If you force me to take the blame, I'll spend a day in jail and gain a year's worth of spi

For Xiao Meier, emotions are complex, while interests are direct.

She might have some interest and fondness for Zhang Yu's innocent yet strong "younger brother" appearance, but it's far from being a deep liking.

What truly captivated her was the ability to dramatically increase one's cultivation level after a night's sleep—a faster outcome than any rare treasures or divine manuals, without any long-term consequences.

This deal is incredibly lucrative.

It is simply the best "shortcut to cultivation" in the world.

She looked at Zhang Yu's profile, which showed a hint of embarrassment and hesitation, and chuckled inwardly.

This little man is incredibly strong, but he's also very thin-skinned.

It seems she'll have to "help" him make up his mind.

She stretched out her fair, jade-like arm and wrapped it around Zhang Yu's neck, her breath sweet and fragrant, carrying a seductive allure:

"Little brother... what I mean by 'help' is like last night... let's have another 'good talk'..."

She deliberately emphasized the words "communicate properly," and her fingertips lightly brushed against the back of Zhang Yu's neck, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Look, after last night's 'exchange,' didn't my sister's cultivation level increase?"

This time, let's have another 'in-depth discussion.' Maybe, sister, she can break through to the mid-stage or even late-stage of the seventh rank?"

Her breath was hot and carried an alluring fragrance, and the implications in her words were extremely explicit.

Zhang Yu felt a rush of heat to his head, his cheeks burning, and his body stiff as a stone, not even knowing where to put his hands and feet.

Seeing Zhang Yu's innocent and adorable embarrassment, Xiao Meier's smile deepened, and she became even more certain.

She gave Zhang Yu no time to hesitate. With a slight force in her arm, half guiding and half leaning on the ground, she "dragged" the stiff Zhang Yu toward the luxurious cell.

As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped, turned around to look at Xiao Fenghua, whose expression was complex, and asked in a soft voice:

"Hey, Miss Xiao, would you like to... come along?"

"This is a rare opportunity to improve your cultivation level."

She deliberately emphasized the words "improve one's cultivation level," and her eyes swept between Zhang Yu and Xiao Fenghua with an ambiguous look.

The allure of "increasing one's cultivation level" is fatal to any martial artist.

Xiao Fenghua had just experienced a leap from the early to the middle stage of the eighth rank, and knew how amazing and incredible such an improvement was.

Upon hearing Xiao Meier's words, her heart skipped a beat, and a warm feeling welled up on her cheeks.

Together?

Like just now?

Last night, due to the effects of the drug "Drowsy Water," all three of them lost their minds, which led to that absurd and chaotic incident.

But now, everyone is awake...

Xiao Fenghua's mind involuntarily conjured up fragmented yet passionate images from the previous night, and her ears instantly turned bright red.

She abruptly turned her face away, unable to bear looking at Xiao Meier's suggestive gaze and Zhang Yu's stiff back, and squeezed out a low curse through gritted teeth:

"Shameless! Who wants to do that kind of thing with you?"

After she finished speaking, she seemed afraid that she would waver, or perhaps she wanted to escape from this unsettling atmosphere.

She flashed away and retreated to the door of another empty cell a little further away, her back to us, and said curtly:

"If you want to improve your cultivation, hurry up. I... I'll wait for you at the door."

She meant to say she would go first, but the words inexplicably came out as she changed them to "wait for you."

After saying that, she felt her face burning and wished she could disappear into the ground.

Xiao Meier couldn't help but chuckle, deliberately raising her voice as she said:

"Pretentious hypocrite~ Some people say no, but their actions say otherwise. Besides..."

She paused deliberately, her tone tinged with amusement and mockery, "Don't forget, who brought that 'love potion'?"

These words were like a sharp arrow, precisely hitting Xiao Fenghua's most embarrassing and least wanted sore spot.

Yes, "Mi Shimizu" was brought by her.

Although that wasn't her intention, the absurd incident that started last night did indeed originate from her.

If she hadn't been carrying that damned drug, none of the subsequent events would have happened.

Xiao Fenghua's delicate body trembled, and her figure, which was turned away from this side, appeared even more stiff, her ears turning so red they almost bled.

Seeing this, Xiao Meier raised her eyebrows triumphantly and ignored Xiao Fenghua.

With a slight exertion of her arm, she "brought" the still dazed Zhang Yu into the cell.

The heavy, exquisitely crafted prison door slowly closed behind her, isolating her from the outside world.

"Bang."

With a soft click, the cell door closed.

Soon after, a deafening roar erupted from inside the gate.

Xiao Fenghua's body tensed instantly, as if she had been frozen in place.

She tried to block out her hearing, but for some reason, the sound seemed to penetrate everywhere, drilling straight into her ears.

The more she told herself not to listen, the clearer the sound became.

Every melodious ending note, every unbearable low moan, was like a pebble thrown into the lake of her heart, creating chaotic ripples.

Fragments of last night flashed uncontrollably through her mind: the intense heat, the tangled limbs, the chaotic breaths... gradually overlapping with the sounds coming from inside the door.

A strange heat rose from the bottom of my heart and quickly spread to my limbs and bones.

Her cheeks were burning hot, and her breathing became rapid.

She bit her lower lip hard, her fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"Shameless...absurd..."

She cursed repeatedly in her heart, unsure whether she was cursing the unrestrained couple inside the door, or cursing her own chaotic emotions.

But the words "cultivation" echoed in her ears like the ravings of a demon.

Mid-stage eighth rank... that was a gift she received just last night.

A single, inexplicable encounter was equivalent to six months of arduous training for her.

This breakthrough speed is simply astonishing and completely violates the common sense of martial arts.

At this moment, the commotion inside the door is so intense and so prolonged... what astonishing secret is Zhang Yu hiding?

How could one transfer their cultivation to another through such an unbelievable method?

Xiao Fenghua's breathing became increasingly rapid, and her chest heaved violently.

Reason told her that this was a heretical path, a crooked and evil way, and a path of self-degradation.

As a princess of the Prince Jing's mansion, how could she indulge in such a shameless way to improve her cultivation?

If this gets out, she will be disgraced, and the Jingwang Mansion will lose face.

But... another voice screamed wildly in my heart:

The path of martial arts is inherently defying the heavens.

When faced with an opportunity, why be bound by formalities?

The feeling of my cultivation level surging just now was so real, so wonderful.

If I could take another step forward... if I could break through to the peak of the eighth rank, or even... glimpse the threshold of the coveted ninth rank...

The transition from the eighth to the ninth rank is an extremely difficult chasm in martial arts cultivation.

Countless exceptionally talented individuals spend their entire lives stuck at the peak of the eighth rank, unable to make any further progress.

This requires not only a massive accumulation of true qi, but also a profound understanding of martial arts, precise control over one's own meridians and true qi, and a rare and serendipitous opportunity.

The difficulty is far greater than going from the seventh to the eighth rank, or even from the sixth to the seventh rank combined.

Xiao Fenghua is not lacking in talent or resources, but if she wants to break through to the ninth rank through her own hard work, it will take her at least five or even ten years of painstaking effort.

Moreover, it is fraught with danger; the slightest carelessness could result in damage to one's meridians and a decline in cultivation.

Inside the door... through that... that method, Xiao Meier seemed to be making an incredible leap.

The fluctuations in that aura grew stronger and more pronounced...

Just as Xiao Fenghua was torn between her inner turmoil, almost biting her lower lip until it bled, and her body trembled slightly from extreme self-control and inexplicable heat—

"boom!"

A powerful aura suddenly erupted from the cell.

This aura wasn't directed at anyone in particular; it was more like a leakage of power that couldn't be fully controlled during a breakthrough in cultivation.

Xiao Meier broke through to the mid-stage of the seventh rank.

After a while, the aura surged again, reaching the late stage of the seventh rank.

The degree of refinement and the amount of this aura have clearly reached the late stage of the seventh rank, and even... faintly touched the threshold of the peak of the seventh rank!

How is this possible?!

Xiao Fenghua's usually cold eyes widened in disbelief, her face, which was usually expressionless, now filled with shock.

She remembered clearly that less than an hour ago, when she confronted Jiang Luohan outside the cell, Xiao Meier had just broken through to the early stage of the seventh rank!

Although his aura was stable, it was absolutely impossible for him to break through again in such a short time!

But now...

once?

Just once?

And it seems like it's not over yet?

Xiao Fenghua's heart felt as if it had been struck hard by a heavy hammer.

She originally thought that the miraculous improvement in her cultivation level last night might have some special reason, or it might just be a one-time opportunity.

But now, Xiao Meier has shown her with her actions—no!

This is no coincidence; it is very likely a repeatable and outrageously efficient method of "cultivation"!

Moreover, judging from this commotion, Xiao Meier's gains seem to be even greater than the "accident" last night.

Was it because she took the initiative to guide the conversation and became more engaged?

It's all because of Zhang Yu...

Just as Xiao Fenghua's mind was in turmoil, and various thoughts were churning wildly in her mind, almost overturning her decades of understanding of martial arts—

"Squeak—"

The luxurious prison door, tightly shut and shut out the boundless spring scenery and terrifying atmosphere, was pulled open from the inside.

The first to step forward was the spirited Xiao Meier.

What made Xiao Fenghua's pupils shrink even more was that Xiao Meier's cultivation level had soared from the early stage of the seventh rank to the mid stage of the eighth rank, reaching the same level as her.

When Xiao Meier saw Xiao Fenghua standing at the door, dumbfounded and shocked, she curled her red lips into a triumphant and provocative smile. She even deliberately stretched her shapely body, making her alluring curves and the ambiguous aura lingering on her body even more obvious.

She walked gracefully to Xiao Fenghua, slightly raising her chin, her voice hoarse with lingering arrogance:

"How are you, my dear sister?"

"After listening at the door for so long, are you satisfied?"

Her gaze swept over Xiao Fenghua's slightly flushed cheeks and tightly pursed lips, her smile becoming even more alluring.

"I told you, 'increasing one's cultivation level' is very fast."

Look, I feel great right now! I'm full of energy!

Xiao Fenghua stared intently at Xiao Meier. She opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly, a tremor she herself was unaware of:

"You... how could your cultivation level have improved so quickly?"

"Just once... just once, and you can cross so many boundaries?"

She asked the question that had been both the biggest question in her mind and the biggest shock she had ever felt.

Just now, the three of them only improved by a small level from their original level.

But this time, Xiao Meier almost skipped several minor realms, which is too unreasonable!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Meier smiled even more charmingly and whispered, "If once isn't enough, I'll do it a few more times."