"Madam, you wouldn't want anything to happen to Xu Fengnian, would you?"
Zhou Yi's words made Xu Zhihu glare at him fiercely. However, despite her reaction, his statement subtly increased her sense of agency.
In truth, even without these words, Xu Zhihu wouldn't have resisted.
After all, though she harbored a vague fondness for Hong Xixiang, the fact that she had agreed to marriage—and had even outlived multiple husbands—made it clear that she was not the kind of person who would remain unwaveringly loyal to Hong Xixiang at the cost of her life.
One had to admit, she truly lived up to being the Red-Clothed Beauty whom even Lu Zu was willing to forsake his divine cultivation for, reincarnating three times just to wait for her.
Indeed, she was remarkable.
Lu Zu's judgment was undoubtedly praiseworthy.
Very astute.
…
The next day.
The weather was clear, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of early morning.
Zhou Yi rose from bed, stretched lazily, and left his room with satisfaction.
The moment he opened the door, he saw a strikingly beautiful yet cold figure standing outside.
"You big oaf, do you enjoy eavesdropping now?"
Zhou Yi looked Xu Weixiong up and down, teasing her with a grin.
"You scoundrel!"
Xu Weixiong snorted coldly, refusing to engage further. She pushed past Zhou Yi and stepped into Xu Zhihu's room, slamming the door shut behind her.
"I'll deal with you later!"
Zhou Yi shook his head, humming a tune as he walked away.
He had no intention of jumping from the tiger's den straight into the bear's lair.
After breakfast, Zhou Yi strolled to the back garden, reclining on a rocking chair. He basked in the golden glow of the rising sun, gently swaying as he enjoyed his morning in leisure.
Yu Youwei sat behind him, cradling his head in her lap. Her delicate, porcelain-like hands massaged the acupuncture points on his scalp, offering a soothing relief.
Meanwhile, in Xu Zhihu's room, Xu Weixiong sat beside her bed, watching her sister closely.
"Sister, are you all right?" she asked with concern.
"What could possibly be wrong? Did you think he would eat me alive?"
Xu Zhihu waved a hand dismissively, allowing Xu Weixiong to help her sit up. However, a slight frown appeared on her brow.
Zhou Yi hadn't devoured her whole.
But he certainly hadn't gone easy on her.
"Hmph! That scoundrel has no sense of tenderness!"
Xu Weixiong cursed fiercely.
Xu Zhihu, hearing this, shook her head slightly and said with a meaningful smile, "Actually… that man is quite… decent."
"What? That scoundrel is decent?"
Xu Weixiong's eyes widened in disbelief. She even reached out to touch Xu Zhihu's forehead.
Did she have a fever?
She had been tormented so badly that Xu Weixiong had felt pained just watching. Yet here she was, speaking well of Zhou Yi.
Had she fallen under his spell?
"You don't understand."
Xu Zhihu shook her head. "One day, you will."
…
Time flowed like a galloping horse, slipping away unnoticed.
Eventually, Xu Weixiong, too, came to understand Zhou Yi's worth.
One must not judge others solely by their surface appearance.
Nor should one fixate only on their flaws.
It was essential to see their strengths and virtues as well.
'Among any three people, one can always find a teacher.'
After advising Xu Weixiong, Zhou Yi turned his attention to Qingniao, the cold and heroic young woman.
As the daughter of the Spear Immortal Wang Xiu, Qingniao was naturally skilled in spear techniques. Among the younger generation of the Snowy World, she was considered an elite.
But compared to Zhou Yi, the gap was immense.
Zhou Yi had mastered all eighteen martial disciplines.
Naturally, spear techniques were no exception.
Since Qingniao specialized in the spear, Zhou Yi generously imparted to her a supreme technique from the legendary Ten Ultimate Martial Arts—the Heavenspiercing Spear Technique.
Daring to challenge the heavens—what boundless audacity and dominance!
Seeing such an awe-inspiring spear technique, Qingniao was ecstatic and diligently dedicated herself to learning it.
The Heavenspiercing Spear Technique contained three ultimate killing moves: Wrathful Questioning of the World, Arrogant Inquiry of the World, and Return Spear to the Heavens.
The last move, Return Spear to the Heavens, was particularly deadly—attacking from an unpredictable angle with lightning speed, leaving opponents defenseless.
When sparring with Qingniao, Zhou Yi refrained from using any extraordinary powers. Yet, with a single execution of Return Spear to the Heavens, Qingniao was defeated, her spear stained with blood.
"Are you all right?" Zhou Yi asked with concern.
"It's nothing, just a scratch!"
Qingniao dismissed it casually. For a martial artist, injuries were part of the journey.
Besides, Zhou Yi had exercised restraint—the spear had merely grazed her skin without inflicting serious harm.
To her, this was hardly an injury worth mentioning.
"Again!"
Qingniao, having witnessed the might of the technique, was intoxicated by its brilliance. She persistently pestered Zhou Yi to continue sparring.
She was, after all, the daughter of the Spear Immortal.
A true spear fanatic.
A day later, Qingniao was utterly exhausted and collapsed unconscious.
Zhou Yi could only shake his head at the sight.
The next morning.
Qingniao woke up, sore all over from her intense training.
Hongshu entered the room, carrying a bowl of chicken soup. She placed it beside Qingniao and asked with concern, "How are you feeling? Any better?"
"I'm fine."
Qingniao shook her head.
"You don't have to push yourself so hard."
Hongshu handed her the bowl, saying, "Master has already applied medicine to your wounds. It's incredibly effective for bruises, swelling, and external injuries. Just rest for today."
"Mm."
Qingniao hummed in acknowledgment, burying her face in the fragrant chicken soup.
As Qingniao rested, Zhou Yi turned his attention to guiding Hongshu, Jiang Ni, and the others in their martial arts.
Zhou Yi tailored his teachings to each individual's strengths.
Even Jiang Ni, who was inexperienced with the sword—struggling even more than Yu Youwei at first—made rapid progress under his guidance, her cultivation soaring.
A month flew by in the blink of an eye.
Under Zhou Yi's instruction, Xu Zhihu, Xu Weixiong, Nangong Pushe, Jiang Ni, Hongshu, Qingniao, Yu Youwei, Huanggua, and Lüyi all saw significant improvements in their martial prowess.
They gradually adapted to life in the Zhou residence, training and enjoying themselves each day. Life was both leisurely and fulfilling.
They had all grown fond of this lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yi's cultivation, boosted by numerous miscellaneous rewards, had reached the peak of the Dou Venerate realm.
With seventy women in his life, Zhou Yi had unlocked a special gift package, granting him a century's worth of cultivation, pushing him to the third rotation of Dou Zun.
And soon, the day of Zhou Yi's grand wedding arrived.
On this day, the Jia Ma Holy City and the Zhou Manor were livelier than ever before.
Xiao Yan followed Xiao Zhan into the Zhou Manor, feeling the overwhelming presence of countless powerful experts around him. His heart pounded, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of awe.
"So many strong cultivators!"
"I heard many of them are from the Central Plains!"
Xiao Yan's eyes shimmered with longing. To him, the Central Plains was a land of mystery and immense power—a sacred ground for the strong.
As more experts from the Central Plains arrived, Xiao Yan gradually learned about the dominant forces that ruled openly in that vast region—One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions.
The Dou Venerate and Half-Saint experts Zhou Yi had previously slain were from one of these forces—the Soul Hall.
Just as Xiao Yan marveled at the grand spectacle unfolding before him, a sharp and resonant crane's cry echoed from the distant horizon.
At once, countless gazes turned toward the sky.
Xiao Yan, too, followed their line of sight. In the distance, a massive seven-colored spirit crane was flapping its immense wings, streaking through the sky as it rapidly approached the Zhou Estate.
The sunlight reflected off its iridescent feathers, casting dazzling hues that shimmered like a rainbow—a breathtaking sight to behold.
"A Seven-Colored Spirit Crane? Isn't that the mount of Lady Feng from the Wind and Thunder Pavilion?"
A Central Plains expert gasped in recognition.
The name Lady Feng was renowned throughout the Northern Region of the Central Plains. Many knew of her exceptional cultivation talent, regarded as a peerless prodigy who had been personally taken in as the last direct disciple of the Eastern Pavilion Master of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion.
The Seven-Colored Spirit Crane came to a graceful halt in mid-air above the Zhou Estate.
At last, Xiao Yan laid eyes on the legendary Lady Feng, whose name had been spoken in awe by those around him.
Atop the crane's head stood a mesmerizing figure, her flowing dress fluttering in the wind.
She was clad in a seven-colored robe, exuding an air of unquestionable nobility.
Her delicate face bore a hint of sharpness, accentuated by her flawless oval-shaped features.
Her most striking feature, however, was her deep amethyst eyes, glimmering like precious gemstones, bestowing upon her an aura of both elegance and sanctity—like a princess descended from an imperial lineage.
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