bai Lisha came out of the cave to greet them.

"Xiao Jiu".

"You brat, you've really kept us waiting." Hei Xiangling snorted coldly and said resentfully.

"I'm cultivating, don't you want me to advance quickly and go to the Heavenly Realm?" Ji Jiuying looked at Hei Xiangling, who was unhappy, with amusement and laughed.

"I...of course I want to."

Bai Lisha's gaze fell on Ye Qingchen. This pretty boy was in the cave with Xiao Jiu? "Xiao Jiu, aren't you going to introduce him?"

As Bai Lisha spoke, she sized up Ye Qingchen, and Ye Qingchen also sized up Bai Lisha at the same time. He could feel the hostility in the woman's eyes. He knew very well that he had never met her before, but he couldn't see through her strength, which meant that her strength was far above his.

He couldn't possibly be unaware of someone so young and powerful, so there's only one possibility: she's from another continent.

Ye Qingchen's eyes flickered slightly. More and more people from higher realms were around her. What secrets did she have? Was it simply because her mother was from a higher realm?

Now he is also filled with curiosity and longing for that unknown world, not for that world itself, but simply because she is there.

He had to figure out those fragmented memories and the secrets of the Crimson Phoenix Fan. The only breakthrough was her. If she really went to the higher plane one day, he would try his best to go there as well.