Within the forces under the Jun family, only two individuals had never relied on spiritual elixirs to advance their cultivation, one being Tian Can and the other Di Que. This was because Jun Mo Xie had solemnly stated that their innate aptitude was poor; it would be best if they consumed the Marrow Cleansing Pill first, and then utilized the medicinal properties of spiritual tonics to ensure the elixirs’ efficacy was maximized.

Thus, these two were held in reserve... Yet, these two youngsters were remarkably steadfast.

Seeing all their companions achieve massive leaps in strength, they remained composed, continuing their own training routines day in and day out, relentlessly pushing themselves to the brink of collapse, as if the advancements of others were utterly irrelevant to them... Among the Jun family members, the largest proportional leaps in strength were seen by the young girl Ji Bi, but the greatest overall increase belonged to Mei Xue Yan herself.

After undergoing another infusion from the miraculous effects of the spirit meridian, the great beauty surged from the peak of Third Level Saint Emperor straight to First Level Saint Venerable. While the jump wasn't massive in tiers, her actual power was utterly transformed from what it had been before!

Considering just this contingent belonging to the Jun family, they were already formidable enough to look down upon the world! However, if this were all they had, it would still not be enough—not nearly enough to cast a sidelong glance at the entire realm!

But when the current strength of the Penitent Forest was factored in, the situation changed dramatically! In the Penitent Forest, the eight Elder Beast Sovereigns who had previously suffered from deep-seated internal ailments quickly recovered to their peak condition after consuming the pills Jun Mo Xie provided.

Now, having benefited from the spirit meridian’s boost, they had all simultaneously ascended to the Second Level Saint Venerable tier! As for Xiong Kai Shan and the other Beast Kings, they had all advanced to the First Level Saint Emperor realm!

And the hundreds of Profound Beasts under their command who could already assume human form also shot up as if on a rocket, all reaching the Third Level Saint tier—and this wasn't just ten or eight people, but over five hundred! However...

it seemed the advancement stopped there... This was because the spirit meridian fragments Mei Xue Yan had brought back were completely exhausted...

Word had it that several thousand Profound Beasts in the Penitent Forest were still waiting eagerly... Hearing this imprecise number, Jun Mo Xie broke out in a cold sweat.

It seemed this force alone was sufficient to destroy... this entire world...

Yet, these advancements did not come without cost; every single person who improved had, without exception, endured the trial of the Heavenly Tribulation! Over the previous half-month period, the skies above the Penitent Forest were choked with dense lightning that never dispersed...

Scenarios featuring dozens of people undergoing tribulation simultaneously were common occurrences... Everyone emerged battered and scorched, some severely enough to be blasted back into their original forms, covered in grievous wounds, nearly at the end of their strength...

Xiong Kai Shan, in particular, was nearly stripped clean of all his fat by the lightning, barely escaping with his life. It was rumored this was due to overexertion after taking a wife...

whether that was true or not remained uncertain... Even with all the safety precautions Jun Mo Xie had detailed, two members of the Can Tian team were unfortunately annihilated—body and spirit destroyed—during their tribulation.

Among the Penitent Profound Beasts, more than a dozen suffered the same fate... But this failure rate was negligible compared to the number who successfully passed their trials...

Take, for instance, the Thousand Evil Poison Fruits from before: the success rate for Profound Beasts consuming that fruit to advance was only two or three percent. Yet the Beast Kings of the Penitent Forest still dared to risk certain death for a chance.

This alone illustrated the inherent danger of tribulation and advancement. Now, the failure rate was almost nil; the contrast spoke for itself.

Jun Mo Xie personally viewed this data and was so stunned his eyes glazed over, nearly falling off his chair... Mei Xue Yan had supposedly only brought back five or six fragments of the spirit meridian, each about the size of an adult fist, yet they achieved such glorious success!

Perhaps ‘glorious’ was insufficient; it should be described as terrifying, utterly fantastical success! Heavens above!

If they had used up the entire spirit meridian supply... couldn't they have forged an army of Saint Venerables numbering in the millions?

Thinking of this, Jun Mo Xie felt so overjoyed he nearly suffocated... However, dreams were dreams.

Jun Shao was not the sort to commit such a blatant waste of heavenly resources... Before he could recover from this shock mixed with elation, Young Master Jun was swept up by Mei Xue Yan, and everyone else scattered like startled birds.

Mei Xue Yan carried Young Master Jun into a small sitting room. It turned out that surrounding this area were several rooms where these women had established private quarters and now lived together, though not in the same room.

The outer sitting room, however, was communal. This layout bore a striking resemblance to the arrangement of the First Netherworld Young Master’s ruins that Jun Shao had discovered in Frostwind Silver City—a central hall connected to multiple surrounding rooms...

With a "Thwump," Jun Mo Xie was violently shoved onto a small stool before a low table. Looking up, the Young Master saw four exquisitely beautiful faces staring at him, all wearing expressions of stern disapproval—a clear setup for the "Four Mothers Chastising Their Son" scenario!

It seemed the interrogation was about to officially commence! Mei Xue Yan and Guan Qing Han sat in the middle, while Du Gu Xiao Yi and Han Yan Meng occupied the sides.

Ah, it seemed these women had already discussed seniority among themselves... Wait...

what did Han Yan Meng have to do with this? Why was she sticking her nose in?

Under the intense scrutiny of four pairs of eyes, the imagined ordeal of Young Master Jun made him shiver. "W-what's going on?

Are you going to torture a confession out of me?" Four piercingly cold gazes locked onto Jun Mo Xie's robust frame. Even for the formidable Young Master, it felt as though he had nowhere to hide.

"Th-this... surely not?" Young Master Jun struggled feebly, "Hey...

we’re all family, we share the same bed covers, talking private matters is one thing... but why is she here too?" He was referring, naturally, to Han Yan Meng.

He had assumed that upon saying this, Du Gu Xiao Yi, the shameless one, wouldn't react much. Guan Qing Han’s personality suggested she’d be embarrassed and leave, and Han Yan Meng would likely be angered into leaving...

If all went according to plan, he would only have to deal with Mei Xue Yan and Du Gu Xiao Yi, which would be much easier... because Du Gu Xiao Yi wouldn't need dealing with at all; if any woman dared imply she didn't fancy Jun Mo Xie, she’d get angry herself: Such an outstanding Mo Xie Brother, and you don't appreciate him?

What more do you want? That left only Mei Xue Yan, who would be isolated and easy to manage...

But contrary to his expectations, although Guan Qing Han’s face flushed, she didn't move an inch. As for Han Yan Meng, she merely huffed, pouting, and turned her head away; she wasn't angered out of the room.

"I was negligent just now; there's something I forgot to inform you about." Mei Xue Yan said calmly, "Madam Han of Frostwind Silver City has entrusted Third Uncle and Third Aunt to request marriage from Mother and Grandfather. They have agreed to marry the Second Miss, Han Yan Meng, to you.

The decree of the parents and the word of the matchmaker are now in place—Han Yan Meng is now officially part of the Jun family..." Du Gu Xiao Yi chimed in smugly, "That's right! Now she has to call me 'Elder Sister'!

This was my only request when Mother asked for our opinions..." Han Yan Meng's face flushed crimson, and she glared fiercely at Du Gu Xiao Yi, pouting, "What's there to be smug about? You aren't even older than me, you shameless thing..." Du Gu Xiao Yi crowed triumphantly, "In the Jun family, whoever enters first is the elder!

Age doesn't matter! In any case, this young lady is your older sister!" Han Yan Meng fell silent, merely puffing out her cheeks and glaring at Du Gu Xiao Yi.

It seemed these two youngsters had frequent squabbles. "You dare call yourself an elder?

Which time playing Mahjong didn't you lose the most? And you still have the nerve to ask me for loans..." Han Yan Meng retorted.

Du Gu Xiao Yi immediately bared her teeth, "If I don't lose, how do I win back my money? Gambling without losing isn't actually losing!

You wicked girl, you didn't even help me win when I gave you such obvious signals... and you wouldn't deal me the right cards..." "You even stomped my foot until it swelled!

You only criticize others, never yourself..." Han Yan Meng shot her a sideways glance, haughtily turned her head away, unhooked her purse from her waist, and shook it with a proud jingle of coins. Du Gu Xiao Yi’s eyes instantly flared with a furious light; the look suggested she wished she could snatch it away immediately...

Jun Mo Xie was instantly dumbfounded... It seemed not only had he taken another one outside, but he had acquired another one right at home, and he was the last to know!

A decree from parents? A matchmaker’s words?

Were there imperfections even in this world?... No wonder the four of them had greeted him together when he returned; he had initially assumed little Han girl was just tagging along for the fun of it...

"Ah, I almost forgot. Xiao Yi, go call Qian Xun, Princess Ling Meng, and Ke'er to attend this meeting as well.

They are involved in this matter too, and at the very least, they deserve to be informed..." Mei Xue Yan currently displayed the bearing of a great commander, issuing orders with decisive command. "Understood!" Du Gu Xiao Yi cheekily acknowledged, stood up with dashing energy, and marched out resolutely, like a vanguard general receiving orders for deployment!

Cold sweat beaded on Jun Mo Xie’s forehead. This seemed to have escalated beyond "Four Mothers Chastising Their Son"; it was directly evolving into a battle between Seven Kingdoms...

Soon after, all the women were assembled. Qian Xun and the others exchanged bewildered glances upon seeing this strange setup, utterly clueless as to the reason for this gathering.

"Sisters, we all know that Mo Xie's last journey was undertaken for the sake of all our futures." Mei Xue Yan stated calmly, "It’s because we Profound Cultivators, once we reach the peak of our training, can extend our lifespans for thousands or even tens of thousands of years. But a woman's prime is always fleeting; beauty fades easily, and youth is but an instant.

Even if we are peerlessly beautiful now, we cannot escape the erosion of time and the fading of our prime... Mo Xie's primary goal on that trip was to find a spiritual medicine capable of granting us eternal youth!" At this, a great stir rippled through the assembled women.

A medicine for eternal youth... Could such a legendary item truly exist?!

"Th-then... did he find it?" Du Gu Xiao Yi, being the most impatient, was the first to ask, clearly desperate to know the answer, and even more desperate for that answer to be yes.

Her question voiced the hopes of all the women present.