Tian Wu City, Zhou Family.

Red lanterns hung high, and festoons and streamers adorned the place, signaling a joyful event.

"That's Xu Ping'an. I heard that he displayed an extraordinary talent eight years ago, but now he has become a cripple. At the age of sixteen, he's only at the first layer of Qi and Blood Realm. No wonder he's marrying into the Zhou family."

"Exactly, this Xu Ping'an is the laughingstock of Tian Wu City. Still, the guy is so lucky to be able to marry Zhou Mengyue."

"I heard that Zhou Mengyue possesses the Innate Charming Physique, as beautiful as a celestial being. To dual cultivate with her could increase his cultivation speed several fold. What merit or ability does this Xu Ping'an have to possess such a superior-grade beauty?"

"It's all because his missing father once saved Zhou Mengyue's life. To repay the debt, the Zhou family made this marriage promise—and they are keeping their word. What a waste of the peerless beauty Zhou Mengyue."

...

The surrounding guests continuously expressed their pity, cursing Xu Ping'an for squandering such a treasure.

Xu Ping'an heard these words but didn't get angry at all.

He had waited for this day for who knows how long, and finally, he had married Zhou Mengyue as he had wished.

Although it meant marrying into her family, as long as he could be with the woman he loved, he was willing to endure all the mockery.

After a round of toasting, Xu Ping'an, slightly tipsy, made his way to the bridal chamber.

Pushing open the door, by the light of the candles,

Xu Ping'an saw a stunningly beautiful young girl seated beside the bed.

The girl wore a phoenix crown and was draped in a splendidly embroidered red robe, her looks and demeanor both of exceptional grace.

Her body naturally emitted a captivating charm.

Innate Charming Physique, a rare beauty in the world.

"Meng Yue, you're so beautiful," Xu Ping'an exclaimed in admiration.

"Still calling me Meng Yue? What should you call me now?"

Zhou Mengyue smiled slightly, her charming smile eclipsing all else around her.

Xu Ping'an was immediately captivated, with an infatuated expression in his eyes.

So beautiful!

"Wife!" Xu Ping'an exclaimed excitedly.

"Hehe, husband, tonight Meng Yue will completely give herself to you," Zhou Mengyue said with a sweet smile, full of allure.

"Wife, I will treat you well," Xu Ping'an said excitedly.

"Husband, for the past eight years, every seven days, the Supreme Yin Qi within my body would erupt. If it weren't for transferring this Supreme Yin Qi into your body, I would have most likely died long ago. But this is also because you lost your cultivation and can't cultivate," Zhou Mengyue said with a coquettish laugh.

"For my wife, such a sacrifice is nothing," Xu Ping'an said with a light smile.

For the past eight years, Zhou Mengyue would transfer the Supreme Yin Qi that erupted in her body into his.

With the influx of Supreme Yin Qi, it made life worse than death, and every seven days Xu Ping'an had to endure such agony.

If not for his natural Mysterious Physique, he would have died long ago.

His meridians, however, were damaged, preventing him from cultivating.

Yet he had never regretted it.

"Husband, you previously said that as soon as you're married, you can inherit the ancient cultivator's legacy of the Xu family. Is it true?" Zhou Mengyue asked.

"Yes, my aunt said that my father, before he disappeared, had instructed that once I married, I could inherit the position of family head of the Xu Family. With the Clan Mark, I could open the legacy, and now that Clan Mark is in my aunt's hands."

"Wife, our Xu family's ancient cultivator was the legendary Sixth Rank cultivator; maybe there are treasures that can solve my cultivation problem. Then, I will have the power to protect you," Xu Ping'an said excitedly.

"That's wonderful. Come, after finishing this cup of wine for brides and grooms, let Meng Yue serve you to bed," Zhou Mengyue said with a smile, handing the cup to Xu Ping'an.

Serve to bed?

Xu Ping'an swallowed nervously, excited.

And so, without a second thought, he happily drank the bridal cup.

Seeing Xu Ping'an downing the drink, the corners of Zhou Mengyue's mouth curled up into a disdainful sneer.

Suddenly, Xu Ping'an felt something was wrong, and looking at Zhou Mengyue, he asked, "Wife, what kind of drink is this? Why do I feel so weak in my limbs?"

"This is Five Poisons Powder that I personally refined. After taking it, you will become completely incapacitated and beyond help. Within three hours, you will bleed from all seven orifices and die," said Zhou Mengyue, sneering.

"Five Poisons Powder? Wife, what are you doing?" Xu Ping'an asked in surprise, looking at Zhou Mengyue.

"Haha, of course, it's to kill you." Just then, a young man in a brocade robe walked in.

"It's you, Wang Tianyu, what are you doing here?" Xu Ping'an was instantly shocked.

The second son of the Wang family patriarch, one of the Great Families of the Tianlon River area, Wang Tianyu had often bullied him when they were children.

"Of course, I was invited by the Zhou family head. Xu Ping'an, Meng Yue belongs to me, you're not worthy. In a few days, Meng Yue will be joining the Beichen Sword Sect to cultivate, and soon after, Meng Yue will become my wife," Wang Tianyu said with a cold laugh.

"Impossible, Meng Yue, he didn't tell the truth, did he?" Xu Ping'an tried to grasp Zhou Mengyue's hand.

Disgust flashed in Zhou Mengyue's eyes in an instant, and with a palm strike, she sent Xu Ping'an flying.

Zhou Mengyue was a cultivator of the Qi and Blood Realm, Ninth Layer, with the power of one palm reaching thousands of pounds.

"Pfft!"

Xu Ping'an immediately coughed up fresh blood, his face pale as death.

"Brother Tianyu had already opened his Qi Sea two years ago and became an Inner Sect Disciple of the Beichen Sword Sect. Now at nineteen, he has reached the Fourth Layer of the Second Rank. He is regarded as a genius throughout the entire Tianlong River region. He is my true match, while you, Xu Ping'an, are nothing but a waste who can't even cultivate. Why would I, Zhou Mengyue, waste my time on someone like you?"

Zhou Mengyue looked coldly at Xu Ping'an, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

Xu Ping'an felt as though a blade had pierced his heart, his entire body freezing cold.

He couldn't believe that the one who had been exchanging playful banter with him just a moment ago could speak such cruel and heartless words.

Wang Tianyu couldn't stop snickering coldly on the side.

"So, your marrying me was just to steal my bloodline?" Xu Ping'an asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes, by devouring your bloodline, I can achieve the most powerful Innate Mysterious Yin Body. I've waited for this day for a full eight years. Of course, marrying you isn't just for your bloodline, but also for the inheritance of the Xu Family. Now that I know the family inheritance mark is in your aunt's hands, naturally, you are useless to me," Zhou Mengyue said to Xu Ping'an with a hint of madness in her eyes.

Xu Ping'an's heart felt utterly cold.

Had Zhou Mengyue ever felt a shred of affection for him?

How ridiculous that he had endured the explosive sufferings of the Supreme Yin Qi for three full years on her behalf.

And because of that, he lost his cultivation and was mocked by the world.

"Brother Tianyu, let's begin," Zhou Mengyue urged with an icy stare, unable to wait any longer.

"Alright, to take his bloodline, we need to extract the bone marrow from his spine, which might take some time," said Wang Tianyu.

"No, take his entire spine," Zhou Mengyue said with a vicious look, not wanting to wait another moment.

Wang Tianyu was momentarily startled, then laughed darkly: "Good idea!"

Xu Ping'an felt as if his heart had turned to ashes.

This must be the real Zhou Mengyue!

Such a cruel heart!

"You cursed lovers, may you die a horrible death."

Xu Ping'an, enraged, tried to struggle.

However, the effects of the Five Poisons Powder had taken hold, and he was completely powerless.

Wang Tianyu approached, his smile menacing and cold, and plunged a sharp blade into Xu Ping'an's back.

The sharp blade pierced his skin, carving through his flesh and exposing his white bones.

"Ahh..."

The spine was forcibly cut away, and the unimaginable pain made Xu Ping'an wish for death.

He could even feel the sharp blade cutting through his spine with each slice.

The fear of approaching death made his soul tremble.

An hour later, Xu Ping'an was discarded in the chaos of the Beishan burial grounds, like a pile of rotten flesh.

At this moment, he had no sensation below his neck, and the deadly poison of the Five Poisons Powder began to spread throughout his body.

The corpses around him emitted a stench of decay, and he could only lie among them like a corpse, in a fate worse than death!

"Zhou Mengyue, Wang Tianyu, even as a ghost, I won't let you go."

Xu Ping'an roared furiously in his heart, unwilling to let go.

"Clang!"

Just then, a sound of sword cry suddenly came from deep within Xu Ping'an's body.

Immediately after, a torrent of memories flooded into his mind.

"Boom!"

At the same time, a colossal thunderbolt from the heavens crashed down onto his back.

The entire burial ground instantly turned into a sea of thunder, and the rotting corpses evaporated in an instant.

Fearsome thunder surged, like countless thunder dragons writhing in turmoil.

Xu Ping'an felt as if he was lifted by an invisible force, surrounded by Thunder Dragons, his body suspended in midair.

A Divine Sword bathed in endless divine thunder flew out, bit by bit merging into his severed spine, transforming into his vertebrae.

A Thunder Sword Bone, formed entirely of the Thunder Divine Sword, came into existence as if by destiny.

And Xu Ping'an felt as if he had lived through a long lifetime.