Mortal: I'm in Tianxing City, intelligence updates daily.

"No."

Li Shizhou refused decisively, as the two demonic beasts had not yet completed the recognition of their master, and he was worried that Leng Ning'er might take a liking to them and force them to him.

After saying that, he focused on controlling the flying artifact and ignored the girl in red next to him.

After flying for about two or three hundred miles, two figures flew towards them from not far ahead.

Upon closer inspection, the two men were identified as Yuan Zhan, the head of the Yuan family, and Senior Brother Pei.

At this moment, Senior Brother Pei's lips were dark purple and he looked listless, clearly indicating that he had not had time to properly heal his injuries. Upon seeing Leng Ning'er on the flying chariot, his tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.

"Thank goodness, Junior Sister Leng, you're safe and sound. Otherwise, the Yuan family would have been in grave danger this time."

Upon seeing Li Shizhou and his companion, Yuan Zhan was overjoyed and became extremely excited, his voice trembling slightly.

When he noticed that Li Shizhou had two more spirit beast pouches on his waist, he said with surprise, "Junior Brother Li, I see you have two more spirit beast pouches. Did you tame that level four Purple-Eyed Bi?"

"Patriarch Yuan, let's talk on the way," Li Shizhou replied.

"Alright, let's hurry back to avoid any unforeseen complications."

Along the way, Li Shizhou recounted the story of rescuing Leng Ning'er, with some parts omitted. As for the level four purple-eyed beast, since Yuan Zhan had already guessed it, he took the initiative to admit it.

As they approached the main city of the Yuan family, Li Shizhou remembered that he had not yet returned the bead and spiritual liquid that his senior brother Pei had given him.

So he took the items out and said, "Senior Brother Pei, here are these two things back to you. I forgot about them earlier."

Senior Brother Pei only took the bead: "It's already a great blessing that we were able to rescue them this time. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to explain it when I get back. Junior Brother, please keep the Guiyuan True Dew. Consider it a small token of my appreciation."

Li Shizhou had only taken a sip of the spiritual liquid, and in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had recovered 30% of his magical power. He decided to keep it for future use, so after thanking the purse, he unceremoniously put it into his storage bag.

Now that the threat of the demonic beasts has been resolved, the Yuan family in the city immediately began preparing a banquet to warmly welcome Li Shizhou and his companions.

Yuan Cheng's injuries were much more serious than Pei Shixiong's. Although his life was not in danger, he needed to rest for a period of time, so he did not attend the banquet.

Compared to his lukewarm attitude when he first entered the city, Yuan Zhan is now much more enthusiastic towards Li Shizhou. He frequently toasts him at the banquet and even personally escorts him back to his residence after the banquet ends.

These past few days have taken a toll on his mental energy. Li Shizhou was about to get a good night's sleep after returning home when he heard a soft knock on the door and a clear, girlish voice from downstairs.

"Senior Li, may I come in? The elder asked me to bring you some spiritual fruits to help you relieve the greasiness."

"Come in," Li Shizhou said after activating the array he had set up.

A moment later, a girl in a green dress slowly walked upstairs carrying a fruit platter.

The girl looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with an eighth-level Qi Refining cultivation. She had a round face with a bit of baby fat, and her hair was styled with bangs. She was quite pure and lovely.

Upon entering, a pair of large, watery eyes looked at Li Shizhou, and their eyes met. Her face immediately turned crimson, and she hurriedly looked away, placing the fruit plate on the table.

She put her things away but didn't seem to want to leave. She stood to the side with her head down, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the hem of her skirt.

Seeing that the girl was still staying in the room, Li Shizhou began to shoo her away: "Alright, the things have been delivered, you can leave now. I'm going to rest now."

The girl replied, "The elder said that I should stay here tonight and await your instructions. If you require anything..."

Towards the end, her voice became so faint it was barely audible.

"I am used to being alone and do not need servants to wait on me. Do not disturb my rest."

Seeing his resolute tone, the girl walked out with a complicated look in her eyes, turning back every three steps.

After everyone left, Li Shizhou lay down fully clothed and slept for less than fifteen minutes when there was another knock on the door downstairs.

"Senior, the elder asked me to bring some calming and sleep-inducing aromatherapy. May I come in?"

The voice was sweet and cloying, with the deliberately drawn-out ending notes like a little hook, captivating the heart.

Li Shizhou probed with his divine sense and found that the person standing at the door was not the girl who delivered the spirit fruit, but a woman dressed in her early twenties with the cultivation level of the eleventh level of Qi Refining.

She had a slender waist, willow-leaf eyebrows, and peach-blossom eyes. Her thin dress revealed her full figure.

A light purple gauze robe hung halfway down her shoulder, looking as if it would fall to the ground with a gust of wind.

At this point, Li Shizhou understood perfectly well that the Yuan family had the intention of befriending him and wanted to send a female cultivator to him as a concubine.

He wasn't the kind of person who would eat anything indiscriminately, so he simply stopped letting people in.

He said sternly from upstairs, "I don't need aromatherapy to help me sleep. You can go back now. Also, tell your elders that I'm already asleep and they shouldn't send anything else."

The young woman dressed as a nun pouted and looked at the pavilion with a resentful expression. After a while, she stamped her foot, let out a soft snort, and turned to leave, swaying her hips.

Shortly after dawn the next day, Li Shizhou found Senior Brother Pei and Leng Ning'er to discuss when to return to Tianxing City.

Leng Ning'er was already tired of playing here and had been frightened yesterday, so she suggested leaving today, and Senior Brother Pei had no objection.

The three of them then went together to say goodbye to the Yuan family.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhan repeatedly tried to persuade him to stay, saying that he was already preparing for the evening banquet. After failing to persuade him to stay, he accompanied him for a hundred miles before returning the way he came.

Li Shizhou and his two companions flew for two days in a small wooden boat, when a large wooden boat, twenty feet long and engraved with star palace patterns, appeared in the sky seven or eight miles away.

Leng Ning'er said, "Senior Brother Pei, why don't we take the big ship inside the sect back? You're injured, so it's inconvenient for you to operate the flying artifact for a long time."

Perhaps because they had gone through life and death together, Leng Ning'er's tone was surprisingly gentle this time.

Senior Brother Pei was flattered and nodded repeatedly, maneuvering the small wooden boat toward the large ship.

The large ship ahead slowed down and waited when they saw them flying towards them.

"Brother Li, what a coincidence!"

On the deck of the large ship, a young man in blue robes who was in the early stage of Foundation Establishment suddenly shouted at Li Shizhou.

"Hello, Junior Brother Gu." Li Shizhou nodded in response.

This young man in blue robes is Gu Ci, a member of the Gu family of Li Cang. He has a twin brother named Gu Yan.

Li Shizhou had saved the two of them on Shilong Island before. Later, thanks to this favor, he was recommended by Gu Shoucheng, the ninth grandfather of the two, and was able to enter the Star Palace for cultivation.

The twins successfully established their foundations twenty years ago and have had occasional contact with Li Shizhou.

After a short while, Senior Brother Pei manipulated his magical artifact to land on the deck of the large wooden ship.

After greeting Leng Ning'er and Senior Brother Pei, Gu Ci said, "Brother Li, my brother is here too. He's in the cabin. Come on, let's have a drink and get together."

After saying that, he led the three of them toward the cabin.