Qinglan Immortal Sect, outer mountain gate.

A man and a woman, two figures of outstanding immortal bearing and ethereal, otherworldly grace, stood shoulder to shoulder before the boundary monument.

"AAAH~ We've finally arrived."

"Our own mountain, the scenery is truly pleasant."

Xiao Hongling narrowed her beautiful eyes, stretching lazily with a satisfied expression.

It was noon, and the dazzling sunlight from Qinglan Peak's summit cascaded down, illuminating the flawlessly beautiful face of the "First Fairy of the Eastern Region," rendering her breathtakingly beautiful.

Lin Xiao gazed intently at the beautiful Master beside him. After several seconds, he suddenly sighed softly, "Sigh, Master, your Disciple... is about to go in."

Xiao Hongling paused, then slanted her beautiful eyes at her Disciple. "You brat," she said, displeased. "It's just returning to the sect, why the long face, all sentimental and melancholic?"

Lin Xiao shook his head, his expression remaining solemn. "Master, surely you know what kind of situation your Disciple will face once I step into the sect?"

"Huh?"

Xiao Hongling puckered her lips. After a moment's pause, she burst into laughter. "HAHAHA, alright, alright, you brat! This time in Beacon City, you joined forces with the North Territory Queen, slew Ji Qianling and Red Demon Daoist—the sect masters of the Hehuan Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect—and rendered great service to our Righteous Path. Not only will your Sect Leader Martial Uncle reward you, but your Master, I, will also... Cough... Cough..."

As she spoke, perhaps recalling something, a captivating blush spread across the flawlessly beautiful face of the "First Beauty of the Eastern Region."

However, the handsome, jade-like eldest apprentice before her still had a furrowed brow, looking preoccupied.

"Master, sometimes I truly envy you," Lin Xiao said with a bitter smile.

"Hmm?" Xiao Hongling frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.

"You've cultivated for two hundred years and witnessed the myriad affairs of the mortal world, yet you can still maintain such an innocent and pure state of mind. Your Disciple can only aspire to it," Lin Xiao sighed.

"Well, that's true." Xiao Hongling nodded gladly, but soon after, sensing another implication in his words, she knitted her eyebrows. "Hmph, you rascal! What... what are you trying to say! Are you subtly calling your Master foolish and naive?"

Facing his Master's gentle reproach, Lin Xiao gently shook his head. "Master, why don't you guess: between Junior Sister Yurong and Junior Sister Youwei, who will be the first to come and welcome me, their Eldest Senior Brother?"

Hearing this, Xiao Hongling's expression also fell grave instantly. At this moment, even someone as straightforward and carefree as her finally understood her Disciple's worries.

"I'm sorry, Xiao'er..." After a long silence, the ever-proud Peak Lord of Divine Phoenix Peak lowered her eyes, her expression desolate. "You still resent Master for arranging your marriage with Yurong on her own, don't you?"

"I once resented it, but now..." After a moment of contemplation, Lin Xiao gave a rare, sincere answer, "I've let it go."

"Let it go?" Xiao Hongling looked startled. She sneaked a glance at her Disciple and whispered, "Is it... because you and Yurong... have fallen for each other?"

"No, it's because after experiencing so much, your Disciple suddenly understood some things." Lin Xiao's gloomy expression vanished, replaced by a sudden smile.

Subsequently, he very naturally reached out, took his Master's slender, fair, jade-like hand, and gently rubbed her soft palm with his index finger.

"Ah." Startled by this intimate gesture from the Disciple she had raised since he was young, Xiao Hongling's body trembled, her cheeks instantly turning crimson.

"Now, Xiao'er, there are many eyes here. This... this isn't appropriate! If your Martial Uncles and the Elders see..." Xiao Hongling bit her lip, trying to gently pull her hand away, but to her surprise, her eldest apprentice held on even tighter!

"Master, why do you keep trying to avoid it?" Lin Xiao smiled gently, then boldly lifted his Master's hand and pressed a light kiss to the back of it!

"Ah! Xiao'er, you..." Xiao Hongling's cheeks burned an even deeper red, and she shyly covered her mouth. However, driven by an inexplicable emotion deep within, she didn't pull away. Instead, she buried her face low, keenly feeling his touch.

She knew very well in her heart. Although on the way back from Beacon Immortal City, the Master and Disciple had opened their hearts to each other, laughing and talking, resolving all previous misunderstandings, once they stepped through this mountain gate... She would be the Peak Lord of Divine Phoenix Peak, and he would be her chief disciple, and also... the husband of her second disciple, Yurong! Truly... a married man.

"Before Sakura catches up, there are some things I, your Disciple, want to say directly." Lin Xiao gazed deeply at the charming beauty beside him. "Your Disciple has thought it through completely. Whether it's Master or my three Junior Sisters, you are all the people I love most in this life. So... as long as I can spend the rest of my life by your side, with our family whole and complete, the capacity in which I do so doesn't matter."

"Therefore, your Disciple holds no blame for Master's decision, only... immense gratitude." These words came entirely from his heart.

Actually, along the way, he had wanted to lay his cards on the table with this beautiful Master he deeply admired many times, but he always lacked the courage.

He now understood clearly. After dealing with the invasion of the two major Demon Sects in Beacon Immortal City, what lay ahead was the decisive battle with the unsealed Sky Yin Blood Demon. Although, as a transmigrator, he had already made preparations, because of the corruption of Ye Chen, the Son of Destiny, he wasn't certain if unexpected changes would occur. He might as well, before that... pour out what was in his heart, leaving no regrets!

On the other side, Hongling, the Fairy, listened quietly, her phoenix eyes glazed over. A moment later, tears actually welled up in her beautiful, sacred phoenix eyes! The emotions buried deep in her heart for so long erupted at this moment!

"Xiao'er..." Gazing into her Disciple's handsome eyes, so full of sincere affection, she could no longer hold back. For the first time in her life, like a shy little girl, she threw herself blushingly into her eldest apprentice's broad, warm embrace!

Damn! Master is so big... oh no! So soft! She's probably not much inferior to Martial Uncle Su!

Feeling the sudden sensation on his chest, Lin Xiao's heart thumped wildly! His Innate Formless Sword Body instantly became firm and unyielding! The deep affection that had just surfaced in his heart now transformed entirely into a scorching, wild thought!

Before the decisive battle with the Sky Yin Blood Demon, his greatest wish had to be fulfilled! Assault... assault Master!? No, that's not right! The correct way to put it is: I want to do with Master the same loving things I do with Martial Uncle Su, Wanning, and Sakura!

Feeling the soft touch in his embrace and the unique fragrance of the "First Fairy of the Eastern Region," Lin Xiao gritted his teeth, reached out his hands, and cupped his Master's perfectly curved buttocks.

"AAH..." Perhaps because she had preserved her purity for two hundred years, her body was extremely sensitive. Xiao Hongling instantly felt something, her crimson lips parting slightly as she let out a barely audible moan. However, even though her Disciple was being so audacious at this moment... she felt not a shred of resistance in her heart! Her pretty face flushed, she brought her lips close to her Disciple's ear and whispered softly.

"So be it. Xiao'er, since you've revealed everything in your heart to Master today, then Master... Master will cast aside her reservations too... Actually, that day on Fairy Cliff, Master heard your confession. And what Master wants to tell you is... thanks to your companionship over these years, in Master's heart, Xiao'er, you are not only Master's most cherished Disciple, but also... also..." As she spoke, she was overcome with shyness, covering her cheeks. Despite her intense inner struggle, she still couldn't utter those last two words.

"Sigh... Your Master truly is... too useless." She sighed, taking a step back, her expression downcast.

"It doesn't matter, Master." Lin Xiao, however, smiled gently. He stepped forward and took her by the waist. "Some things no longer need to be expressed with words. Take the trip to Beacon City, for example. Master, you said you didn't care, but privately, you were still worried and crossed ten thousand li to come and support me. Your feelings for your Disciple are more ardent than this blazing sun."

As Lin Xiao spoke, observing the shy blush on his Master's face, he was just about to lean in for a kiss!

A resentful female voice came from afar: "Hmph! In broad daylight! Behaving so ambiguously between Master and Disciple, Hongling Junior Sister, have you no shame!"

Hearing this voice, Lin Xiao's body jolted, and all the lustful thoughts in his mind vanished into thin air!

Looking up, he saw a crimson cloud, like a burning fire, rolling in from the azure sky! It was a majestic Divine Phoenix, riding the clouds and mist! And on the back of this Divine Phoenix, a voluptuous, charming, mature beauty with an ample bosom and her hair in a married woman's bun, sat with her shapely yet slender legs crossed, staring directly at him with cold eyes! It was none other than Su Mei, the Peak Lord of Phoenix Caw Peak!

I had thought that after returning to the mountain, my junior sisters would ride their Spirit Pets to welcome me. I guessed the beginning, but not this ending! The one rushing at the very front is actually Martial Uncle Su!

Lin Xiao felt an inexplicable sense of panic.

At this moment, looking at the imposing, mature beauty in the sky, her beautiful eyes filled with anger, he simply couldn't connect her with the woman who, in the library of Phoenix Caw Peak that day, had obediently submitted beneath his Formless Sword Body!

Wait, if Martial Uncle Su has arrived, Wanning should be nearby, right?

His heart jolted, and he looked intently into the distance.

Sure enough, behind that Divine Phoenix, he saw a woman in snow-white attire, her beautiful face etched with a slight frown. She was using Sword Control to fly through the air, her expression anxious as if searching for someone.

It really is Wanning! It's been a while since I last saw her. I really... miss her, Lin Xiao murmured to himself.

At this moment, he had a strong premonition. Before the decisive battle with the Sky Yin Blood Demon... he would experience an even more thrilling and stimulating love-making!