Wu Jian spent most of his time at the academy cultivating. He and Hou Jingshu were provided Meridian Opening Pills and Middle-Grade Chi Gathering Pills by Zhou Lihua, who had come personally to deliver the pills to them. Thanks to her pills, Wu Jian had been able to break through to the Eighth Subrealm of the Asura Realm. Hou Jingshu was pushing into the Ninth Subrealm.

They were both making steady progress.

When he wasn’t cultivating, Wu Jian was sparring with Hou Jingshu. Their spars had become quite famous throughout the academy. All the Core Disciples would gather to watch whenever they trained together. Wu Jian had heard many of them gossiping about how insane they were for sparring the way they did, which was sometimes intense enough to look like they were attempting to kill each other.

They just didn’t understand.

That morning was no different than the others. Wu Jian was meditating alongside Hou Jingshu, their bodies covered in sweat. Their clothes clung to their skin as they sat with their legs crossed. Both had already taken a Meridian Opening Pill and Middle-Grade Chi Gathering Pill, which caused all the chi in the area to swirl around them. While they both sat in Hou Jingshu’s personal garden, they had spaced themselves over a dozen chih apart to avoid interfering with the others' cultivation.

The pills they now used were leagues better than the lower tier pills; Wu Jian could feel his chi growing quickly, though he still needed a lot more before he would reach the Ninth Subrealm.

He had noticed this before, but he required more chi than most to break through each realm. Wu Jian did not know what this meant. However, he believed that his heavy requirements meant he had more chi at his disposal than the average cultivator. Perhaps this was the result of his cultivation method? He wasn’t sure, but he knew that he had at least twice the chi Hou Jingshu possessed.

A presence entered the garden through the doors leading into Hou Jingshu’s private quarters. Wu Jian opened his eyes to find a familiar woman smiling at them.

Zhou Lihua looked the same as she always did. Her pearlescent skin seemed to glow in the sunlight. Her red and gold cheongsam wound tightly around her womanly figure, revealing the curves of her bust, hips, and waist. This one had been modified and had a notorious gap in the center of her chest. It was like a window offering a glimpse of glorious cleavage. The cheongsam went down to her ankles, but a slit ran up the side so she could walk more easily. On her feet were a pair of open-toed high-heels.

“You two seem to be hard at work,” she said with a smile.

“Aren’t we always?” asked Wu Jian as he stood up.

Since this was a private building and no one was able to peek over the fence, Wu Jian had his facemask off. He smiled at the woman as he walked over. She held out her arms, so he walked right into her, leaned down, and pressed their mouths together. A hand threaded through his hair. Another went around his waist as if to pull him closer. Wu Jian enjoyed this brief kiss, wishing it could last longer than it did.

“You’ve been busy, haven’t you?” asked Hou Jingshu as Wu Jian pulled back. The Shang Kingdom princess stood beside them, crossed her arms, and smirked. “You’ve already reached the Seventh Subrealm after being at the Fourth for so long. Congratulations.”

Zhou Lihua smiled. “I have you two to thank for that. I do wish I could reach the Second Step, but that won’t be possible until I can get my hands on a unique flame.”

Zhou Lihua’s cultivation method was called Seven Colored Flames Cultivation Method. It had seven steps, which were like tiers cultivators could advance to, which would further increase their cultivation. Each “step” required her to acquire a unique flame.

The method she used was an alchemist's cultivation method, meaning she increased her chi and acquired strength by refining pills and gaining greater understanding in the Dao of Alchemy. Normal methods also worked, but like Wu Jian’s own Nine Heavens Spatial Severing and Hou Jingshu’s Nine Heavenly Dragons Embodiment, the best way to increase her power was through these unique methods.

According to Hou Jingshu, Zhou Lihua’s alchemy and cultivation had both stopped after learning of the Wu Clan’s destruction. Both her alchemy and cultivation had increased since he revealed himself to be alive. Some of the Zhou Clansmen said she was even stronger now than she had been before.

“Since you’re here, why don’t we have lunch together?” suggested Hou Jingshu.

“I would like that. We can discuss the reason I came here over lunch,” agreed Zhou Lihua.

Since it sounded like whatever she had to say was important, they decided to have lunch within the privacy of Hou Jingshu’s abode. Each Core Disciple had several servants they could call upon. The Shang Kingdom princess asked her servants to prepare some food for them. Meanwhile, she set about an expensive tea set and began preparing tea for the three of them.

“You’ve gotten very good at this. Do you brew tea often now that you have someone you want to impress?” asked Zhou Lihua with a smile.

Hou Jingshu blushed. “Be quiet, you. I don’t want to hear that from someone who literally received a huge boost in her alchemy and cultivation prowess after Wu Jian showed up.”

“Heehee. You’re very cute when you’re embarrassed, Jingshu,” said Zhou Lihua.

“She is pretty adorable. That hasn’t changed since childhood,” Wu Jian agreed.

“Not you, too!” Hou Jingshu moaned.

Even though her face was now redder than a chrysanthemum, she was still elegant as she went through the steps of creating tea.

Tea has been an important part of the Xaio Continent’s culture since time immemorial. Each nation had their own traditions regarding the drinking of tea, and there were many different ways in which tea was prepared, depending on the circumstances. Holidays, weddings, important events, each had its own tea ceremony.

Hou Jingshu prepared the tea set--a white set that let Wu Jian know they would be drinking green tea. She rinsed the teapot and teacups with hot water. This would help fully release the tea’s fragrance. She then added the tea leaves into the teapot using a scoop, poured in water, then poured out the water while leaving the tea leaves inside. The first brew was meant to remove dust and impurities.

Wu Jian was mesmerized as he watched Hou Jingshu move. He could tell from her practiced movements that she had spent many hours mastering this skill.

Zhou Lihua smiled as she leaned over. “Did you know, I’m the one who taught her the art of tea making?”

He shook his head. “I did not know that. Does that mean you’re an expert at making tea?”

“Tea making is a Zhou Family tradition that all women must learn. I have had to perform the tea making ceremony several times during holidays and festivals, so I’ve become quite adept at it. I’ll make some tea for you some time.”

“I would like that.”

“Can you two please be quiet? I need to concentrate,” said Hou Jingshu.

The tea was soon made and served. Wu Jian, Zhou Lihua, and Hou Jingshu spent moment in silence as they drank their tea.

“This is delicious,” said Wu Jian.

Hou Jingshu beamed. “I’m so glad you like it!”

“She has worked very hard to make good tea,” added Zhou Lihua.

“Y-you don’t need to tell him that!”

“Heehee.”

The maids came in with food not long after they finished drinking tea. Wu Jian kept his mask on while they were present, but he removed it once everyone had left. The dishes served were Shang Kingdom fare. Wu Jian appreciated the variety of meats being offered. Most of his time was spent eating the peking duck and stinky tofu.

“I thought you hated tofu,” said Hou Jingshu.

“I do… but it reminds me of Wu Meiying,” Wu Jian said, grimacing even as he ate.

“I hope she’s doing okay,” said Hou Jingshu.

“Knowing Wu Meiying as I do, I’m positive she is safe. She is more devious and cunning than anyone else I know,” Zhou Lihua said. Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu agreed with her assessment.

Once their meal was finished, Hou Jingshu once again served them tea, and they finally got down to business.

“Here.” Hou Jingshu set a scroll on the table. “This is a list of all the important noble families and sects who will be participating in the upcoming auction. There are a lot more coming than I first assumed there’d be. We will have over one hundred thousand participants, making this the largest auction held in the Shang Kingdom.”

“That is a lot of people.” Hou Jingshu unrolled the scroll and looked at the participants, biting her lip. “I see some big names. We have people coming all the way from the Southern Tang Dynasty. They’re practically on the opposite side of the continent.”

“Yes. Not only do we have people from the Southern Tang Dynasty coming, but members from the Four Great Pavilions of the Ming Province will also be in attendance,” said Zhou Lihua.

Hou Jingshu frowned. “I assume they have received special permission to enter?”

“Yes. Yu Chenguang personally granted them permission.”

Hou Jingshu nodded.

“What’s our relationship with the Ming Province like?” asked Wu Jian.

“I would say it’s ambivalent. We do trading with them and there’s nothing wrong on the surface, but a big reason for that is the mountain pass that separates our two nations. While they are not outright hostile toward us like the Zhou Kingdom, the Ming Province does not have a very good opinion of us, nor we of them,” explained Hou Jingshu.

“So there’s some tension between our two nations,” murmured Wu Jian.

“Yes.”

Respect and prestige were the two most important aspects that made up politics, whether between family members, sects, or nations.

Humans are born into a natural hierarchy. Older siblings are higher on the hierarchical ladder than younger siblings, parents are higher still, and grandparents are even higher. At the top of this natural hierarchy are a family’s ancestors. Hierarchies extend into the cultivator world as well, with the more talented and more powerful individuals standing at the top.

Prestige was really just the widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something on the basis of a perception of that person or thing’s achievements or qualities, like how people admire a painting for its incredible attention to detail, or how they admire a person for being able to lift a hundred times their body weight. Admiration was the obverse of prestige. It was only natural to admire those who are accomplished, whether intellectually, artistically, athletically, or morally. We admire these people who accomplish these great things, therefore, they are prestigious.

This concept was even more felt in the cultivation world, where some cultivators had the power to rearrange the very terrain with a single punch. Awe and fear caused other cultivators and normal humans to admire these people of incredible strength.

Consequently, this is also why competition for resources was so fierce. Everyone wanted to be admired. Everyone wanted prestige.

“The Ming Province might not make any overt moves against us thanks to our alliance with the Heavenly Sword Sect, but they think our nation is a joke because we lack many cultivators above the Asura Realm. The only person we have at this realm is Yu Chenguang, and I heard he’s several subrealms behind even the weakest sect master of the Four Great Pavilions,” said Hou Jingshu.

Wu Jian cupped his chin. “So they have no respect for us because they perceive us as weaklings who cling to the legs of those stronger than ourselves.”

“That’s basically it, yes,” Hou Jingshu said.

“Sounds like a troubling situation,” he murmured.

“It is, but let us return to the matter at hand,” Zhou Lihua coughed into her hand to gather their attention. “I have continued to refine and sell alchemy pills. While sixty percent of my earnings have gone back into the Zhou Clan, I am allowed to retain the remaining forty percent. I’m giving it to you, Jingshu. With so many wealthy individuals now in attendance, I do not know if the amount of money you have will be enough. Here.”

Zhou Lihua handed Hou Jingshu a storage ring, which presumably carried the money she was talking about. Hou Jingshu looked like she was going to cry.

“Thank you. Your help really means a lot to me,” said Hou Jingshu.

“What are you saying? Are we not sisters who will one day marry the same man? Speaking of, I’ve noticed that you have a very bright glow about you even now. Could it be that you two have not stopped sleeping together?”

Wu Jian and Hou Jingshu froze like they’d been dropped in the middle of the Ice Phoenix Mountain Range.

They had not stopped sleeping together even after entering the academy. Hou Jingshu had snuck into Wu Jian’s private quarters several times in the past few days to spend the night with him, but they had decided to keep this a secret from Zhou Lihua because she was unable to do the same thanks to the Zhou Clan’s policies regarding sexual relationships.

“Er… well, you see… it’s like… ha ha ha…” Hou Jingshu tried to explain, but she could only laugh.

“We just found it too hard to give up sex,” Wu Jian admitted after unfreezing himself.

“Jian?!”

“What? It’s true, isn’t it?” Wu Jian shrugged.

Hou Jingshu’s face was bright red and she looked on the verge of tears. “It doesn’t matter if it’s true! You shouldn’t talk about our private affairs like that!”

“Oh, my. Am I not a part of this family?” asked Zhou Lihua.

“Of course you are,” Hou Jingshu muttered.

“Then do I not deserve to know about this?”

“W-well… I mean… it’s embarrassing so…”

“It seems quite unfair to me that you two are keeping secrets from me.”

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“Relax. I’m only teasing you.”

“What?”

Hou Jingshu blinked several times as Zhou Lihua held a fan to her mouth, hiding the elegant curve of her smiling lips. Her eyes seeped amusement. Wu Jian was also holding back snickers.

When Hou Jingshu realized they were leading her on, she groaned and buried her face in her hands. Her ears were bright red.

“I hate you two,” she mumbled.