My Ironclad System is ahead of schedule.

After skewering a few meat skewers, he asked Yanqing curiously, "By the way, Yanqing, what did Sushang just do?"

"that……"

Yanqing was still thinking about how to organize her thoughts when Tingyun smiled and said, "It's nothing much. Sushang just said she wanted to prepare some barbecue for you, but she pricked her own hand more than a dozen times before she could make three or five skewers. Luckily, she washed them in time, otherwise you might be eating barbecue with Sushang's blood on it later."

Ji Yuan: "..."

That silly little sister.

No, I'll have to verify it later. If she's still a widow, I'll have to teach her a lesson.

He thought in his mind.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the courtyard, Huo Huo saw someone who surprised her greatly.

Huanlong was resting against a pillar in the pavilion in the courtyard.

The mature and beautiful woman slightly narrowed her eyes, a smile naturally playing on her lips, exuding charm.

Huo Huo's eyes widened.

This banquet is meant to celebrate Tingyun's return, so Huanlong, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to come?

Huo Huo knew very well that among the people who liked her teacher, the relationships between the others were okay, but the relationships between Ruan Mei and Jing Liu, and between Ting Yun and Huan Long were not so good.

"What? Are you surprised by my arrival?"

Huanlong opened his eyes and asked Huo Huo.

"Ah."

Huo Huo nodded, but then took a few steps back in fear.

After all, she was facing a supreme ruler of annihilation, so the pressure on her was immense.

"Don't be nervous. You're Ji Yuan's student, so I definitely won't hurt you." Huanlong smiled and said to Huo Huo, noticing her fear. "As for why I came here? Well, it's because I want to see Ji Yuan. What do other things have to do with me?"

Huanlong wants to destroy even himself, so why would he care about anything else?

She waved her hand, signaling Huo Huo to leave: "I'm going to find Ji Yuan later. You go and enjoy the banquet with the others, little girl."

However, after she finished speaking, Huanlong saw that although Huohuo kept swallowing and her body was trembling slightly, she did not move.

"Hmm? What's up?"

Huanlong asked Huo Huo unexpectedly.

Huo Huo swallowed hard, mustered her courage, and said to Huan Long, "Um, Miss Huan Long, I want to become stronger. You are a member of the Suiyang clan, and my main combat method is to command Suiyang. I want to find a way to make the Suiyang I command stronger."

"Huo Huo, what are you going to do?"

Tail asked in surprise.

Huo Huo hurriedly explained, "Grandpa Tail, don't worry, I won't do anything to you. I already asked Lord Xueyi, and I can apply to have Suiyang, who was imprisoned, put back in prison. Then, I'll use it to fight the enemy."

Huo Huo's current strength is limited by two factors. One is the technique of controlling Sui Yang, in which Ji Yuan has already taught her a lot, and Huo Huo only needs to practice diligently. The other factor is the strength of controlling Sui Yang. Ji Yuan doesn't have a good solution for this, so Huo Huo came to Huan Long.

They want to learn the method to become stronger from Huanlong.

"Oh? You actually have such a thought?"

Upon hearing Huo Huo's words, Huan Long's expression showed interest.

"Yes, yes, I also want to become stronger, to help the teacher, and to show my abilities in front of the teacher. I believe, Miss Huanlong, that you would be willing to help the teacher and wouldn't harm the teacher. So, I would like to ask you to tell me how to become stronger."

Huo Huo said through gritted teeth, each word distinct.

Huanlong gazed at Huo Huo in this way.

Huo Huo lowered her head nervously, and even seemed about to fall.

Even so, she remained motionless.

Seeing her like this, Huanlong couldn't help but smile.

Gently fanning herself, she stretched lazily and said to Huo Huo, "Come here, Huo Huo, call me 'Master's Wife,' and I'll teach you."

"what?!"

"I was just kidding." Huanlong chuckled. "Don't worry, Ji Yuan will have to make you change your mind. It's pointless for me to let you say it."

"Ah."

Huo Huo breathed a sigh of relief.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ji Yuan, who was skewering meat, heard a system settlement notification in his mind.

[Under your tutelage, Huo Huo, the chief judge of the Ten Kings Division and a candidate for the Ten Kings, will see a significant improvement in strength. For this, the system rewards you with a copy of Sui Yang [Liaoyuan] (without independent consciousness).]

Ten Princes Candidate?

Is Huo Huo going to get promoted again in the future?

Ji Yuan looked at the system's description and thought to himself.

Chapter 221 The enemy has hostages? No problem, just attack! [First Update]

Ji Yuan's first reaction was that Huo Huo would be promoted again in the future.

Previously, he was only the chief judge, but now he has also been appointed as a candidate for the Ten Kings. Perhaps his official power and position have not changed, but his status in the Ten Kings' Court has been greatly elevated.

"She's currently a candidate for the Ten Kings. If only she could work hard and become one of the Ten Kings someday."

Ji Yuan thought to himself. Completely oblivious, his thought was simply to force one of the Ten Kings to abdicate.

After this reaction, he had some doubts in his mind.

How could Huo Huo's strength be about to undergo a major improvement? And such a significant improvement at that. Even though she's not particularly strong now, making such a significant leap is no easy feat.

Ji Yuan was absolutely certain that Huo Huo's strength was about to make a significant improvement. The system's reward for him was an unconscious Sui Yang [Wildfire], which was once capable of fighting a general. Although he couldn't defeat it, he could at least exchange a few blows, proving that this Wildfire was definitely not weak.

Could it be that something I said to her on the way home together made her realize something?

Ji Yuan thought to himself.

He thought about it but still had no clue, so he didn't dwell on it. Huo Huo's increased strength was good for his side, especially with the impending war against the Bu Li people and the Living Planet. An increase in his side's strength was naturally a very good thing.

Ji Yuan put those worries aside and focused his energy on the barbecue in front of him.

"Come on, Tingyun, grill these first."

He reached out and handed a skewer of grilled meat to Tingyun.

Tingyun took the meat and skillfully placed it on the grill. As a representative of a merchant guild who frequently traveled to various worlds, cooking was naturally a skill she could handle. Moreover, after meeting Ji Yuan, Tingyun seemed to want to become a virtuous wife and loving mother, so her culinary skills were naturally quite good.

Smelling the enticing aroma, Su Chang suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Ting Yun looked at Su Chang and felt that she, who was not a fox-person, seemed to have grown a tail and was wagging it while waiting for Ting Yun to give her the roasted meat.

Tingyun couldn't help but laugh at her 'little sister-in-law' looking so greedy.

"for you."

Tingyun handed a skewer of meat to Sushang.

"Mmm." Su Chang took the meat skewer and started eating.

"Mmm, it's delicious. I hope I can keep eating Sister Tingyun's cooking in the future."

"Okay, then I'll cook for you from now on." Hearing Su Chang say this, Ting Yun couldn't help but feel satisfied, and her fox-like eyes turned up, showing her great pride.

Su Chang looked at Ting Yun and agreed. She was very proud of herself, looking like a hamster with her mouth bulging as she stuffed a lot of roasted meat into it.

Sister Tingyun, you promised me I could continue living in this house. You said it yourself, so you absolutely can't kick me out.

See, I'm not that stupid either.

Su Chang thought to herself.

Watching his younger sister's behavior, Ji Yuan also felt a bit hungry. Ting Yun, who was watching closely, placed another piece of roasted meat into Ji Yuan's mouth while he was thinking.

"Come on, open your mouth, ah..."

"what……"

Ji Yuan accepted Tingyun's offer of food.

Yanqing watched from the side, her face showing that her elder brother Ji Yuan was a disappointment, having his cultivation progress hindered by a woman.

This overpowering, cloying romance is absolutely unacceptable.

I still need to diligently practice my swordsmanship.

However, Yanqing turned her head and thought about the widening gap in swordsmanship between herself and Ji Yuan, and fell into great confusion again.

……

The banquet lasted until late into the night. Fortunately, Ji Yuan was now wealthy and powerful, having bought all the houses in the surrounding area; otherwise, someone would definitely have complained about the disturbance caused by Ji Yuan's property.

Except for Huanlong, who went back to Shence Mansion, everyone else stayed there.

Because the surrounding courtyards had been opened up, Ji Yuan no longer needed to sleep on the sofa, and he finally returned to his master bedroom. The second bedroom next to the master bedroom was occupied by Su Chang. In the other newly opened room, Ruan Mei lived on the other side of Ji Yuan's master bedroom, making it convenient for Ji Yuan to conduct experiments with her. Huo Huo, Ting Yun, and even Tuo Pa also had their own rooms. Even so, the new rooms weren't fully occupied.

To this, Toppa was not worried that these empty rooms would be useless; on the contrary, she confidently told Ji Yuan:

"Boss, I've already bought all the houses next door in advance. I believe that even if there are more people, they can still live there."

Ji Yuan: "..."

Ji Yuan wanted to argue, but as soon as he was about to utter the words, he felt utterly powerless.

Forget it, forget it, I should just go to sleep. I must be so tired that my mind can't keep up.

Ji Yuan returned to his room to rest.

The others had also endured a long interstellar journey, so they were all exhausted. After finishing their meal, they all returned to their rooms to rest.

Ji Yuan slept for about three or four hours when he heard the sound of the door opening. Ji Yuan opened his eyes, stood up with some confusion, and pushed open the door.

He saw Yanqing leaving in a hurry.

Ji Yuan asked Yan Qing, "Yan Qing, what happened? What are you doing so late at night?"

As Yanqing walked, he replied to Ji Yuan, "Brother, I received intelligence from the Cloud Cavalry. A considerable number of small fleets of Bu Li people have appeared at Liuyun Ferry. They launched a surprise attack while the merchant ships were entering the port. The general just ordered me to go to Liuyun Ferry to suppress the Bu Li people."

"Is Bu Liren planning to sabotage us ahead of time?"