But as Lila Quinn danced, her movements gradually changed.
At first, it was like watching a white-robed fairy dance—pure and breathtaking.
But now, it was as if a demon was dancing—her every move brimming with seduction.
Ever since she mastered the Heaven-Fox Enchantment, she had never unleashed it at full strength.
Because she feared that if she ever went all out with the Heaven-Fox Enchantment, win or lose, it would never truly be a victory for her.
Although she had married twice before, she had always kept her body pure as ice and jade.
If she won, her opponent would have seen her body—even if she killed them afterward, that fact could never be erased. If she lost, her fate would be even worse: she would suffer the backlash of the Heaven-Fox Enchantment and fall under the control of her target. So unless absolutely necessary, she never wanted to use it at full force.
"Could it be that he didn't...?"
Lila Quinn couldn't imagine what might happen next; things had gone this far, and there was no turning back. Her dance grew faster and faster, like a demon spinning wildly, and a faint, alluring fragrance began to permeate the air.
Ian Song stared at Lila Quinn's dancing figure without blinking.
But trying to use this alone to bewitch him was nowhere near enough.
"Pfft!"
With a soft sound, the last scrap of covering cloth was torn away from Lila Quinn, revealing a flawless, jade-like body of perfect beauty before his eyes.
Her movements grew faster and faster, until Lila Quinn seemed to blur into a phantom.
Then, a second Lila Quinn appeared, then a third, a fourth, and a fifth.
Of course, that was the limit; to truly make him fall, Lila Quinn's power still wasn't enough.
"Clap clap clap!"
A crisp, not-too-loud clapping sounded: "Lady Lila Pearce's dance truly is extraordinary—the most beautiful dance I've ever seen!"
"Pfft!"
As soon as Ian Song finished speaking, four of the Lila Quinns suddenly shattered and vanished. The remaining Lila Quinn staggered as if struck by lightning, her face turning ghostly pale as she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"You... you!"
She stopped dancing, her eyes—clear as autumn water—fixed on Ian Song, filled with a mix of unwillingness, loneliness, and helplessness.
She had lost.
She had lost completely—even herself, she had lost to Ian Song.
As Lila Quinn started to collapse to the floor, Ian Song reached out to support her. But just then, Lila's eyes snapped open and a thin needle hidden between her fingers shot straight at Ian's brow.
"So mischievous—even now, you're still playing tricks on me!"
Ian Song smiled faintly and brushed his palm over her wrist. Instantly, her whole arm went numb and powerless; her fingers loosened, and the thin needle fell to the ground...
Even her final trump card was broken by Ian Song. Lila Quinn fell into utter despair, raised her other hand, and suddenly struck toward her own crown.
"Thinking of backing out? You've already lost, so you're mine now. I won't allow you to die. How could you die?"
Ian Song said calmly, catching her wrist. Then he brushed her Deep-Sleep Point, gazed at her devastatingly beautiful face, and continued, "Just have a good sleep. When you wake up, everything will be fine!"
He wasn't exactly a gentleman, but he wouldn't take advantage of Lila Quinn while she was unconscious.
"Maybe I should go find Lily and Autumn to vent my fire?"
But he immediately dismissed the idea. The fire in his heart was stirred by Lila Quinn—if he went to Lily or Autumn, it would be disrespectful to them.
"Forget it, better to cultivate instead!"
With a thought, Ian Song focused his mind inward.
This world was rich in spiritual energy, and Ian Song had no intention of wasting such a good opportunity to cultivate. As a result, after more than a year—even without taking a single pill—his strength had grown rapidly. He'd already reached the peak of the Innate Seventh Layer, just one step away from breaking into the Eighth.
Feeling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth rush into his body as the Origin-Nurturing Scripture circulated, then refined through his meridians and finally gathered in his dantian, Ian Song felt a strange joy.
Cultivation was like climbing a mountain.
The higher you climbed, the more you had to give.
Even in a world brimming with spiritual energy, Ian Song felt that breaking through to the Innate Eighth Layer was extremely difficult.
He didn't know how long he'd been cultivating when a soft sound brought Ian Song out of his trance.
He walked to the bedside, his gaze falling on Lila Quinn's face. She was awake now, but her eyes had changed—when she looked at him, there was a complex expression he couldn't quite read.
"Is this woman up to something again?" Ian Song wondered to himself.
"Husband, could you help me sit up?" Lila Quinn asked softly, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness.
"Of course!"
Ian Song smiled and nodded, helping Lila Quinn sit up. As he did, her blanket slipped down, and her smooth, enticing upper body was once again exposed to his eyes.
"Ah!"
Lila Quinn gasped and quickly covered her chest with her hands, her expression deeply shy. "Husband, could you bring me my clothes?"
With a wave of his hand, Lila Quinn's clothes flew into Ian Song's grasp. He looked at her playfully. "Do you need me to help you put them on?"
"You're so annoying, husband—always teasing me. Could you turn around, please?" Lila Quinn's expression grew even more bashful.
"Alright!"
Ian Song stuffed the clothes into Lila Quinn's hands and turned away to one side.
There was a rustling sound behind him. Soon, Lila Quinn's voice called out, "I'm ready, husband. You can turn around now!"
Ian Song turned back, his expression growing cold. "Alright, tell me—what exactly are you playing at? I've humored you for long enough; my patience is almost gone!"