Cao Ying, who was jealous

On the other side, Shen Wen and his group had temporarily set up camp in a hidden valley several hundred miles outside of Tianya City.

The flying boat was quietly anchored, with a simple concealment Formation laid out around it.

Since he sensed that there might be a trap ahead, Shen Wen was in no hurry to continue his journey.

He had already informed the members of the Snake-People Clan about the potential risks. When commanders like Kui Xing and Yue Mei learned of this...

Although they were somewhat surprised, they had no objections; safety was the top priority.

The team rested in place, which instead gave everyone a chance to catch their breath after traveling for days.

Thanks to the children of great clans like Cao Ying and Dan Chen, they did not lack means of transportation at the moment.

Cao Ying's flying boat was exquisite and magnificent, with extreme speed.

Dan Chen's flying boat focused more on stability and defense, and its internal space was quite spacious.

With the personnel split between the two flying boats, it wasn't crowded; instead, it was more comfortable than before.

This made Shen Wen realize once again that for the core disciples of top factions in the Central Plains, a high-performance private flying boat was indeed not a rare item.

Especially during long-distance trips that required absolute trust, one's own flying boat was far safer and more reliable than renting or using public transport.

In the leisure of waiting, Shen Wen's thoughts inevitably drifted elsewhere.

Leaning against the porthole, he gazed at the blurred outline of the city on the distant horizon, his fingers unconsciously tapping the windowsill.

"Space Wormholes... since they can be built, controlled, and even tampered with..."

He muttered to himself, a thought gradually becoming clear in his mind. "Why can't I build an exclusive passage connecting the Northwest Continent and the Central Plains in the future?"

The one in Tianya City was merely a public wormhole open to everyone on the surface. With management rights falling into the hands of local powers like the Luo Family, it was naturally easy to infiltrate.

Organizations like the Hall of Souls must secretly possess more than one unknown secret passage.

Otherwise, how could their experts and resources be mobilized so quickly between the Northwest Continent and the Central Plains?

The Pill Tower hadn't established an exclusive wormhole in the Northwest simply because they felt this region, viewed as a "backwater" by the Central Plains, wasn't worth the immense effort to manage.

Most people in the Central Plains focused their eyes on the resources and conflicts within the Central Plains itself, showing little interest in marginal areas like the Northwest.

But Shen Wen was different. The Northwest Continent held his Foundation and the pawns he had placed; in the future, there might also be the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Mansion and other matters to handle.

If he could possess a Space Wormhole completely under his control—one that was safe and hidden—he could travel between the two places at any time.

This would undoubtedly have strategic significance for him in integrating resources, controlling the situation, and responding to emergencies.

"It seems that after returning to the Pill Tower, I'll have to look through the Library or exchange list for information on constructing and stabilizing Space Wormholes."

Shen Wen calculated in his heart, "The required Materials, energy cores, and the requirements for mastering Space Power... the cost will likely be high, but it's worth a try."

Just as he was immersed in thoughts of his future plans, there was a soft knock on the door of the Quiet Room.

"Husband?" Cao Ying's voice came through.

"Come in, Ying'er." Shen Wen withdrew his thoughts.

Cao Ying pushed the door open and entered with a gentle smile on her face, holding a pot of freshly brewed spiritual tea.

She walked to Shen Wen's side and set down the teacup. Instead of bringing up business immediately, she first poured a cup of tea for him.

The tea fragrance curled in the air, carrying a calming and soothing effect.

Shen Wen took the teacup, took a sip, and looked at Cao Ying. "Is something the matter?"

Cao Ying sat down beside him, organized her thoughts slightly, and then spoke. "Yes, there is something I want to discuss with you." She spoke in a serious tone, looking at Shen Wen with clear eyes. "It's about what happens after we return to the Central Plains."

"Go ahead."

"I was thinking... upon our return, I will find a suitable time to officially elevate Sister Cai Lin's status to that of an equal wife." Cao Ying's voice was steady, clearly having given it deep thought.

"Sister Cai Lin is pregnant and bearing a child for you; her contribution is immense."

"Reasonably and emotionally, she deserves the position of an equal wife."

"I know you treat us without bias, but matters of status sometimes concern face and decorum; an explicit status is a form of protection and respect for Sister Cai Lin and the future child."

At this point, her tone paused slightly.

A faint trace of bitterness, which even she didn't notice, flashed through her eyes before being replaced by composure. "I'm not just being modest; I simply feel this arrangement is the most appropriate."

After listening quietly, Shen Wen put down his teacup and reached out to pull Cao Ying into his arms.

He could feel the sincerity in Cao Ying's words and also heard the subtle, hidden emotions.

"I've wronged you, Ying'er," he whispered, his fingers gently stroking her hair. "I have also considered this matter."

"Cai Lin is pregnant; I agree with your proposal."

"However, your weight in my heart has never diminished in the slightest because of this."

Cao Ying pressed her face against his chest. Listening to his steady heartbeat, the slight bitterness in her heart slowly dissolved, replaced by a surge of warmth and relief.

She gave a soft "mm." "I understand, Husband. As long as you have me in your heart, I don't care much for these empty titles."

"It's just... it's just..."

Her voice suddenly dropped, carrying a rare hint of bashfulness and frustration. She muttered, "It's just that the number of times I've been with you... hasn't been small. And that Medicinal Pill Elder Lin gave me, which was said to aid in pregnancy..."

"I also took it as instructed, so why hasn't there been any sign of anything yet?"

The question was somewhat abrupt, but it revealed a flicker of longing and a faint anxiety deep in her heart.

Seeing Cai Lin's increasingly obvious baby bump, it would be a lie to say she wasn't envious or a little anxious at all.

Hearing this, Shen Wen tightened his arms slightly, resting his chin on the top of her head, and remained silent for a moment.

In truth, he had a vague suspicion.

Although Cao Ying was the meticulously cultivated heir of the Cao Family with outstanding talent...

...compared to his own Physique, which had been strengthened multiple times, his life level far exceeded that of ordinary people, and his Bloodline Power was immense.

The gap was quite large.

Therefore, the difficulty of leaving behind offspring was likely far greater than imagined.

Cai Lin's ability to conceive was likely due to her being a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python with an equally extraordinary Bloodline and an Innate Dao Body, in addition to the aid of Medicinal Pills.

Thus, Shen Wen simply held her more gently. "Ying'er, there's no need to rush."

"The fate of offspring cannot be forced. Our Lifespans are long, and we have plenty of time ahead."

"Besides, what's most important for you right now is to stabilize your Heavenly Realm Soul, refine your Alchemy, and improve your cultivation."

"Once your Foundation is more solid and your Physique improves imperceptibly over time, perhaps the opportunity will come naturally. Trust me, alright?"

"Besides, our relationship doesn't need a child to sustain it. On Cai Lin's side, they simply need a child to stabilize their tribe."

His words were like a gentle balm, slowly calming the restlessness in Cao Ying's heart.