Qin Wanwan never expected Shangsui to be this angry.

Having just returned from the small world, Shangsui led her and Taiheng back to Jishan together.

She was just a divine soul returning. Shangsui led her to return her divine soul to Jishan. Seeing her group of subordinates, she spoke with a cold face: “Where is the young master’s body?”

“In… in the bedroom.”

Everyone didn’t dare say much, quickly making way for Steward Turtle to lead Shangsui to Qin Wanwan’s bedroom.

The family of three arrived at Qin Wanwan’s bedroom. Upon entering the inner chamber, they saw Qin Wanwan’s body.

Her entire body was fractured, her face still bearing a footprint. Taiheng and Shangsui saw this body and clenched their fists together.

“Who did this?”

Shangsui spoke through gritted teeth. Qin Wanwan frantically made eye signals at Steward Turtle. Unfortunately, Steward Turtle didn’t realize at all. With a “thump,” he knelt down and began crying: “Mountain Lord, you’ve finally returned! You don’t know how miserably everyone lived during the days you weren’t here. That Daojun Suiheng, Jian Xingzhi, actually came directly to our door and beat the young master into this state!”

“Actually…” Qin Wanwan forced a smile. “Actually, it wasn’t that bad.”

“How is it not bad?!”

Steward Turtle turned his head, boldly contradicting Qin Wanwan, then turned back hugging Shangsui and continuing to cry: “The young master didn’t inherit any of your temper. She’s incredibly kind. She was beaten so miserably—struck flying by one of Jian Xingzhi’s sword strikes, then continued being kicked in the sky. He even kicked the young master’s stomach with his knee, and used the sword hilt to smash the young master’s spine bones…”

“That’s enough, that’s enough,” Qin Wanwan interrupted Steward Turtle. “You don’t need to recount it in such detail. My mother will see for herself.”

“Then what about this footprint?”

Shangsui raised her hand, pointing at the mark on Qin Wanwan’s body’s face. Just as Qin Wanwan was thinking how to explain, Steward Turtle gestured: “Jian Xingzhi stepped on it!”

“He even stepped on her face?”

Shangsui laughed in anger. She turned to look at Taiheng. Taiheng was startled and quickly explained: “I didn’t teach him this. I’ll personally go beat him up.”

“You’ll beat him up? What will you beat him with? You gave tens of thousands of years of cultivation to the system for him. He can break two of your ribs with one sword strike. You’ll use your life to beat him up?”

Shangsui spoke without sparing feelings. Taiheng’s face couldn’t quite hold on, only saying: “I’m still his master after all…”

“You still dare say that?!”

Shangsui grabbed Qin Wanwan’s chest clothing and lifted her up, pointing at the footprint on her face while looking at Taiheng: “Is this how you teach a disciple?!”

“Mother…”

“You shut up too!” Shangsui glared at Qin Wanwan. “Ungrateful thing with your elbow bent outward. I had Jian Xingzhi assist you in becoming a god. Instead, you cut off two souls and three spiritual essences for him. Is he assisting you or are you assisting him?! Your father said he picked a great heroine script for you. That Jian Xingzhi was supposed to be a kept man. And the result?!”

“I think I did okay…”

“Shut up!”

Shangsui rebuked her: “Before, I felt sorry for you because you couldn’t cultivate. Now you can cultivate too. Jishan’s Nujun should have the bearing of a Nujun. Quickly get into your body for me. After your father examines you and your body improves, immediately start cultivating for me!”

“Yes…”

Qin Wanwan didn’t dare say more, speaking in a muffled voice.

Seeing her with lowered brows and obedient eyes, looking completely compliant, Shangsui’s anger subsided slightly. She turned to look at Taiheng and instructed: “You teach her to merge.”

With that, she stood up and directly returned to her room.

Qin Wanwan was quite used to Shangsui losing her temper. She turned to look at Taiheng, helplessly speaking: “Father, what should I do?”

Taiheng’s temperament was much better than Shangsui’s. He guided Qin Wanwan back into her body. After adjusting her breathing slightly, he had Qin Wanwan circulate Spring Life several times, first reconnecting the bones. He then found medicine and had the maids bind her like a mummy. After that, Taiheng had her sit cross-legged and took her pulse.

After Taiheng carefully finished taking her pulse and confirmed she had no major issues, he breathed a sigh of relief and began teaching her: “Your soul is now a divine soul, bearing the merit of saving the world. A god’s power doesn’t simply absorb external spiritual energy. Your power comes from the beliefs of all living beings—just as the Evil God’s power source came from the world’s people’s evil thoughts, your power source lies in all things in the world’s longing for life and goodness. So you don’t need a golden core and can directly use magic arts. But if you’re willing, creating your own golden core isn’t a bad thing either.”

“Understood.”

Qin Wanwan nodded. Taiheng thought for a moment, hesitating: “Also, you cut your own soul to give to Jian Xingzhi. Jian Xingzhi’s soul is now complete, but you…”

“It’s fine,” Qin Wanwan shook her head. “Father need not worry. I possess the sword intent of life. As long as I have sufficient spiritual energy, I can create my own soul.”

“That’s good then.” Taiheng nodded.

After finishing serious matters, Qin Wanwan carefully stole glances at him. Taiheng saw through his daughter’s meaning and smiled: “Want to ask about Jian Xingzhi?”

“Ah…”

Qin Wanwan was somewhat embarrassed: “Just… just… Mother doesn’t like Jian Xingzhi…”

“Your mother doesn’t dislike him either.”

Taiheng’s voice was very soft: “First, she’s angry he struck you without restraint. Second, it’s jealousy.”

“Jealousy?”

Qin Wanwan was confused. Taiheng reminded her: “In the lower realm, when your mother and I mentioned killing him, you didn’t hesitate to fight us. Although it was an act, your mother and I both understand—if we and Jian Xingzhi were truly opposed, you’d likely…”

“I wouldn’t!” Hearing Taiheng’s words, Qin Wanwan quickly interrupted him, changing to a more intimate form of address. “Father, I’m not standing on Jian Xingzhi’s side. What you did was wrong. I stood for justice and righteousness, absolutely…”

“Stop talking,” Taiheng felt his head ache listening to her speak. He raised his hand to rub his temples, speaking in pain. “Why do you speak just like Jian Xingzhi? If you can’t speak well, don’t speak. Rest properly.”

“Then Jian Xingzhi…”

“Leave him hanging for now.” Taiheng interrupted her. “We’ll talk after your mother calms down.”

And after he calmed down too.

Seeing Taiheng’s attitude, Qin Wanwan didn’t dare say more. After Taiheng walked out the door, she lay on the bed thinking. She felt Taiheng was right.

How could she bend her elbow outward like that? Her mother didn’t like Jian Xingzhi. She couldn’t go against her. She’d wait for her mother to calm down first.

Qin Wanwan relaxed and sighed. Just as she was about to chat with 38, she realized before opening her mouth that 38 had already uninstalled.

She froze for a moment, suddenly feeling the long night was endless. Just as she was about to close her eyes, she suddenly heard Jian Xingzhi’s voice by her ear: “Wanwan? Wanwan?”

“Jian Xingzhi?”

Qin Wanwan sat up, somewhat excited.

Jian Xingzhi reminded her: “It’s voice transmission.”

“Oh.” Qin Wanwan felt somewhat disappointed, but she hid it well, only asking: “You returned to your dao residence?”

“Mm,” Jian Xingzhi lay on his bed, holding Qin Wanwan’s hairpin that she’d left with him, asking about Qin Wanwan’s situation. “How are you? Have your body and soul merged?”

“They’ve merged.”

Qin Wanwan sighed: “My mother said I need to cultivate properly from now on.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

Jian Xingzhi became happy: “Is your mother planning to pass on some Jishan secret arts to you? Will I have a chance to see them?”

Qin Wanwan: “…”

She didn’t know why, but in this instant, she suddenly discovered there was a reason Jian Xingzhi and Xie Gutang were friends.

Qin Wanwan’s silence made Jian Xingzhi realize his response might be somewhat inappropriate. He coughed lightly and quickly said: “Um, when can I come see you?”

“I don’t know,” Qin Wanwan sighed. “My mother seems very unhappy now. As soon as she came back and saw my body, she got very angry.”

“Your… how is your body?”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi remembered the situation when he returned to the immortal realm. His speech became stuttered. Qin Wanwan pouted: “Full body fractures, and a footprint on my face. At least you didn’t stab me.”

Jian Xingzhi: “…”

So guilty.

“Then…” But no matter how guilty, he still had to steel himself to chat. “Then does it still hurt?”

“It hurts.”

Qin Wanwan sighed, then felt somewhat fortunate: “Good thing I learned Spring Life. It’s such a good thing.”

“Are you feeling better now?”

“I’m okay.” Qin Wanwan leaned on the bed, casual.

Jian Xingzhi thought about it and made a decision: “How about I come see you tomorrow!”

“No!”

Qin Wanwan immediately refused: “Don’t appear before my parents in the short term. Wait until this storm passes, then come.”

“Oh…”

Jian Xingzhi’s voice was disappointed. But after a while, he didn’t know what he thought of and suddenly became happy: “Then I’ll come find you in a few days. When the time comes, I’ll definitely give you a surprise!”

“Surprise…”

Hearing this word, Qin Wanwan felt afraid: “Actually, that’s not necessary?”

“It is necessary!”

Jian Xingzhi was very excited. Qin Wanwan thought this was bad, speaking carefully: “Can you reveal what kind of surprise it is?”

“You’ll know when the time comes.”

Jian Xingzhi spoke happily. Thinking about it, he told Qin Wanwan: “Sleep first. I still need to repair Nanfeng.”

With that, Jian Xingzhi cut off the communication. Qin Wanwan felt slightly uneasy, but since Jian Xingzhi wouldn’t tell her, she couldn’t say much.

From that day on, Qin Wanwan lived a life of being caught by Shangsui for tutoring during the day and talking with Jian Xingzhi at night.

Every day she observed Shangsui’s expression, watching for when it would be appropriate for Jian Xingzhi to come to the door. But Shangsui clearly also noticed her little schemes and directly rebuked her: “Stop thinking about this and that all day. Cultivate properly!”

Fine, cultivate properly.

To make the empress mother happy, Qin Wanwan devoted all her effort to arduously cultivating Jishan’s secret arts.

At this time, the immortal realm also began having various rumors.

Many people had seen that battle between Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi. Everyone began spreading what happened that day.

Everyone saw that when Daojun Suiheng struck, Jishan’s Nujun had absolutely no ability to resist. Just as Daojun Suiheng was about to stomp her to death, heavenly thunder descended. After the thunder struck, Daojun Suiheng suddenly awakened, then raced all the way to the Southern Heavenly Gate, privately descended to the realm. When he returned, he brought back the long-missing Jishan Mountain Lord, Shangjun Taiheng, and Jishan Nujun’s soul.

Those present who’d seen these four people said that when Shangjun Taiheng returned, his cultivation seemed extremely low. Mountain Lord Shangsui was also injured. And Qin Wanwan had many suspicious points in that battle with Jian Xingzhi. Smart people combined everything together and suddenly reached a conclusion—

Jishan at this time might be extremely weak.

The mountain lord was injured, Taiheng’s cultivation had regressed, and Qin Wanwan might be just a show-off.

Once this rumor emerged, people in the immortal realm immediately began drooling over Jishan. Jishan could be called the immortal realm’s number one prosperous place. If they could gain some advantage from Jishan, wouldn’t that be wonderful?

But rumors were still rumors. Shangsui’s accumulated prestige was heavy. Everyone didn’t dare rashly invade. After much thought, everyone came up with a method—

Challenge Qin Wanwan.

Issuing battle challenges in the immortal realm was also common. In the past, everyone feared Qin Wanwan and didn’t dare step forward. But now, with Qin Wanwan very likely being just a show-off, challenging her—losing didn’t matter, but winning would be a great thing that would make them famous throughout the immortal realm.

Moreover, if they won against Qin Wanwan and Shangsui and Taiheng didn’t act, then Jishan truly had nothing to fear.

After small-minded people calculated together, they rushed to Jishan, shouting and creating chaos at the mountain gate, calling for Qin Wanwan to come out.

Qin Wanwan cultivated in the courtyard every day. From far away, she could hear these people’s clamoring. Shangsui glanced outside the courtyard, then glanced at Qin Wanwan: “Do you know why I’m not making them leave?”

Qin Wanwan didn’t dare answer. Shangsui sneered: “I’m letting you know what situation you’re in now.”

“This child knows.”

Qin Wanwan answered obediently. Seeing her cultivate obediently, Shangsui didn’t say more, only saying: “Good that you know.”

“Then,” hearing Shangsui had no other plans, Qin Wanwan couldn’t help but be curious, “are we just letting these people shout at the gate?”

“Of course not,” Taiheng looked up from the scroll beside him and smiled. “Once Jian Xingzhi comes, it’ll be fine.”

“He… he’s coming?”

Qin Wanwan instinctively glanced at Shangsui. Shangsui looked over coldly: “You want him to come?”

“I don’t, I don’t.”

Qin Wanwan quickly shook her head. Taiheng reviewed documents, his expression seemingly smiling yet not: “He’ll come sooner or later, won’t he?”

Taiheng said Jian Xingzhi would come. Sure enough, the next day, Jian Xingzhi came.

He came with great momentum, calling on prominent figures from the immortal realm, bringing all his asset lists, dressed properly and presentably as he arrived at Jishan.

Qin Wanwan was originally drawing formation arrays in the courtyard when she heard a servant run into the courtyard to announce: “Mountain Lord, Shangjun, Jian Xingzhi has arrived at the foot of the mountain with Divine Lord Siming and others.”

“Siming…”

Taiheng hesitated slightly, smiling as he looked at Shangsui: “He probably brought many divine lords. We should still go receive them.”

Shangsui responded, stood up, and led Taiheng out. Qin Wanwan sat in her seat, not knowing if she could go. Shangsui walked to the door. Seeing Qin Wanwan not moving, she turned back and looked at her coldly: “Want to see him but won’t follow?”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan’s heart bloomed with joy, but she still only stood up, pretending as she saluted: “All according to Mother’s instructions.”

The family of three walked to the main hall entrance. Before opening the door, they heard Jian Xingzhi’s familiar voice from outside, quite arrogant: “I, Jian Xingzhi, will be Jishan’s son-in-law in the future, Qin Wanwan’s future dao companion. Understand?!”

It’s over!

Qin Wanwan cried out that this was bad. Sure enough, Shangsui kicked the door open and stood at the entrance with a cold face: “Jian Xingzhi!”

Jian Xingzhi hadn’t expected to be caught red-handed, but he reacted quickly. He quickly ran and flew up the mountain, standing respectfully before Shangsui, lowering his head in salute: “Mountain Lord Shangsui.”

With such an unpleasant opening, when Jian Xingzhi spoke the euphemistic marriage proposal hint “I want to come to Jishan to improve my living conditions,” Taiheng couldn’t endure it. Decisively kicking Jian Xingzhi down the mountain gate became an extremely normal thing.

Qin Wanwan watched Jian Xingzhi get kicked and roll straight down the mountain. Her heart sank.

Shangsui glanced at her coldly without saying much and turned to leave.

Qin Wanwan reluctantly entered the door. After a while, she still couldn’t resist jumping onto the fake mountain beside her, waving at Jian Xingzhi by the wall.

Jian Xingzhi turned back to smile at her and winked, indicating he’d return.

After Jian Xingzhi walked far away, Qin Wanwan reluctantly turned back from the fake mountain, only to see Shangsui and Taiheng standing behind her. Qin Wanwan pretended to be calm, tossing her hair: “Um, the weather’s really nice, isn’t it?”

Jian Xingzhi’s first marriage proposal failed. He lost great face before everyone, but he didn’t mind. From that day on, he came to Jishan once every day.

Coming in the morning, Jishan’s mountain gate wouldn’t open. He’d stand at the entrance, standing until evening, then return.

His dao residence was too far from Jishan. After going back and forth like this for several days, he decided to buy the dao residence of the Clear River Dragon King next to Jishan and become Jishan’s neighbor.

The Clear River Dragon King had lived beside Jishan for tens of thousands of years. Suddenly facing demolition, holding generous demolition compensation, he transformed overnight into a major demolition household. That very afternoon, he joyfully swam out of the Clear River territory to seek another dao palace.

At this time, after Taiheng kicked Jian Xingzhi away with one foot, the rumor that Jishan was weak was dispelled. But another rumor began to rise.

Some said Daojun Suiheng had fallen in love with Jishan’s Nujun at first sight and was determined to become Jishan’s son-in-law.

This rumor made many people unable to accept it. Although Daojun Suiheng’s character wasn’t great, he had quite a few fans. The fans unanimously believed this was Qin Wanwan casting evil arts on Jian Xingzhi. Every day they surrounded Jishan, demanding justice for Jian Xingzhi.

Adding those who came to watch how beautiful Qin Wanwan was, the numbers were truly considerable.

This increased the difficulty of Jian Xingzhi’s daily mountain climbing. Every day going up the mountain, he had to strike with one sword. To leave a good impression on Shangsui, when going down the mountain at night, he had to conveniently repair the floor tiles he’d smashed.

Over time, Jian Xingzhi’s tile-laying skills greatly increased. After digging tunnels, he gained another skill, worthy of being called the immortal realm’s number one tile layer.

Like this, spring went and autumn came. After a year passed, Shangsui couldn’t bear the disturbance and finally met with Jian Xingzhi.

This day, Jian Xingzhi carried gifts, held the just-repaired Nanfeng, and went up the mountain according to habit.

Raising his hand with one practiced sword strike, the crowd also very cooperatively jumped aside. Jian Xingzhi walked through the crowd, stepping on the shattered bluestone brick steps up the mountain.

Arriving at the entrance, Jian Xingzhi respectfully saluted: “This son-in-law, Jian Xingzhi, has come to pay respects to the two father-in-law and mother-in-law.”

The entrance rang with Shangsui’s icy voice: “Speak like a human.”

This was the first time Shangsui actively spoke to him. Jian Xingzhi immediately became excited and changed his words: “Junior Jian Xingzhi has come to pay respects to the two Immortal Lords.”

Hearing this, the door opened with a “bang.” Shangsui spoke irritably: “Get in here.”

Jian Xingzhi froze. He hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly today. One hand carrying gifts, one hand holding the just-repaired Nanfeng, he happily walked inside.

While walking, he didn’t forget to instruct Nanfeng: “Nanfeng, you must remember who searched everywhere for meteorite iron, who searched everywhere for spirit herbs, who worked day and night to nurture you into having an indestructible vajra body. Later when you meet my father-in-law and mother-in-law, you must say more good things for me!”

“Yes!”

Nanfeng obediently shook the black iron steel knife on his antennae and patted his chest: “Rest assured, I’ll do my utmost to ensure you marry the master!”

One person and one ant walked into the room to see Shangsui and Taiheng sitting on high, Qin Wanwan carefully sitting to the side. Shangsui raised her hand to support her forehead as she watched Jian Xingzhi respectfully salute: “This junior pays respects to the two upper immortals.”

Under the pressure aura, Nanfeng didn’t dare transform. Trembling, he crawled on the ground, stammering: “Nanfeng… Nanfeng pays respects to the two upper immortals.”

“Nanfeng? Wanwan’s spirit beast?”

Shangsui looked over. Nanfeng stuttered: “Yes…”

Shangsui looked him up and down and nodded: “Not bad.”

Hearing Shangsui approve of him, Nanfeng breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly feeling somewhat sorry for Jian Xingzhi—even he was approved, only Jian Xingzhi wasn’t acceptable.

“Your spirit beast is here. Take him out for a walk.”

Shangsui turned to look at Qin Wanwan, then looked at Taiheng: “You take them out together.”

Taiheng knew Shangsui had things to say. He stood up, picked up Nanfeng, and led Qin Wanwan out.

After Qin Wanwan left, only Shangsui and Jian Xingzhi remained in the room. Jian Xingzhi was somewhat nervous and didn’t dare speak. Shangsui stared at him for a long time, only saying: “Do you know why I don’t agree to you and Wanwan?”

“Because I…” Jian Xingzhi stammered, “I hit Wanwan.”

“What else?”

“Wanwan… Wanwan argued with you because of me. You’re angry.”

Shangsui: “…”

She’d never seen such a direct-speaking “honest person.”

She took a deep breath, only saying: “What else?”

“I… I’m not good enough?” Jian Xingzhi hesitated, beginning to think of all the ways he didn’t match up to Qin Wanwan. “I… my foundation in the immortal realm isn’t deep. I also don’t know how to speak well, don’t know how to interact with people, often make Wanwan angry…”

Shangsui listened to him list his shortcomings. After a moment of silence, she finally only asked: “Then what gives you the courage to come propose marriage?”

“But,” Jian Xingzhi spoke seriously, “I can change everything. If you think my foundation in the immortal realm isn’t deep, I can work hard for Wanwan. I don’t know how to speak, don’t know how to interact with people—I can learn everything. You think I hit Wanwan—I’ll let you hit me back. What I accidentally injured Master with, I’ll return it all too.”

Shangsui didn’t speak. She looked at the youth before her. After a long time, she spoke slowly: “My husband, for you, gave up his tens of thousands of years of cultivation.”

Jian Xingzhi froze. Shangsui continued: “My daughter, for you, severed two souls and three spiritual essences. To this day, her soul remains incomplete.”

“Now, to make Wanwan’s soul complete, the best method is for you two to dual cultivate. But I’m unwilling. I hope my daughter marries someone, is with someone, not because of this kind of reason. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi’s face showed respect he’d never had before: “This junior was thoughtless and presumptuous. I share the same thoughts as the upper immortal. Before Wanwan’s soul is complete, I won’t mention proposing marriage again.”

Hearing this, Shangsui’s expression improved. Jian Xingzhi’s expression was calm: “This junior is still young, possessing only martial force. In many matters, I’m not as experienced as seniors. I wonder if Senior has other methods to make Wanwan’s soul complete?”

“She can regenerate her own soul, but her power is insufficient. She needs to raise her cultivation.” Shangsui spoke calmly. “As for how to raise cultivation, you should know.”

“This junior will do his utmost.”

Jian Xingzhi spoke seriously.

Shangsui waved her hand: “Go.”

Jian Xingzhi saluted and left. Before leaving, Shangsui reminded him: “You hit my husband and broke two ribs.”

Jian Xingzhi didn’t hesitate and broke an entire row.

Shangsui looked up: “You also beat my daughter into full body fractures.”

Jian Xingzhi instantly beat his entire body into fractures, collapsing on the ground.

“Upper Immortal…” Jian Xingzhi forced a smile. “Could you find someone to carry me out?”

Shangsui glanced at him, finally showing some satisfaction.

She called attendants over, speaking coldly: “Carry him out.”

As soon as Jian Xingzhi was carried out the door, he saw Qin Wanwan and Nanfeng rush over.

“Jian Xingzhi, what happened to you?! How are you?” Qin Wanwan’s face was full of shock. Jian Xingzhi smiled with relief.

“Pretty good,” Jian Xingzhi nodded. “Your mother agreed.”

“She agreed?”

Qin Wanwan couldn’t believe it. Was her mother this easy to talk to?

Jian Xingzhi smiled: “Your mother said as long as I help you cultivate two souls and three spiritual essences, she’ll agree to us!”

“I didn’t!”

Shangsui’s voice came from inside.

Jian Xingzhi pretended not to hear. He gripped Qin Wanwan’s hand, speaking seriously: “I’ll go find cultivation treasures for you. Wanwan, let’s work hard cultivating together!”

“Huh?”

“I’m leaving.”

With that, Jian Xingzhi released her hand and waved at the attendants beside him: “Send me down the mountain.”

The attendants carried Jian Xingzhi away at a jog. Qin Wanwan was completely dazed.

He wouldn’t even say a few more words to her?

From that day on, Jian Xingzhi began frequently entering and exiting various small worlds, digging up graves everywhere.

All kinds of spiritual elixirs, medicines, and cultivation treasures—he scavenged them all back to Jishan.

Useful or not, everything was stored in Jishan.

Jian Xingzhi generally returned once a month. Each time, he brought large quantities of goods back, directly moving them into Jishan, making Qin Wanwan feel he wasn’t going to small worlds for adventures but doing some big business.

These treasures were used to support Qin Wanwan. What Qin Wanwan couldn’t use, Taiheng could also use. With Shangsui and Taiheng teaching Qin Wanwan together, the three working as one, Qin Wanwan’s cultivation could be said to rocket upward, advancing by leaps and bounds.

Taiheng had always been a gentle and tolerant father. This impression completely disappeared when he began teaching Qin Wanwan.

He gently smiled like water as he raised his sword, telling Qin Wanwan: “Wanwan, you should know Shangji Sect practices dao through battle.”

“I know.” Qin Wanwan’s instincts told her this was bad. Taiheng smiled and nodded. “Then let’s fight.”

That day, when Qin Wanwan lay on the ground with full body fractures, she had a long-lost feeling.

She seemed to return to that desert, meeting that crazy Jian Xingzhi.

She suddenly knew where Jian Xingzhi learned this teaching method. The abnormal one wasn’t Jian Xingzhi—it was Taiheng!

The night Qin Wanwan had full body fractures, Jian Xingzhi happened to return carrying a pile of treasures. Hearing Qin Wanwan was beaten by Taiheng to the point of bed rest, he tactfully proposed visiting. Shangsui looked over with one cold glance, and he fell silent.

But when night came, he still felt uneasy. In the middle of the night, he jumped through the window into Qin Wanwan’s room. Looking at Qin Wanwan wrapped tightly, he sat beside her, quite heartbroken: “Isn’t it Spring Life? How did you get beaten this badly?”

“My spiritual power was exhausted,” Qin Wanwan lay on the bed. “I felt pain. I couldn’t circulate Spring Life anymore.”

“Why didn’t Master help you?”

Jian Xingzhi frowned: “You… you’re not even his disciple. Why strike so hard?”

With that, Jian Xingzhi raised his hand to grip Qin Wanwan’s hand, pouring spiritual power into her and helping her circulate Spring Life. Qin Wanwan stared blankly at the bed canopy, repeating Taiheng’s smiling words: “My father said if the strike isn’t harsh, the sword won’t be steady. If you don’t get used to pain, it’ll hurt more later.”

“That’s true,” Jian Xingzhi circulated for a while. Qin Wanwan felt her wounds healing and began having strength to speak. She turned to look at Jian Xingzhi at the bedside, hearing him frown and complain, “but with me by your side in the future, there’s no need, right?”

“Jian Xingzhi,” Qin Wanwan looked at the wound on his face, speaking in a muffled voice. “Where did you go?”

“Demon Domain.”

Jian Xingzhi spoke lightly: “To find Yellow Spring Flowers for you. On the way, I conveniently wiped out a demon sect.”

“You’re injured?”

Qin Wanwan felt better and supported herself to sit up. Jian Xingzhi let her pull him, letting her push up his sleeve to look at the wound on it.

The wound emitted demonic energy. Clearly it was a magical injury. Spring Life couldn’t heal this kind of spell damage—it could only wait for it to heal itself.

Seeing Qin Wanwan frown deeply, Jian Xingzhi pulled down his clothes: “Alright, if you keep frowning like this, I won’t let you see anymore.”

“You…” Qin Wanwan pressed her lips together. “Don’t go to these places anymore in the future. I can cultivate on my own.”

“You can,” Jian Xingzhi believed without hesitation and smiled. “But I want to give you these things, let you cultivate faster. I really want to marry you.”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan blushed slightly. Jian Xingzhi didn’t mind. Thinking of something, he began pouring things from his qiankun pouch: “Oh, these are the gifts I brought this time. This is a small windmill, and this pastry, and this hairpin…”

This was Jian Xingzhi’s current habit. Wherever he went, he’d look for things he could give Qin Wanwan.

Cultivation items went into Jishan, but these small trinkets he gave Qin Wanwan alone, he’d bring separately.

He shook things all over Qin Wanwan’s bed. Qin Wanwan lowered her head to look at the small trinkets on the bed, her eyes lowered without speaking.

Outside, a light drizzle fell. Jian Xingzhi sat watching Qin Wanwan for a while. Qin Wanwan put the things away and turned to look at him: “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I’ll wait to see you sleep, then I’ll go back to sleep.”

“Oh.”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan burrowed into the blanket.

After hesitating for a moment, she timidly reached out her hand and gripped Jian Xingzhi’s hand.

Actually, they’d already dual cultivated in the cultivation world. Conversely, after returning to the immortal realm, they’d had almost no physical contact.

She gripped Jian Xingzhi’s somewhat cold hand. Jian Xingzhi froze. After a while, he raised his hand to pat her head, his voice gentle: “Sleep well.”

“Mm.”

Qin Wanwan gripped his hand and closed her eyes.

Jian Xingzhi waited a while. After Qin Wanwan fell asleep, he bent down and kissed her lips lightly, tucked in her blanket, then stood up and left, wearing a bamboo hat as he walked into the night rain.

Qin Wanwan taught him to use an umbrella. He knew not to get rained on during rainy days now.

Qin Wanwan heard him leave and slowly opened her eyes.

The next day when she got up, she heard people say Jian Xingzhi had gone to other worlds to find magical treasures again.

Like this, over sixty years passed. Qin Wanwan finally broke through and regenerated her own soul.

The day she regenerated her soul, heavenly tribulation descended. Jian Xingzhi raised his hand to set up an array, blocking all attacks.

After the tribulation ended, he felt spiritual energy abundant behind him. Turning back to look, he saw Qin Wanwan standing intact in the formation array.

Her soul was complete. In the future, she’d no longer have worries about soul deficiencies.

Jian Xingzhi and Qin Wanwan’s gazes met. Jian Xingzhi was momentarily excited and rushed forward, about to hug her. Heavenly thunder suddenly descended!

The two leaped backward, faces full of shock.

Jian Xingzhi instinctively looked up at the Thunder Duke striking lightning in the sky, angrily shouting: “You struck lightning over here?!”

“Sorry,” Thunder Duke quickly apologized. “Someone below is ascending. They struck a sword toward me. I accidentally dodged and struck the wrong position.”

“Ascending?”

The immortal realm hadn’t had anyone ascend in a long time. Jian Xingzhi frowned and nosily asked: “Who ascends and strikes upward?”

“That…” Thunder Duke forced a smile. “Back in your day, didn’t you also do this?”

Hearing this, Jian Xingzhi thought about it. That made sense.

Thinking the other party struck upward with a sword, they were probably an extremely formidable sword cultivator. He suddenly became excited: “What’s this person’s name? I’ll find him for a fight another day.”

“Speaking of which, you and the Nujun also know this person.”

Thunder Duke smiled: “He seems to be an old friend of yours. His name is Xie Gutang.”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi’s eyes widened.

A moment later, the two appeared together at the Southern Heavenly Gate.

The two looked at Xie Gutang standing in purple robes, holding a long sword, a jade bird standing on his shoulder, looking at the heavenly realm with some curiosity. Qin Wanwan excitedly spoke: “Brother Xie!”

Then she noticed Cuilu on Xie Gutang’s shoulder and widened her eyes: “Sister Cuilu?”

“Brother Jian, Wanwan.” Seeing the two, Xie Gutang immediately smiled, then explained: “Cuilu feared she couldn’t endure heavenly tribulation alone, so she underwent tribulation with me and ascended together.”

Hearing this, Cuilu coldly snorted, transforming from bird form to human form. She spoke with dissatisfaction: “Who knew you Wenxin Sword people were this abnormal? Staying in the Realm of Life and Death for decades could make you this strong?”

Xie Gutang smiled without speaking. Cuilu secretly observed Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi, speaking in a low voice: “Hey, did we come too late?”

“What?”

Qin Wanwan was confused. Cuilu reminded them: “You’re already married, right?”

Hearing this, Qin Wanwan and Jian Xingzhi looked at each other, then smiled: “No, not late.”

Qin Wanwan walked forward and took Cuilu’s hand: “You came at just the right time.”