Qinghu arrived at Half-Star Island in the afternoon, accompanied by two C-level female Awakened.

After getting on the island, she didn't wait for Yuanyuan to greet her; with a flicker, she reached the place where they used to cultivate together.

The two layers of defense array had been repaired, and a lot of the aura had been wiped away, but the marks of the lightning strike were still visible.

Qu Jianlei sensed her return and came out, "Greetings, Master Qinghu."

He wouldn't let Yuanyuan call him master, but he couldn't lack courtesy with a Supreme.

"No need to call me master," Qinghu waved a hand, speaking blandly, "You are a Supreme now too."

Then she took a measured look at him, nodding slightly, "The aura is stable enough, no wonder no one noticed."

She knew that the driver had been here, feeling a bit puzzled—couldn't tell that Ran Bingluan had just achieved advancement?

But now it seems, although the other's aura was a bit unstable, it didn't feel like the uncontrollable Elemental Power kind of instability.

Rather, it felt like... just a slight injury, the kind that left the aura weak.

"Don't mention it," Qu Jianlei spread his hands, replying helplessly, "They didn't give me a chance to stabilize my realm."

Qinghu wasn't skilled in socializing, nor did she say any congratulatory words.

She glanced at him again, suspiciously asking, "Was it during your breakthrough to Supreme, you encountered a lightning strike?"

Qu Jianlei nodded, saying nothing—Yuanyuan had witnessed it firsthand, it couldn't be hidden.

Seeing his lack of response, Qinghu naturally understood what it meant. She herself wasn't one for words either.

At this moment, Yuanyuan spoke up, "Masters, someone from the Anomalous Management Division requests an audience outside."

Qinghu waved a hand, speaking blandly, "Let them wait!"

Then she reached toward the room split by lightning, a large mass of dust and aura flew toward her palm.

In the next moment, a walnut-sized light orb of pale white condensed in her palm.

Her eyes were half-closed, gripping the light orb, standing there motionless.

After delivering the message, Yuanyuan couldn't help but glance sideways at Qu Jianlei: So much time had passed, yet she still could capture the aura?

Qu Jianlei slightly shook his head, truly worthy of a Peak Supreme, this confidence was unmatched.

Qinghu meditated for about two minutes, then slowly opened her eyes and released her right hand.

Her palm was now empty, and there was a trace of confusion in her eyes.

After a long while, she sighed gently, "Indeed, there's some aura of alien energy, how did you acquire it, little Ran?"

Qu Jianlei thought for a moment, took out a bottle the size of a thumb, "I obtained this by chance."

Qinghu accepted the small bottle, not in a hurry to open it, but examined it closely, "This is..."

"Just a random bottle I bought," Qu Jianlei casually answered, "made from synthetic inert materials, not prone to reactions."

Qinghu nodded, "I thought the material didn't seem to have any particular origin."

Then she opened the bottle, poured out a pill, transparent and colorless, just slightly bigger than a soybean, "Hmm, a capsule?"

"Also something I bought casually," Qu Jianlei replied in a low voice, "the liquid stored inside is alien energy."

The air currents in Qinghu's palm didn't touch the elixir, supporting it faintly.

She glanced at the capsule, then at the petite bottle, "You can fill it... but this packaging?"

The liquid that can be bottled shouldn't be too little, but looking at this bottle, it really didn't seem like a lot.

Qu Jianlei answered in a deep voice, "There isn't much left, if Master Qinghu is interested, I'll gift you this one."

Indeed, there weren't many left, only around three thousand pieces, but... there were larger bottles, just inconvenient to take out.

"Then I won't be polite," Qinghu placed the capsule back inside the bottle and capped it.

"Where did you obtain this, can you say?"

"Not quite convenient," Qu Jianlei shook his head, then added, "When the Qi Gathering Array was damaged, I used this for replenishing Qi."

Qinghu looked at him thoughtfully, after some consideration, asked again, "Alien energy... aren't you worried?"

Upon hearing this, Qu Jianlei sighed helplessly, "I have no other choice."

"When the Qi Gathering Array was destroyed, I had Qi Recovery Pills and A-level Crystals, but they didn't recover as quickly as this."

"Oh?" Qinghu glanced at the bottle again, a flick of the wrist, and the bottle disappeared, "Then it mustn't be researched casually."

She was also someone who enjoyed research, especially when it involved the structure of alien energy, she wouldn't hesitate to invest.

But since the other spoke so highly of it, she certainly wouldn't waste it haphazardly.

Qu Jianlei secretly breathed a sigh of relief; as long as you take your time to study it at leisure, just don't expose it to others lightly.

However, Qinghu hadn't finished her questions, "How did you get struck by lightning during the advancement to Supreme?"

"How would I know?" Qu Jianlei spread his hands, answering very helplessly, "I couldn't move at the time."

Qinghu furrowed her brow, staring at him, deep in thought.

Qu Jianlei waited for a while, couldn't help but cough lightly, "If this confuses you, I can leave now."

Qinghu snapped back to awareness, casually waved a hand, "I'm not someone who can't handle such matters..."

"I told you, no need to call me master, how about calling me 'Dao Companion' instead?"

"Dao companions?" Qu Jianlei was astonished, pondering for a moment before tentatively asking, "Isn't 'fellow cultivators' more appropriate?"

Sitting down to discuss the Dao isn't an issue, but coveting my body... that's not acceptable.

"You truly understand," Qinghu's expression was a bit strange but also somewhat relieved.

"Everyone says cultivation requires 'techniques, companions, wealth, and land,' so what's wrong with calling them Dao companions?"

Do you understand these Divine Land terms? Qu Jianlei was a bit surprised, it seems the empire's research into divine texts had some results.

Upon hearing this, he nodded, "If it's referring to fellow travelers on the cultivation path, then...it makes sense."

The 'companions' in techniques, companions, wealth, and land mostly refers to companions accompanying each other in the pursuit of the Dao, not necessarily romantic partners.

Qinghu nodded gladly, "Your divine text inheritance is indeed not bad, but...be cautious using the term 'Dao companions'."

"If the Imperial forces hear about it carelessly, it could lead to trouble. Better to just call me by my name."

I really don't want to call you a Dao companion! Qu Jianlei nodded, "Alright, my lord."

Qinghu gave him a sidelong glance, "Why did you get struck by lightning? Guess a bit...it's okay if you're wrong."

Qu Jianlei shook his head simply, "I don't know, maybe it's related to more rain in Celestial Hook?"

"Absolutely not," Qinghu shook her head decisively. She knew clearly what reckonings had once occurred in Celestial Hook.

"Could it be, that when you were A-level, you attempted Unity Electromagnetic Attribute?"

This... such a convenient excuse? Qu Jianlei thought for a moment and slowly nodded, "I did attempt it."

Qinghu's eyes lit up, "Can you now release Electromagnetic Technique?"

Others might think, Unity Alien Attribute is hard, but since she herself achieved Unity Earth Attribute, she doesn't think it's impossible.

Qu Jianlei pondered, but still decided to conceal his strength, he slightly shook his head, "I only attempted it, but electromagnetic..."

Just then, a force rose at the doorway, followed by a strong intent descending.

"Qinghu, how dare you refuse entrance to members of the Anomalous Management Division, truly bold!"

Upon hearing this, Qinghu's gaze suddenly turned icy, "Chi Yang, don't just spout words, try entering uninvited!"

The momentum outside stagnated for a moment, then the pressure grew stronger, and the person laughed heartily.

"Haha, really don't put Guardian Supreme into account?"

The pressure from Chi Yang Supreme continued to rise, even Yuanyuan's face turned slightly pale.

Qinghu's expression remained unchanged, even somewhat increasingly cold, lips lightly pursed, gaze indifferent.

Her attitude was quite obvious: I don't want to answer you, if you dare, try breaking in!

Qu Jianlei thought about it, he was also a Supreme now, was it right to let a woman shield him like this?

So he coughed lightly and solemnly asked, "Qinghu, do you need me to take action?"

Qinghu glanced at him mildly, shook her head slightly, the coldness on her face diminished a bit.

She was gathering spiritual power, ready to fiercely strike the invader, temporarily not convenient to speak.

Ran Bingluan was willing to act, proving she wasn't afraid of trouble, worthy of stepping forward to bear this grudge.

"Haha," a loud laugh sounded again, the pressure grew even heavier.

"Where did this brat come from, daring to speak up, try challenging me..."

"Try~~~" Qu Jianlei lightly called out, the voice wasn't particularly loud, yet unusually robust, with a strange fluctuation.

Chi Yang was a slender man, shoulder-length grizzled hair, face ruddy.

He stood at the doorway, wearing a mocking smile, yet a hint of seriousness in his eyes.

Beside him stood the driver, this Supreme's face bore an unusually relaxed smile.

He knew Chi Yang's strength was formidable, not inferior against Qinghu, and if counting himself, a two-on-two wouldn't likely lose.

Chi Yang's Fire Attribute naturally restrained the opposing pair of Gold Attribute Supremes, coupled with support from the Anomalous Management Division, how could they lose?

The two A-levels from the Anomalous Management Division might not possess great strength, but they represented the Imperial official forces!

Confronting the officials wasn't a big deal, but daring to go all out, that's a big deal!

So the driver's smile was extremely relaxed, he could already see the result.

However, as a wave of strange sound surged in, the smile on Chi Yang's face froze instantaneously.

He couldn't even finish a sentence, abruptly interrupted.

The next moment, his originally ruddy face flushed purplish red, even tending to turn black.

His heart was pounding intensely, and at the same time, his mind shook, causing dizziness.

Chi Yang slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, began to sort out his chaotic Inner Breath.

About half a minute later, he opened his eyes again, spoke in a deep voice, "That's...Sound Wave Attack?"

This time, he didn't dare continue externalizing pressure, because the other's method subtly countered him.

Sound Wave isn't considered an attribute, but Awakened ones advancing to Supreme, free from attribute constraints, some have developed related attack methods.

Yet this method is extremely rare, and usually only effective against Low Tier Awakened.

(End of third update, seeking base monthly votes for March.)