Xiao Menglan has developed a taste for the simulator

Cao Xueyan spoke softly, “Master, just now you looked so happy—did you perhaps think of some good news?”

“Indeed, it is good news, a tremendous blessing.”

Xiao Menglan, overcome with emotion, reached out to play with a strand of Cao Xueyan’s hair, curling and twirling it between her fingers.

“Do you know how many years I’ve been stuck at my current cultivation without a single breakthrough?”

Cao Xueyan obediently shook her head.

“This disciple does not know.”

“More than three hundred years!

For over three centuries, my cultivation has not advanced even a little.

And besides that, I have had to endure the torment of inner demons, living in endless suffering.

But fortunately you came.

Fortunately you came.

When you arrived, my inner demons vanished, and now even that bottleneck, which has plagued me for so long, has begun to loosen.”

At this point, Xiao Menglan couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

“You are truly my lucky star!”

Hearing this, Cao Xueyan’s heart thumped wildly.

How could she possibly be so amazing?

In her eyes, Xiao Menglan was the true benefactor.

Without her, whether in reality or in the simulator, her life would have been miserable.

Not to mention—discovering that getting close with women could earn her more simulation attempts—something she, used to a solitary life, might never have figured out on her own.

After all, in this world, aside from those licentious demonesses of the demonic path, who else would start touching her so soon after meeting her?

“So it turns out that Master’s cultivation has improved?

That is truly worthy of congratulations!”

Cao Xueyan cupped her hands in praise.

“It cannot yet be called a breakthrough.

I must first enter closed-door cultivation for a time, and only after that can I attempt to face the tribulation.”

Xiao Menglan lightly tapped the tip of Cao Xueyan’s nose.

“You are now at the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

It is time I consider preparing you for Foundation Establishment.”

“This disciple’s Foundation Establishment is still far off—Master’s own cultivation should take priority.”

“Silly disciple.

Do you know how many years a Golden Core cultivator might remain in seclusion?

A mere opening and closing of the eyes, and decades will have passed.

It matters little to me, but you—how long would you be forced to wait?

By then, it wouldn’t just delay your Foundation Establishment, but your entire life.”

Xiao Menglan’s eyes softened as she spoke.

Cao Xueyan nodded in confusion, but silently carved the words into her heart.

At this point, Xiao Menglan was already calculating where she could obtain the necessary spiritual materials for Cao Xueyan’s Foundation Establishment.

As for Foundation Establishment Pills—that was the easy part.

A single trip to the Pill Peak would suffice.

With Xiao Menglan’s status, she could casually obtain dozens upon dozens of bottles.

Cao Xueyan could practically eat them like candy.

But the true key to Foundation Establishment was not the pill, but the spiritual materials used to forge the Dao Foundation.

These spiritual items were divided into innate and acquired.

And it went without saying—the innate ones were far more precious.

An innate item forged an innate Dao Foundation, an acquired item forged an acquired Dao Foundation.

The difference between the two was as vast as heaven and earth.

At the same cultivation, the former could easily crush the latter.

Moreover, an innate Dao Foundation carried with it innate Dao resonance.

Later, when condensing a Golden Core, everything would be smoother.

Since this concerned Cao Xueyan’s entire cultivation path, Xiao Menglan dared not be careless.

Judging from Cao Xueyan’s physique and cultivation method, only a few types of innate Dao Foundations truly suited her.

But then Xiao Menglan suddenly remembered one of the Hehuan Sect’s secret Dao Foundations.

It was a top-tier innate foundation, taught only to their saintesses.

She did not know the exact materials or the secret method required—only that it was associated with the moon, utterly yin and cold, and held immense power in dual cultivation.

As far as she knew, among yin-cold Dao Foundations, none surpassed this one.

But this method was a forbidden secret of the Hehuan Sect.

Aside from their saintesses, no one was allowed to practice it.

After some thought, Xiao Menglan shook her head.

There were countless yin-cold Dao Foundations in the world—there was no need to touch something of the demonic path.

Unless… the Hehuan Sect were destroyed.

But the Hehuan Sect, despite its unseemly name, was one of the most powerful sects in the demonic path, second only to the flourishing Changsheng Heaven.

Its strength was nearly equal to that of Qingyun Sword Sect.

The reason it had not risen higher was not that dual cultivation was flawed, but simply that its cultivators indulged excessively, draining their essence.

They looked frail and hollow, their lifespans far shorter than other cultivators.

Wait a moment—come to think of it, didn’t Cao Xueyan show signs of this too?

That was… troubling!

“In any case, for now, focus on your cultivation.

The materials and secret methods for Foundation Establishment—I will prepare them for you.”

“Master, when you say cultivation… which kind do you mean?”

Xiao Menglan’s cheeks flushed.

She glared fiercely.

“Cultivation is cultivation!

Do I really need to explain this to you?”

“Then… Master, this disciple wishes to cultivate… in this way.”

As she spoke, Cao Xueyan leaned her body against her.

Don’t misunderstand—she wasn’t thinking of that.

She had simply run out of simulation attempts, and wanted to replenish them.

She didn’t enjoy the feeling, nor was she addicted.

It was purely for the sake of more simulations!

Even Xiao Menglan said it herself—Foundation Establishment could not be rushed.

They still had to seek out innate materials.

Before that, Cao Xueyan wanted to advance her path in talismans.

She glanced at her simulator panel—she was still two to three hundred attempts short.

Not too many.

With good luck, three simulations would be enough to make up the gap.

Wool comes from the sheep, and simulation attempts came from Xiao Menglan.

Leaning against her master was for her own sake!

Besides, her upper body was still bare, and she felt cold.

The morning winds atop the mountain were chilly—wasn’t it natural for her to seek warmth?

With that excuse, Cao Xueyan leaned closer, guilt-free.

But it was hard on Xiao Menglan.

Her mouth grew dry, her heart restless—she longed to devour the girl in her arms on the spot.

Yet she had only just resolved to show restraint, to preserve her disciple’s lifespan.

Still… when the body in her arms trembled like a little beast, her defenses instantly crumbled.

Just once.

Just once would be enough.

She would stop after this.

So Xiao Menglan convinced herself, reaching out—only to be stopped by Cao Xueyan.

Puzzled, she heard her disciple say, “Master, what is the meaning of this?”

“Weren’t we… weren’t we going to cultivate?”

Xiao Menglan stammered like a guilty child caught red-handed.

“This disciple meant… cultivating in Master’s embrace.

It’s warm here.”

Cao Xueyan’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Where exactly was Master’s mind wandering?”

“You insolent child!”

For the first time in years, Xiao Menglan blushed in shame and fury.

She shoved the teasing girl away.

“If you’re going to cultivate, then sit properly!

What kind of posture is that?

Are you not afraid of going astray and damaging your qi?”

Cao Xueyan hurried to apologize, forcing a smile afterward.

But the smile was a little strained.

She had hugged and leaned against her master, yet no simulation attempts had triggered.

It hadn’t been like this before!

Did it really require full intimacy now?

Last night she had already exhausted herself, her fingers still sore, her waist still aching.

Now the requirements were getting stricter and stricter!

Could it be that advancing too quickly in Xiao Menglan’s “route” had spoiled the simulator’s appetite?