Han Zhan left Taishang Laojun’s Douluo Palace and returned to his residence.

His task was completed, and he obtained the benefits he desired.

The other Contracted Spirit Girls had not returned yet, so Han Zhan consolidated his Realm while resting and waiting for their return.

The second to return was Nuannuan, who seemed a little disappointed.

Seeing her like this, Han Zhan raised an eyebrow.

"What happened? Was your progress not smooth?" Han Zhan asked with concern.

Nuannuan shook her head, "It went smoothly. It’s just that the result wasn’t as satisfactory."

Then she explained to Han Zhan how the Beidou Star Monarch took her upriver, discovering the truth that the River of Time had been altered.

After listening, Han Zhan’s expression became somewhat serious.

"So, someone has tampered with your River of Time?"

"At least that’s the Beidou Star Monarch’s speculation."

"Actually, it’s not hard to guess who it might be. Besides you, who else can enter the River of Time?"

The Beidou Star Monarch can enter the River of Time, but he doesn’t have the Ability to alter its course, not even the power to initiate Time Reversal.

Nuannuan at her peak could only achieve Time Reversal with the White Jade Emperor’s Seal, but not alter the course of the river.

"There’s one more person."

"Your predecessor, or rather, the Kunlun Mirror’s predecessor," Han Zhan implied.

"Ah Zhan, are you suggesting... the Queen Mother of the West?"

Indeed, according to the information Han Zhan obtained from Taishang Laojun, the Queen Mother of the West was the previous holder of the Kunlun Mirror.

Thus, having the Kunlun Mirror and being a Saint who transcended to the Realm of Transcendence in the Kunlun Twin Fruit World, it’s not impossible for her to alter the course of the River of Time.

"But why would she do that?"

This question from Nuannuan, Han Zhan couldn’t answer for the moment.

"However, I haven’t come back empty-handed. The Beidou Star Monarch gifted me an artifact that can lessen the punishment from the River of Time, so the side effects of using Time Reversal won’t be as severe in the future."

At these words, Han Zhan’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"So, the previous punishment from the River of Time made you revert to a child’s form, but now the punishment might regress you to fourteen, sixteen, or eighteen years old?"

"This is great!" Han Zhan almost blurted out.

Previously, Nuannuan only had two forms, but now there are three more. Isn’t that delightful?

Hearing Han Zhan’s words, Nuannuan rolled her eyes at him.

"You’re playing dumb again. I meant that the time I spend in a child-like state is shorter!"

"Oh." Han Zhan seemed slightly uninterested in this find.

"What, you want to try now?" Nuannuan asked provocatively, seeing his reaction.

This little tease might not know how powerful my Supreme Physique is now.

Thinking of this, Han Zhan decided to accept the challenge cheerfully: "Let’s try then!"

Another day passed.

Li Lingzhen returned after completing her learning.

Seeing the house in disarray, Li Lingzhen was quite amazed.

"Wow, Ah Zhan, your power has increased so much." She casually waved a Life Spiritual Power, restoring the exhausted Nuannuan to full vigor.

Feeling invigorated immediately, like a sip of supreme restorative soup, Nuannuan was instantly rejuvenated.

"Lingzhen, your Ability..."

Nuannuan was surprised at Li Lingzhen, having received treatment from her before.

Back then, Li Lingzhen would directly use the Shennong Cauldron to infuse power, word by word.

Now, Li Lingzhen only needed to wag a finger—literally wag a finger—and her body was completely restored?

"My healing skills are way beyond before. The Southern Dipper Star Monarch greatly enhanced my healing technique and my understanding of Life Spiritual Power." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Now, my healing efficiency is at least twenty times what it was before!" Li Lingzhen said with some pride.

Heaven knows the intense training she went through these past two days, dealing with plant life akin to giant demons, leaving a shadow whenever she saw plants now.

Li Lingzhen’s efforts paid off.

Efficient use of Life Spiritual Power had more benefits than she first imagined.

Without excess Life Spiritual Power, the patients no longer had to deal with the "burden" of excess.

The post-healing state could adapt immediately without the discomfort of Life Spiritual Power overflowing.

It’s this silky, smooth feeling that gave Nuannuan a different healing experience, surprising her into speaking out earlier.

By the next evening.

Jiang Lingling was the third to return.

The Barefoot Immortal’s Heaven-Reaching Treasure Talisman could only be maintained for two days.

When the two days were up, she had to leave the Talisman Mountain.

Upon leaving, Jiang Lingling felt reluctant, while the Barefoot Immortal was eager for her to leave.

Because if she didn’t leave, the so-called infinite Heaven-Reaching Talisman Mountain might be wholly devoured by Jiang Lingling’s mysterious Haotian Tower!

The Heaven-Reaching Treasure Talisman was kept by the Celestial Emperor at the Barefoot Immortal’s side.

If he found out that half the Talismans were missing... it’s hard to imagine how angry the Celestial Emperor might vent on the poor Barefoot Immortal.

He might even use the Celestial Emperor Sword to cut the Barefoot Immortal into pieces.

As the Barefoot Immortal felt the loss, Jiang Lingling naturally felt the gain.

After absorbing nearly half of the Heaven-Reaching Treasure Talisman, her understanding of the Sealing Rune improved greatly, even faintly glimpsing the Peak of the Talisman Path.

"Hmm!" Jiang Lingling greeted Han Zhan and the others first.

Then, catching sight of the scene inside Han Zhan’s room, Jiang Lingling’s face suddenly flushed bright red.

"Why so shy? We’ll all be like family from now on." Li Lingzhen noticed Jiang Lingling’s "innocent little flower" look and pulled her over.

"Speakin’ of which, with the big battle approaching, we haven’t finished developing the Haotian Tower, leaving a gap in our combat capacity."

"Lingling, why not take this chance and go for it?"

Li Lingzhen coaxed Jiang Lingling softly, much like a sly fox seducing a little white rabbit.

"Hmm!" Jiang Lingling widened her eyes, blinking innocently.

Li Lingzhen nodded knowingly, then turned to Han Zhan and shouted loudly: "Ah Zhan! Lingling agreed, she just said—’Fire at will!’"

Jiang Lingling: "..."

Han Zhan: "..."

On the third day, Gongyang Jin returned from fierce battles on the ancient battlefield, and as she opened the door, a chillingly stern aura made the four people inside shiver.

Looking at the even more chaotic room, as well as Li Lingzhen treating Nuannuan and Jiang Lingling, Gongyang Jin clicked her tongue.

"Had a wild time while I was gone, huh?"