Chapter 39: Qin Jiyue’s Transformation (Please Keep Reading)

In the days that followed, Li Guanzhuan’s life remained as monotonous and uneventful as ever. He devoted himself to attuning to the sun and moon, refining elixirs, inscribing talismans, and occasionally crafting puppets. Of course, whenever he lacked the materials to forge a Xuan-Gold Flying Puppet, Li Guanzhuan would have Qin Jiyue purchase them every so often, and not always from the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion. After all, the Pavilion kept purchase records, and if the ever-diligent Zheng Huangjin were to notice anything suspicious, it would be difficult to explain away.

Three months slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Tonight.

Li Guanzhuan had just finished his daily sun-and-moon cultivation when Qin Jiyue collapsed onto the soft divan like a puddle of water. Half-closing her enchanting fox-like eyes in dejection, she said, “Husband, the sect leader has actually known for a long time that I was disguised as a man.”

Hearing this, Li Guanzhuan’s heart jolted, and he nearly lost his composure. But he quickly realized that the head of Falling Moon Valley hadn’t given Qin Jiyue a hard time; otherwise, she couldn’t have returned home unscathed.

Qin Jiyue reproached herself, “Husband, your philosophy was right. In this world of cultivators teeming with the strong, without true power, any scheming is nothing but a joke… Fortunately, every time I returned, you insisted I pass through the bustling East Street market. Otherwise, you and Sister Rongxin would have been exposed as well… I’m sorry. I nearly caused you both harm.”

With that, Qin Jiyue let out a long, defeated sigh, her delicate, oval face filled with sorrow.

Li Guanzhuan, however, was unconcerned. In his eyes, a mere Qi Refining cultivator stirring up trouble against a Foundation Establishment master was simply courting disaster. If she didn’t conceal her tracks, she would be doomed sooner or later.

He comforted her, “At least she didn’t push things to the extreme. That’s something to be grateful for.”

“But all the spies I spent years cultivating were taken by her,” Qin Jiyue bit her silver teeth, a flicker of discontent in her foxlike eyes.

“That hardly matters. Didn’t you also obtain a velvet blossom in Falling Moon Valley? Just think of it as having paid for an immortal treasure that grants longevity.” Li Guanzhuan continued to console her.

He was not surprised by Qin Jiyue’s predicament; otherwise, he wouldn’t have insisted on consuming a Purification Talisman each time. He too had once been as spirited and ambitious as Qin Jiyue, only to be brought to heel by reality in the end.

Everywhere, there is never a lack of talent and cleverness. The self-assured inevitably return to the ordinary.

“But, but… I want to build a force—a force that can protect you and Sister Rongxin and gather resources for you both… That way, you wouldn’t have to worry about being bullied, and you could acquire all the resources needed to advance your cultivation…” Qin Jiyue’s voice trembled as she spoke, her lips quivering with grievance.

In the dark of night, Li Guanzhuan gazed at Qin Jiyue, her skin pale as snow, a sprite in the midnight gloom, and couldn’t help but chuckle softly, though his heart was also filled with warmth and emotion.

So this little lass had been striving outside all this time, and it was for their sake after all. It seemed Wen Rongxin’s care in preparing her meals had not been in vain.

“What are you laughing at?!”

Qin Jiyue grew angry, her long, slender legs whipping at Li Guanzhuan’s backside with a loud smack.

He caught her legs with a grin and said, “I’m not mocking you, truly. On the contrary, I’m deeply moved. At least, you already care for me and Rongxin in your heart.”

“What do you mean by that? I’m your wife, of course I think about you both!” The grievance Qin Jiyue had bottled up suddenly surged forth, her eyes brimming with tears, but her stubborn nature kept them from falling.

Li Guanzhuan drew her into his arms, gently patting her smooth back as he whispered, “But your approach was misguided. Rongxin and I are just ordinary rogue cultivators. We don’t desire a life of glory and hidden dangers. Think about it: we possess treasures that grant us longevity. As long as we keep a low profile and don’t reveal our talents, we can quietly cultivate to immortality. Why bother scheming and fighting for so-called resources? The cultivation world is vast, and ambition knows no bounds. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, with your personality, you’d surely covet even more resources to break into the Golden Core stage, and you might not listen to my words anymore.”

Buried against his chest, Qin Jiyue sobbed, “You… you can achieve immortality, but Sister Rongxin can’t…”

Even now, Li Guanzhuan had not told her about Wen Rongxin possessing the velvet blossom. Qin Jiyue’s spirit of striving upward had not been extinguished, only bruised. If she were to know the truth, even if she didn’t harm Wen Rongxin, she would have no more worries and would go all out to challenge the head of Falling Moon Valley.

Qin Jiyue had never been one to accept defeat.

Li Guanzhuan smiled, “Who says she can’t? Every time we dual cultivate, half of the immortal energy I store within is transferred to Rongxin using a secret technique. Otherwise, how could she have broken through to the middle stage of Body Refining, equivalent to the fourth level of Qi Refining?”

“Really?” Qin Jiyue immediately raised her head, her clear eyes fixed on Li Guanzhuan with unwavering anticipation.

“Of course it’s true.” He nodded with a smile. “But you must promise me that from now on, you will no longer take such reckless risks. Let’s live a peaceful life as a family.”

“Every time you go out, Rongxin worries you’ll come back missing an arm or a leg and often sends me to fetch you. So, to spare her from further worry, you’d best behave yourself from now on—do as you’re told and stop playing dangerous games outside.”

“Alright~” Qin Jiyue, reassured by his answer, immediately brightened, nuzzling into his arms before whispering, “Let me rest a bit first. It hurts too much right now… Then you can store up more immortal energy and pass some to Sister Rongxin.”

“Why are you so good to Rongxin? You never treat me that way.”

“Hmph, how can you compare? After serving you soup and rice, Sister Rongxin always serves me too, and cares whether I’m well-fed and clothed… Other than my mother, no one else has ever cared for me like that, so of course I’ll be good to her!”

Li Guanzhuan sighed inwardly. Indeed, sincerity is the ultimate weapon.

With Qin Jiyue’s words, he no longer needed to worry that she would ever harm Wen Rongxin.

“Come, let’s begin accumulating immortal energy.”

“W-wait, it’s that time of the month…”

“No matter. I’ll help relieve the pain and itching.”

“Ah…”

Moonlight spilled over the room, casting shifting shadows.

Once more, two seasoned cultivators ignited their nightly battle. As the divan collapsed with a crash, Li Guanzhuan was kicked out yet again.

He had no choice but to seek comfort elsewhere, trailing after Wen Rongxin for solace.

All the while, Qin Jiyue, worried that he could only absorb half the immortal energy, endured for more than half an hour—never knowing that he could, in fact, store up twice as much.

Having escaped the wolf only to land in the tiger’s den, Li Guanzhuan toiled until dawn before finally, supporting himself on the wall and holding his waist, he staggered to the cultivation chamber to digest the immortal energy within.

To his delight, after all his diligent efforts, the bottleneck at the sixth level of Qi Refining had finally begun to loosen!