Let me explain, it's not what you think.

"You don't understand because you haven't met her yet," Zi Yao said calmly.

"You'll understand when you actually encounter it, or rather, we'll find an opportunity for you to serve us in bed."

"No, no, no, let's forget about that. I'm not ready yet!"

……

A week has passed, and the refining of the Golden Essence Crystal is much slower than expected.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged in the hall, his body surrounded by five-colored spiritual light that flickered on and off. The golden light slowly seeped into his meridians from his dantian and melted into his flesh and blood.

He opened his eyes, and a faint golden hue slowly faded from the depths of his pupils. His aura became much calmer, but he had not truly stepped into the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage.

They were just one step away.

It's not that we can't break through, but that there's not enough time, and new challengers have emerged.

There were twice as many lions this time as last time.

The last ones who came were those from nearby, but the matter has been brewing for a week, and all the lion clans in the Eastern Continent have received the news and are rushing over.

Zi Yao stood beside Lu Chen, her gaze sweeping over the pride of lions, her purple eyes devoid of emotion.

Lu Chen has now also cultivated Buddhist martial arts, and his cultivation level is at the peak of the Golden Core stage, so there is basically nothing to worry about.

"Have you chosen your challengers?"

"Reporting to Lady Ziyao, the challenger has been selected and is ready to fight at any time."

"Alright, since..." Lu Chen was about to speak, but his gaze sharpened as he spotted several familiar faces.

A figure stood in the crowd, dressed in white with black hair and a handsome face; it was Lin Tian.

Behind him stood Mei Ji, her purple dress fluttering in the wind, her waist slender as a willow, and her peach blossom eyes filled with a smile that Lu Chen couldn't understand.

Lin Xi stood beside Mei Ji, her black dress as dark as ink, her expression aloof.

Lu Chen was stunned.

"Senior brother, sister-in-law, what brings you here?"

He immediately flew to Lin Tian's side and gave him a bear hug.

"We rushed over here as soon as we heard you'd been arrested, but you seem to be doing quite well!"

Seeing that Lu Chen could leave Zi Yao's side at will, Lin Tian was first stunned, then teased Lu Chen.

It seems things aren't quite what he expected.

He thought his junior brother had been kidnapped and would definitely not be free. When he came, he was thinking about how to rescue Lu Chen.

But I never expected him to be so free and unrestrained!

"Hey, Lu Chen, I didn't expect you to be so popular. Even my Lin Lang's ex-wife, Zhuang Jingbai, came to see you. And my senior sister's brother, Li Fei, also asked her to come and rescue you!"

As Mei Ji spoke, she nudged Lin Xi.

The latter's cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Mei Ji, stop stirring up trouble. I have a personal relationship with Xiao Lu, and I happen to be in the demon realm, so why can't I come and see him?"

As soon as Mei Ji finished speaking, Zhuang Jingbai and Jiang Huaiyu walked over together.

At the same time, Wang Feng and Zhang Fan were following behind Jiang Huaiyu.

"Senior Brother Wang, Junior Brother Zhang!"

Upon seeing the two of them, Lu Chen went over and gave them another bear hug.

He was somewhat moved.

Having been in this strange world for so long, he was actually lonely inside.

But now, these relatives and friends, knowing he was in danger, still resolutely rushed to save him...

"You...what are you doing here? It's so dangerous here! And you're not good at fighting!"

Lu Chen felt his face was a little wet.

"Junior brother, you're wrong about that. We're as close as brothers, practically inseparable. How could I not come!"

Jiang Huaiyu gave Wang Feng a strange look but didn't say anything.

They couldn't possibly be in cahoots; Lu Chen was exceptionally gifted.

"It's Senior Brother. Although I haven't broken through to the Golden Core stage yet, I brought some experts from my family here, so I should lend a hand, right?" Zhang Fan immediately replied.

"You guys are really...sigh!"

As Lu Chen was too moved to speak, Hu Wei appeared in the crowd.

His eyes reddened the moment he saw Lu Chen.

"Master!" Lu Chen immediately went over and bowed.

He no longer asked why he came. He treated him like his own son, and now that he was in this mess, there was no way he wouldn't come.

"Yes, child, you've suffered."

He reached out and patted Lu Chen on the shoulder with a strong pat.

"It's good that you're alive."

Lu Chen felt as if something was blocking his throat.

"By the way, junior brother, your girlfriend, Tantai Qingxue, didn't come. I heard that she and her master were both placed under house arrest by the previous sect leader of the Li Huo Sect, and..."

Wang Feng paused for a moment, then unconsciously glanced at Jiang Huaiyu.

"And what?"

"She's pregnant..."

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat; all the emotion he felt vanished, replaced by fear.

Is his identity about to be exposed?

Seeing Lu Chen's reaction, Wang Feng sighed and patted him on the shoulder.

"Junior brother, listen to my advice. Since you're infertile anyway, it's good enough to have someone who cares about you. As for the child... just forgive her. Don't follow my example!"

"Wang Feng, what do you mean? Who are you alluding to?"

Jiang Huaiyu couldn't help but step forward and speak.

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng didn't dare to look at her.

"Huaiyu, I... I just regret it, that's all. I just hope Junior Brother Lu won't end up like me!"

"Hmph, of course he wouldn't be like you! He wouldn't do something like shifting the blame to the victim!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng fell even more silent.

Seeing this, Lin Tian also sighed and looked at Zhuang Jingbai with complicated emotions.

For some reason, he felt that Zhuang Jingbai was exuding a faint maternal aura, which made her already stunning beauty even more charming!

He... also regretted the divorce!

Seeing this, Mei Ji angrily stomped on Lin Tian's foot.

She and Zhuang Jingbai were never on good terms; the two women had been secretly and openly fighting each other for many years, a rivalry that runs throughout the entire original novel!

Originally, after Lin Tian and his wife got divorced, they shouldn't have any further contact, but unexpectedly, Lin Tian still had his eye on this woman!

You damn Lin Lang, you're already divorced, why are you still pretending to be so affectionate!

Lin Tian was stepped on, but he didn't dare to make a sound. He quickly looked at Lu Chen.

"By the way, senior brother, we heard that both Fairy Ziyao and Fairy Jiangyu used that demon's energy to give birth to their children. So if they were to find a husband, it should be that demon. Why are you..."

"Yes, Brother Lu Chen, you wouldn't happen to be... that sorcerer, would you?" Mei Ji immediately asked.

Lu Chen suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

Even though he was already at the peak of the Golden Core stage, he still felt like his crotch was about to break out in a sweat.

"Mei Ji, what nonsense are you talking about? Lu Chen is infertile, how could he possibly be a demon!" Zhuang Jingbai couldn't help but step forward to defend Lu Chen.

"Hey, hey, hey, I was asking Lu Chen's brother, why are you, his ex-sister-in-law, interrupting? How come you two are so close?"