After his excitement died down, Yi Chen glanced at the status panel to check the remaining Qi he had left with him.

'Only 1 huh?' A thought of saving it for the next session came to his mind. However, the urge to cultivate made him want to finish it as well.

The next moment, he sat with his eyes closed and attacked his second meridian with all his remaining Qi.

Half an hour later, Yi Chen opened his eyes. He wasn't even able to refine one-tenth of it before his Qi ran out.

'Well, little progress is better than no progress,' he thought to himself.

After he had entered the First Level of Meridian Refinement Stage, his Qi pool's capacity had increased, and so had his Qi's recovery time.

Knowing that, unlike the previous 30 days, he would only need to wait for 16 days pleased him greatly.

'Since I don't have anything else to do, I might as well rest,' he thought to himself and went to sleep a few moments later.

Meanwhile, Zhou Mei was still tossing and turning on her bed, unable to fall asleep.

Her thoughts were still stuck on what had happened after dinner.

'You better not dream about me, you understand?'

At that time, she was quickly able to react to Yi Chen's teasing, but under her calm expression, her heart was fluttering like a bird learning to fly.

It was for this reason that she had rushed out of the dining hall at that very moment. She feared that she would fail to control her expression any longer.

'Why did I panic like that…' she thought with confusion. Having never felt this way before, she linked her palpitations to panic.

'Am I afraid of Brother Chen?...No, how can that be? It was because of him that I was able to feel safe throughout the journey.'

Unable to properly understand her feelings, she kept questioning herself, only to be met with a roadblock.

After a long period, she finally gave up on figuring it out.

'If I keep on like this, then I won't be able to sleep even a wink tonight. It might just be some random thing which I'm overthinking right now.

I'll just check for myself tomorrow morning when I see Brother Chen again.'

With this thought, Zhou Mei finally gave her mind a rest and went to sleep.

The next day, Yi Chen woke up a bit early and, after working out a little, freshened up in the washroom.

By the time he was ready, a servant knocked on his door to inform him about breakfast.

"Yes, let's go." Yi Chen nodded and was soon guided to the dining hall.

"Greetings, Master Zhou, Greetings, Madam," Yi Chen greeted the two of them with a confident smile on his face.

"Greeti- you broke through?!" Zhou Tian was about to return the greeting when he suddenly noticed the change in Qi around Yi Chen's body.

"Yes, I was very lucky last night and was able to break through. It won't be possible without the lavish meal you prepared for me last night," Yi Chen stated directly.

"This…"

Both Zhou Tian and Zhou Fei couldn't help but feel shocked when they heard this.

This rate of progress depended upon one's spirit root's grade, and with Yi Chen's spirit root being in a Grade Six, it should generally take him five months to enter the Meridian Refinement Stage.

It was for this reason that both Zhou Tian and Zhou Fei were a bit taken aback, and the next moment, they locked eyes with each other.

A meaningful look appeared in their eyes.

"That's great news!" Zhou Tian exclaimed the next moment and patted Yi Chen on his back and said, "Young Friend Chen is indeed a man full of secrets."

"You think too highly of me, Master Zhou. However, I'll do my best to live up to your expectations," Yi Chen responded while clasping his hands.

Neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Zhou Tian's words.

"Good, hahaha," Zhou Tian was impressed by Yi Chen's way of handling things and patted his back with great vigour.

Zhou Fei, too, started seeing Yi Chen as someone much wiser than his age.

As for Zhou Mei, the third person who was present in the room, an expression of astonishment was apparent on her face, and she was at a loss for words.

And it was only now that words came out of her mouth, "Congratulations, Brother Chen! Together, we'll drive away all the competition during the entrance test."

Zhou Mei wished with a bright expression. However, in her mind, a different thought was going on right now.

'Brother Chen's already stronger than me, and now even his cultivation is fast catching up with me. I must put in more effort. If not, then he'll leave me behind.'

She didn't wish for the already large gap in their strength to become wider. As to why she felt this way, even she didn't know.

"I'm pleased that we were able to play some part in your breakthrough. I hope you become a fine cultivator in the future," Zhou Fei congratulated him, and while gesturing towards the dining table, said with a smile.

"Let's sit now. Another round of delicious dishes awaits you for breakfast.

'Awesome!' Yi Chen almost pumped his fist up in the air when he heard this.

At first, he wasn't sure whether the breakfast he would be served would be the same Qi-rich dishes or not.

So hearing Zhou Fei's words answered his doubts, and a wave of excitement welled up inside him.

'It's good that I took the precaution of not drinking even a glass of water since waking up. I'm starving as hell!

With this black hole of a stomach, I will make sure to swallow as much food as possible.'

Yi Chen thought to himself while feeling the grumbling of his stomach.

Soon, the table was filled with mouth-watering and Qi-nourishing dishes.

Just like last night, Yi Chen ate like a person who was eating food for the very first time in their life.

Seeing his Qi increase filled him with delight as he soon requested another serving…and another…and another.

Zhou Mei, who was slowly chewing her meal while considering whether to compete with Yi Chen again or not, lost all drive seeing this scene.

'...Forget it. He's a beast,' she thought to herself and threw that idea out of her mind.

A while later, Yi Chen burped loudly with satisfaction after filling his stomach to its breaking point.

'Damn, that's embarrassing,' Yi Chen realised his inappropriate action the next moment, and while scratching the back of his head, lightly bowed his head in apology and said.

"Thanks for the delicious meal once again, Master Zhou and Madam. My Qi pool is fully replenished, all thanks to it."

"Haha, if you like the food so much, then why don't you just stay here in one of our guest houses? In that way, you can keep eating these dishes," Zhou Tian asked with a chuckle.

'This…' A brief hesitation appeared on Yi Chen's face when he heard this.

It was indeed a very good offer, and a part of him was somewhat tempted. However, he shook his head the next moment.

"I can't." He said with a smile, "I still need to meet my benefactor in the Feng Clan."

Zheng Ru had gone out of his way to contact his brother-in-law in the Jade City so that he could help Yi Chen in his cultivation.

So Yi Chen wanted to respect his father-in-law's decision and pay Yu'er's maternal uncle a visit.

"Then it can't be helped. I'll see you in the entrance test then. Make sure to do your best there." Zhou Tian replied.

"I definitely will," Yi Chen nodded with confidence.

"That's too long a gap, dear. There are still seven months until the entrance test," Zhou Fei said with a subtle frown when she heard her husband.

Turning towards Yi Chen, she said, "During this period, you can come visit us anytime. Zhou Mei would love to have a friend to spend her free time with. Isn't that right, Mei'er?"

Hearing that Yi Chen was leaving and it would be only during the entrance test that they would most likely meet Zhou Mei couldn't help but feel regretful.

Therefore, the moment she heard her mother's words, a trace of hope and excitement welled up inside her.

"Y-Yes! Do visit. I would love that! " She hurriedly nodded her head at her mother's question.

Seeing Zhou Mei's enthusiasm made Yi Chen feel warm and welcomed, so he answered the next moment.

"Then I'll definitely visit from time to time, Madam," Yi Chen answered with a smile.

Apart from building a good relationship with a noble clan, these visits would also increase his cultivation speed.

"Good, then I'll be looking forward to it," Zhou Fei replied in a pleased manner.

Although a part of her wanted her daughter to naturally fall in love with someone, when she saw Yi Chen's jump in cultivation this morning, her feelings somewhat changed.

Which mother didn't want her daughter to marry a capable and talented man?

It was the same with her, and therefore she made that suggestion at the end.

'While I can create a suitable environment for you, the feelings are for you to cultivate, Mei'er... ' Zhou Fei thought to herself.

With the breakfast over, Yi Chen was about to take his leave when he was suddenly reminded of something.

'Yes, it would be better if I inform them about it...'

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