Chapter 36 - 13-20

Chapter 13 - Advent of the First Night

Qin Yun chuckled slightly as he heard her say those words. He couldn't help but appreciate the decisiveness with which she came to this conclusion once she learned that Qin Yun possessed the means to help her. Still, the process would be laborious and time-consuming. Such deep-seated injuries couldn't be healed that easily.

Still, it gave her hope, at least. Hope she was severely lacking at the moment. So much so that she didn't think twice to propose to this man, despite her aversion to the terms of this contract. She would endure if she could finally escape from this nightmare. Anything was better than to live in this state.

Yun Jingfei looked at her arm, relishing the feeling that came with it returning to its former state. Her scarred visage produced a joyful smile that seemed eerily creepy. Qin Yun couldn't help but burst out in laughter, which only puzzled her. She had no idea what brought this on. Still, she was eager to recover her former features, and her expression said as much.

While Qin Yun still had reservations concerning her current state, he opted not to make her wait too long lest she change her mind. He approached her and placed his hand on her face. While she couldn't feel much of his touch, Yun Jingfei still fought the urge to recoil from the hand pressing on her damaged skin. Yet, she knew that doing so would only seem like a rejection of his offer. She gritted her teeth and allowed him to proceed.

Still, after waiting for a few minutes, nothing seemed to happen. She frowned and looked to Qin Yun for answers, yet all she saw was that man deep in thought with his eyes closed. Suddenly, his hand left her face without much change having happened. She opened her mouth to protest, but he was the first to speak.

"Even if I were to heal you right now, it would only be a matter of time until history repeats itself," he said calmly.

"Are you going back on your words?!" she said with almost a shout. Her emotions fluctuated wildly, from intense joy to deep anger. While she had learned to control her feelings from a young age, it was as if all she had learned had been erased all at once. Her emotions were so intense that she lost all self-control, and she lashed out with impunity. "Is it not enough? Do you want even more from me?!"

"Did you ever ask yourself how it came to this in the first place?" he asked calmly, ignoring her outburst of emotions. "Your talent is rarely seen in a generation and your Spiritual Roots are among the highest classes, yet you still failed to reach even mere Void Core Realm. Did you ever think this was abnormal?"

While his voice was calm, it shook her to her core and alleviated some of her frustrations. While saying she didn't have doubts would be a lie, her sect had investigated her failed breakthrough, and no foul play was found. They attributed her failure to simple bad luck; no one could fully understand the Heavens' whims.

Sometimes, even the most outstanding geniuses were bound to fall before their times. It wasn't a rare occurrence. Still, Qin Yun spoke of it as if he had seen what so many had missed. Noticing this, she did her best to calm down and waited for him to explain himself.

Qin Yun was quite satisfied with his new wife's attitude. Despite her current state, he wouldn't forget to test her, wishing to know if she could cope with being in a relationship with him and whether she could bear learning of some of his secrets. Qin Yun wasn't the reckless type, rushing ahead without any assurances.

"Returning your skin to its former state is easy, as you saw," Qin Yun said as he poured another cup of tea for the both of them. "Even healing your Qi Channels and Spiritual Roots would only be slightly more straining."

Yun Jingfei took the tea she was offered in an effort to calm herself. She slowly sipped on it as she sat back down and waited for him to finish. While his statement brought her great relief, she also knew that much was still left unsaid.

"The only real difficulty lies in the source of it all," he added. "How much do you know about your cultivation technique's origins."

Yun Jingfei frowned. While she had some doubts in the past concerning her technique, she had put them aside as the cause since her own master utilized the same unaltered technique in her cultivation, and she had had no problems thus far. She had concluded that she was the problem and not the method. Still, Qin Yun had further insights to provide.

"I checked your Qi Channels, and they were indeed destroyed by your own Qi due to the backlash of your failed breakthrough," he said. Yun Jingfei also nodded, as this was consistent with what she had concluded herself. "Still, your cultivation technique is high-level enough that breaking through to the Void Core Realm should have posed no problem. I am even confident enough to say that the chances of someone in your situation suffering backlash in this realm are virtually zero."

"What does that entail?" Yun Jingfei asked as her eyes narrowed somewhat.

"I would need to examine further to discover the cause. Even if I were to restore your cultivation to its peak, the same would be bound to repeat itself."

"Is there no hope?" she asked, slightly dejected. Still, she felt somewhat more confident than before, as this was much better than what she had previously.

"There's no need to be discouraged," Qin Yun replied as he sipped his tea. "It isn't as if there is nothing we can do about it to ensure such a thing doesn't happen again. There are many preventative measures we can use."

Yun Jingfei let out a long sigh, knowing that not all hope was lost. Still, she felt slightly impatient. Even if she couldn't recover her cultivation, she wished to rid herself of those scars as soon as she could. That thought, however, shook her to her core. She had believed herself to be fully dedicated to the Dao, that reaching the peak of cultivation was her life's calling.

Yet, she was ready to forgo it all for simple vanity. It wasn't until one lost something that one would finally find its value. Yun Jingfei felt her Dao Heart waver. She wondered how far she could still go, even if she were to recover and fix the problem that afflicted her.

While the first few realms of cultivation were based on the accumulation of Qi within the Qi Centre, the later stages were based on the accumulation of insights within the Dao Heart. Once the Dao Heart wavers and collapses, it would mark the upper limit of what a cultivator could accomplish. As such, most cultivators rejected anything that could affect their Dao Hearts for fear of finding faults.

While it came with its own drawbacks, as everything always did, it was by far the safer method. Few were brave enough to face the world in its entirety with open hearts. Still, those were usually the ones to reach the peaks or fall prematurely. It was nothing more than a gamble, and Yun Jingfei wasn't a gambler by nature.

She had tried countless times to forge her Dao Heart to be unmarred by the world's filth, but such a thing was easier said than done. As long as one was alive, the world's Dao would always imprint itself onto the hearts of living beings. Besides, her recent ventures into despair had left an indelible mark on her Dao Heart.

The path she had walked up to this point was already gone for her. She would need to thread a brand new path through untold darkness. Still, Qin Yun believed she had the tenacity to see it through. This was one of the reasons he chose to help her. Without this will to go on, she would be nothing more than a corpse at this point.

Looking at her shifting expression, Qin Yun knew what decision she had reached. She couldn't go on while hating herself and what she had become. The only way for her to fix what was broken inside was to restore the exterior first, and Qin Yun agreed with her. Besides, he had no desire to share his bed with her disfigured self. Of course, he would want her to be attractive.

This wasn't him being superficial but simply the needs of the heart. While standards might differ depending on the individual, every living being is a slave to aesthetics. Qin Yun felt no shame in affirming so—well, he mostly never felt shame at all.

Without the need for words, Qin Yun took her by the hand and made her rise, which she did without resisting, but she felt slightly puzzled. He then brought her to the large bed, which spanned over half the room. Without waiting for her input, he pushed her onto it before straddling her.

She opened her mouth to speak, questioning his motives for doing so, but before a sound could come out, he pressed his fingers on her lips, silencing her. With delicate but steady motions, he began to undress her, revealing the scars hidden beneath.

At first, she felt the urge to resist as she felt shame being seen so vulnerable. Still, she already saw this man as her husband and knew this day would come when she had chosen to propose to him. She wasn't one to speak such words with frivolity or suddenly go back on her word. Once she had decided to go through something, she would see it through to the end.

Still, she was ill at ease with his touch, as she had never been so close to a man. It helped that she saw him as her husband; otherwise, she would have long disposed of him.

Qin Yun carefully examined her body as he slowly undressed her. He could see her nervousness and embarrassment, but he paid it no mind as he was much too absorbed in figuring out the origin of those burns.

His hands traced the contours of those injuries, sporadically injecting his Innate Qi into her body, prodding for anything that felt out of place.

He could see her squirm under his touch, trying to resist the urge to cover herself as he unfastened her undergarments, displaying her full nudity. Still, Qin Yun felt nothing as he gazed upon her. How could he when she looked nothing like the woman she once was? Still, he reigned himself in to show no disgust as this would be a blow she wouldn't be able to recover from.

He had been a scientist for a long time; what hadn't he seen? He had travelled far and wide, seen much of the world beyond this dimension. Some of the creatures he had encountered would make her look like a sweet rose in contrast. Only by judging her against other human women did she fall far behind in her current state.

Still, Qin Yun was entirely devoted to changing that. Even he couldn't bear to look at her in this state for too long. She had burns on nearly 80% of her body, leaving not many places where her skin was intact. As he expected, he noticed that those burns originated inside her body, probably due to her fire element Spiritual Roots spewing much too potent Qi into her Qi Channels.

As for why the Qi was so strong, Qin Yun had a few guesses but nothing conclusive without delving deeper. Still, he chose to conquer one problem at a time. He reckoned that as long as she didn't exert her Qi or try to breakthrough, the chances of the same happening again were almost zero.

Once he was done examining her, Qin Yun raised his gaze and looked her in the eyes. Yet he couldn't help but chuckle once he saw that her face had become as red as a tomato. It was a shame it happened then since he would have liked to see it on her original face. Still, he knew such a day would come eventually.

Noticing his laughter, Yun Jingfei wished to reprimand him, to imprint her shame in his mind, yet his hand came much too quickly. She felt the soft touch of his palm over her eyes, blocking her sight. Then came a slight dizziness and the lull of sleep. Within seconds, she had lost consciousness.

Chapter 14 - Laid Bare Before the Light

Yun Jingfei awoke to find herself in the same secluded pavilion she remembered. Except, the darkness of night had given way to daybreak. She felt the harsh rays of sunlight on her closed eyelids, which prevented her from opening them. Still, the light helped fight the drowsiness.

Once she found her bearings, she tried to rise to a seated position but felt much too weak to support her own weight. She had no recollection of the last time she had felt so feeble. Not even after her accident did she have so much difficulty simply moving her muscles.

Speaking of muscles, she had rarely felt them ache as much as they did now, even more so for the pounding headache in her skull. She tried to prop herself up with her arms, but she found herself unable to sustain the effort and collapsed back onto the soft bedding.

She took a moment to catch her breath and looked at her surroundings. There was something different about this room. For one, she hazily remembered falling asleep in her wedding garb, but now, it was nowhere to be seen. She was tucked away in bed, albeit still naked, as she could feel the soft sheets against her skin.

Not far away, seated next to the small table she remembered, was Qin Yun looking at her with a slight smile. On the table was a wide assortment of various mortal food. Usually, she would have dismissed this plebeian cuisine, yet, for some reason, she couldn't help but crave it. In fact, her body seemed to scream for sustenance.

In normal times, she would have circulated her Qi within her body as she absorbed the required energy from the atmosphere. Yet, try as she might, she didn't feel an ounce of Qi within her Qi Centre. Worse still, she couldn't even feel the existence of that Qi Centre, as if it had disappeared overnight.

While she dreaded the thought, she still put it out of her mind as she was much too absorbed in the food just out of her reach. She couldn't think of anything else as if sustenance was a drug and she was an addict.

She crawled out of bed with difficulty, displaying her nudity to the world, yet she didn't seem to care. Qin Yun's smile only grew larger as he gazed at her, yet she ignored it. It wasn't until the sheets slid across her skin and the light reflected on its flawless surface that the weight of it finally dawned on her. There were no burn marks to be seen anymore.

She remained stunned for a minute or two as she watched in disbelief, her skin radiating the rosy complexion it once did. Tears welled in the corner of her eyes, and a lump of emotions remained stuck in her chest. It wasn't until a few moments later that reality finally dawned on her. This was no dream; it was all real.

She couldn't keep the dam from breaking any more. Her emotions burst like an avalanche, and her tears fell like a waterfall. Months of repressed grief and self-loathing crashed into her simultaneously, finally freeing her from their weight. She could feel her mind soar once again as if a grounded bird had finally found its wings.

She loudly sobbed within her hands as snot and tears marred her now perfect visage while her long, silky black hair, with a slight hint of blue at the end, fell before her face, hiding her from him. She remained in this position for a few minutes, refusing to acknowledge reality while her assets were fully displayed.

As Qin Yun had expected, reality didn't betray the rumours he had heard about this bride of his. If anything, they failed to do her justice. Despite all the years he had been alive, Qin Yun had rarely seen a woman so tantalizing, especially seeing her in such a vulnerable state. She couldn't help but heighten a man's protective instincts.

Still, Qin Yun knew how to control himself. Otherwise, he would have crossed a line he would have regretted while he was healing her. As for why he had to make her sleep, the process would have simply been too painful for her to be awake as he reconstructed her broken nerve endings.

As she was still in the midst of sobbing, Qin Yun rose and wrapped one of his outer robes around her. It wasn't that her sight wasn't appealing, quite the contrary. Qin Yun was no saint; he didn't know how long he could resist the urge.

With her tears finally receding and her emotions calming down, Yun Jingfei rose from her hands, looking Qin Yun in the eyes. Once full of distrust and apprehension, her eyes were now peaceful and clear. While what she felt for this man was closer to gratitude than love, she couldn't help but accept that he had wormed his way into her heart, and it would be difficult to deny that they now shared something.

While she was still averse to the idea of marriage and what it entailed, she would honour her part of the deal and become this man's wife. Still, Qin Yun had not gone into the details of this contract, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she had been scammed somehow.

She rose to her full height as she exited the bed. While even standing was painful, as most of her muscles ached from the tension, she couldn't help but want to examine her body in all its glory. She slowly wobbled her way toward the large mirror spanning most of the room's height and let the robes covering her body fall off. She didn't even care to be seen at this point and only wished to reaffirm what she already knew.

She stood before the mirror, moving her limbs around, checking every recess of her skin for the slight hint of imperfection, but she found none. Curiously, her skin seemed even more perfect than she remembered. She remained silent before the mirror, unable to find words to say as tears threatened to rise to her eyes. Even then, those were tears of joy, and she couldn't help but smile from ear to ear.

Qin Yun simply let her bask in the moment, knowing that this was only the beginning. There was much suffering left to come, but it could wait until her heart was finally free from the nightmare that had plagued her.

While she was still admiring her figure, a strange gurgling sound emerged from her core. She was stunned as she hadn't heard such a thing in so long. Suddenly, she felt her stomach was a deep, bottomless pit that required sustenance. She turned and saw the feast on the table and couldn't help but drool as she smelled the appetizing scent. No mortal food had ever seemed so divine.

She rushed to the table as fast as her weak legs could carry her, not forgetting to cover herself with Qin Yun's robe. While she didn't seem to care as she admired herself, she now felt embarrassed when she recalled her actions. Yet, it soon faded away when she finally regaled herself with the sustenance she craved so dearly.

The both of them ate in silence, gorging themselves with the succulent dishes Qin Yun had prepared beforehand. While Yun Jingfei needed the energy contained within to replenish what she had lost, the same was true for Qin Yun. Most of what he had acquired during his wedding banquet had been used to regenerate his wife's injuries.

Over a month's worth of food had been used in a matter of hours. To say the process had been strenuous would be the understatement of the century. Worse still, Qin Yun was currently exhausted as the process had taken the entire night. He was critically low on energy. Fortunately, Qin Yun always kept some reserves in his black box in case of an emergency.

As for why he didn't sleep, the lengthy process of healing her injuries was one thing, but skin contact was necessary to ensure proper pathways for his Innate Qi to travel. As such, he had been in close contact with her and had seen her in all her glory for an entire night. The mental strain he had endured had taken its toll on his self-control. He hadn't expected this woman to be so dangerous.

Unaware of Qin Yun's thoughts, Yun Jingfei ate plate after plate, barely stopping to breathe. Unlike Qin Yun's refined way of eating, she hasn't had much opportunity to eat since she started inedia at a young age, and she simply used her hands to gorge herself. It wasn't that she didn't know how to use utensils; quite the contrary. In most cases, she was as refined as an immortal fairy, yet she couldn't endure the appeal of the food within her reach and simply wished to fill the void as soon as possible.

Feeling competitive, Qin Yun picked up the pace, extracting dish after dish from his small black box until both were finally full. Still, Qin Yun was quite impressed by the amount of food her small frame could contain. While her Qi Channels were still crippled, her body was worthy of someone ready to ascend to the Void Core Realm; her energy requirements were astounding.

As they finished eating, both felt satiated, yet Qin Yun still had urges that needed to be filled. While he might be somewhat of an old man on the inside, his body was still one of a twenty-year-old in the prime of his life. While cultivators could reign in those desires, Qin Yun never saw the appeal; he much preferred being free to express his wants.

"Thank you," Yun Jingfei muttered after she had cleaned herself, feeling the embarrassment of her previous state. This was all she could think of as no other words could express the gratitude she had in her heart. Yet, Qin Yun wouldn't settle for appreciation alone.

"Don't be," he replied, looking deep into her dark eyes. "We had a deal, remember? I've only fulfilled my part."

It was only now that she remembered the contract terms, and she couldn't help but turn slightly redder. While she was unprepared for what came next, she didn't struggle or try to evade it but somehow found it much easier to accept.

Qin Yun lifted her slender chin with his fingers and neared her visage while locking gaze with her. Soon after, both of their lips made contact. She felt a shock of electricity rush through her brain, yet somehow, she found the feeling quite pleasant, a far cry from what she had expected.

Still, Qin Yun wouldn't settle for something so innocent. His tongue entered her mouth and explored the entirety of this cavity, relishing in the sweet taste found within. While she was surprised at first, she soon reciprocated his actions.

Unbeknownst to her, his hands wandered over her body, lightly caressing her skin, searching every nook and cranny of her being as he studied her reactions. Surprisingly, she seemed receptive to this treatment, which emboldened Qin Yun. He sought to reach the limit of what was permissible.

Yun Jingfei didn't even know how she felt at the moment, but surprisingly, she didn't feel the disgust she had expected. Yet, she was unsure whether this was love or a sense of duty. Qin Yun had made it clear this was a contract, and she didn't know if she should expect more from him. Still, if this was to happen either way, she may as well enjoy it.

She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him closer, feeling his body heat against her bare skin. It had been so long since she had felt something this real that she wished to experience it even more.

Knowing her desires, Qin Yun divested himself of his clothes and pushed his woman down on the soft bed before embracing her. He could finally let himself go after enduring for so long.

As unusual as it was, they had their first night as the sun shone overhead.

Chapter 15 - An Epiphany at Dusk

As they grew apart, Yun Jingfei struggled to catch her breath while Qin Yun fell into the lull of sleep. The prior night's events had taken a toll on his mind, and coupled with their activities during the day, he needed a good night's sleep.

Surprisingly, Yun Jingfei felt a new wave of energy flow through her body, and she felt wide awake despite the strenuous burden Qin Yun had placed on her body. She looked at the man to her side, watching him close his eyes and drift to the realm of dream, but she felt conflicted.

She felt the events had moved too fast like they had left her behind. Not so long ago, she was a hideous, disfigured monster shunned by everyone she had cared for, but now she had found someone who seemed to care about her, even when she was at her lowest. Still, she knew Qin Yun must have his own plans and wasn't that altruistic. Yet, she couldn't help but trust him. In fact, she had no choice but to trust him.

She rose from the large bed, wrapping a set of sheets around her naked body, letting her man get some much-needed rest. While she didn't know how he had achieved this miraculous regeneration, she knew it mustn't have been easy to do so, as no expert she had visited had achieved anything close. Even if her Qi Channels were still crippled, she still found herself lucky; she didn't despise herself anymore.

As the large sheet trailed slightly on the floor, she walked outside their pavilion just in time to see the sun descend toward the horizon, tinting the sky a shade of red. While she had been witness to such a sight countless times before, it had never felt as wonderful. Simply being alive was a blessing.

She sat outside as the soft, warm breeze caressed her face; how she had missed its touch. She basked in the glow of nature, feeling a new appreciation for the world. Somehow, she felt her Dao Heart resonate with the world around her.

Once, her life had been monochrome, filled with nothing but the expectations placed upon her for her talent and the allure of strength cultivation provided. All that ever filled her mind was to go further and beyond on the path, not even knowing why she strove for it, only going through the motions as this was what everyone did. Besides, she had the talent for it, and it would have been a shame to let it go to waste.

Then, the accident happened, and she lost everything that once mattered in her life: the beauty her peers envied, the strength she had painstakingly cultivated, and her family that had supported her thus far. Even the hope she once had to find a reason to strive forward was lost. More than once, she asked herself why she should continue to suffer.

She had given up on everything. There was only one hope remaining for her. Even if she was to be used as a pawn, her family still had expectations of her. This was the only thing sustaining her mind, so she let herself be used and agreed to this marriage.

Yet, this man had overturned her world as easily as raising his palm while all others had been unable to help her leave this pit of despair. Still, it frightened her to be so dependent on someone else. It scared her how easily she had given her body to this man, even if they were supposedly husband and wife. She feared how quickly he had wormed his way into her heart. None had managed such a thing but him; not even her own master was that capable.

What shook her more than anything was how deep that man had hidden himself. His family viewed him as nothing more than a waste, unable to reach the Qi Refinement Realm, yet she knew better. How could an ordinary man do what he did? She had many questions in her heart, but somehow, she was afraid of voicing them and the answers she might receive.

While all those thoughts swirled in her mind, Yun Jingfei looked toward the horizon and witnessed the world's beauty. Somehow, all her worries seemed insignificant before it. Her life, up to this point, had been fraught with nothing but days of endless, gruelling cultivation. She had never taken the time to appreciate the world around her.

Her worries slowly disappeared as she immersed herself in the sights before her, slowly appreciating the Dao of all things. While her comprehension was still shallow, she somehow felt that the path she had once walked was nothing more than a dead-end and that her accident was destiny, allowing her to right her wrongs and seek ever-increasing heights.

While such a thought was hard to swallow, she had already begun to see the new path she wished to follow slowly appear before her. Still, without a working Qi Centre, no matter how sturdy her Dao Heart was, she couldn't recover her cultivation. Yet, she had no intention of letting this epiphany slip from her grasp.

She sat in a lotus position before the sunset, gazing at the horizon as a sheet lightly draped over her body. She let the world wash over her as she emptied her mind of all negative thoughts. She didn't bother to try and circulate any Qi and just opened her Dao Heart to the outside, assimilating what she could comprehend.

If someone could see her now, they would be shocked beyond belief. At present, she was nothing more than a mortal, unable to produce the slightest bit of Qi, yet her body shone with a rainbow hue, radiating some sort of unknown strength.

While the uninitiated would be unable to understand her current state, some of the old monsters, far on the path, would stare, stunned and unable to comprehend how she could achieve this at her young age. This was the initial step needed for a cultivator to reach the Soul Formation Realm, the embryo of a Dao Domain.

Unfortunately, her cultivation was non-existent at the moment, and she couldn't give her Dao form, no matter how hard she tried. Still, her gains were substantial as her Dao Heart grew stronger with every moment.

So, she remained immobile as time passed. She remained oblivious to exterior changes as her heart absorbed the intricacies of nature's flow. For now, everything she experienced was subconscious, as she didn't possess the means to analyze it all. Only when she could consciously understand this phenomenon would she finally reach the Soul Formation Realm.

Obviously, her current realm was much too lacking. She would first need to reach the Nascent Soul Realm and sublimate her soul to understand such mysteries. Besides, an unfathomable amount of Qi would be required to even consider materializing a Dao Domain, something she was much too far away from to even consider.

Even her own master hadn't mentioned anything past the Void Core Realm, as knowing too much would sometimes only lead to disappointment. Few could reach such a realm as the gap between the Nascent Soul Realm and the Soul Formation Realm was a chasm most would never overcome in their lifetime.

As the night gave way to dawn, Yun Jingfei awoke from her epiphany to the scent of a glorious meal wafting in the wind. As she was but a mortal at the moment, her body could scarcely sustain what her Dao Heart required, leading to her famished state.

She opened her eyes, yet her pupils still glowed with a golden hue momentarily before returning to their natural colour once all her insights were tightly locked away within her Dao Heart. Her perfect visage glowed with a radiant smile, knowing that what she experienced was too valuable to put into words.

She looked in the direction where the succulent scent came from, only to see her husband looking at her gently. Still, something seemed amiss. She followed his gaze, only to be directed to her exposed bust. She quickly covered herself as embarrassment crept over her, only to see him shrug.

"Nothing I haven't seen before," he said, half-jokingly, before motioning for her to join him at the table. With a slight frown on her lovely face, she rose and approached him, only to see a magnificent blue dress laid out on the bed. She looked at him only to see him smile lightly.

This dress was gorgeous and much to her taste. The material was soft and light, feeling pleasant on her skin, and most of all offered just the right amount of skin exposure. While she was never one for this tantalizing style of dress, she must admit that recovering from her accident gave her the urge to show off her beauty.

In addition to the dress, she noticed a pair of knee-high slender boots, long-sleeve gloves, and, most of all, a mask that hid most of her face. While she found this attire peculiar, she didn't question it and chose to put it on.

While slipping into the dress, she found that it fitted her perfectly, as if it was designed solely for her. The same could be said for all its accessories. Once fully dressed, Yun Jingfei emerged from behind the partition, intending to show off before her husband. Yet, his gaze didn't waver, only showing the calm expression he always did, as if he was wholly in control of her actions.

She couldn't help but pout slightly, which made him smile. While Qin Yun knew that his bride used to be cold and detached from the world, she was also just a young girl who had experienced much hardship. To see such a range of emotions from her was what he intended from the start.

Qin Yun had never understood how stifling one's emotions could lead one to the peak. This wasn't his Dao. While he knew that detachment was a path as good as any other, this wasn't what he chose, and he hoped that those willing to follow him would not consider it either. How dull would eternity be without any enjoyment?

The couple ate silently, slowly savouring the dishes before them. Yun Jingfei had never considered food enjoyable, yet she stood corrected. Somehow, she couldn't imagine her life without it anymore. It helped that her husband was a masterful cook and that she had never been immersed in the world of taste.

Still, a part of her couldn't help but lament that this seemed like a waste of time. Why learn to cook if one can simply cultivate? While she had a new outlook on life, some things were deeply ingrained into her being. As if knowing her thoughts from the look on her face, Qin Yun couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

"You think of cultivation as something too rigid," he said, which brought his wife to ponder the implications. "There are countless paths to tread, and none could be deemed right. You have already experienced a new one not long ago. The world is Dao, and so is the entirety of existence. So, why can't cooking be one? Food can only be acquired through the death of others, whether it be animals or plants. It is then used to sustain new life, forming an unending cycle. Cooking is a way to empower this cycle with intent and purpose, further strengthening it. Since life itself is Dao, why can't its intermediary be, too?"

While Yun Jingfei thought he was only spewing bullshit, she couldn't help but appreciate his eloquence. Still, she had many questions needing answers. She gathered her courage and asked what was on her mind, what had gnawed at her heart since she woke to find her body restored.

"Can I regain my cultivation?" she asked as she stared him straight in the eyes. "Can I still seek to reach the peak?"

Chapter 16 - Betrayal on a Mountain Top

"Why ask me when you already know the answer?" Qin Yun said calmly.

Indeed, she knew. She had an inkling as soon as she had that epiphany as she looked at the sunset. Her previous cultivation was already gone, and the path barred from her. Nothing could be done to walk on it once again. She would have to tread another path through untold obscurity, fumbling in the dark without a guidepost to find her way. Only then could she restart again.

Indeed, she would have to restart from the beginning. Still, this offered some advantages. Qin Yun explained to her that the most likely reason for her accident was a flaw in her cultivation technique. More precisely, her technique was so overbearing that her meridians couldn't sustain the load of her breakthrough and shattered from the intense energy coursing through them as she sought the Void Core Realm.

Qin Yun had some guesses about why her master was able to advance despite using the same technique, but he would have to meet her to know the full extent of what he had theorized. Only through extensive observations and endless examinations could one uncover the truth of any phenomenon. It wasn't in his nature to determine the outcome from circumstantial evidence alone.

While Yun Jingfei longed to know the truth, she knew Qin Yun's caution was warranted. What if he was wrong and her prior state was due to foul play? She wouldn't dismiss it since jealousy was a rampant affliction within her sect. She wouldn't put it past some of her fellow inner sect disciples to plot against her.

As for her broken Qi Channels, Qin Yun had the means to repair them, just as he had done with her outward injuries. Only, it would be much more laborious since they were deeply ingrained rather than surface-level.

Qin Yun explained that, at present, she was much too weak for him to attempt such a delicate procedure. He feared she might succumb to her wounds as he used his Innate Qi to repair her meridians. Besides, his Qi was limited in his current realm, and he had already used a significant amount. Anymore, and he wasn't sure he could perfect the Body Strengthening Realm.

Unless he found a way to replenish it, he would have to wait until he became a proper cultivator and could harness the world's Spiritual Qi. He already had an idea of how to achieve it, yet it would require much more time and research. Still, they had more than enough time and had no reason to rush.

"What about what my family asked me to find? How do you plan to deal with this?" she asked, concerned.

While she had been fully prepared at one point to betray this arranged husband and steal what her family required, if only to feel needed again, she couldn't bring herself to do it anymore, knowing what this man had done for her. Still, she was under no illusion that they could go against them and renege on this deal, even if Qin Yun had no part in it. They wouldn't hesitate to use force if it came to it.

Listening to her inquiry, Qin Yun only smiled in response. Then, he pointed his finger forward until a strange crystal object appeared. It was long and jagged, somehow resembling a sabre with a barbed edge. Yet, unlike a standard weapon, it seemed much more natural than something forged, almost as if it had been alive at some point.

Indeed, this was a leg belonging to one of these strange crystal insects. Yun Jingfei squinted as she looked at this peculiar item. While she could barely feel the Spiritual Qi in the atmosphere, she recognized a strange energy pulsating within the transparent object, almost as if it flowed within like Qi in a cultivator's meridians.

Qin Yun waved the limb lightly, and Yun Jingfei noticed space vibrate as it cut through, which she found unexpected. Only a treasure above the Soul Formation Realm could affect the world as this one did. Only through the natural laws can one accomplish such a thing. She held no doubt that this was worthy of what one might call an inheritance. No wonder her family would move mountains and sell her to get their hands on such a treasure.

Looking at her stunned expression, Qin Yun could only smile wryly. This was but a replacement for his non-existent inheritance, only something to get people off his back. As for its worth, Yun Jingfei wasn't wrong. In the right hands, this could be a priceless treasure. Yet, it would only be such if someone could extract that strange energy.

Otherwise, as soon as someone tried to refine it into a personal treasure, it would explode in their faces, most likely killing them in the process. As for what happened to it once it left his hands, Qin Yun couldn't care less. Besides, he had countless amounts of the same material safely stashed away in his black box, ready to be refined into potent artifacts.

"Let's not be too eager to deliver it to them," Qin Yun said calmly as Yun Jingfei's gaze was riveted on the strange crystal limb radiating colourful light. "Besides, I reckon your family should leave us shortly, and my family should come to us fairly quickly to get their hands on it. For now, we just need to wait for the right moment."

Somehow, Qin Yun's smile felt eerie to her, as if he was a villain with a scheme in mind. Yet, getting even with the family that had sold her enticed her greatly. She couldn't wait to see their faces once they realized she had recovered from what was an incurable affliction and rub it in their faces that they had lost her for good.

Still, it would be a lie to say she had no regrets. Her uncle had been good to her and did his best to fight on her behalf, even if this fight ended in his defeat. Yet, she understood Qin Yun's intentions with the mask he had prepared for her. Showing her condition now would only result in further chaos, and she would lose her independence. She would probably be caged again, living as nothing more than a puppet, fighting for the family's greater good.

At least now, she was in charge of her life, a life she had chosen even if she was bound to another through marriage. Only time would tell if she would come to view her union with Qin Yun as something she would regret.

******

A long distance away, on a mountain near the continent's core, stood a young man with long, flowing white hair. His black clothes were ragged, with sleeves ripped at the shoulder and bloodstains covering almost their entirety. However, most of the blood wasn't his but of his opponents.

A strong scent of blood and decay wafted through the air, overpowering the gentle scent of leftover nature. Indeed, what had once been a verdant forest upon a mountaintop was now nothing more than a mass grave filled with corpses and broken steel.

Despite the corpses being only recent additions to this nightmarish landscape, they were dried and decayed as if they had been stripped of all their vitality, leaving behind nothing but empty husks and damaged clothing.

Despite his numerous injuries, ranging from benign to life-threatening, the young man stood tall and unyielding, facing the world with a grin laced with insanity. All around him were cultivators sporting various uniforms, denoting the different factions they belonged to.

While conflicts were common, these factions seemed to form a united front against this young man, yet he seemed to prevail against all odds. To the young man's side was a young lady donning a long, light green dress. Although she was injured and her face was marred with blood, her beauty nonetheless shone through.

The man stood before her, shielding her from the endless assaults of these different factions. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the man held his own purely through overwhelming skill and might. Yet, even he was prone to exhaustion as his stamina and mental fortitude weren't unlimited.

Sensing this slight hint of weakness, a man with a long white beard swung a long poleaxe, wishing to cleave the young man in two with a single swing. Yet, his bravado would come back to haunt him as the young man effortlessly evaded before grasping the old man's throat with his hand and digging his long nails into his skin.

The old man howled before the young man crushed his throat, yet didn't reap his life at that moment. Instead, a black vortex appeared on his palm as he struck the old man at the Qi Centre, ripping through the flesh of his abdomen. Mere moments later, the old man shrivelled and died, leaving nothing but an empty husk, which the young man threw to the side.

Almost instantly, the wounds that seemed fatal began to heal under the naked eye. While they still bled, at least the young man was assured not to succumb to them. Seeing this macabre spectacle, most of the cultivators broke their assault, not wishing to be the newest victim of this fiend, becoming the latest evidence of this young man's might to litter the floor.

"Liao Cheng! Stop resisting and return the Heavenly Bead to us, and we may allow you to keep your life! Otherwise, do not blame us for being ruthless!"

Liao Cheng could only scoff at their futile attempt to persuade him. He knew fully what awaited him if he were to cave into their demands. While they may call themselves members of the righteous factions, they were nothing more than unashamed hypocrites.

"Return it to you?!" Liao Cheng screamed at almost the top of his lungs. His powerful voice rocked the nearby landscape, even producing slight tremors on the ground. Some of the most wounded cultivators couldn't endure the strain of his Qi-laced voice and collapsed on the ground as they vomited lumps of blood. "The Heavenly Bead has always been part of my clan's heritage, and you dare claim it as your own?! You dare call yourselves righteous practitioners? Even pigs have more worth in my eyes than you lot!"

The remaining cultivators surrounding Liao Cheng gritted their teeth angrily at this provocation. Yet, they lacked the courage to repudiate his claims, not wishing to be the next corpse to nourish the soil of this mountain. Still, the allure of that treasure could entice even the most diehards of cowards.

"You demon!" one man shouted as the rain poured, washing the blood on Liao Cheng's clothes. "The world will thank us for getting rid of your kind. Leaving you the Heavenly Bead would only be an insult to it. Only we can harness its full potential."

Liao Cheng's gaze was full of mockery and contempt. He had no need for words anymore as he knew full well the extent of their depravity. Nothing he said could alleviate the fury in his heart. While he knew his chances of leaving here unscathed were slim, he knew he could prevail over them if he were to utilize his trump card.

From the recess of his clothes emerged a small blue bead, gently nestled into the crux of his palm. On the Bead's surface were clouds slowly rotating, producing a slight light and somewhat intense energy. Liao Cheng injected some of his Qi within the Bead, which prompted the clouds to rotate even faster, resembling something akin to a hurricane. The energy produced by the Bead soared, becoming much more than all the energy Liao Cheng had expended during the fight.

As he was ready to unleash that energy toward the men and women rushing toward him, weapon in hand, he felt a sharp, cold, metallic instrument pierce his back. Although sudden, Liao Cheng was prepared for a surprise attack and managed to shift his body slightly, allowing the blade to pierce through but missing his heart by a slight margin.

Still, what hurt more than the blade now stuck in his chest was the person holding the knife. The woman he had protected until now, wagering his life, had literally stabbed him in the back. While his mind refused to accept reality, he knew in his heart that what he saw was true.

Liao Cheng opened his mouth to question her motives, yet the woman's gaze dissuaded him. Her gaze was much colder than he had ever seen, resembling a block of ice. Without a word, she tugged on the blade, retracting it from his flesh, before intending to pierce again. She wouldn't stop unless he was dead.

With no other choice, Liao Cheng unleashed the full power of the Bead, targeting all the space around him. A shockwave emerged from the Bead, distorting the world around him and preventing his assailant from coming any closer. Then, a bright flash appeared, bathing the world in light before receding just as fast.

A few unlucky ones caught in the blast were left with mangled limbs as the space had twisted and severed due to the influence of the Bead, rendering most unable to continue the fight. Yet, it wouldn't matter since Liao Cheng had now disappeared from this mountaintop alongside the woman who had betrayed him. All that remained was a slight vortex of distorted space, which might lead to his location.

Chapter 17 - Treading a New Path

Surprisingly, the couple had been left to their own devices for almost three full days until they were summoned for the departure of the Yun Clan's procession. As Qin Yun had expected, they had made no demands for his inheritance, relying on the Qin Family to provide it for them. Why dirty their hands when they had lackeys ready to do it for them? Indeed, forcing the issue now would only seem petty and much too forceful for their taste. All cultivation families loved their reputations, after all.

At first, Yun Jingfei feared someone might notice something strange about her since the last time they met. Yet, to her surprise, not even her uncle seemed to note her newfound vitality or renewed confidence. Still, she did her best to mask it as Qin Yun was right: bringing attention to herself in her current state would be foolish. There was no knowing what their reactions would be.

Fortunately, the mask and dress Qin Yun had provided seemed to mask her features, even despite her uncle's strong divine sense that could examine the most minute of details. She wondered how such a thing was possible. Even in her large clan, which had uncountable treasures, she had never heard of such a miraculous thing.

Her husband always seemed to have a thin veil of mystery hovering over him. She wondered when she would be privy to his secrets. Still, she knew that even though they called themselves husband and wife, they were nothing more than strangers at the moment. Even she had some secrets she would not reveal so easily.

Her clan's departure, while grandiose, didn't move Yun Jingfei's heart in the least. She knew full well what these people thought of her. Even her uncle wasn't exempt. Although he had cared for her, she knew it stemmed from the same place as the rest of the clan. After all, the clan was paramount, and individuals were replaceable. She couldn't fault him as she once thought the same.

With the Yun Clan's departure, life in Jin City returned to normality, almost forgetting the last few days' events. The talks in the street were all about the prestige of the various factions that attended the wedding, discussing with awe and respect the strength of the various characters in attendance. No one even seemed to mention the bride and groom, as if they had only been side characters to the whole event. Which was true for the most part. Still, Qin Yun was content with this arrangement. He had no interest in garnering even more attention and didn't wish for an unrelated party to disturb his newly married life.

In the weeks after his wedding, Qin Yun and his wife moved to his small secluded house. Although it was nothing compared to the mansions surrounding it, the small courtyard felt cozy and inviting to Yun Jingfei. Although she had been used to the glamour and extravagance of her clan, she felt this small house held a human touch and somehow warmed her heart.

Their following days were filled with each other as they lived as a mortal couple would. Although this wasn't what Yun Jingfei had initially expected, she somehow found peace in their mundane life.

All her life, she has had to bear her clan's expectations, always striving forward with all her might. Her mind had always been filled with thoughts of going further and beyond, and she had never recognized how exhausted she had been. It wasn't until her accident that she felt the weight of it all crash into her.

But now, she took each day as it came, discarding all unnecessary thoughts. In turn, this did wonders for her cultivation. Despite her talent, she had struggled bitterly to reach the height she once did, always striving to be ahead of the pack. Yet now, everything came to her naturally. She couldn't help but lament how wrong she had been. Still, her lack of a Qi Centre weighed on her.

"The way I see it, you have two paths ahead of you," her husband had once said. "Either you tread the orthodox path, as you once did, strengthening your meridians, hoping such a situation doesn't reoccur. Or, you forge a new path for yourself, using unorthodox ways."

While walking the path most once did was attractive in its own way, as one wouldn't have to stumble blindly in the dark, Yun Jingfei discarded that idea. She simply couldn't bear to live with the fear that her nightmare could return to haunt her at any moment. Besides, Qin Yun impressed upon her that his miracle cure was a one-time deal. Her body simply couldn't bear the strain of such a procedure again.

As for her broken meridians, Qin Yun had already started the process of reconnecting them. As they went to bed each night, Qin Yun would take an hour or two after she had fallen asleep to slowly mend them using his Qi. Doing it slowly reduced the chance of him making a mistake and reduced the strain on both of them.

Now, a few weeks later, Yun Jingfei could feel the Spiritual Energy in the atmosphere and could control it somewhat. Yet, it was still too soon for her to absorb it into her meridian and make it flow to her Qi Centre. Still, simply feeling the Qi flow unimpeded brought her great joy. She had almost given up hope that such a day would come. While she was somewhat impatient to regain her peak, she knew the day would come eventually.

As for her new path, Qin Yun had shown her the way forward. On a late afternoon, as they passed the time in their small courtyard, Qin Yun had taken the time to demonstrate something incredible. He approached a large boulder before lightly pressing a finger on its rugged surface. Then, slowly, his finger glided over the surface diagonally.

As he retracted his digit, a portion of rock slid across its anchor to the ground before tumbling off the edge. Yun Jingfei had remained silent for a while, trying to understand the principle behind his actions.

At first, she thought he had used his incredible strength to slice the boulder apart. Yet the cut was much too perfect to have been done by strength alone. It was reminiscent of a cut made by a bladed weapon. Yet, even the thinnest sword would fail to leave such a pristine cut in such a hard material.

Even more peculiar, she didn't sense any Qi utilized in his movement, as if he had done so as a mortal. Somehow, it reminded her of her epiphany a while back as she watched the sunset, as if this cut was natural, produced by the world itself. Still, she saw the potential hidden within, but it was much too obtuse to grasp at this moment. Yet, what Qin Yun said then left a mark on her mind.

"I intended to cut; therefore, the boulder was split. To wield a sword is to impose your will upon the world. Power is a means to shape your reality, and Intent is the beginning of it all."

Intent! Such a mere idea held untold possibilities. How wonderful would it be to materialize one's Intent and have it affect one's surroundings? Still, this was easier said than done. Usually, one would need a deep cultivation base and unfathomable insights into the laws governing the world before barely affecting reality with the mind alone.

Still, Yun Jingfei held deep knowledge, as she had perused numerous books about cultivation, whether in her clan or the sect she belonged to. She knew some things hidden from the populace, such as one form of Intent called a Domain.

Indeed, a Domain was a way to exercise one's will on reality, yet such a thing was only accessible once one had formed their own Soul's Origin. Only through this Origin and the surrounding Qi can one materialize one's domain. Only a Soul Formation Realm cultivator could do so.

Yet, Qin Yun had produced the same effect using mental strength alone. She couldn't even begin to understand how deep one's insight into the nature of all things one must possess to achieve such a thing. Still, she was undeterred. The untold possibilities that Intent provided let her shrug off all the associated difficulties. Even more so since she was already used to hardship. What was learning this against what she had already experienced?

Still, cultivating Intent was definitely a crooked path. It overturned everything she knew about cultivation. Usually, a cultivator would utilize the surrounding Qi to reduce the burden their mind had to bear to produce a phenomenon. Yet, this path would put all the burden on one's mind, but in exchange, the power and control would become much greater.

As with any path, all would start from a single step. For her, this was the way of the sword, as sharpening one's Intent was the most accessible and straightforward. While Intent could be used to do almost anything, nothing was easier than the act of destruction. So, relying on Qin Yun's guidance, Yun Jingfei immersed herself in the path of warfare.

Each day, she would swing her sword for hours, honing her muscles until the blade felt like an extension of her limbs. Surprisingly, she found that she was exceptionally suited for this path. While her high-grade Spiritual Roots gave her an edge in the art of cultivation, her mind had been sharpened through years of gruelling training and hardship, which were significantly utilized in her new Sword Cultivation.

While Qin Yun hadn't explained much of the stages required to progress in this unorthodox cultivation except for their names, Yun Jingfei felt it was straightforward, most likely due to her talent. From what she could infer, the first step was called the Sword of Hardness of the Mortal Sword Realm, which she was presently in. This was the first of the two steps this realm was comprised of

As the name suggested, this was the sword path all mortals would go through as they sought the pinnacle of swordsmanship. In that step, one would forge their muscles so that they would possess strength and endurance, allowing the practitioner to employ brute force to destroy one's enemy.

Although it seemed simple, this strength was overbearing, to say the least, and at the peak, one could contend against even those at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Yet, mortals could only barely embark on this path even through a lifetime of practice and could only achieve the bare minimum of success. Yet, Yun Jingfei possessed an edge over most as her body was already nearing the Void Core Realm.

Next step was the Sword of Softness, which intended to forge the muscles to become soft and springy, as if whips, greatly enhancing their speed. Through it, the point of the sword could achieve such velocity that it could cut even through most techniques cultivators could use, rendering them void. Even more, one could cut through Qi through physical might alone, disallowing its usage to others unless they possessed greater might. As you might expect, this would be the bane of any cultivators. How could they resist if they couldn't even harness Qi to fight with?

Still, Yun Jingfei had difficulties believing it even though Qin Yun had assured her that someone at the peak of the Sword of Softness could contend against a Golden Core Realm cultivator. How could physical might alone hold its own against it? One must know that Golden Core cultivators could be considered elders in most second-rate clans. Yet, how could mortals contend against them?

Still, she swung her sword regardless. She had chosen to believe in him as he had shown her a way she could walk. She would persevere on this road until she reached the peak or fall prematurely at the hands of others. She knew treading this path would be filled with bloodshed as one could only hone one's sword through conflict. Still, this was the way she had chosen, and she would see it through to the end.

Chapter 18 - A Taste of Heaven's Might

As Qin Yun had expected, his clan couldn't hold themselves back for long in demanding his inheritance. While he felt the urge to deny them this victory, dealing with the aftermath would be too much of a hassle. Still, this success would never come at his own expense. Why should he be the one to pay for a deal he never agreed to?

As for who was sent to deliver this notice, it was predictable. Once again, Qin Meihui was forced to deliver the news, putting her in an awkward position. While she felt revolted having to do this, she couldn't go against her family since it was even her grandfather himself, the current patriarch, who had demanded this of her.

Yet, Qin Yun didn't hold it against her; he even welcomed her with a smile. As for her attitude toward Yun Jingfei, while they couldn't be considered friends, they were civil enough. Qin Yun didn't expect the two women to share all their thoughts immediately, but at least it was a start.

While most of Yun Jingfei's life had only consisted of cultivation, she still knew how to recognize the situation due to her prior circumstances. She knew there was something between her husband and this cousin of his, yet she chose not to pry. While she was married to him, she felt no urge to monopolize him nor jealousy.

Besides, while their relationship was physical, Yun Jingfei felt no emotional attachment to this man. Honestly, she hadn't felt any attachment to most of those she had met. Maybe her heart had frozen over as she fell to the depths of despair, or perhaps this was simply her nature from the start. Still, this didn't mean she didn't feel gratitude or a sense of responsibility. She had agreed to this contract and would fulfill her end.

On her end, Qin Meihui didn't know how to feel seeing the man she was close to with another woman. It had only been a few days, yet their relationship seemed close, like they knew some secrets she wasn't privy to; she felt alienated and lonely, yet somehow glad that this man felt less apathetic than he once was.

Their conversation didn't last long as they returned to the dreaded subject. Somehow, Qin Meihui expected Qin Yun to deny them entirely, yet she was shocked when he brought the crystal limb out of thin air. While she didn't know if this was what the clan sought from him, she knew this object's value from a single glance. Just the energy flowing through it was overbearing.

With her spoil in hand, Qin Meihui left, leaving the couple to their own devices. She was eager to report back to her grandfather and be done with this. Somehow, she felt things wouldn't be that simple, yet she hoped it wouldn't involve her further. While she did appreciate that man, she had her own life to consider.

Days passed, and much remained the same. While Qin Yun wasn't aware of the clan's thoughts on his inheritance, judging by the silent treatment he received, it seemed good enough.

With that out of mind, Qin Yun began his new research project. Those crystal creatures offered untold possibilities, and it would be sacrilegious to let them rot in his black box. He tried many things to harness that strange energy, but somehow, all it ever led to was an explosion.

Fortunately, he was prepared and stifled it by simply putting the crystal material back into the black box, as somehow, time didn't flow in that dimension. Anything placed inside would come back out in the exact same state it was put in.

Since his research into that energy had reached a standstill, Qin Yun chose to focus on another aspect. Namely the material's sturdiness. If he could harness this material to forge artifacts, he might birth something incredible. And so, from this day forth, the sound of heavy objects hammering into the crystal substance echoed constantly from his small courtyard, yet wouldn't reach the outside as a small formation prevented any sounds from leaking out. He had taken inspiration from the formation he saw during his wedding and improved it slightly so as to render it invisible to any practitioners.

In a corner of the courtyard, Qin Yun had built a rudimentary smithy where he could experiment with forging. While crude, it still helped reveal some of the material's properties. For one, this crystal was sturdier than most of what he had ever seen. Using most of his strength, he only made the material cave slightly while destroying most of the ground beneath. As he expected, this makeshift building couldn't handle the strain of his strength.

His other discovery was that, as he hammered the material, the energy flowing through would slow down, and some of it would be lost and absorbed into the material, somehow resembling his Qi when he used it to strengthen his body. With each recurrent hit, the material became slightly duller yet much harder. He would need to add more force to his blow to achieve the same effect a second time.

With his courtyard reaching the apex of what it could endure, Qin Yun had no choice but to relocate if he wished to complete his project. Yet, a smithy sturdy enough to withstand his strength would be hard to manufacture with his current means; he could only borrow one. Fortunately, one of his acquaintances could provide what he lacked.

With this goal in mind, Qin Yun left his small workshop only to stumble upon a strange phenomenon. The sky had turned dark as thunderclouds rose overhead. Lightning arced upon their surface, filling the world with a sense of oppression.

At first, Qin Yun believed this to be the Heavens' reaction to someone attempting to reach a higher realm but soon ruled against it. Its might was much too spread out to be true Heavenly Thunder. It was as if the very land had incurred divine wrath.

He found Yun Jingfei not far away, sword in hand, looking above with a complicated expression. Qin Yun could guess her thoughts. It wasn't that long ago that she attempted her breakthrough, as she faced the very same oppression from the world. Yet, she fell in the end. This situation probably brought only bitter memories.

Still, this oppression was much stronger than it was for her. It seemed the reason for its arrival was much more severe than they thought.

A few moments later, opaque clouds darkened the sky as they blocked the sun's light, plunging the world into obscurity. Then came a flash of light that blinded all creation, followed by another, then another until the land itself was scorched black.

Forests lit aflame as the land caved in to this destructive force, yet the source of the Heavens' ire was nowhere to be found. Thunder struck as if to simply relieve its frustrations. This was a scene akin to the end of the world.

Yun Jingfei shook slightly as she gripped her sword ever tighter. Her knuckles paled as she resisted the urge to buckle under this pressure. Despite her non-existent cultivation, the Heavens still regarded her as someone at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. She had to resist a stronger pressure than most, which she was mainly unable to.

Sweat pooled under her mask as she gritted her teeth, trying to keep her consciousness from fading. Yet, such struggles were useless as no one could resist Heaven's Might. With a slight trace of blood dripping from her mouth as she bit her lips, her world faded to black, and she went limp.

Fortunately, Qin Yun was there to catch her, holding her in his arms as he had already predicted her predicament. Still, he felt a slight sense of pride at her display of endurance. Few were those who could stand tall under Heaven's Might. As the saying went, Under Heavens, all are but ants. Yet, Yun Jingfei had proven them wrong as she defied her fate until she blacked out. Few were those who could claim the same.

As for Qin Yun, he felt no pressure as he wasn't deemed a cultivator by this ethereal existence. While many speculated on what this strange force was, even whether it possessed sentience, Qin Yun had some doubts of his own, but it was much too soon to tell. Yet, he came to some conclusions, such as mortals were exempt from its control.

From what he understood, the Heavens was a system whose only purpose was to manage all the Spiritual Qi present in the world, whether loose in the atmosphere or within a cultivator's Qi Centre; all were subject to its control. As for the mechanisms that led to Heaven's Thunder's appearance, Qin Yun would have to experience it himself to truly know.

As the thunder slowly receded, Qin Yun noticed some fluctuations a distance away, slightly resembling what his own black box produced. Yet, he felt it was many times stronger. Still, spacial fluctuations weren't something that anybody could notice. Qin Yun could only do so due to untold time spent in the presence of it. Yet, even he felt slightly stumped when thinking about it.

While he remembered dabbling in it in some of his previous life, the knowledge was somehow barred to him, as if locked away in the recess of his mind. He figured that as he climbed the cultivation ranks, he would find the keys to unlock those memories.

Brushing those thoughts out of his mind, Qin Yun noticed the chaotic state of the city. While the city was enveloped by a grand formation that protected the city from any foreign invaders, nothing could be done against Heavenly Tribulation. After a few lightning bolts, the formation dome floating above the city receded, letting the destruction flow through as if someone had turned it off to preserve its foundation. Qin Yun had no doubts that any later and the formations would have been irreparably broken.

While the advent of this tribulation left the land and the city damaged, not many lives were lost, as if the Heavens had chosen to spare them somewhat. Still, panic echoed in the streets as buildings caught fire and crumbled, putting the city in a state of disarray. However, the unrest didn't last long, as the formation was brought online again, which resulted in the fires fizzling out.

Soon after, Qin Yun noticed the elders rushing about within the clan before gathering in the Main Hall. Less than ten minutes later, they all ran out and over half left the clan to rush out of the city toward where Qin Yun had noticed the spatial fluctuation.

Of course, he understood their intentions. Such potent spacial fluctuations were usually the precursing signs of the advent of a treasure. Besides, treasures of the space attribute were scarce, to say the least. It wouldn't surprise him if it led to a major conflict with all the clans in the city. Qin Yun very much doubted that his clan was the only one to notice such a thing.

While he was curious as to the origins of this treasure, Qin Yun had no interest in fighting for it. Doing so would only make himself a target to purge. Cultivators wouldn't hesitate to kill even their own clansmen to get their hands on such a thing, much less someone like him.

With calm slowly returning to the city, Qin Yun picked up his bride and brought her back inside their house. To his surprise, she awoke much earlier than he anticipated. It seemed her mind had grown sharper in recent days since she started on the path of Sword Cultivation.

And so, two days passed until news arose from those who had left to seek that treasure. While no treasure was found, the City Lord's Mansion found an injured young man in its place. While their first instinct was to rob him of all his valuables, the young man fought back, despite his injuries, and managed to impress the City Lord into recruiting him. This was the extent of what Qin Yun could uncover.

While Qin Yun was slightly interested in the young man's origin, he would let fate take its course. Honestly, he simply didn't want to be involved in such things. He just wanted to remain quiet and cultivate in peace alongside his wife. Why bother to struggle for resources when he already had all he needed? Still, his peace was cut short, as always.

A woman in her thirties, along with a regiment of guards, burst into his small courtyard, disturbing his wife's cultivation. Yun Jingfei frowned and brandished her sword, wishing to cut them all down, yet Qin Yun quickly restrained her, for this woman was her mother-in-law.

Chapter 19 - His Stepmother's Scheme

Tension ran high in Qin Yun's courtyard as his stepmother and a regiment of guards burst through the front gate uninvited. Yun Jingfei had been practising her swordplay since early morning and wasn't too thrilled to be disturbed in the middle of it, especially since she wasn't in a habit of wearing her mask while at home.

In a motion quicker than lightning, she donned the mask before the intruders could see her features. Then, with a light wooden sword in hand, she prepared herself for the eventual clash before being reined in by Qin Yun. Although Yun Jingfei was acquainted with the woman leading the charge, she could honestly say she didn't have a good first impression of her.

While they met during the banquet, all she received from her was contempt and derision; she didn't even try to seem amiable even before the Yun Clan. Yun Jingfei could only shake her head, thinking that this woman's haughty nature would eventually bite her when she crossed someone she couldn't afford to.

Knowing when to push forth and when to fold was paramount in this world. Yun Jingfei had been made painfully aware of it through her recent circumstances. As such, she understood Qin Yun's intentions. It wouldn't do to antagonize this woman any further, yet she couldn't help but feel her blood boil as they so brazenly strutted into their haven as if they owned the place.

She could barely keep herself from cutting them down where they stood. Qin Yun, knowing her inner turmoil, gently wrapped his arms around her slim waist, restraining her. Feeling his touch in public, Yun Jingfei couldn't help but blush slightly under her mask. While they had been intimate multiple times already, doing so in front of others simply wasn't in her nature.

Seeing the calmness on Qin Yun's face, despite being surrounded, his stepmother couldn't help but frown. Her look was that of extreme scorn, and she barely bothered to mask it. Despite being subservient to his family, even her men looked at them both with contempt. It was apparent none of them acknowledged him as a member of the Qin Clan. Also, it seemed Yun Jingfei's matter had already been known for some time.

"Mother, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Qin Yun asked in an inviting tone.

While the woman despised him to her core, he, on the other hand, felt no strong emotions for her, one way or another. She was utterly inconsequential in his plans. Still, he would always remain cordial, even when she was blatantly provoking him, which only infuriated her further.

Of course, Qin Yun was aware of this, which was precisely why he did it. This was his small revenge. While he could ignore most of her outbursts, sending assassins after him rubbed him the wrong way. While he didn't want to cut ties with the clan then, he had to remind them that he wasn't to be messed with. Unfortunately, his warnings tended to fall on deaf ears.

The woman herself was youthful and alluring; it was no wonder why his father would want to marry her. Still, she was only his third wife and also the mother of Qin Yun's young brother and sister. As far as he knew, his father's first wife had died of illness shortly after this woman was brought into the household. Then, shortly after, Qin Yun's mother disappeared, leaving Qin Yun alone.

While there was no conclusive evidence, Qin Yun figured this woman was responsible for both. Or at least the family on this woman's side had to be involved.

Her name was Ma Mingzhu, formerly of the Ma Clan, which had been rivals with his family ever since they migrated to Jin City. As for why a marriage between the two families had been arranged, Qin Yun had heard some rumours but wasn't interested enough to find out. As far as he knew, Ma Mingzhu had been the one to push for it; something about how smitten she had been with Qin Yun's father ever since he rescued her in his younger years.

Anyway, her arrival at this time couldn't bode well for the couple.

"The clan decided to build a new workshop, and my husband has graciously offered them this courtyard," Ma Mingzhu said, sneering maliciously. "You must move out immediately as we need to begin demolition."

Qin Yun's eyebrow rose slightly as a broad smile graced his visage, yet such a smile seemed eerily creepy. Yun Jingfei, on the other, could barely contain herself as she had grown fond of their small haven of tranquillity where she could immerse herself in the path of the sword. She would hate to see it go, especially since her husband had put so much care and attention into making it so that she would be comfortable here. Still, Qin Yun wouldn't let her loose just yet.

"Where should we relocate then?" Qin Yun asked calmly, not bothering to entertain their obviously hostile demeanour.

"How is that any of the clan's concerns?" Ma Mingzhu said, filled with contempt so thick, one could liken it to honey, yet it had none of its sweetness. "Wherever you go is none of our business, but the clan had no more space for you."

Qin Yun knew this was a lie since the clan had many vacant buildings. Still, he expected this stepmother of his to have been thorough in her scheme.

"I expect you made sure of that," Qin Yun replied, still unconcerned.

Ma Mingzhu deeply despised this nonchalant attitude and her expression reflected as much. Without bothering with further dialogue, she motioned for her men to begin the demolition process. Seeing the home she had found after so long being destroyed, Yun Jingfei couldn't hold herself back any longer.

She sprung from Qin Yun's embrace, brandishing her wooden sword. Ma Mingzhu's guards, as if expecting this reaction from them, brandished their own weapons and met her head-on. Yet, what they met was akin to a hurricane.

While not experts in their own rights, the guards were still a force to be reckoned with, with the weakest being at the 9th level of the Qi Refinement Realm. Yet, they stood no chance against Yun Jingfei's fury.

She danced with her wooden sword while her blue dress fluttered in the wind with each movement she made. Her steps were graceful as she ran amok on this improvised battlefield. Yet, her blows were overbearing, shattering her prey's armour with every strike despite her weapon being a mere wooden blade.

The men surrounded her, limiting the space she could use, yet such actions were futile as she simply plowed her way through with overwhelming might.

While her path had only just begun, Yun Jingfei had already walked farther than most, and her display showed as much. Still, Qin Yun was critical in his observations. His wife's display was worthy of the Sword of Hardness, as every blow made the men buckle under the pressure. Yet, he found her motions much too straightforward.

It was expected, as most cultivators could only determine the victor through overwhelming might. Usually, Realm is the only deciding factor between victory and defeat. Experience and tactics are secondary. As such, most wouldn't waste their time studying this.

Yet, experience was paramount for a Sword Cultivator. How could one hope to prevail against someone able to engage the world's Qi with merely a sword in hand if not for tactics and deception? While the sword alone was mighty, the one holding it would also need to be.

There was an old saying Qin Yun had encountered in one of his previous life. For a sword cultivator, there is no such thing as realm. There are only those you can kill and the rest. While some nuance was lost in translation, Qin Yun deeply agreed with it. Nothing could resist your will as long as you were intent on cutting.

Still, Yun Jingfei was still far from that realm. While she possessed the talent, her journey on that path was much too shallow to understand its intricacies. She would need much more time to delve deeper. Still, this event could prove useful moving forward. She could know her own inadequacies and mend them.

As such, Qin Yun stood back and only watched his wife deal with them. The fight intensified. While the group had been in control at first, as they outnumbered her, and the battle had been at a standstill, Yun Jingfei soon reclaimed the initiative.

With each blow, her strikes became faster and much more deadly. Still, at Qin Yun's insistence, she did her best not to take any lives and only chose to incapacitate them. Slaughtering them would be counter-productive as Qin Yun had no doubts that his stepmother would find a way to hold it against them, even if they clearly knew that these men weren't part of the Qin Clan.

In fact, Qin Yun was sure these men were hired thugs loaned to his stepmother from the Ma Clan. While she was now a Qin, she still retained quite a lot of influence as she was the granddaughter of the Ma Clan's patriarch's older brother. One word from her could make Qin Yun's life annoying.

While she usually didn't bother with that, as she thought of Qin Yun as a tiny insect that she could easily crush, if Qin Yun were to push her too far, he would have to do much more than simply ignore her. He would probably have to crush her whole family. Still, he wouldn't be averse to doing so if they pushed him too far.

Seeing the men collapse as Yun Jingfei's sword blows rained on them, the man standing next to Ma Mingzhu chose to enter the fray. He was tall and burly, standing two heads taller than Yun Jingfei herself. He held a large black halberd and donned a sturdy golden armour. Above his head rotated a dark brown Lotus Platform possessing ten leaves.

"Don't bother; you cannot match her. Leave her to me!" the man yelled, prompting his men to disengage.

While Yun Jingfei wished to pursue them and make them pay for damaging their house, the man's aura prompted her to stop. While she had once been in the same realm as this man, she was now far from her former peak. Still, this wouldn't mean she would back down.

She lightly swung her wooden sword in front of her, verifying its structure's integrity, before pouncing again, not letting the man take the initiative. Unfortunately, her charge was thwarted. The man slammed the butt of his halberd into the ground, destroying her foothold. She stumbled slightly at this unexpected move but quickly regained her balance.

In her frustration, she kicked a stone tile, aiming straight for his jaw, yet the man effortlessly swatted it away with the back of his hand. With a slight mocking grin, the man stepped forward, spreading an oppressive aura in his surroundings. She felt her legs grow heavy yet resisted while gritting her teeth. Knowing a protracted battle would leave her at a disadvantage, she chose to gamble it all on one blow.

She crouched slightly, putting all her weight into a single foot before lunging forward, using her legs as springs. Her feet dug deeply into the now uncovered dirt before launching into the air from the impact. With her sword pointed forward, she sped like an arrow, aiming straight for the man's neck.

Her speed was too overbearing for the man to react, and her aim was true; the point of her wooden weapon met its mark. Sadly, a golden aura radiated from the man's armour, stopping her blow mere millimetres from its target.

With all the force of the impact being concentrated into a single point, the wooden sword couldn't handle the strain and shattered into countless shards, tumbling to the ground as if rain. With her weapon lost and her hopes all but crushed, the man burst into laughter and swung his black halberd downwards.

Chapter 20 - To Live and Die by the Sword

While off-balance from losing her weapon, Yun Jingfei couldn't avoid the fierce metal halberd crashing down on her. She could only jump backwards in a desperate effort to lessen the blow. She raised both her arms and crossed them in front of her head, knowing full well it wouldn't change anything.

With slight regrets in her heart that her path would be cut short, she awaited her inevitable end. She didn't cry nor beg for mercy; she only looked at her opponent with a firm gaze, wishing she could have battled once more, proving her worth.

Fortunately, her wish would be granted shortly. A small blue barrier flickered an inch above her crossed arms, which stopped the halberd's momentum just enough for her to evade. Still, as she lacked proper footing, the impact propelled her backwards until she crashed into the nearby wall.

The courtyard's wall had long been in disrepair from years of neglect, which Qin Yun had also been responsible for. As such, it couldn't withstand the impact. The stones dislodged from their weak anchors and fell on top of her, burying her under their weight.

Ma Mingzhu gloated about how unfortunate Qin Yun was to already be a widow weeks after his marriage, without even bothering to check the veracity of her claims. Still, Qin Yun's expression at that moment infuriated her. Unlike the despair she wished to see, Qin Yun only showed his usual look of indifference, laced with a hint of pity for his stepmother's unhinged reactions, for he knew that such a weak setback wouldn't deter his wife in the slightest.

Confirming Qin Yun's suspicions, the man holding the halberd's gaze was riveted on the pile of rubble as if awaiting something to emerge from its depths. As if not to thwart his expectations, the pile of stone exploded, reducing most of the rocks into small peddles that fell like rain, echoing their melody as they collided with the courtyard's cobblestone floor.

In the centre of it all was Yun Jingfei, unscathed but somewhat dusty as she held a steel sword in her slender hand. While most had missed it, Qin Yun wouldn't let his wife struggle without a way to resist. In the later stages of sword cultivation, the sword itself would become unnecessary, but Yun Jingfei wasn't there yet. She needed a conduit for her path. Qin Yun had given her just that.

As she flew back after the blow, Qin Yun had discretely delivered this weapon to her landing point. It had been easy, considering that his black box was invisible to anyone but him. He only had to infuse some of his Qi to make it hover in her path and dispense the weapon.

While he could have given her something more substantial than a mere steel sword, Qin Yun knew that reliance on an overpowered weapon would only impede her path. Only through hardship could one soar. This couldn't be more true than on a sword path. This was also why Yun Jingfei mostly only used a wooden blade during her training.

With a steel sword in hand, Yun Jingfei's confidence soared. She wouldn't repeat the same mistake. She eyed her opponent, seeking any hint of weakness, until finally she found one. She lunged forward again, repeating what she already knew wouldn't work.

The man in golden armour knew so as well and couldn't help but sneer. He braced himself to receive her attack as the brown lotus platform hovering over his head spun with renewed vigour as if a testament to his strength.

A single metre before their clash, Yun Jingfei's foot dug deep into the ground, changing the course of her charge. While the strain on her leg was immense, her training in recent days had forged her muscles into something that wouldn't break under the heaviest loads without altering their appearances. As such, the man was utterly dumbfounded that she could even achieve such a thing.

She was propelled to the side before her other leg dug into the ground, repeating her previous actions. She brandished her sword forward, aiming for the side of his head. While the man wore a helmet, such a blow would be devastating, regardless.

Expecting a frontal assault, the man had poured all his Qi into defences and couldn't react in time. He had no other choice than to parry the blow using his arm, hoping that the armour would be enough to stop the edge coming toward him. If anything, he was confident that a mere steel sword couldn't compete against an armour artifact of this class.

How wrong he was. Naturally, a typical steel edge wouldn't cut into this golden armour. Yet, the man had failed to account for its wielder. Yun Jingfei stomped on the ground, forcefully changing the path of her blade once again. Drawing an arc upwards with its point. The two collided, yet the blade moved much too swiftly in the air that not even the Qi-wrapped armour could thwart its momentum.

The thick Qi spewing out of the armour was split apart as the blade followed its trajectory unimpeded. Then came the armour itself. Its golden hue resulted from the materials used in its construction: a Golden-Skinned Bull.

While a Golden Bull wasn't some rare and exotic animal, nor particularly coveted, its hide was especially tough, which made it a fine choice to be used as armour. Furthermore, this armour had been carefully refined into an artifact, thus further improving its attributes. The man's confidence in this armour was warranted, as up until now, no one below the Void Core Realm had managed to put even the slighted dent into it.

As such, what came next stupefied him. A small amount of the Qi the armour had spewed forth wrapped around Yun Jingfei's blade before separating into two identical parts and grinding against each other. This act caused a second edge that overlapped with the one already present on the steel sword.

Those two edges plunged into the armour simultaneously, overloading what it could resist. The armour shook slightly as it opposed the impact but soon fell apart as the Qi wrapping the blade dug into it before causing a small explosion. With nothing impeding its path, the blade dug into the man's arm, severing it just below the elbow.

While the man was a seasoned cultivator working for the Ma Clan, the act of seeing his severed limb fly in the air, spewing its blood everywhere, left the man stunned momentarily before he felt the pain that the blade had caused him to rush to his brain.

His eyes were bloodshot as he howled like a madman, clutching his severed stump, refusing to acquiesce to the reality that this limb was now missing. Seeing an opportunity, Yun Jingfei struck again, but the overbearingness of her last blow was gone, resulting in a lacklustre attempt. Her sword only collided with the man's breastplate, bouncing off it.

Dumbfounded, she took her distance to reassess her situation. The man wouldn't let her get away. Lost in a fit of insanity for losing his limb, he threw said limb back to her, which she swatted away using the broad side of her blade, only to see the man charge her down, this time with the familiar halberd firmly in his remaining hand. He flailed it around, forgetting all his training, only to somehow hope to catch her with his blade in the end.

She evaded each blow with the slightest of margins, trying to find where she had gone wrong with the second blow. She was sure her form had been impeccable and had put just as much strength in the strike, yet something felt lacking.

A short distance away, Qin Yun looked at his wife and couldn't help but shake his head. While she was talented, exceptionally so as she had barely been on this path a few weeks, her inexperience showed. She had only managed a single strike before she let it go to her head, feeling complacent. She had forgotten that she cultivated not the sword but the mind.

She could display such power again through a firm mind and extreme focus. Unfortunately, she was now distraught, unable to find the answer she sought amid battle. Worse yet, the man, in his madness, wouldn't let her recompose herself.

She parried the man's blow as she retreated, yet her weapon was a simple steel blade and couldn't hope to match the man's black halberd. Small chips appeared on the blade with each strike, further reducing its cutting power. Before long, her blade would be on the verge of breaking once again, and she would be unarmed.

Still, this sense of desperation was precisely what she needed. Yun Jingfei wasn't the sheltered type anymore, the one to simply let rain wash over her without resisting. She refused to let herself be helpless to change her fight. She would fight even knowing she would most likely lose.

Her knuckles paled as she tightened her grip over her sword, then chose to advance over retreating. Such a sudden shift shocked the man, and he barely blocked the blow to his midsection using the shaft of his halberd. This slight pause gave Yun Jingfei just enough time to clear her mind. The only thoughts remaining were the sword in her hand and the path it would take.

The man, still reeling from the loss of his hand, charged forward once again. Brandishing his weapon high above his head, the man sought to cleave her in half in one swift motion. With a firm resolve, Yun Jingfei chose to mimic his actions. Only, she took on a Dragonfly Stance.

The man scoffed at her attempt since he was the one with the greater reach, pouring all his Qi into the strike as he let his blade fall. Still, despite being the last to move, Yun Jingfei's blade was the first to arrive.

She took a large step forward, deeply imprinting her boot's sole into the stone pavement. The floor cracked, unable to bear the weight of that step, yet Yun Jingfei remained steadfast as if a mountain braving a hurricane.

Her blade fell, cutting the Qi wrapping the incoming halberd, severing it only to absorb a part of it on its own edge. The man, still sure of his victory, didn't even bother to put any thought into defence, yet this would come back to bite him.

As the halberd's blade was much more massive than a simple steel sword, it was also much slower. Yun Jingfei's sword was the first to collide with the halberd's shaft before the heavy blade could reach her head. Contrary to the man's expectations, the shaft couldn't bear the tyrannical Qi wrapping the sword's edge and collapsed under the strain. The blade cut through unimpeded before embedding itself into the man's armour. This time, however, Yun Jingfei's sword didn't fizzle out instantly and collided with the armour, causing a deep cut that reached the man's torso. Although the wound bled profusely, Qin Yun figured the man would survive, provided he was given immediate attention.

As for the blade heading for Yun Jingfei's head, as the man couldn't control it any longer, it slipped from his hand and flew in the air before embedding itself into a nearby tree, toppling it in the process.

The man fell face first into a puddle of his own blood, unresponsive, while his armour dulled greatly, becoming nothing more than a giant paperweight. Yun Jingfei didn't know if he still drew breath, but she didn't care. He came at her with the intent to kill, and she simply reciprocated in kind. He shouldn't have expected any mercy from her at that point, not even if Qin Yun had asked her not to.

Still, she couldn't celebrate her victory for long as she felt an overbearing pressure pin her where she stood. She tried to struggle, but she had put most of her strength in her last attack and was spent. She gritted her teeth and willed her muscles to move, yet nothing seemed to be working. Soon after, she had a sense of impending doom loom over her.

A short distance away, Ma Mingzhu was seething. All her plans amounted to nothing, and she would have to bring them to fruition herself. A dark green lotus appeared above her head, which consisted of a complete platform with a sphere of light hovering over it. Three rings of light spun and intersected over its surface.

Yun Jingfei gasped and struggled even more, yet it was all in vain. The woman's earlier contempt was gone, replaced with pure coldness and an urge to kill. She didn't say a word and simply brought a palm forward, launching an attack in the same motion.

The palm grew as it closed the distance, pressing on Yun Jingfei evermore. She knew she couldn't resist as this was a strike from someone at the third level of the Golden Core Realm, something much too far from her current realm. She could only wait for that palm to swallow her.