Chapter 586: Back To The Royal Palace
Five days had passed since Miss Zara and Little Zoe became cultivators, and during this time, their cultivation increased significantly—reaching the peak of the Spirit Apprentice realm.
They stopped taking new guests three days ago, so only those who had booked rooms beforehand remained in the inn. Since they needed to care for these remaining guests, they could only cultivate during their free time.
Despite this limitation, their cultivation advanced significantly without the aid of any treasures, confirming that both Miss Zara and Little Zoe possess remarkable talent.
Otherwise, it would have taken them nearly a month to reach this level, even with treasures to boost their cultivation speed, which would only last as long as the treasure's effects remained active.
It wasn't just Miss Zara and Little Zoe who progressed. Yuan and his wives also improved their cultivation, as they couldn't spend almost a week doing nothing.
Through dual cultivation with his wives, Yuan's cultivation had reached the fourth level of the Spirit Grandmaster realm. He benefited most from Fang Xiaoyan and Xi Meili, who had the highest cultivation levels among his wives.
And it wasn't only Yuan who benefited from dual cultivation; his wives received equal gains from their time cultivating with him. Fang Xiaoyan finally broke through after a long time, reaching the fifth level of the Spirit Lord realm.
Having been stuck at the fourth level for years, she was extremely pleased with this advancement. Although Yuan's cultivation was lower than hers, increasing her level by even one was a great benefit.
Xi Meili's cultivation advanced to the fourth level of Spirit Grandmaster after dual cultivating with Yuan. Meanwhile, both Anna and Grace reached the seventh level of Spirit Master, and Lily reached the same level. Emma and Rose attained the sixth level of Spirit Master through dual cultivation, and Julie and Ava received a similar boost, both also reaching the sixth level.
Valeria advanced to the seventh level of Spirit Master after dual cultivating with Yuan, and she was delighted with her progress. Leah, too, reached the seventh level of Spirit Master, largely due to her special Physique and Heart.
Mireya and Sylvia's cultivation reached the sixth level of Spirit Master after their time dual cultivating with Yuan.
After these advancements, everyone spent most of their time refining their techniques, all seeking to master them further.
Meanwhile, inside his room, Yuan had just finished bathing after training with his sword for over an hour, working to strengthen his Sword Aura. He couldn't unleash its full potential, however, as it might damage the yard and the building itself. Anna, Grace, Lily, Valeria, and Julie trained alongside Yuan, eager to learn Sword Aura, their desire to master it growing each time they saw him wield it.
After dressing, Yuan began fixing his hair when he suddenly sensed Little Zoe's presence outside the room. Moments later, he heard her knocking on the door.
"Big Brother Yuan, are you inside?!" Little Zoe called out loudly while continuing to knock on the door.
"Yes, is your mom calling us for lunch?" he asked with a smile.
"That's right! Mom is calling you all for lunch, and she also said the King has returned from Roth City."
"So he's back, huh? I should pay him one last visit before we leave the city tomorrow," Yuan murmured quietly to himself.
He then said to her, "Alright. Tell Miss Zara we'll be there in a bit." Little Zoe nodded and hurried off after hearing his response.
Shortly after, Yuan's wives came out of the bathroom and began dressing before fixing their hair. Once they were ready, they left the room and regrouped with Lily, Julie, Ava, and Leah before heading to the dining room.
A few minutes later, they arrived and found Miss Zara and Little Zoe waiting by the dining table.
"Is it true that King Richard has returned to the Royal Palace?" Yuan asked as he took his seat.
Miss Zara nodded with a smile. "Yes, it's true. I personally saw his return, along with the thousands of soldiers who accompanied him."
"I see… In that case, get ready after lunch. We'll be heading to the Royal Palace to meet the royal family before we leave tomorrow," Yuan said, smiling as he began eating.
"What?! Meeting the Royal Family?! Are you serious?!" Miss Zara looked at him, stunned.
"Why would I joke about that?" Yuan chuckled. "I'm serious. And you two are coming with us to the palace."
Later, Yuan returned to his room and rested his head on Anna's lap. She smiled gently at him and played with his hair. He glanced over at Grace, who was looking at him with her usual calm expression. With a smile, he quickly pulled her into his embrace.
"Why do you look so serious? Did I do something wrong?" Yuan whispered playfully into her ear.
"No. Why would I be upset with my beloved husband?" Grace whispered back, then kissed him softly, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Yuan chuckled inwardly at the soft warmth of her embrace. With a smirk, he moved his hands gently, pulling her closer as they continued their kiss. After a few moments, they parted, smiling at each other.
"I love you, darling…" Grace murmured softly.
"I love you too…" Yuan replied, then kissed her again, their embrace growing more tender.
Just then, Valeria slipped onto his lap with a mischievous smile. "Husband, it's not fair to leave us waiting," she teased. "Now, give me a kiss too."
Yuan wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer until their noses touched, and they shared a warm, passionate kiss.
"I want a kiss too!" Xi Meili said, jumping into Yuan's embrace as Valeria moved aside.
Yuan smiled, pulling Xi Meili close and holding her tightly as they kissed. Their embrace grew warmer, both lost in the moment.
A couple of minutes later, Yuan noticed Emma watching him with a longing expression, her breathing becoming slightly unsteady after witnessing the passionate exchange between him and Xi Meili.
"Emma, how is your control over your Bloodline? Is it causing you any trouble?" Yuan asked with a curious look.
"It was hard at first, as my poison has become much more powerful and deadly than before. Even my breath has a poisonous effect now because of my Bloodline. But I've learned to control my body and poison fully," she replied with a smile, moving closer to him and flicking her long, snake-like tongue in a way that mimicked a snake.
As she opened her mouth, Yuan and the others could clearly see her sharp fangs, designed to deliver venom to her victims.
'Those look incredibly sharp and dangerous…' Leah thought, swallowing nervously.
Noticing Leah's anxious expression, Anna chuckled and patted her back. "Don't worry. Emma would never harm us. After all, we're family."
"Yes… Sorry, I just got a bit startled by how sharp her fangs are," Leah apologized with a small laugh.
Yuan smiled at Emma. "I'm happy for you, Emma. And it seems your fangs have become even longer and sharper than before."
"It's all thanks to my Bloodline," Emma said with a smile. She climbed onto his lap, and a playful grin appeared as she felt his arousal pressing against her stomach.
"Oh my, seems like someone is excited down there," Emma teased with a soft giggle.
"I can't help it with all of you around. You're all so beautiful and charming… It's impossible to stay calm," Yuan chuckled, pulling her close for a passionate kiss.
Emma wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply, and they held each other in a tender embrace for a few minutes.
Yuan spent the next hour sharing similar moments with each of his wives, kissing them with warmth and affection.
Later, they changed into formal attire and left the room to wait for Miss Zara and Little Zoe in the inn's lobby. After a few minutes, Miss Zara and Little Zoe appeared, both dressed beautifully.
Since becoming a cultivator, Miss Zara looked noticeably younger, her beauty enhanced—though she still couldn't quite compare to Anna and the others. Little Zoe, on the other hand, had grown slightly taller, her skin soft and radiant, and she looked incredibly cute in her dress.
"Hope we didn't keep you waiting long…" Miss Zara said with a smile.
"It's fine—it was only a few minutes," Anna replied with a smile. "By the way, you look beautiful in this outfit, Miss Zara."
She then looked at Little Zoe and added, "You too, Little Zoe."
"Thank you, Miss Anna," Miss Zara replied, smiling with confidence.
Little Zoe giggled playfully at the compliment.
Seeing everyone ready, Yuan said, "Shall we head out?"
"Of course, my dear," Anna chuckled as they all followed him out.
Sometime later, Yuan and his wives arrived at the massive gates of the Royal Palace. The guards recognized them immediately and opened the gates, allowing them to enter without question.
King Richard had given strict instructions that, under no circumstances, were they to offend the 'Celestial Blades' and to let them proceed as they pleased. He understood that Yuan and his wives were reasonable and kind-hearted, especially to those who treated them with respect.
A few minutes later, they spotted Lord Ivan waiting outside the palace. As soon as he saw them, he approached with a friendly smile.
"Welcome back to the Royal Palace, Yuan. Come with me—I'll lead you to where His Majesty is waiting," Lord Ivan said.
"It's been a while, Lord Ivan. How have things been going for you lately? I noticed the city's population has increased significantly since the successful expedition into the Forest of Never Return," Yuan remarked with a smile.
"Haha! To be honest, it's been a bit of a hassle. I barely have time for my family anymore with all the extra work piling up on my desk," Lord Ivan sighed.
"I see… It sounds challenging. But I know you'll manage to handle it all," Yuan replied encouragingly.
"I hope so! I won't lose hope, at least. Hahaha!" Lord Ivan laughed heartily as he led them down the palace hallway.