Wu Ding went back inside to change clothes. When she reappeared, she was wearing an evening gown that showcased the mature grace and figure of a woman, radiantly capturing everyone's attention. It was as if the dress was tailor-made for her, making even Ye Fan take a second glance.

"Honestly, it feels awkward. Wearing this kind of dress, you can't even wear underwear." Wu Ding was a bit dissatisfied with her outfit and gave Ye Fan a quick glance, "Junior brother, don't keep staring at my neck. It's impolite, you know? And don't look at my arms either. Sigh, this dress doesn't even have sleeves. If a woman wore something like this in the secret realm, she'd definitely be labeled as a flirt."

Ye Fan chuckled, "And what about you, senior sister?"

"You cheeky brat, looking for a beating. Your senior sister is just adapting to the way girls dress on Earth. Be honest, does it look good?" Wu Ding cared a lot about Ye Fan's opinion.

Ye Fan nodded. At this moment, two forces of spiritual energy approached the hotel room's balcony, and soon, Elder Wu and Li Bei arrived one after the other.

"Junior sister, you..." Elder Wu, back with the dust of travel still on him, was about to speak when he noticed Wu Ding's outfit was different from before. Even someone like him, who seemed like an old relic, couldn't help but widen his eyes before looking away.

Wu Ding smiled, "What do you want to say, senior brother?"

Li Bei commented from the side, "Wu Ding looks even more poised and elegant in Earth's women's attire."

"My junior brother helped me pick it out." Wu Ding still had a hint of pride on her face, but she quickly became alert towards Elder Wu. She was afraid he had been bribed by Hua Wu and Jing Ya and others. "Senior brother finally returned, so tell us about the situation in Tianxuan Sect."

Elder Wu then collected his thoughts, his gaze assessing Ye Fan as he spoke, "After junior brother left the gates of Tianxuan Sect, the Sect Master of Earth Origin Sect, Lin, did come up Shuangfeng Mountain. The Sect Master and my master explained that to save the secret realm, cooperation with Tianxuan Sect was necessary. They intended to imprison members of the five other major sects, excluding Earth Origin Sect and Tianxuan Sect, but in the end, a mysterious power intervened, breaking the back mountain's defense barrier, allowing the five sects to escape down the mountain..."

"Senior brother, our Tianxuan Sect's barrier couldn't even be broken by the Earth Origin Sect. The five major sects were imprisoned together, yet you say someone managed to break the barrier?" Wu Ding's face showed disbelief.

Elder Wu said, "If junior sister and junior brother don't believe me, you can go back to Tianxuan Sect and find out for yourselves."

"And why did you go to the Arctic, senior brother? Was it under the sect's orders to find something?" Wu Ding's eyes burned as she looked at Elder Wu.

"Junior sister, there are some things I can't explain to you yet. But the Sect Master and my master have temporarily sent me back to Earth to assist junior brother with certain tasks. However, I understand you can't fully trust me right now. I have a Jade Talisman here. Li brother and I will remain in the hotel. If you have anything, just send a message via the Jade Talisman, and we'll come at once!" Elder Wu offered to stay at the hotel to show his goodwill towards Ye Fan and that he wouldn't track or investigate Ye Fan's whereabouts.

Wu Ding nodded, "Alright, senior brother, staying at the hotel is fine. Yet if senior brother uses spiritual energy to track and investigate us, it would mean you have ulterior motives. If we find out, my junior brother and I, along with his female confidants, will act against you together. Junior brother has now reached the Divinity Transformation Stage, and he also has the unfathomable Lan Jing helping him. Senior brother should know you're not our match."

Elder Wu shrugged, saying nothing, as if implying they could do as they pleased.

...

...

After meeting Elder Wu, Ye Fan was still puzzled as Elder Wu's intentions for returning from the secret realm were not clear.

Leaving the hotel, Ye Fan and Wu Ding took a car ride, with Sun Ning driving in the front and Ye Fan and Wu Ding discussing matters in the back seat.

"…Junior brother, didn't you say there's something important you need to do next? Are you looking for someone or something? Could you give senior sister some insight?"

Ye Fan shook his head, "I can't tell senior sister just yet. Right now, I only want to return and regulate my spiritual energy; it's somewhat disordered inside me."

"Junior brother is keeping secrets now too. I suppose I mean nothing to you all, right? Suit yourselves then." Wu Ding was upset, leaning back into her seat to rest her eyes.

The driver, Sun Ning, asked, "Mr. Ye, where would you like to go first since you have the time?"

Wu Ding opened her eyes, "Where did junior brother go with you earlier? Why did he come back with clothes? Or is there a woman waiting for him somewhere in the city now?"

Ye Fan didn't question, and Sun Ning remained silent.

Ye Fan said, "Just find a secluded place; we'll return to Ninghai City. You can have some free time yourself."

After driving a certain distance away from the hotel, Ye Fan and Wu Ding got out of the car and rode on their flying swords back to Ninghai City.

...

...

Ye Fan, Li Zhaojun, and Min Shang were in the room cultivating for ten hours.

Around eight or nine in the morning, their cultivation session ended. Ye Fan felt the pure yang spiritual energy within him become even fuller, and Li Zhaojun had advanced from mid-Nascent Soul to late-Nascent Soul along with Min Shang, who had reached a minor stage below Ye Fan's early Divinity Transformation Stage.

Li Zhaojun opened her eyes, her gaze lively and full of spiritual energy, "Ye Fan, is your spiritual energy no longer agitated?"

Ye Fan smiled, "What are you trying to say, Zhaojun?"

Li Zhaojun blushed slightly. Ever since Ye Fan was tricked by Fa Ying into consuming the Desire Pill, his desire to conquer women had grown stronger. Ye Fan always said he owed her a proper wedding, so despite many intimate gestures, they never crossed the final line.

"Sister Shang and I are both here; if you feel..."

Ye Fan raised his head to stop Li Zhaojun from continuing. He said, "I'm fine; you don't have to worry about me. As a man, I must protect the women by my side from being harmed and should never harm them myself."

"Alright." Li Zhaojun nodded gently, then took Min Shang to the bathroom for a bath.

Ye Fan came out into the living room, where two people were kneeling—Han Qing'er and the young princess Ye Fan had brought back from underground.

Han Qing'er crawled forward to please Ye Fan when she saw him, but Ye Fan ignored her, sitting on the sofa, crossing his legs, and checking his phone messages.

The messages he received most were from Tantai Wanrong last night.

Perhaps due to previous unmet devotion, Tantai Wanrong seemed particularly dispirited, reporting everything, big or small. If she couldn't reach him by phone, she'd send texts, leave voicemails, or use messaging apps, and Ye Fan went through them for a while.

"Xiao Fan, Yaoyao has gone to Hua Hai University for registration. She doesn't seem right emotionally. I'm worried she might have suicidal thoughts. If possible, could you meet her and explain things clearly? Aunt is very worried about her..."

This was the main concern Tantai Wanrong conveyed in her messages last night.

Lan Jing came out, wearing a blue outfit. She had been happily playing all night with Little Lan Jing and Little Red Crystal. Ye Fan smiled, "Miss Lan Jing, do you want to take a walk to the school?"

"Where is the school?" Lan Jing asked curiously.

"It's a place where the children of mortals go to gain knowledge. Come with me for a walk; I also have some things I need to ask you in detail." Ye Fan stood up, ready to learn more about Lan Jing's background to help find her mother's whereabouts.

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