Long Qinghuang left for the imperial court. Xiao Kui brought the food, and A’nuo rode his pig over to eat with them.

Lu Xingzhou couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re inseparable from this pig now, aren’t you?”

A’nuo, still joyful from the entire day, replied, “It’s so cute!”

Lu Xingzhou thought that A’nuo had indeed lacked playmates for many years, and as a child, it was no wonder he liked this little pig so much. He asked, “Have you named it?”

A’nuo said, “How about Zhouzhou? Look, it’s so white, like white porridge.”

Lu Xingzhou gave him a questioning look.

A’nuo cautiously urged the pig back, “Then, Yuyu?”

Lu Xingzhou lowered his head to drink his porridge, “Feel free to name it Yuyu if you’re not afraid of Yuan Muyu hanging you up and beating you later.”

A’nuo observed Lu Xingzhou’s expression and, seeing that he genuinely didn’t care, said, “Okay, Yuyu, let’s go.”

Then, he gleefully rode the pig off to patrol his territory, not even finishing his favorite meal.

A’nuo thought that this “Sister Yu” who had managed to turn the position of the only Shiniang into such a mess was so much like this pig—it was a perfect fit. And what if Yuan Muyu found out? She was rarely seen, so when would she even discover it? Even if she did, he’d just tell her it was called Zhouzhou, and that would be that.

Lu Xingzhou was drinking his porridge, while Xiao Kui was diligently preparing a medicinal bath nearby.

Lu Xingzhou glanced over. Body-tempering medicinal baths were actually common and popular among humans. He wasn’t involved in that particular practice, so he hadn’t experienced it much, but he understood its medical aspects well. Absorbing medicinal nutrients into muscles and bones was indeed effective. He wondered what kind of herbs Long Qinghuang had prepared.

Logically, traditional human medicinal baths couldn’t achieve the kind of physique A’nuo or the Dragon race possessed. That’s why some humans coveted the physique of demon cultivators and turned to demonic cultivation. But these things couldn’t be compared; why would humans compare their physiques to dragons? That would only cause discomfort. However, when one could even dream of the “Fa Tian Xiang Di” (Heaven and Earth Law) divine ability, this seemed less out of reach.

Lu Xingzhou walked over, pinched a bit of the medicinal powder, and sniffed it. His expression was a little strange. This was no ordinary medicine. It clearly contained parts of a dragon’s body: dragon scales, dragon bones, dragon meat, and other various components. One would have to have slaughtered a dragon to obtain these. Someone like Ji Wenchuan, who found a bone dragon, could at most scrape off a bit of bone dust and still worry about the bone dragon rebelling, but here, there was everything.

Lu Xingzhou hadn’t even dared to imagine such a thing; theoretically, it was an absolute taboo for the Dragon race. Would one have to dig up a deceased dragon’s grave? Or would a living dragon willingly pluck its scales, scrape its bones, and cut its flesh for you? Anyone who dared to suggest such a thing to a dragon would likely be flattened into a meat patty.

“Xiao Kui, where did this medicine come from?”

“I don’t know. Her Majesty instructed me before she left.”

Could it be from Long Qinghuang herself? Otherwise, she left from here and didn’t go to any storerooms. But if it was from herself, it made sense that she might have kept old shed scales, and a tiny bit of flesh was imaginable, but where did the bones come from? Lu Xingzhou found it beyond comprehension. He looked at the medicinal bath with several times more solemnity and gravity.

The medicinal bath was ready, and Xiao Kui stood by. Lu Xingzhou looked at Xiao Kui, and Xiao Kui looked at Lu Xingzhou. After a long moment, Lu Xingzhou said helplessly, “I say, little girl, why can’t you take a hint? I’m going to take a medicinal bath, what are you doing standing here?”

“Her Majesty ordered me to serve you.”

“Go, go! I’m not used to taking a bath with a little girl watching.”

“…I’m just a sunflower.”

“Then show me your strength with fifty suns?”

Xiao Kui was still bewildered when Lu Xingzhou threw her out.

At the imperial court, Long Qinghuang’s lips curled into a smile. He really passed the test! And people said he got along well with the little palace maid. How well he maintained himself in the face of crucial matters! Her finger had a small wound; it was from her own flesh she had cut. The dragon scales were also her own shed scales, a memento of her growth from a young dragon to an adult… or rather, an adult. Now, she had given them all to him.

As for the bones, they weren’t hers. The little man had an ancient dragon bone hidden in his ring. Although it had lost its vitality, scraping a portion for medicine was more than enough. The protection of his ring was almost nonexistent to a Dragon Emperor. He wouldn’t even know his bone dust was scraped off, probably still wondering where it came from. The thought of his bewildered expression made her want to laugh.

But then, remembering other things in the ring, Long Qinghuang’s expression turned very displeased. Whose dudou was that, so provocative? And what about that veil?

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty?” The officials called out helplessly. Her Majesty hadn’t missed court due to a demon concubine, but she had been distracted several times in less than an incense stick’s time. How could they deal with this? It would be better if she didn’t come to court at all.

Meanwhile, Lu Xingzhou had entered the medicinal bath, feeling the medicine transform his muscles. It was numb, itchy, and had a burning pain, very uncomfortable. But he was, after all, a third-rank cultivator with accomplishments, so dealing with this was not difficult. The truly difficult part was the dragon blood’s aphrodisiac effect.

Unlike the faint fragrance emitted by Long Qinghuang, this was a blood immersion. The medicinal power in the blood seeped into his skin and organs. His Dantian (energy center) warmed up, and the “zhouji” (metaphorical boat) began to “paddle,” making a rushing sound. If there was a mirror, he would probably see that his eyes were bloodshot with desire. If he hadn’t driven out that large-faced sunflower, something would have happened.

In other words, Long Qinghuang had intentionally arranged for the little palace maid to solve this problem? That wasn’t necessary… she might as well come herself. Lu Xingzhou silently circulated the Yin-Yang Jiyi Gong, letting the Yin and Yang energies rotate and digest themselves to resist the agitation in his heart.

Then, he discovered another problem. This aphrodisiac effect was different from the seductive art of Pei Chuyun. Pei Chuyun’s seductive art was more focused on the spiritual aspect. Although it also aroused bodily desires, it was spiritually induced and ultimately aimed at spiritual control.

However, this dragon blood effect, including the effect in the aphrodisiac valley on Sacred Mountain, was much cruder, targeting the primal physical desire and wildness of life. In this state, the rationality of a sentient being would be suppressed by primal wildness, turning them into inhuman beasts. Or, one could say, this was the most typical difference between humans and demons. The essence of a demon’s life had a high proportion of bestial parts. Once this part was stimulated and suppressed the spiritual nature born of cultivation, they would become like the pig demons seen recently.

They were also high-ranking members of the pig race, with status. Normally, they should have been well-dressed, civilized, and concerned about their reputation. But in that state, they would root around in a dirty pigsty, completely losing any semblance of a sentient being. The effect of dragon blood was not that extreme; it was somewhere in between the two, but it was clearly very effective in stimulating the wildness of life. Wildness was not just lust; it included many other things: appetite, cruelty, killing, and various impulses surging into the heart.

Long Qinghuang, still in court, was also paying attention to Lu Xingzhou’s expression, feeling a little worried. These negative effects were inevitable, and he had to endure them himself. If he couldn’t endure them, he would have to leave the medicinal bath, which would mean Lu Xingzhou was not fated for this body-tempering method. But if he endured it, Lu Xingzhou would also possess a pseudo-dragon physique, and then… at least in terms of defense… Moreover, at that time, he would also be more wild, not like the gentlemanly person he was now; he would be more like a wolf-dog…

Her Majesty’s face, in court, began to blush again, her eyes darting around. The officials sighed internally, “When will Da Gan (Great Dryness) attack? Has the Demon Realm not been destroyed yet?”

Lu Xingzhou stood up in the tub. Water droplets ran down his firm, muscular body, making him appear incredibly desirable. Long Qinghuang’s eyes lit up. Then, she thought, since he finished so quickly, could it be that he couldn’t bear it? But Lu Xingzhou’s eyes were clear, as if nothing had happened. So, he had completed the first medicinal bath trial? Indeed, upon closer inspection, a faint golden light shimmered on Lu Xingzhou’s skin, then faded into his flesh, as if dragon patterns were emerging.

Just one session, and the effect was so good? Long Qinghuang was a little surprised. This was naturally because Lu Xingzhou had immortal bones in his body, so he was not an ordinary mortal. The absorption effect was indeed much better than that of ordinary people. In Long Qinghuang’s eyes, it felt like a natural affinity with the Dragon race, making her incredibly happy. “Court dismissed!”

The officials groaned, “Your Majesty, no! The previous discussion was only halfway through, and you haven’t said anything yet?”

“Ah? Oh.” Long Qinghuang coughed lightly, sat back down on her half-raised buttocks, and said lazily, “What were we just talking about?”

“…We were talking about the earthquake in Xijiang. The Leopard race there believes the epicenter is not within their territory, suspecting it’s in the Dongyue Hanchuan (Frozen Moon Cold River).”

“Hmm…” At the mention of Dongyue Hanchuan, Long Qinghuang’s first thought was Lu Xingzhou, and she blurted out, “Then, when I return, I’ll ask Lu—”

She then saw the blank stares of the officials, and Long Qinghuang swallowed the rest of her sentence. She said indifferently, “Since the epicenter is not in the Leopard race’s area, then disaster relief should be provided. Have the Eagle race send capable personnel to observe Dongyue Hanchuan carefully and report any changes in time.”

“Yes. There is another matter…” Long Yan finally said, “Your Majesty, yesterday…”

“Hmm?” Long Qinghuang’s distracted look instantly vanished. Her dragon eyes turned sharp, and the atmosphere in the demon court immediately became chilling. Many officials who had been complaining internally broke out in a cold sweat, lowering their heads, not daring to speak.

“I was just about to discuss this matter with all of you,” Long Qinghuang said coldly. “Pudu’s personal morality is lacking; his virtue does not match his position. The importance of the Grand High Priest’s position to the entire Demon Realm needs no elaboration from me. Pudu is unfit for this role. I intend to replace the Grand High Priest. You all may discuss it.”

“This…” Long Yan wiped his sweat and said, “The abbot of Sacred Mountain has always been chosen by the temple itself; the demon court does not interfere.”

“So?” Long Qinghuang sneered, “Since when did Sacred Mountain become independent?”

Long Yan immediately fell silent. Long Qinghuang’s accumulated authority was simply too great. These past two days of “infatuation with men leading to incompetence” had not harmed her long-established image and prestige in the slightest.

Long Qinghuang stood up and said coldly, “My past non-interference in their temple’s selections was out of my generosity, not their entitlement! The sacrifice of Sacred Mountain is a vital instrument of the state. Do I not even have the power to appoint a priest?!”

A large group of officials knelt down in unison, “Your subject had no such intention.”

After a pause, Long Ao quietly reminded her, “If Your Majesty insists on replacing the Grand High Priest, please try not to make too much noise and proceed gradually. After all, the Grand High Priest is also a transcendent-rank powerhouse. Once pushed too far, he might retaliate fiercely…”

Long Qinghuang glanced at Long Ao, thinking that this reminder was actually correct. But she deliberately brought it up in the court discussion to see how Sacred Mountain would react, and who was in communication with Sacred Mountain. Before Lu Xingzhou, Long Qinghuang herself was an emperor who commanded the Demon Realm; she wasn’t just someone who waited for a little man to give her ideas.

“You don’t need to worry about this; I have my own plans. In any case, you should all think about this matter when you go back. Tomorrow, I want to see detailed proposals.”

“Yes.”

“Court dismissed.” Long Qinghuang flicked her robes and turned to enter the back of the hall.

In the court, a group of demon officials looked at each other, their expressions varied.

Meanwhile, Lu Xingzhou, having finished his medicinal bath, had just sat down to meditate for a short while when a dragon couple arrived. This was exactly what he had requested from Long Qinghuang before she left: to find a dragon couple for a consultation. Both husband and wife were young dragons, and they both still had their dragon horns visible, which made Lu Xingzhou’s heart stir slightly.

Long Qinghuang’s dragon horns were always hidden. In daily interactions, she didn’t have much of a “dragon mother” vibe. If she went to the Tianshuang Kingdom, people wouldn’t even recognize her as the Dragon Emperor. He wondered if she would be willing to intentionally show her dragon horns? They were so adorable.

“Greetings, Danxia County Son.” The dragon couple were very polite; at least they didn’t call him that unceremonious “Sheng Longzi” (living dragon son). Lu Xingzhou’s impression of them was better, and he nodded, “Both sit, and extend your wrists.” The couple simultaneously extended their wrists, and Lu Xingzhou simultaneously extended both hands to take their pulses. This display made the couple exchange glances, both somewhat surprised. Human medical clinics also existed in the demon capital, but they had never seen anyone dare to take two pulses at once. Could this Sheng Longzi be a charlatan?

However, they then heard Lu Xingzhou say, “You had intercourse four times last night, three times the day before yesterday, and five times the day before that…”

The couple was speechless.

“Is this your daily routine?”

The female dragon shyly turned her head, while the male dragon puffed out his chest proudly, “So you know all about it.”

Lu Xingzhou said, “This is a sickness; it needs to be treated.”

The male dragon looked confused.

Lu Xingzhou rapidly wrote on a slip of paper and then asked, “When you have intercourse, is it in your true form or human form?”

“Originally mostly human form. Later, when we couldn’t conceive, we tried various methods, and often used our true form as well.”

“Still no luck?”

“No.”

“What about with other races?”

“That works.”

Lu Xingzhou glanced at the female dragon, who showed no trace of displeasure, because she also played around outside. Lu Xingzhou truly admired them: you have intercourse N times a day, and can still play around with others? Do dragons have nothing else to do in life?

“Why did you mostly choose human form before?”

“Human form is more fun!” The male dragon said with a gleam in his eyes, “What can you do in our true form? That’s why we admit that you humans are truly the spirits of all things.”

“From that perspective, indeed…” Lu Xingzhou found it a bit hard to maintain his composure. He finally finished writing the prescription and handed it to him, “Such activities should not be too frequent; it might affect the quality of conception. Just enough is fine.”

The male dragon took the prescription, a little mistrustful. “Is it because you can’t, so you’re jealous? You and our Empress, the recognized most beautiful dragon, if you had less than three times last night, don’t blame me for looking down on you.”

Damn it. Lu Xingzhou, who was as saintly as a Buddha with only one time last night, ground his teeth. “That was restraint. If I wanted to, I could do it seven times anytime.”

“You said it.” Long Qinghuang’s voice came from outside the hall, and Lu Xingzhou clamped his mouth shut.

Long Qinghuang entered the hall with a half-smile, her eyes still holding an unnamable springtime allure, and she shot Lu Xingzhou a glance. The young dragon couple had clearly never seen Her Majesty with such an expression, and they couldn’t help but wipe their sweat, bowing and saying, “Your Majesty.”

Long Qinghuang nodded, “What’s the diagnosis?”

Lu Xingzhou said, “They need to exercise restraint, preferably once every two or three days, and temporarily stop having relations with other concubines or external partners.”

The couple exclaimed in unison, “How can that be?”

Lu Xingzhou said indifferently, “This is an order. Come back and tell me the results in ten days. Remember, strictly adhere to it.”

Under Long Qinghuang’s stern gaze, the young couple dared not disobey and left with bitter faces.

Long Qinghuang walked behind Lu Xingzhou and kneaded his shoulders, “So, what did you learn?”

“Quite a bit.” Lu Xingzhou’s expression was very serious. “I deliberately told them to exercise restraint to let the news spread to those who are interested. The real problem isn’t here.”

“Where is it?”

“It lies in the transfer of energy channels and the effect of witchcraft…” Lu Xingzhou said, “If I’m not mistaken, there’s a dragon hidden within Sacred Mountain, whether dead or alive, that has been used as a kind of witchcraft sacrifice for a very long time… The aphrodisiac chaos in the mountain hollow isn’t seduction, but the effect of dragon blood guided by witchcraft.”