Chapter 2

“Husband, aren’t you angry?”  

“Why should I be?”  

“Others ascend after three Tribulation Transcendings, yet you’ve failed thirty-seven times without success. Shouldn’t you be angry?”  

“It is my own dullness.”  

Ming Yan: “…”  

How am I supposed to respond to that?!  

Unwilling to let it go, she huffed in frustration, “But *I’m* angry.”  

Chu Xuanqing studied her seriously. “Why?”  

Ming Yan pushed him away, turning her back to stomp her foot. “I’ve already boasted to all the other female cultivators that my husband would surely succeed this time, ascend to immortality, and make me the Consort of the Immortal Lord. Yet you keep failing—how am I supposed to face anyone now?”  

“…”  

Chu Xuanqing fell silent for a long moment.  

Seeing an opportunity, Ming Yan secretly rejoiced and deliberately threw a tantrum. “I don’t care! If you fail to ascend next time, I’ll divorce you!”  

Her back was turned to him, so she didn’t notice the sudden flicker of the Immortal Mark in Chu Xuanqing’s eyes—a sign of his emotional turmoil.  

“Is my ascension truly so important to you?”  

His voice was low.  

“Of course! A Dao Companion shares both glory and disgrace,” Ming Yan declared righteously. “When I agreed to be your Dao Companion, it was only because I expected to marry an Immortal Lord.”  

Her words were an exaggeration.  

The entire Profound Sky Sect knew that back then, Ming Yan had gone to extreme lengths—weeping, making scenes, even threatening suicide—just to become the Little Martial Uncle’s Dao Companion.  

But Ming Yan didn’t care about such details.  

She was deliberately provoking him, hoping to push him far enough that this damned man wouldn’t wait until his forty-ninth Tribulation—  

He’d just kill her now!  

“If that is the case, then come with me, wife.”  

“Eh? Where are we going?”  

Ming Yan hurried after Chu Xuanqing, curiosity bubbling inside her.  

The Profound Sky Sect was vast.  

Even after ten years, Ming Yan hadn’t fully explored Celestial Pivot Peak, let alone the winding paths Chu Xuanqing now led her through. In the blink of an eye, they had traveled dozens of miles beyond Celestial Pivot Peak.  

The snow vanished, replaced by lush greenery, and the scenery grew unfamiliar.  

Ming Yan glanced down at the bottomless abyss beneath her feet and suddenly felt dizzy.  

“I’m not going any further!”  

With that, she plopped down onto the white jade staircase.  

Chu Xuanqing turned back. “Didn’t you say you wanted to be the Consort of the Immortal Lord?”  

“I don’t care, I don’t care!” Ming Yan whined, kicking her legs petulantly on the steps. “It’s *your* responsibility to make me the Consort. Once you become an Immortal Lord, I’ll naturally become one too.”  

“Dao Companions share both glory and disgrace.”  

Chu Xuanqing repeated her earlier argument, a faint smile playing at his lips. “Those were your words.”  

“So what if they were?”  

“Then look—where is this?”  

“…Huh?”  

Following his finger, Ming Yan saw three glittering golden characters above them—  

“Jade Balance Peak.”  

“Jade Balance?” Ming Yan froze.  

She remembered that Jade Balance Peak was… the place where disciples of the Profound Sky Sect studied.  

In the early parts of the novel, the female lead Mu Qingqing had trained here as a disciple.  

Among the seven peaks of the Profound Sky Sect, Celestial Pivot Peak governed punishment, while Jade Balance Peak oversaw education. The other peaks each had their own duties.  

“Why did you bring me here?”  

“Jade Balance Peak is where our sect’s disciples pursue their studies.” Chu Xuanqing pulled the sulking Ming Yan to her feet. “I’ve already discussed it with the Sect Leader. In fifteen days, you will begin your training here.”

Ming Yan: “???”

What the hell?

Weren’t they discussing how to make Chu Xuanqing ascend? How did it suddenly turn into sending her to school!

“Dao Companions share both glory and disgrace. I’ve already reached the Great Perfection of Tribulation Transcendence Stage, while my wife has only just entered Foundation Establishment.”

Ming Yan: “I suddenly feel a pain in my lower abdomen…”

“No hurry, the school term begins in fifteen days.”

“Fifteen days? Why so late?”

Ming Yan was puzzled.

Could it be that the Profound Sky Sect also had winter break and classes wouldn’t resume until fifteen days later?

But soon, she saw the turbulent emotions swirling in Chu Xuanqing’s dark eyes… and immediately understood.

Damn!

This old lecher Chu Xuanqing!

She quickly recalled that ever since becoming his Dao Companion, every time Chu Xuanqing emerged from seclusion after transcending tribulations, he would always pester her for passionate encounters. With his Great Perfection of Tribulation Transcendence cultivation, his stamina was limitless, and he would invariably torment Ming Yan until she was crying and begging before stopping.

Though there were occasional exceptions when he spared her, generally, this process would last ten days.

Ten days and ten nights.

Then Ming Yan would sleep for another five days.

Which made exactly fifteen days?

His calculations were precise indeed—not a single day wasted.

Unlike that shameless dog of a man Chu Xuanqing, Ming Yan’s face instantly flushed red.

Unfortunately, before she could voice her refusal, Chu Xuanqing had already scooped her up in a bridal carry, his slightly cool breath brushing her ear:

“Wife, don’t you want to?”

“…I do.”

To be honest.

Passionate encounters with Chu Xuanqing weren’t unpleasant.

Ming Yan had initially resisted, but later it became pure enjoyment. During these moments, she didn’t need to think or do anything—just lie there and experience the ultimate pleasure the world could offer.

No wonder, before she married Chu Xuanqing, the entire Cultivation world was filled with female and even male cultivators wanting to dual cultivate with him.

The only downside was that this damn man Chu Xuanqing was just too enduring!

Sometimes Ming Yan thought, if she weren’t merely at the Foundation Establishment stage with her body and spirit still so weak, who knew how long Chu Xuanqing would torment her with his capabilities.

This man appeared aloof and ascetic on the surface, but inside he was extremely repressed.

Now, recalling how she initially thought she’d be living like a widow for decades after marrying Chu Xuanqing, Ming Yan found it laughable.

It proved that people, especially men, should never be judged by appearances.

…

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

As with every previous time, once Chu Xuanqing started, he couldn’t stop.

But Ming Yan felt as if she’d been run over by a truck—aching and weak all over. She pushed against Chu Xuanqing: “Husband, enough.”

“Not enough.”

Chu Xuanqing’s eyes darkened, completely clouded with desire.

“If it’s still not enough, then do you still want me to go to school?”

Ming Yan bit his shoulder.

Ugh!

This old lecher!

“……”

Only then did Chu Xuanqing slowly release her.

Seizing the opportunity, Ming Yan leaned closer to his ear, her voice sweet and sticky: “Husband—”

“Didn’t you say it was enough?”

“What are you thinking? I have serious matters to discuss.”

“Hmm.”

Though he said this, Chu Xuanqing still closed his eyes.

Assuming the demeanor of “This venerable one is tired and needs rest.”

“Darling, wake up!” Ming Yan wasn’t about to miss this perfect opportunity for pillow talk. They say men are most agreeable in bed, and Chu Xuanqing was no exception. Her Plan A had failed, but no matter—someone as brilliant and quick-witted as her would naturally have a Plan B ready.

Now that Chu Xuanqing was in bed, she had to seize every second.

Chu Xuanqing stirred awake.

Half-leaning against the headboard, his gaze swept over Ming Yan’s exposed skin before he flicked a finger, causing the fur blanket to drape over her.

“I’ve been thinking these past few days—maybe your inability to ascend isn’t your fault at all. Perhaps it’s the cultivation technique’s fault!”

“You’ve had time to think these past few days?”

“…”

Was that really the point here, mister?

“Ah, no, no—not these past few days, but the days before that!”

Ming Yan quickly corrected herself and steered the conversation back on track: “What do you think, darling? Should we switch techniques?”

“Limitless Azure Sky is the Profound Sky Sect’s supreme cultivation method.”

“So what if it’s supreme? With such a ‘supreme’ technique, has anyone in the entire sect ever ascended?”

“A thousand years ago, the Grandmaster and Grand Uncle ascended using this very method.”

Ming Yan: “You said it yourself—a thousand years ago.”

Chu Xuanqing frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Times have changed,” Ming Yan declared with feigned seriousness, spouting nonsense. “A thousand years ago, Nascent Soul cultivators were everywhere, and Golden Core cultivators were as common as dogs. But now? Even reaching Foundation Establishment is as difficult as climbing to the heavens.”

Chu Xuanqing pretended not to notice Ming Yan inflating her own status and nodded. “True.”

“So, darling, let’s switch techniques!”

Ming Yan’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve heard there’s a great opportunity left behind by an ancient mighty cultivator in the Nightmare Forest behind the sect.”

“Nightmare Forest?” Chu Xuanqing’s tone remained indifferent. “That’s a forbidden area of our sect.”

“So what? Sect Leader Senior Brother would never stop you from going!”

Ming Yan had already done her research.

The so-called “forbidden area” was just a scare tactic for disciples. In reality, peak lords and elders could enter freely whenever needed.

Not to mention, Chu Xuanqing was the only direct junior brother of the sect leader among the seven peaks of the Profound Sky Sect—the second closed-door disciple of the sect’s patriarch.

If he wanted to enter the Nightmare Forest, it would take just a word from him.

“Besides, this is important! Even if Sect Leader Senior Brother forbids it, can’t you just sneak in?” Ming Yan shot him a reproachful look and lightly punched his abs with a delicate fist. “Silly… you’re so inflexible.”

Ow! That hurt!

Damn it, were this dog man’s abs made of iron?

Chu Xuanqing said nothing.

His expression gave nothing away.

But Ming Yan persisted, tugging at his arm and whining relentlessly: “Please, please! Just listen to me this once. Who knows? You might really find some great opportunity in the Nightmare Forest.”

—Like, say, the Wife-slaying Dao Attainment technique she had specially planted there for him a few days ago~

Finally worn down by her pestering, Chu Xuanqing agreed.

But the price was:

“After I return, you must obediently attend classes at Jade Balance Peak.”

Ming Yan readily agreed.

But inwardly, she thought—who knew if she’d even be alive to attend classes after he returned from the Nightmare Forest?

How exciting.

I wonder what expression Chu Xuanqing will have when he finds that Wife-slaying Dao Attainment technique?

It must be quite amusing.

…

Five days later, at dawn.

The first rays of sunlight spilled over the summit of Celestial Pivot Peak, melting the snow slightly as droplets pattered onto the eaves.

With a graceful roll, Ming Yan sprang out of bed and called out:

“Zisu, bring me the Cloud-Weaving Feathered Dress.”

“The Cloud-Weaving Feathered Dress?” Zisu was astonished. “You mean the one made from Vermillion Cloud Brocade, a fabric that takes a thousand years to produce just one bolt? Not only is the material incredibly rare, but the weaving process is also extremely difficult—requiring a thousand cultivators to nourish it day and night with spiritual energy. After completion, it must then be tempered by dozens of spiritual flames?”

“That’s the one.”

—No need for such a lengthy explanation, though.

“Heavens, thank you, Little Madam! This disciple finally gets to see the legendary Cloud-Weaving Feathered Dress!”

Zisu was overjoyed, her delight written all over her face. “Now I can say I’m a worldly female cultivator too.”

Seeing her excitement, Ming Yan couldn’t bear to tell her.

In her wardrobe, there were plenty of dresses of the same caliber as the Cloud-Weaving Feathered Dress.

All gifts from Chu Xuanqing after they became Dao Companions.

He had even designated an entire room as her wardrobe, complete with spatial arrays. Though it looked small, it was actually larger than an entire mortal village.

The wardrobe was also meticulously organized and guarded by a dedicated attendant—none other than the outer-sect disciple she had just summoned, Zisu.

Zisu quickly found the Cloud-Weaving Feathered Dress and carefully presented it to Ming Yan.

Truly a celestial gown.

The colors of the dress shifted like the sunset atop the peak—now vermillion, now golden-red.

A dazzling interplay of hues, radiant and breathtaking.

But even more stunning than the dress itself was Ming Yan wearing it.

Since marrying into Celestial Pivot Peak, Ming Yan had been hailed as the number one beauty of the Profound Sky Sect, said to outshine even the goddesses of the nine heavens.

Now, clad in the Cloud-Weaving Feathered Dress, her beauty was elevated to new heights.

Zisu was spellbound, silently marveling at how her Little Madam was a peerless beauty, a natural enchantress—no wonder even the most aloof Martial Uncle in the entire sect had fallen for her. Yet curiosity got the better of her: “Little Madam, why such splendid attire today? Is there a joyous occasion?”

Ming Yan replied, “My husband has returned.”

Which meant she was about to die.

Now that was truly cause for celebration!