The carriage arrived at the Warm Spring Inn halfway up the mountain. The exquisite courtyard was designed in harmony with the mountain scenery, with towering pines. Although it wasn't as luxurious as in the city, it was elegantly and cozily decorated. Everyone had their own room. They settled in first and had a delicate lunch, with the inn offering a hot spring-themed menu that included a hot spring egg.

In the afternoon, they went to soak in the hot springs. Kathy didn't join the others, thinking that her presence might make them uncomfortable. As a Secretary, she exerted too much pressure on Fei Ruolin and Huerta.

Every room at the Warm Spring Inn was equipped with a private single-person hot spring pool. However, the main attraction wasn't those; it was the large communal pool in the backyard where you could soak while gazing at the Celestial Pool and snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Lu Shuai was the most enthusiastic. After the meal, he couldn't wait to drag Li Xin and Huerta to the hot spring. The three of them wrapped in large towels, showing off their physiques. Huerta, who trained like a little tank, followed a pure knight's path, tempering his body. His Spiritual Ability was also used to enhance his physique. Being a Saxon with a naturally strong body, he had a somewhat iron-like build, making both Li Xin and Lu Shuai a bit envious.

Compared to their peers, Li Xin and Lu Shuai weren't bad either, just that their muscle structures weren't as well-defined as Huerta's. They washed their bodies first.

"Damn, you've got a ghostly back! When did you train that?" Lu Shuai exclaimed while wiping his chest muscles, looking at Huerta and then at himself, feeling alright.

"Didn't train, it came naturally," Huerta said. He enjoyed tempering and honing his physique. The failures in Celestial Capital and the pressure he felt in Dragon Capital all became motivation.

After their bath, they opened the door to be greeted by the open-air large hot spring, surrounded by plants and stone walls. Next door should be the women's pool, somehow the steam from there felt more fragrant.

Lu Shuai tested the water temperature with his foot, "A bit hot."

Then he slowly went in, while Huerta just dove straight in. He wasn't afraid of the heat. That warmth really relaxed his whole body muscles. Li Xin felt the water temperature too; it was hot, but not unbearable given their physiques. He poured some hot water over himself before slowly squatting down. In an instant, heat enveloped his whole body. All his pores opened, greedily savoring the moment. He'd been reviewing case files for some time, his mind and body a bit weary. The hot spring soak made him feel like he was ascending.

Three big men began their steamy, misty groans.

"Liar!" Lu Shuai suddenly blurted out.

"Ah, who could lie to you?" Huerta curiously asked.

Li Xin was also puzzled. Who could deceive Lu Shuai?

"Promised a mixed bath, wasted all that hope," Lu Shuai lazily said, "Soaking with you two big guys really wastes this great pool."

Li Xin and Huerta rolled their eyes speechlessly, "Don't worry, we don't mind you."

Lu Shuai leaned against the pool's edge, already imagining a hot spring trip with Miss Tang. This was truly a romantic holy land, cold outside, warm inside, bursting with passion.

Next door, Luo Xue and Fei Ruolin were soaking with Xueyin. The steam turned their skin rosy red; their pool temperature was a bit lower.

"Sister Ruolin, what are you eating to grow like this?" Xueyin's eyes were green with envy, sometimes even wondering if she was adopted, as she didn't quite resemble her mother.

Fei Ruolin never dreamed of being teased by kids one day, "I don't know either, it's troubling."

"Sister Ruolin, you're so blessed without knowing it. Anyone saying otherwise is just jealous," Xueyin said.

Luo Xue smiled sweetly, "You know quite a lot, heard you're going to apprentice under Grandmaster Philson?"

"Don't mention it, it's giving me a headache. Heard they're all old-fashioned old men there, not fun at all," Xueyin said, pouting arrogantly.

"Xueyin, this is a coveted opportunity for many. Grandmaster Philson holds a high status in the entire Celestial Principle School and is one of the two strongest in Celestial Capital," Fei Ruolin said. "Scholars of the Celestial Principle aren't rigid. They believe in applying their learning practically, which even helps with Hex research."

"Indeed, the Divine Revelation Canon Law School still can't get over missing the Celestial Principle School's first lecture," Luo Xue smiled faintly. "So comfortable. Heard the hot spring here has beautifying effects."

"Really? Then let's soak a bit more," hearing this, Xueyin was very interested.

"You're still young; don't stay too long at once. Drink more water," Luo Xue handed a cup to Xueyin.

After a while, they moved to the tea room in the adjacent area, sipping tea and eating fruit while admiring the beautiful view outside. It felt like another realm momentarily.

Kathy soaked in a small pool with Lin Fei in another part of the inn. The pool was outdoors in a small courtyard, suitable for two or three people. Prepared hot spring water flowed down from the mountain into the pool. Not far from the hot spring was a deep abyss, and opposite was another mountain peak, lush in summer, stunningly beautiful. This moment it seemed a bit bland.

Kathy and Lin Fei lightly clinked their glasses, "No need to force it, if attending is inconvenient, just leave it," Lin Fei said.

Kathy smiled, "It's okay, I also want to meet these two Three-star Grandmasters. The Celestial Principle School has something unique. Even the latest gods have existed for millennia. Today, with the old gods active, the Celestial Principle School is one of the only two new paths formed. I'm curious how far they can go."

"I don't understand secretive matters. I've encountered some Celestial Principle theory, unlike anything else, unique and profound," Lin Fei said.

"That's natural. Traditional paths are overcrowded, leaving only the Celestial Principle School and our Grand Governor's Hex-Tech path," Kathy said, finishing the red wine in her glass. "Yet the path to divinity is not easy. Even prodigious talents may not escape premature fate."

Lin Fei couldn't comment, as Kathy's insights on such matters transcended that of ordinary people, and their discussion was on a different level.

Kathy suddenly chuckled, "I'm curious how you so readily allowed Xueyin to go. Weren't you against her stepping onto hidden paths?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"I once interviewed a captain, and what he said made a lot of sense," Lin Fei said, "A ship is safest in the harbor, but that's not what ships are built for."

"Only you'd say that. How's your beauty contest going?" Kathy gave a thumbs-up, as Xueyin essentially stepped onto a hidden path.

"The interest exceeded expectations. More participants are joining. The editorial department is considering dividing it into stages, first selecting a stage champion, then choosing a grand champion from those. Many didn't participate in the initial round due to various concerns," Lin Fei said.

"Didn't set any up for Li Xin?"

"He needs to be willing. Let him sort it out himself. Seems he really has no feelings for Luo Xue and Fei Ruolin,"

"Neither Luo Xue nor Fei Ruolin is suitable. Li Xin isn't someone who plays by the rules, he won't shortchange himself,"

"Already feeling limber from the soak; want to try the back scrub here later?"

"I probably can't, easily gets red and swollen," Lin Fei shook her head.

"Your skin's enviable to women," Kathy said admiringly, "I never see you use skincare products, yet how can you be so fair and unafraid of the sun? Feels like you're the Moon God's chosen."

"It's not right to flattery in front of the true chosen one."