Concerned about the rising chaos, Yasaka decided to move Kunou and the shrine's operations to Kuoh Town. Ethan supported this, even promising to eventually retrieve the sacred beast fragments stolen from Kunou by Cao Cao.
It took two days to pack and settle the shrine's affairs. During this time, the "love-starved" shrine maidens, who had been listening to the sounds of the Dragon Gods for three days, all stepped forward to offer themselves to Ethan.
Ethan refused no one. While their individual power was low, they were all pure virgins dedicated to Yasaka. The cumulative effect of their "Virgin Essence" pushed Ethan's power even further. Each maiden grew significantly in strength, gaining at least two major ranks in cultivation. They were no longer just priestesses; they were now Ethan's loyal, empowered handmaidens.
Yasaka herself caught a glimpse of the Divine Realm, while Kunou became the strongest fox of her generation.
But the biggest winner was Ethan. Absorbing Ophis's Virgin Essence followed by three days of high-tier dual cultivation had propelled him from a Newbie Dragon God to the Middle-Stage of the Dragon God realm.
Ophis, too, had fully recovered. Her form was now permanently that of a voluptuous, mature woman, and the bottleneck that had trapped her for eons was shattered. She realized that by cultivating with Ethan, she could actually grow beyond her original limits.
"Once the girls are settled in Kuoh, you and I will find a truly quiet place to cultivate until we hit a wall," Ethan told Ophis.
Just as they were about to leave, a magic circle appeared. Vali and his team from the Chaos Brigade stepped out.
"Ophis! Why didn't you tell me what happened?" Vali's face was dark. He had only just learned from Kuroka that Cao Cao had stolen Ophis's power.
Ophis looked at him with an indifferent expression. "I forgot."
"Forgot?!" Vali almost exploded. But knowing Ophis, it was entirely possible. She was currently so obsessed with Ethan and her own evolution that the Chaos Brigade was a distant memory.
Vali wanted to go after the Hero Faction, but Ethan interrupted. "Kuroka didn't tell you? Ophis's power is already fully restored."
The team stared at Kuroka, who shrugged. "I tried to tell them, but they were in such a hurry..."