Chen Tingwan pushed open the window and saw Zhou Chen talking to a male cultivator outside the door, though she could not tell what they were discussing.
That male cultivator looked into the courtyard with longing before finally leaving silently.
"Senior Brother Zhou is truly a good person."
Zhou Chen had survived in the outer sect for many years, and many of his peers had become inner sect disciples.
Therefore, most cultivators in the outer sect would give him some face.
Perhaps the relationship between the inner sect disciples and Zhou Chen was not that great.
But as long as that connection existed, outer sect disciples who wanted to make a move on Zhou Chen would have to think twice.
Chen Tingwan’s reputation preceded her. She was incredibly beautiful and possessed a quiet, elegant temperament.
Even knowing she was afflicted by fire poison, there were naturally those who wanted to try their luck, believing that to die under a peony flower is to be a romantic ghost.
Of course, a bigger reason was that the current Chen Tingwan could not perform the Yin Yang Art for dual cultivation with others.
Nor could she be used as a cultivation vessel. At most, one could only take some physical advantage.
Otherwise, if one could truly seize Chen Tingwan’s cultivation and thereby improve their own realm, then even if Zhou Chen had some background, there would still be people who would not give him face.
Watching the departing male cultivator, Zhou Chen shook his head helplessly.
"He really is young."
The Xue Jin Secret Realm opens the day after tomorrow, and Li Yan has not even gone yet.
This kid had come looking for someone already. If this news reached Li Yan’s ears, he definitely would not let this guy off easily.
However, there were some benefits to this person coming to demand someone.
Just now, Zhou Chen had heard the system’s notification sound in his mind again.
Chen Tingwan’s favorability had soared once more, breaking through the seventy point mark in one go.
Presumably, that girl was watching secretly from the shadows.
It was a pity, though. Junior Brother Li really was someone worth befriending.
Zhou Chen was not someone without a bottom line.
Those who cultivate immortality do not necessarily sever all seven emotions and six desires.
But while he treated Junior Brother Li this way, he might treat others in a completely different manner.
As he was thinking this, a streak of light stopped in the air.
Li Ronger stood on a blue flying sword, tilting her head gently with a brilliant smile on her lips.
"Senior Brother Zhou, I have come to find you."
Once she entered the courtyard, Zhou Chen put his arm around her shoulder and coughed lightly twice.
"Ronger, Senior Brother missed you very much."
The moment the two stepped into the courtyard, the Five Elements Covering Heaven Formation was activated.
Even if Chen Tingwan were peeking, she would not be able to see anything amiss.
From her perspective, she could only see Zhou Chen returning to the main house to cultivate.
An hour later.
Li Ronger’s fair, tender feet stepped on the ground as she slowly stood up.
Looking at the panting Zhou Chen, she comforted him softly.
"Senior Brother Zhou, it is okay. You are already very impressive."
She truly felt that Zhou Chen was quite good.
At least compared to last time, he seemed to have become quite a bit stronger.
But in reality, when she came last time, Zhou Chen was already on his second battle.
This time, he had gone all out, so naturally there was a world of difference.
After confirming that Zhou Chen’s body was fine and had not been damaged by the intense battle, Li Ronger did not plan on leaving yet.
Instead, she sat quietly in front of the mirror, tidying her messy hair.
Zhou Chen rubbed his waist.
He thought to himself, luckily this girl did not strike too hard.
He struggled to climb out of bed and walked directly behind her.
Taking the wooden comb from her hand, he began to carefully groom her hair.
"Ronger, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life."
Sweet words did not cost anything, so why not say them?
He vented all the greasy lines he had heard in his previous life in one breath.
Li Ronger was indeed inexperienced. When had she ever heard such strange sweet talk?
Although it felt a bit awkward to hear, her heart was fluttering.
Thus, under Zhou Chen’s horrified gaze, Li Ronger turned around with a smile and firmly grabbed his collar.
Another hour passed.
Looking at Zhou Chen slumped on the bed, she shyly pushed open the door and left.
She had just been caught up in the moment and had not really intended to do such a thing.
Now she did not have the face to stay overnight, as it made her look like a thirsty, obsessed woman.
Zhou Chen quickly flicked his right hand, and a bottle of medicinal pills flew toward Li Ronger.
"Ronger, I see that your cultivation progress is limited. Take this high grade Spirit Origin Pill and use it."
Sweet words were nice, but they could never compare to tangible benefits.
Li Ronger did not know if she even heard him.
She instinctively caught the medicine bottle, put it into her storage pouch, and hurriedly ran out of the courtyard.
The violent scene from just now made her face flush red, and even her ears were tinged with a rosy hue.
Zhou Chen worked very hard tonight, but hard work always yields rewards.
[Congratulations, host. Li Ronger’s favorability +3. Current favorability 53 points.]
[Congratulations, host. Li Ronger’s favorability +7. Current favorability 60 points.]
[The host can use 107 favorability points.]
As expected, the Heavenly Dao rewards the diligent.
As long as one puts in the sweat, there will inevitably be a harvest.
He sat on the bed and circulated his power to adjust his breathing for an hour, not rushing out to perform alchemy.
After all, Zhou Chen was not in a good state. If he rashly performed alchemy, it would be a waste of medicinal ingredients.
Just as he finished his meditation, Bai Xue burst in.
Half an hour later.
Bai Xue put on her clothes and looked down at him with a smile.
Even if she acted obedient and warm on the surface, the disdain in the depths of her eyes could not be hidden.
That look seemed to say, that is it? That is all you have got?
He would not have been beaten so defenselessly, but unfortunately, this girl knew much more than Ronger.
Li Ronger’s style was a crude and violent battle.
But Bai Xue used both hands and feet, adept at using any means necessary.
Zhou Chen had just been through an ordeal. How could he withstand her fierce bombardment? He was soon defeated and routed.
Yet he could not explain himself, so he could only grit his teeth and endure in silence.
Once he reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, he would definitely show this girl what is what.
Zhou Chen did not favor one over the other. When Bai Xue left, he also gave her a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills as compensation for this time.
Unlike Li Ronger, this girl’s favorability did not increase in the slightest after receiving the medicinal pills.
"What an ungrateful little girl."
The reason he gave Li Ronger the second rank Spirit Origin Pill but gave Bai Xue the Qi Gathering Pills was entirely because Li Ronger’s value was higher. It had nothing to do with Bai Xue looking down on him, and it involved no personal feelings whatsoever.
For a little girl whose head was full of interests, if he fed her too much at once, it would be hard to handle her in the future.
Benefits must be given bit by bit, otherwise it is easy to make someone insatiable.
Looking at the 107 favorability points, Zhou Chen rubbed his chin, feeling a slight hesitation in his heart.
Advancing from the tenth layer of Qi Refining to the Foundation Establishment Stage required 200 favorability points.
This meant he could either upgrade his spirit talisman master level to second rank perfection, or save up favorability points to directly break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage later.
That way, he would not have to worry about the Foundation Establishment problem anymore.
But after thinking it over carefully, Zhou Chen still gave up on that idea.
Saving favorability points to break through directly would be too much of a loss overall.
Conversely, after reaching the level of a second rank talisman master, his own safety would be greatly guaranteed.
Furthermore, what he was upgrading was his talisman master realm, which would also lead to an increase in soul power.
This way, cultivating the Great Expansion Technique would be even more like a fish in water.