In the following days, Xu Wanci began to acclimate herself to Xiao Yuyan's presence, striving to balance her cultivation with the time she spent accompanying him.
Yet, ever since arriving in the cultivation world, she had been solely focused on survival through relentless training, never daring to slacken. Because of this, she found it difficult to break free from the ingrained habits of her body.
Like now, for instance.
After sheathing her Nine Heavens Sword, Xu Wanci heard the unhurried sound of tea being poured nearby. A sudden realization struck her, and she guiltily softened her movements as she put the sword away.
Hadn’t she just started cultivating? How had three hours already slipped by?
She turned around cautiously, tiptoeing as she stole a glance at the figure seated by the dark jade table in the distance.
Xiao Yuyan was leisurely pouring her a cup of tea. The faint spiritual energy infused in the floral tea wafted upward with the steam, carrying a refreshing aroma that soothed the mind the moment it was inhaled.
As if sensing her gaze, he set down the teapot and lifted his eyes to meet hers. There was no reproach in his expression—only a trace of quiet resignation.
When Xu Wanci met his gaze, her guilt swelled into overwhelming remorse.
She dashed over to him, leaned in, and planted a placating kiss on his lips. Only when she saw his momentarily stunned expression soften did she finally relax, stepping back to settle beside him.
Placing her wrist on the dark jade table, she declared with conviction,
"Even though I cultivated for a long time today, I’m not tired at all! There’s still so much spiritual energy left in my meridians!"
As she spoke, she nudged her wrist forward, pressing it into Xiao Yuyan’s hand.
"Don’t believe me? Try for yourself!"
Her spiritual energy was completely unguarded—even the vital pulse at her wrist was openly exposed to the man beside her.
Xiao Yuyan watched her actions, his heart melting into tenderness.
He lowered his gaze slightly, concealing the surging emotions in his eyes.
Every moment with her, every gesture she made, was a silent affirmation:
She cared for him too.
She… loved him deeply.
Xiao Yuyan wrapped his fingers around her wrist, sending a gentle stream of spiritual energy into her meridians—just a fleeting touch before withdrawing.
He pressed a light kiss to the back of her hand and chuckled softly.
"Strong pulse, abundant spiritual energy."
"Though your cultivation session was lengthy, it was… just right."
Xu Wanci felt the warmth of his lips against her skin and averted her gaze, though she didn’t pull her hand back.
A soft breeze drifted through the courtyard, and she closed her eyes in contentment.
This was a life she had never dared to imagine.
She had thought herself fortunate just to survive amidst the relentless dangers.
Yet, on this path once strewn with thorns, someone had cleared the way, paving it with blossoms—and now walked beside her.
Xiao Yuyan watched her serene expression under the sunlight, his fingers gradually sliding down to interlace with hers.
But remembering how long she had spent cultivating earlier, he picked up the floral tea from the dark jade table and brought it to her lips.
"You’ve been cultivating for so long. Drink some tea to replenish your energy."
Without opening her eyes, Xu Wanci obediently took a few sips from his hand.
Seeing her instinctive trust in him, Xiao Yuyan felt every restless desire within him settle into satisfaction.
With her, he never had to fear being overlooked or distrusted.
In her own way, she constantly reminded him of his irreplaceable place in her heart.
Setting the teacup aside, he kept her hand firmly in his and asked softly,
"Is there anything else you enjoy, Wanci?"
Xu Wanci opened her eyes, but before she could answer, he added with a knowing sigh,
"Don’t say cultivation."
She blinked and replied without hesitation,
"You."
"Besides cultivation, the thing I love most is being with you."
Though Xiao Yuyan had long sensed her partiality toward him through her actions, her words never failed to stir his heart.
Listening to his own erratic heartbeat, he surrendered willingly to the intoxication of her affection.
With every passing moment, his love for her deepened.
His spiritual energy enveloped her as he murmured tenderly,
"Then is there anything else you like?"
Beyond cultivation. Beyond him.
This time, it was Xu Wanci’s turn to be taken aback.
She blinked in confusion, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Isn’t that… enough?"
These two things had transcended the boundaries of reality and illusion, filling every day since she arrived in the cultivation world.
There was nothing else.
Xiao Yuyan’s grip on her hand tightened slightly, his voice roughened with emotion.
"It’s alright. I’ll help you discover more."
More joys beyond cultivation—everything she might come to love.
Xu Wanci smiled and nodded.
"Alright."
"But for now, I should get back to practicing my swordplay."
She stood, giving their intertwined hands a playful shake, and Xiao Yuyan silently released her.
Before leaving, she leaned in and pressed another reassuring kiss to his cheek. Then, glancing at the floral tea on the table, she suddenly brightened with an idea.
"Xiao Yuyan, I want a spiritual fruit tea this time—with just the right balance of sweetness and tartness."
Pondering further, she rested her chin on her hand. "And make it chilled, with two or three ice cubes."
Outside the wooden door, Ning Menglan overheard Xu Wanci’s almost imperious demands toward the revered Immortal Venerable and broke into a cold sweat.
No matter how indulgent the Immortal Venerable was toward her, he was still a Supreme Void Sovereign. If he took even the slightest offense, Xu Wanci would bear consequences she couldn’t possibly withstand.
But instead of anger, Ning Menglan heard Xiao Yuyan’s voice—amused, even delighted.
"Spiritual fruit alone might be too plain. How about adding some floral honey to balance the flavor?"
His heart trembled.
To wait for her. To serve her tea.
He had thought the Immortal Venerable’s feelings for Xu Wanci were merely fondness. Now, it was clear—this was nothing short of utter devotion.
Xu Wanci noticed movement at the door and turned.
Spotting Ning Menglan, she raised a brow in surprise. "Sect Leader?"
Ning Menglan sensed the transcendent aura around her and suddenly realized—Xu Wanci’s cultivation had far surpassed his own.
With her divine sense and the divine artifact, the Soul Refining Tome, her power likely rivaled that of a late-stage Void Ascension cultivator.
Even without the Immortal Venerable’s protection, she could command the reverence of most cultivators in this realm.
The concern and paternal warmth in his eyes gradually shifted into deference befitting a Void Ascension expert.
Feeling the Immortal Venerable’s faint glance, he snapped back to attention and hastily bowed.
"Greetings, Immortal Venerable…"
Ning Menglan had barely managed to bow to Xu Wanci when her spiritual energy gently lifted him back up.
Xu Wanci stepped forward, her eyes filled with the same reverence as before, and said softly,
"You may address me by my name, Sect Leader."
Had it not been for the Taiqing Sect, she would never have lived so peacefully until this day.
Hearing her voice, Ning Menglan relaxed slightly, a hint of warmth appearing in his eyes.
Yet, in the presence of the Immortal Venerable, he dared not let his guard down completely, replying cautiously,
"Wanci, Young Master Jiang has come to visit today. Would you like to see her?"
Xu Wanci's voice carried a trace of amusement when she replied, "Qiuning is here?"
"Of course I’ll see her."
Now that she was free from the threat of death, she could finally allow herself to show some emotion, no longer forced to disguise herself as a withered husk.
As she spoke, she glanced back at Xiao Yuyan, who stood beside the dark jade table.
Seeing the anticipation in Xu Wanci’s eyes for their visitor, he lowered his gaze slightly.
In the past, during those hollow days, he might have felt jealousy.
But now, the restless desires that once tormented him had long been soothed and fulfilled by her.
With a faint smile, he nodded at her.
"I’ll gather some spirit fruits to brew tea for our guest."
Xu Wanci nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with delight.
When Jiang Qiuning arrived at the courtyard, her nerves were stretched to the limit, prepared to face the Immortal Venerable.
Yet, all she saw was Xu Wanci standing beneath the blossoming tree, smiling warmly at her.
Relief washed over her as she stepped inside cautiously.
But as she entered, the faint traces of shattered void energy lingering in the air made her breath hitch.
Even though the source of that energy was no longer present, just a wisp of it sent tremors of terror through her very soul.
Noticing her discomfort, Xu Wanci waved a hand, enveloping her in the protective aura of her Transcendent-level spiritual energy.
Jiang Qiuning exhaled as if she had narrowly escaped death, her tense body finally easing.
Gazing at the Transcendent energy swirling around Xu Wanci, her eyes softened with affection.
She had heard from her uncle about the events in the Seven Furnaces Desert and knew just how perilous it had been.
Fortunately, it was all over now.
Not only had the Immortal Venerable been resurrected, but Xu Wanci had also successfully ascended to the Transcendent realm.
Yet, the mere thought of the Immortal Venerable sent an involuntary shiver through her.
Understanding the awe everyone held for Xiao Yuyan, Xu Wanci reassured her with a smile,
"He’s gone to gather spirit fruits for tea. He probably won’t be back for another half-hour."
Jiang Qiuning blinked in surprise.
A supreme being, willingly gathering fruits to brew tea for Xu Wanci.
Seeing the unconscious lift of Xu Wanci’s lips when she mentioned him, Jiang Qiuning finally relaxed.
She had known of the deep bond between the Immortal Venerable and Xu Wanci, but a century apart had left her worried that something might have changed.
After all, with his power, if he truly wished to do something, no one could stop him.
Her visit today had been driven by concern for their relationship.
But now, it seemed her fears were unfounded.
Of course—if things were as she had feared, how could Xu Wanci still gaze at him with such unwavering devotion?
Sitting beside Xu Wanci, Jiang Qiuning began sharing the latest news from the cultivation world.
As they talked, half an hour passed swiftly.
Suddenly, Jiang Qiuning brightened with an idea.
"Wanci, the Silverfrost Lotuses on the Flaming Abyss Plains will bloom in three days. The sight only appears once every seventy years. Would you like to go see them?"
Now that Xu Wanci had finally emerged from hardship, she might finally be in the mood to enjoy such beauty.
Xu Wanci had been absently staring toward the wooden gate, but at Jiang Qiuning’s words, she instinctively asked,
"The Flaming Abyss Plains are a sea of spiritual flames, with not a drop of water for miles. How could lotuses bloom there?"
Jiang Qiuning’s expression flickered with something like pity before she carefully explained,
"Silverfrost Lotuses aren’t ordinary lotuses. They only bloom amidst flames."
"Though they hold no special properties, their beauty is unparalleled when they blossom. And since they’re so rare, many cultivators are already gathering at the Flaming Abyss Plains to witness them."
Xu Wanci blinked, her fingers unconsciously rubbing together before she chuckled softly.
"I see."
"I never paid attention to them before. I always thought all lotuses grew on water."
Since arriving in the cultivation world, survival had been struggle enough. When she studied ancient texts, her focus had always been on rare spirit herbs or useful secrets—never trivial matters.
So, something considered common knowledge among most cultivators had escaped her notice.
Still, revealing her ignorance in front of others left her slightly unsettled.
Silverfrost Lotuses—such a beautiful name. They really should bloom on water.
Outside the wooden gate, Xiao Yuyan, who had been about to knock, froze at Xu Wanci’s words.
A delayed surge of heartache crashed over him, drowning him in its intensity.
A life with only him and cultivation—how exhausting it must have been.
He looked down at his hands, his thick lashes casting a shadow of quiet obsession over his eyes.
How could anything she say ever be wrong?
Under the moonlight, Xiao Yuyan brought Xu Wanci to the banks of the Taiyu River, not far from the Taiqing Sect.
As far as the eye could see, Silverfrost Lotuses bloomed—rooted in fire, their petals gleaming like liquid silver.
Bathed in moonlight, the interplay of silver and crimson against the rippling water was breathtakingly beautiful.
And it wasn’t just here.
On this day, every river, lake, and sea in the cultivation world was adorned with Silverfrost Lotuses.
Xu Wanci stared at the sight before her, momentarily stunned.
"But… Silverfrost Lotuses can only bloom on spiritual flames…?"
Under the moonlight, Xiao Yuyan’s voice was as soft as falling snow.
"Today, everyone in the world will witness Silverfrost Lotuses blooming on water."
"No one will ever again insist they can only grow amidst flames."
Reaching out, he tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Lotuses should bloom on water."
"How could Wanci ever be wrong?"
Xu Wanci’s eyes burned as she looked up at him—his expression tender yet unwavering.
This kind of unconditional, almost unreasonable devotion shattered her composure.
It was just her lack of knowledge, just an offhand remark.
How could he cherish her so deeply?
She threw her arms around him, holding him tightly.
Long ago, she had already lost control of her feelings for him.
Now, like a flood bursting through a dam, there was no turning back.
As his hand gently stroked her back, Xu Wanci lifted her head from his chest. Her eyes were red, but her words weren’t of gratitude—they were of concern.
"These lotuses… they must have cost you a great deal of spiritual energy, didn’t they?"
If cultivators across the entire world could see them, this couldn’t be the only place…
Before Xiao Yuyan could answer, she fixed him with a teary gaze.
"You promised you wouldn’t lie to me."
Xiao Yuyan could only nod helplessly:
"A little."
Xu Wanci blinked her stinging eyes, her voice trembling with unshed tears:
"Even... even with the highest cultivation, you shouldn’t use your spiritual energy like this."
She rose from his embrace, gripping his sleeve—yet she didn’t ask him to withdraw the energy. Instead, she sniffled and said:
"Since the flowers are already blooming, we shouldn’t let it go to waste."
"Let’s hurry to other places, to where the Silverfrost Lotuses bloom the thickest."
"We’ll see them all in… no, within half an hour!"
"Then you must take your energy back at once."
Xiao Yuyan reached out, but before his fingers could brush her cheek, Xu Wanci pulled his hand down with a stern look:
"No time to lose—let’s go!"
With resigned fondness, Xiao Yuyan yielded:
"Alright."
