"Soone is out, I wonder who will be first." The crowd buzzed with speculation, but went silent when a woman dressed in water-blue clothing, holding a water-blue whip, appeared before them.
Then the chatter resud: "Who is this woman? Which sect is she from? She managed to co out ahead of Li Xiao and Zhang Yuwen."
"Are you out of touch? Don’t you recognize her? That’s Ye Ying, a princess from a dynasty in the mundane world."
"Coming from the mundane world? She doesn’t look very old, yet she’s so formidable?"
"Did you see the whip in her hand? It’s said that if you get struck by it, your Divine Soul gets injured. Her cultivation technique is even more mysterious; she’s rumored to be able to manipulate all the water sources in the world."
"So powerful?" The person listening widened his eyes.
"Indeed, once an evil cultivator tried to kidnap her. Guess what happened?"
"What happened?"
"All the water in that evil cultivator’s body was extracted, turning him into a dried corpse. You wouldn’t believe how terrifying that scene was."
"Such a strange ability? Didn’t anyone suspect her of being an evil cultivator?"
"How could they? She’s done plenty of good deeds. Years ago, during a drought in Zehai, many lives would have been lost without her help. Now, her backing includes the sects and inhabitants of Zehai, not to ntion she has a brother."
"Is her brother even more powerful than her?"
"It’s said he is, though no one has verified it because her brother has never visited our Mingyuan Realm, remaining as the Emperor in the mundane world. Yet, Ye Ying’s cultivation technique and weapon were all given by her brother, and soone overheard her say that her cultivation level is less than half of her brother’s."
"With such abilities, why remain in the mundane world? An Emperor is nothing compared to the freedom and prestige of being a cultivator."
"We can’t fathom their thoughts. Enough talk, look, Li Xiao is coming out."
"Oh? This ti Zhang Yuwen is only ranked third?"
"Not surprising."
"How do you know?" asked an onlooker, prompting others nearby to lean in to listen.
"Rember the ti Zhang Yuwen brought back two wives from the mundane world?" The speaker chuckled mysteriously.
"Of course I rember. He was mocked by many at the ti. With his talent, he could have had any woman in Mingyuan Realm but chose two mundane ladies; isn’t that foolish?"
"That’s true love, which we ordinary folk can’t comprehend."
"Stop teasing us and just tell!"
"Don’t rush, I’m about to." The man coughed lightly and continued, "As the saying goes, ’a wise wife yields fewer troubles.’ Zhang Yuwen was quite defeated by those two wives."
"One wife is hard enough to manage for anyone, let alone two. Neither east wind nor west wind would yield to each other, they were equal wives, neither of them superior, naturally leading to discord. Two won competing for one man—how could the household be peaceful? The re task of resolving such conflicts exhausted Zhang Yuwen, leaving him with little ti to cultivate, thus his cultivation level lagged."
The nearby listeners nodded in agreent: "Indeed! The blessings of the Qi people aren’t easy to enjoy."
Amid the discussion, Zhang Yuwen’s face did not appear bright as he approached Ye Ying, pleading, "Princess, would you part with the Youthful Flower you just acquired?"
Ye Ying paused, curiously looking at him: "I don’t have much use for the Youthful Flower, but it’s quite rare. What would Mr. Zhang offer in exchange?"
"These are ores I’ve gathered over the years, I hope it’s enough." Zhang Yuwen reluctantly handed over a storage ring, containing half of his fortune.
"Oh?" Ye Ying showed genuine interest; her brother was still Emperor in the Daluo Dynasty, and though he cultivated alongside so cultivators, they lacked mundane weapons integral for cultivators. Zhang Yuwen’s proposal unexpectedly catered to her needs.
However, Zhang Yuwen truly cared for his two wives, continuously seeking herbs listed in the elixir recipe over the years. Who knows if he had found them all? If not, those beauties would soon begin to age.
"Fine, I’ll trade." Ye Ying accepted.
Hearing her straightforward reply, Zhang Yuwen breathed a sigh of relief; finally, he had obtained the last Spirit Plant he needed.
Yet, after making the exchange, he did not rush ho nor seek an alchemist but sat alone outside.
He knew two won awaited him at ho, and his son had just started cultivating, needing his guidance. Yet, the thought of ho felt suffocating.
It was unclear when Suxin and Qinxue began to feud. Suxin was no longer gentle, and Qinxue no longer patient. They could even argue over a dish at the table.
When had this situation started?
He recalled it began when he had an incident in cultivation, inadvertently taking Qinxue’s cousin, leading to complications.
He treated Suxin’s cousin more kindly out of guilt, unaware that one mistake led to Qinxue’s cousin’s pregnancy, obligating him to consider the child’s mother.
Gradually, family conflicts intensified, and keeping the peace led him perilously close to cultivation deviation.
He had begun gathering dicinal herbs for the elixir recipe long ago, occasionally wondering if he should really create the elixir. If both Suxin and Qinxue attained immortality, wouldn’t his life remain unchanged?
Yet, abandoning the plan seed wasteful after so much effort and expense. Therefore, he collected all the materials, questioning today if immortality was truly what he wanted for them.
Ye Ying was oblivious to Zhang Yuwen’s inner turmoil, nor did she wish to know. After five years of adventuring, she felt it was ti to visit her elder brother and see how the Daluo Dynasty fared.
Ard with her bounty, Ye Ying returned ho in triumph.
"Elder brother!" She exclaid joyfully, rushing towards Ye Qiu who awaited her at the palace gate, crashing into his embrace.
Ye Qiu looked at her with indulgence: "Already grown-up yet still so reckless. It’s been only three years, why return so soon?"
"Is elder brother not happy to see back?" she challenged playfully.
"No, I’m delighted. I hoped you would gain more experience to strengthen your cultivation."
"But I missed you, my cultivation won’t be neglected."
"Since you’re back, stay longer this ti."
"Alright, elder brother, I’ve brought many things; hopefully, you’ll like them."
"Whatever you bring, I’ll be pleased."
The siblings walked off, palace attendants trailing at a respectful distance, only as Ye Qiu’s authority had grown stronger over the years, was he ever gentle just with the little princess.
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