The escaping light drifted slowly through the sky.

Luo Bingning’s injuries had basically recovered and flying no longer felt as strenuous as before.

Lin Xi sat in her arms, sensing the gradually rebounding fluctuations of spiritual energy from Luo Bingning’s body and quietly letting out a sigh of relief.

[Detected Luo Bingning’s cultivation steadily recovering]

[Current cultivation: Nascent Soul early-stage peak]

[Recommended that the host continue to monitor changes in her condition]

Just as Lin Xi was about to respond to the system in her mind, she suddenly felt an icy gaze fall upon her face.

She subconsciously lifted her head and met Luo Bingning’s ice-blue eyes head-on.

An inscrutable light flickered within those eyes, making Lin Xi’s heart skip a beat.

“Xi’er, what are you thinking about?”

Luo Bingning’s voice was still gentle but carried a probing undertone.

“I noticed your expression just now looked a little distracted.”

She reached out, her cold fingertips lightly brushing Lin Xi’s cheek.

“Were you talking to someone?”

Lin Xi froze for a moment at the sudden question.

‘Bingning-jie’s intuition was way too sharp, wasn’t it?’

She was only communicating with the system in her mind and yet it had still been noticed.

“I was thinking about cultivation.”

Lin Xi tried her best to make her expression look natural.

“I suddenly thought of some doubts related to cultivation, so I spaced out a bit.”

Luo Bingning stared into Lin Xi’s eyes for several seconds and the sensation of being seen through made Lin Xi feel slightly uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Luo Bingning ultimately chose to believe her.

“Xi’er is really diligent.”

Luo Bingning’s expression softened again but her embrace tightened.

“Still, don’t push yourself too hard, if there’s anything you don’t understand you can always ask me.”

Feeling the possessiveness radiating from Luo Bingning’s arms, Lin Xi couldn’t help complaining inwardly.

‘Good heavens, this Empress has practically grown clairaudience and mind-reading powers. Will I even be able to have secrets in the future?’

She relaxed her body and leaned back into Luo Bingning’s embrace.

“Bingning-jie, how much farther is that ancient cave dwelling?”

“We’re almost there.”

Luo Bingning pointed toward a tall mountain ahead.

“Halfway up that mountain there’s a natural cave and deep inside it lies the dwelling of that ancient great expert.”

Lin Xi followed the direction of her finger and indeed saw a mountain rich in spiritual energy.

The peak pierced the clouds and ancient trees towered all around, truly looking like an excellent cultivation site.

At that moment, a colored butterfly fluttered past.

Lin Xi casually glanced at it, thinking its patterns were quite beautiful.

That unconscious glance was completely caught by Luo Bingning.

A chill instantly spread from Luo Bingning’s body.

The butterfly that was still dancing among the flowers was frozen solid in an instant, turning into a transparent ice sculpture and plummeting straight down into the mountain forest below.

“Bingning-jie?”

Lin Xi stared at the scene in shock, completely unable to understand why Luo Bingning would attack an innocent butterfly.

“It’s nothing.”

Luo Bingning looked at Lin Xi with an innocent expression.

“I sensed a strange aura on that butterfly just now and worried it might be some kind of demonic insect, so I dealt with it casually.”

Her expression looked perfectly natural, as if she had just done something utterly trivial.

Lin Xi looked at the frozen butterfly falling below and broke out in a cold sweat internally.

‘Your Majesty the Empress, your jealousy is way too intense. You won’t even spare a butterfly, this possessiveness is seriously excessive.’

But she also knew that this was precisely how Luo Bingning showed her love.

Although that love was somewhat overbearing, at least it proved that Luo Bingning genuinely cared about her.

“Xi’er, are you cold?”

Luo Bingning suddenly asked with concern.

“I released some ice-element spiritual energy just now and was worried it might chill you.”

Her tone was gentle and considerate, nothing like the cold, ruthless Empress who had frozen a butterfly moments ago.

“I’m not cold, Bingning-jie’s embrace is very warm.”

Lin Xi replied obediently while secretly making a decision in her heart.

‘From now on, I absolutely can’t look at other things casually or some innocent creature might suffer again.’

[Detected fluctuations in Luo Bingning’s emotions]

[Possessiveness index increased to a new high]

[Loyalty remains stable: 100%]

[Favorability remains stable: 100%]

The system’s notifications further confirmed Lin Xi’s judgment.

Luo Bingning’s possessiveness toward her had truly reached a terrifying level.

[Obtained stable reward: one Xuan-tier high-grade detection treasure]

[Current points: 2500]

An exquisite jade pendant appeared inside Lin Xi’s storage ring.

This was a treasure capable of detecting surrounding spiritual energy fluctuations and biological auras, extremely helpful for reconnaissance and early warning.

“Xi’er, why are you spacing out again?”

Luo Bingning’s voice sounded by her ear, carrying a trace of dissatisfaction.

“You’re not thinking about something else again, are you?”

Her arms tightened further, almost embedding Lin Xi into her body.

“I’m just feeling the warmth from Bingning-jie.”

Lin Xi hurriedly explained while reaching out to hug Luo Bingning’s waist.

“When I’m with Bingning-jie, I always can’t help wanting to be a little closer.”

Hearing this, the dissatisfaction on Luo Bingning’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a sweet smile.

“Xi’er really knows how to speak.”

She gently kissed Lin Xi on the forehead.

“I also want to be with Xi’er forever, never to be separated.”

Feeling the softness of Luo Bingning’s lips, Lin Xi’s heartbeat sped up slightly.

This Empress’s offensive was really hard to withstand.

The escaping light continued forward and soon arrived near the target mountain.

Luo Bingning slowed down and began searching for the cave entrance from her memories.

“Found it.”

She pointed toward a concealed opening halfway up the mountain.

“That’s it, it looks pretty much the same as back then.”

Lin Xi looked in the direction she pointed and saw that the cave entrance was almost completely covered by vines and moss, making it hard to spot without careful searching.

Luo Bingning controlled the escaping light to land slowly and the two of them descended onto a flat stone platform in front of the cave.

“The spiritual energy here is so dense.”

Lin Xi took a deep breath and felt the abundant spiritual energy in the air.

“It really is much stronger than other places.”

“That’s only natural.”

Luo Bingning walked to the cave entrance and brushed aside the covering vines.

“A cultivation site chosen by an ancient great expert would naturally have an exceptional concentration of spiritual energy.”

Once the cave entrance was revealed, its interior appeared deep and dark with no telling where it led.

An ancient and mysterious aura drifted out from deep within the cave.

[Detected a powerful formation ahead]

[Formation type: Defensive, level unknown]

[Recommended that the host proceed with caution]

The system’s warning made Lin Xi even more careful.

“Bingning-jie, could there be danger inside?”

“Don’t worry.”

Luo Bingning held Lin Xi’s hand.

“I’ve checked before, the formation here is only meant to keep outsiders out and holds no malice toward us.”

She stepped into the cave first and Lin Xi followed closely behind.

The interior of the cave was more spacious than expected and several luminous pearls were embedded in the stone walls, providing gentle illumination.

The two walked along the winding passage, their footsteps echoing within the cave.

“Xi’er, watch your step.”

Luo Bingning turned back to remind her, her eyes full of concern.

“The stones here are a bit slippery.”

Lin Xi nodded in response but her thoughts were elsewhere.

Although Luo Bingning’s condition looked fairly recovered, breaking through to the Nascent Soul mid-stage would still require more resources and time.

[The system shop contains multiple pills that can enhance cultivation]

[Would you like to view related items?]

Just as Lin Xi was about to check the shop, she felt that familiar gaze again.

She lifted her head and saw Luo Bingning looking at her with a scrutinizing expression.

“Xi’er, what are you thinking about again?”

Luo Bingning stopped and turned to face her.

“I always feel like there’s something you’re hiding from me.”

Her gaze grew dangerous.

“Is there something important you don’t want to tell me?”

Lin Xi felt a bit helpless at her questioning tone.

Luo Bingning’s possessiveness and sensitivity truly exceeded her expectations.

“Bingning-jie, how could I possibly hide anything from you?”

Lin Xi proactively walked up to her and hugged her arm.

“I was just thinking about how to help you recover your strength faster.”

“Really?”

The suspicion in Luo Bingning’s eyes eased slightly.

“Then have you thought of any good ideas?”

“I was wondering whether there might be cultivation techniques or pills suitable for you inside this cave dwelling.”

Lin Xi continued along the topic.

“After all, it’s the dwelling of an ancient great expert, there must be many precious things.”

Hearing this explanation, a satisfied smile finally appeared on Luo Bingning’s face.

“Xi’er really thinks of everything for me.”

She hugged Lin Xi’s hand again.

“But you don’t need to worry too much, my recovery is already faster than expected.”

The two continued deeper into the cave.

The passage grew wider and the carvings on the stone walls became increasingly exquisite.

Before long, they arrived before a massive stone door.

Complex formation patterns were carved upon it, emitting a faint spiritual glow.

“This is it.”

Luo Bingning stepped forward and pressed her hand against a specific spot on the stone door.

As her spiritual energy flowed in, the stone door slowly opened, revealing the true interior of the cave dwelling.