"The cost of this item allows one to enter the sage's time—not just a fleeting moment after a slight tremor," Zhang Yuanqing explained, drawing from his experience using the Ghost Mirror in combat dungeons. "It enhances the holder's wisdom, fosters detachment from fame and fortune, strengthens willpower to resist various desires, and grants sufficient insight to philosophically understand the very nature of those desires." In short, it's an upgraded version of 'doing nothing and simply relaxing.' Guan Ya clutched the Ghost Mirror with delight, her bright eyes rapidly scanning, then furrowed her brows. "How long does the cost last?" "Theoretically, as long as the illusion remains intact, you will continuously hold this benefit, and the sage's time will endure. Moreover, even if this period ends, I still have methods to mitigate the cost of the set." Zhang Yuanqing said, urging her on. "Use it now—look at how you're acting, all sweaty and uncomfortable. Don't you want to freshen up first?" Upon hearing this, Guan Ya immediately activated the realm in her hands. She created a realm indistinguishable from a 130-square-meter apartment, where the unreal seamlessly overlaid the real, leaving the people within unaffected in their daily activities. After the realm stabilized, Guan Ya’s demeanor grew more serene; the graceful elegance of the mature woman softened, replaced by the calm composure of a distinguished nun. With a composed, unhurried tone, she said, “My condition is good—I feel I possess sufficient wisdom and resolve to withstand my desires.” Upon finishing, she removed her vine armor, leg guards, and arm supports, returning them to Yuan Shi Tian Zun. As soon as the garments detached from her body, the delicate charm of her face quickly bloomed into two warm flushes, and her gaze grew more alluring. Her body immediately warmed, and her limbs grew slightly weak. This sensation was only slightly more intense than when she had watched a romantic scene—something she could endure. Guan Ya reflected, believing she could manage. Though her desires remained unchanged, the great sage’s cost bestowed by the ghost mirror enabled her to maintain control over the ever-rising tide of passion through sheer willpower. "You sit here, I'll go take a shower. If anything comes up, you can head out first." Guan Ya stood and walked toward the bedroom. She hadn't bathed in three days—she'd rolled through the primeval forest, slept on the ground in the ruins of the ancient city, and fought fiercely in the urban parks. Her body certainly smelled. Though the calm demeanor of the Great Sage allowed her to face her bodily odors with grace, it didn't conflict with her desire to bathe. Zhang Yuanqing lazily settled his weight onto the sofa, watching Guan Ya enter the master bedroom. Suddenly, a pang of anxiety seized him. The ghost mirror's power could only last for two hours. What he'd said to Guan Ya earlier had been a lie—deliberately misleading her, since she had never used this item before. Two hours later, Guan Ya would sigh softly, sink gently onto the bed, and be at his disposal. Offering the ghost mirror served both to ease Guan Ya's vigilance and to shorten the duration of the cost. Guan Ya would wear her suit for at least sixty hours. According to the condition—each hour of wear triggering five minutes of passion—she would be consumed by desire — It feels like even with the long-lasting mist spray, it’s not enough. Zhang Yuanqing’s anxiety stems from being a lifelong single, with rich theoretical knowledge but zero practical experience. He’s not a stud like the Magistrate King, nor a dashing bachelor like Ling Jun—he hasn’t even kissed a girl’s mouth. It’s entirely understandable. He needs to build up to the moment, can’t just dive straight in… he murmurs to himself, like a young monk learning a mantra. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Just minutes pass like hours, yet Guan Ya still hasn’t appeared. In his mind, Zhang thinks: “Women really are a pain when it comes to bathing—my aunt takes at least twenty minutes. If she doesn’t show up by now, I’ve already gone over my high school curriculum.” Lying on the plush yet resilient luxury sofa, the residual fatigue within him begins to rise, and drowsiness creeps in, so he drifts off to sleep without realizing it. After an unknown length of time, he is gently woken by Guan Ya. “You were asleep in the realm for a full day and night, weren’t you? Then why are you so tired now?” Her face flushed with a delicate pink hue, the elegant mixed-race woman spoke with a hint of irritation. Wearing a long white blouse that covered her thighs, she paired it with a silk short skirt—no longer than the blouse's hem—clearly her nightgown. A skilled fighter, her figure was exceptionally well-defined, with no excess body fat except for her bust; her legs were smooth, rounded, and beautifully toned, flowing with graceful lines. Her long, fair legs looked like works of art. "Didn't get enough sleep!" Zhang Yuanqing said as he glanced at Guan Ya. "How long have you been asleep?" "About one and a half hours," Guan Ya replied, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. She had sensed the subtle hint of "unfavorable intentions" in Yuan Shi's gaze. Yet, she didn't take it seriously. She knew this young man had ambitions beyond the ordinary, and she was well aware of how attractive her current appearance was. Yuan Shi's fantasies were entirely understandable. "I've made some noodles—let's have a meal together," she said, and walked toward the black crystal long table opposite the kitchen. Zhang Yuanqing sat up and looked around. On the black crystal table reflecting the light, there were two bowls of noodles, each topped with a folded egg and scattered with green scallions. The noodles weren't particularly delicious, but they were edible—clearly, Guan Ya, a wealthy heiress, rarely cooked at home and had her meals served at upscale restaurants every day. A chandelier hung above the table, casting a soft glow, beneath which sat a refined mixed-race woman with elegant features. Nothing could surpass this scene in terms of visual appeal. Within her, passion surged like a tidal wave. As a saint-level cultivator, she had long relied on her own will to suppress the sudden surge of desire. Zhang Yuanqing had been waiting for this very moment—he moved past the dining table and drew close to her. "Guan Ya, let me help you back to your room to rest." "No, don't touch me!" Guan Ya instinctively reached out to push him away. As her hand brushed against Zhang Yuanqing's arm, her body trembled suddenly, and her breathing grew rapid. Zhang Yuanqing then leaned down, his arm slipping through the curve of her legs, lifting her gently across his shoulders. A soft, barely audible "mmh" escaped her lips. His arm felt the smooth, cool touch of her thigh skin—soft, silky, as if fresh and dewy. Carrying Guan Ya, he moved through the living room and into the master bedroom. The master bedroom was entirely different from the living room. A dressing table beside the television was filled with bottles and jars commonly used by women, yet the light gray and soft pink bedding, along with the constellation-themed plush toys scattered generously across the plush bed, exuded a clear sense of youthful romance. Zhang Yuanqing lowered his hands, and the full-bodied, sensuous woman sank gently into the soft mattress, lightly bouncing a few times. With each bounce, the hem of her blouse rose, revealing her firm, flat abdomen, with a delicate, charming navel, and two graceful mermaid lines extending into her sleep pants. "Hmm, hmm~" Guan Ya breathed heavily, her cheeks flushed, and Zhang Yuanqing's breathing quickened as hormones surged through his body. This was the first time he had found himself in such a lush, intimate atmosphere with someone he genuinely liked. "Guan... Guan Ya, I'm here..." Zhang Yuanqing wiped his lips. Guan Ya gazed at him with a soft, seductive gaze, her eyes misty and dreamy, like a lady slightly intoxicated. Zhang Yuanqing quickly shed his short sleeve and pants, now wearing only a plain knee-length trousers, and lay atop her. Guan Ya reached out, her limbs like octopus arms, wrapping around him, lifting her head to eagerly offer tender kisses. Zhang Yuanqing's mind buzzed with excitement, responding with clumsy yet passionate enthusiasm. His hands unconsciously lingered along the inviting curves, and Guan Ya murmured softly, her voice tender and velvety, while her awareness suddenly sharpened, the hazy gaze regaining a touch of clarity. With great determination, she once again suppressed the surging passion within her, gently pushing her hands against Zhang Yuanqing's chest, her voice trembling: "Yuanshi, no—please..." Though her hands were soft and feeble, her legs tightened even more, as if she wanted to press him firmly into her body. This was exactly how Guan Ya felt—contradictory and torn within herself. At that moment, Zhang Yuanqing paid no attention to anything else. He lowered his head, gently kissing her face, her lips, and her delicate earlobes, breathing heavily: "Guan Ya, please be my girlfriend. The Fu family won't object." He wanted to end his single life. "No, Yuanshi, please—don't do this..." This time, her voice carried a hint of tears, unsure whether she was pleading with him or pleading for her own resolve. Lingjun is absolutely right—the woman’s strength lies entirely in her words. When it comes to the crucial moments of stepping up and taking action, she retreats faster than anyone else. She lacks the poised, confident aura of a mature professional. Lingjun also points out that Guan Ya comes from a wealthy family, possesses strong personal qualities, yet remains single—an indication of her inherent rigidity. On one hand, she hesitates to pursue romantic relationships due to her family’s carefully arranged marriages, fearing that she might end up divorced and heartbroken. On the other hand, her strong resistance to marriage suggests she harbors a deep dream of a true, sincere love story, yearning for genuine, pure romance. Therefore, such women are the most difficult to win over—even when they have genuine interest in a man—they maintain a delicate, somewhat distant relationship, desiring closeness while simultaneously fearing that the romance will truly unfold. At this stage, special measures are needed to catalyze emotional development—such as turning a promising relationship into a settled, committed one. Zhang Yuanqing supported himself on either side of Guan Ya, gazing down at the mature executive whose cheeks were flushed and whose eyes sparkled with allure. A passionate surge of emotion swelled within him, rising and intensifying, his gaze growing ever more fervent. He whispered softly, "Guan Ya, really, no?" Guan Ya's breathing grew heavy, as if she had drunk too much wine—her fair skin tinged with a lovely blush. She neither accepted nor declined, merely drawing deep, steady breaths, as though silently agreeing. Just as Guan Ya closed her eyes, resigned, she felt a sudden lightness, as if the boy pressing on her had gently stepped away. She opened her eyes in bewilderment. Beyond the fact that the matter had now become settled—like rice cooked into noodles—the life coach also offered Zhang Yuanqing a plan: to simply stop there, to be content with a gentle, restrained touch. Guan Ya was an independent, spirited woman with a strong personality, who deeply desired a beautiful, genuine romance. Her approach to love was gradual and evolving—through one heartfelt date after another, through moments of romance—until, finally, the two became deeply intertwined, sharing Therefore, a half-forced development of a romantic relationship didn't align with her romantic outlook, even though she ultimately had to accept reality. There would still be a lingering sting in her heart. Yet, if the connection evolved naturally—progressing from ambiguity to a genuine romantic potential (given that they had already shared the physical intimacy typical of a romantic relationship)—without compromising her romantic ideals, she might later recall it as a series of tender, enchanting exchanges. The only compromise would be his own experience of being eager yet unable to act—his unfulfilled desire. Thus, between "making the relationship solid" and "maintaining a graceful, restrained connection," it came down to whether he followed his own desires or honored Guan Ya's romantic vision. Zhang Yuanqing chose the latter. He genuinely loved Guan Ya, not merely seeing her as a pleasant surprise. "You..." Guan Ya murmured, her breath easing with relief, yet still filled with lingering reluctance. As Zhang Yuanqing dressed in his short-sleeve shirt and pants, he added, "Just hold on a moment—I still have a way to satisfy your longing." At this moment, Guan Ya felt something within her stirred gently, like a soft seed sprouting and taking root, only to be swiftly engulfed by a surge of passionate desire. She trembled, whispering, "I... I'm afraid I can't hold on anymore..." Her gaze grew distant, and her breathing grew heavy. Zhang Yuanqing sighed impatiently, "You're holding on even when you can't? I'm nearly bursting with frustration just trying to keep it together. What's there you can't bear? Aren't you just hoping to fall in love without having to commit? Then hold on—hold on, even if you can't!" With time still ahead, the goal had already been achieved. Today's plan had been a resounding success. He strode out of the master bedroom, back to the living room, and dialed the rabbit girl's phone, assigning her to bring the blood rose over. Fifteen minutes later, while Guan Ya was thinking she might as well go for it—just enjoy a fresh bite of grass, after all, since she wasn't losing anything—the rabbit girl arrived, dressed in a light wind coat, leading the blood rose, who looked sharp but lacking in spark. "Thank you!" He watched At this moment, Guan Ya had lost all sense of reason, her gaze vacant, fixed on the ceiling, lying sprawled on the bed. Zhang Yuanqing retrieved a flawless human skin from his inventory and tossed it toward the blood rose. The delicate membrane, as thin as a cicada's wing, covered the body of the shade, gently pulsing against its surface. Soon, the blood rose took on the form of Guan Ya. This was Zhang Yuanqing's method. Perfect human skin could absorb the target's karmic consequences—emotions such as passion and resentment, both of which belonged to karmic causality. The blood rose was not a living person; it was a corpse. Corpses, even when touched by passion, lacked desire and showed no reaction whatsoever. Indeed, as soon as the blood rose transformed into Guan Ya, the real Guan Ya quickly regained clarity of mind. Meanwhile, Zhang Yuanqing developed a strong sense of affection and love for the Guan Ya who had taken the form of the blood rose. His head grew even larger. In contrast, he lost interest in the genuine Guan Ya lying on the bed, breathing heavily. The causality had been transferred. "Guan Ya, this prop lasts for one hour, and its cooldown period is also one hour. I'll come back in one hour—please rest well," Zhang Yuanqing was afraid of doing anything unintended to the ghostly corpse, so she straightened up and left the master bedroom, heading back to the living room. When the hour was over, Zhang Yuanqing released the perfect human skin with a sense of relief, laying it over the blood rose, while Guan Ya collapsed onto the bed, drenched in sweat, her body soaked again and again. It felt just like accompanying a drug-addicted young woman through detox... Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the saturated bedsheet and thought, this sister has truly hit the ground running—though, we've deepened our bond in the process. Women always treat a man they like, especially one they've had intimate contact with, differently. "This woman, Xiao Yuan, completely doesn't take me seriously. She doesn't know I've returned today—since I've met Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, she's changed entirely..." Kou Beiyue sat with confidence at the front desk, expressing her lingering resentment. At that moment, he spotted a white sedan approaching and parking at the hotel entrance. As soon as he recognized it as Xiao Yuan's car, his eyes lit up with joy, then immediately suppressed the emotion, regaining his serious demeanor. The car door opened, and Xiao Yuan stepped out, wearing light blue jeans paired with a dark T-shirt. As she walked toward the hotel, she reached into the red women's handbag slung over her shoulder and pulled out her keys. With her bright, refined features and a composed, calm presence, she carried the air of a powerful female executive in a corporate setting or a distinguished matriarch in an ancient noble household—hardly imaginable as merely a front-desk attendant at a modest hotel. Click! As the U-shaped lock released its soft sound, Xiao Yuan pushed open the hotel door and saw Kou Beiyue sitting with confidence at her own desk. "Back already?" Kou Beiyue looked at the sky at a 45-degree angle, paying her no attention. Xiao Yuan glanced at him, calmly walked around to the back of the counter, placed her bag in the cabinet, removed her lady's sandals, and put on her high heels. Kou Beiyue couldn't hold back any longer and said, "You're not happy at all." "I am happy," Xiao Yuan replied. "But is this how a happy person looks?" Kou Beiyue grew more agitated. "Who would be surprised by something that was already expected?" Xiao Yuan picked Kou Beiyue up from her chair with one hand and said, "Get up!" She opened the drawer, took out the makeup box and the mirror, and began to apply eyeliner and define her eyebrows. As a result, her naturally bright features became even more refined and radiant. "Where have you been?" Kou Beiyue asked. "Mr. Zhang has encountered some difficulties—I just visited him," Xiao Yuan said, gazing at her reflection in the mirror while continuing to apply makeup. "He was injured by members of the Five Elements Alliance, but the injury isn't serious." Zhang Su is one of their companions, having studied under the Master Wuhen, striving to redeem his own evil profession. Kou Beiyue raised her chin. "From now on, let me handle these matters directly. I've already become a Saint." Xiao Yuan lightly outlined her brow, speaking calmly. "What rank are you on the points leaderboard, though? Such confidence." Kou Beiyue had been waiting for exactly this remark, raising her chin even higher. "Fourth!" Xiao Yuan paused her brush, murmured "Oh," and continued drawing. "I didn't lie," Kou Beiyue frowned. "I know," Xiao Yuan said with quiet composure. "It's just that you've been secretly working as a traitor within the evil faction, and at crucial moments, with the support of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, you've eliminated several evil professions." "... "Kou Beiyue remained silent—though the details weren't entirely accurate, the essence was sound. With her brush still moving, Xiao Yuan gently pressed her thin lips, speaking with an air of indifference. "Is the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign currently ranked number one on the points leaderboard? What's his total score?" "Kou Beiyue kept shaking her head: 'Not much—just a little bit higher than me.' 'How much?' Xiao Yuan emphasized. '1,628 points.' Xiao Yuan tilted her pen, the eyebrow pencil sliding down from her eye corner to her hairline, drawing a deep line. She suddenly turned to face Kou Beiyue, staring at her for several seconds before pushing the table up and standing, stepping confidently on her heels, walking steadily toward the deeper parts of the hotel. 'Hey, what are you doing? You're getting ready, aren't you? Your eyebrows are crooked!' Kou Beiyue called after her back. 'I'm going to see Master Wuhen,' Xiao Yuan swayed gracefully, stepping into the elevator with a steady tap-tap-tap. Kou Beiyue felt deeply moved. ... 'Guanyia, are you all right? Is your leg still weak?' Zhang Yuanqing called out from the doorway of the master bedroom. He had been pushed out by Guanyia—officially, to tidy up the room and take a shower. In reality, he was embarrassed, unable to face anyone. 'I'm fine,' Gu "Guan Ya's voice came from the bedroom, a bit muffled, as if she had her head buried under the blanket." "It's lunch time now. Let's have lunch together." "No!" "Alright, if you don't want to eat, at least come out and have a glass of water. You need to rehydrate." "Get out! You obnoxious young man! Get out right now!" Guan Ya was clearly furious from inside. "Don't forget to change your pants and the bedsheet." "Zhang Yuanqing!!!" Guan Ya rarely used his first name. Old Si Ji was now thoroughly embarrassed... Zhang Yuanqing paused, decided that today wasn't the right time to continue the conversation, and gave her some space to calm down, before leaving the Tianchen apartment. ...12 o'clock noon.