66: Chapter 66 A Cold and Arrogant Goddess! A Woman Who Says One Thing and Means Another…

Yong Ruxin wrapped her jade-like arms around Zhou Liangan, a gentle glint in her beautiful eyes, "You little rascal～"

destiny points!

Plunder!

...

The next day.

The morning mist in the provincial capital had not yet dissipated when a black extended Rolls-Royce Phantom silently drove away from the main city road.

The interior of the car was spacious and luxurious; the wool carpet absorbed all subtle sounds, and the crystal ceiling lights refracted a soft halo, outlining the figures of the three people with increasing clarity.

Zhou Liangan sat in the middle, with Yu Shuier snuggled against his left side and Second Elder Yu Wanying, whose expression was difficult to discern, on his right.

The young girl wore a beige knitted dress, her hair draped smoothly over her shoulders, her nose petite and exquisite, and her breath carried the faint scent of gardenias.

Second Elder Yu Wanying was dressed in a well-tailored black suit skirt, her makeup exquisite. Between her brows and eyes, she possessed both the dignity of a Family matriarch and a sharpness hidden from years of worldly experience.

Second Elder Yu Wanying's gaze fell on Zhou Liangan's face. Her eyes were as complex as crushed starlight, containing scrutiny, doubt, and a trace of imperceptible expectation.

She was silent for a moment, eventually breaking the silence in the car first. Her voice was cold, carrying a hint of gravity, "Boy, you said you wanted to invite all the major Families to observe the ceremony. Do you know the weight of those words?"

Zhou Liangan turned his head to look at her, a calm smile on his lips, his tone unhurried, "Auntie, since I dared to say it, I naturally have absolute confidence."

Zhou Liangan's eyes were clear and firm, without the slightest guilt or hesitation, as if "entering the Meridian Opening Realm in one night" was merely a matter of course for him.

Second Elder Yu Wanying raised an eyebrow, her beautiful eyes half-closed as she swept a playful glance over Zhou Liangan, "Oh? Absolute confidence?"

Second Elder Yu Wanying's fingertips tapped lightly on the leather handbag on her knees, making a crisp ticking sound, "You must know that if you fail, not only will you become a laughingstock, but the Yu Family will also be unable to hold their heads up in front of the major Families. At that point, there will be no possibility between you and Yu Shuier."

"I understand." Zhou Liangan nodded, his expression remaining calm, "Auntie, please rest assured. Since I said it, I will naturally be able to do it."

"Then what is your trump card?" Second Elder Yu Wanying pressed, her eyes suddenly sharpening, "Did you obtain an ancient Legacy, or do you have some Heaven-Defying Spirit Medicine? You should know that the Tongmai Realm and the Yinling Realm are worlds apart; that shackle cannot be easily broken through by Aptitude alone."

The smile on Zhou Liangan's face stiffened slightly, then immediately returned to normal. He looked at Second Elder Yu Wanying, "Auntie, what I can rely on is indeed only my Aptitude. Of course, there are also some treasures I obtained from the ruins of the Nangong Family."

Zhou Liangan did not mention the existence of the System; this was Zhou Liangan's greatest secret, and he would not even mention it to Yu Shuier.

Second Elder Yu Wanying glanced at Zhou Liangan, clearly seeing through his concealment, but she did not continue to ask, only saying indifferently: "Since you are unwilling to say, I will not ask more. But I must remind you that the Peak of the Spirit Guiding Realm and the Tongmai Realm seem to be only a step away, but they are actually separated by a chasm. Even if you can rush to the ninth layer Peak of the Spirit Guiding Realm overnight, as long as you cannot step into the Meridian Opening Realm, this ceremony will eventually just become a farce."

"I appreciate your kindness, Auntie." Zhou Liangan sat up straight, his eyes becoming much more serious, "But please rest assured, since I said I could do it, I will never let you and Yu Shuier down, nor will I let the Yu Family be disgraced."

Second Elder Yu Wanying stared at Zhou Liangan for a long time, seemingly wanting to find a trace of hesitation on his face, but in the end, she only saw certainty.

She nodded slightly, her tone softening a little, "Very well, it is a good thing for young people to have drive. Since you are so confident, I will go and mention it to the Old Ancestor. I will have people arrange the matters of contacting the major Families."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Shuier took out a palm-sized jade box from her Storage Pouch.

The jade box was entirely translucent white, carved with intricate cloud patterns, with small sapphires embedded along the edges; one could tell at a glance that it was of great value.

Yu Shuier handed the jade box to Zhou Liangan, her eyes full of tenderness, "This is what Mom asked me to give you."

Zhou Liangan's heart stirred, and he reached out to take the jade box.

It felt slightly cool in his hand, the texture warm and delicate, and he could faintly feel the surging Spiritual Qi coming from inside.

He gently lifted the lid, and a fragrance so rich it was almost tangible instantly permeated the air; the concentration of Spiritual Qi inside the car suddenly increased several times over.

Inside the jade box lay a fist-sized Spirit Medicine fruit, its skin pale gold, covered with a layer of fine fuzz. The flesh was plump, as if a gentle squeeze would squeeze out nectar.

"Heaven Rank top-grade Spirit Medicine, golden marrow fruit?" Zhou Liangan's pupils constricted slightly, recognizing the origin of this Spirit Medicine fruit.

The golden marrow fruit is one of the top Spirit Medicine fruits in the ancient martial arts world, containing incomparably pure Spiritual Qi. It can not only instantly replenish the Spiritual Qi deficiency in a Cultivator's body but also cleanse the Meridians and improve one's innate bone structure, having a great auxiliary effect on making a Breakthrough in Realm.

Such a treasure, even for a Hidden Family, might not be easily produced.

"Thank you, Auntie." Zhou Liangan looked up at Second Elder Yu Wanying, his tone full of sincerity.

Second Elder Yu Wanying waved her hand casually, her eyes drifting toward the window, her tone feigning indifference, "I am not doing this for you, I just don't want this silly girl to be sad because you failed. This golden marrow fruit is just sitting idle with me, so it might as well be used by you as a waste product."

Hearing this, the corners of Zhou Liangan's mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

He could tell that while Second Elder Yu Wanying was sharp-tongued, she was genuinely thinking of him in her heart.

This mother and daughter, their tsundere personalities were truly identical.

Yu Shuier's eyes held a smile.

Zhou Liangan did not refuse this kindness; the golden marrow fruit could indeed play a significant role in his Breakthrough to the Tongmai Realm.

With a thought, the System space fluctuated slightly, and an ancient Jade Slip appeared in his hand out of thin air. The Jade Slip was dark yellow, with three vigorous and powerful ancient seal characters engraved on it—Heaven Heart Technique.

This was a Saint Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique he had obtained in the ruins of the Nangong Family.

In the current ancient martial arts world, Saint Rank Cultivation Techniques are already legendary existences. Even for top Hidden Families, their inherited Cultivation Techniques are mostly just Heaven Rank top-grade, and Saint Rank Cultivation Techniques are few and far between.

With Yu Shuier and Second Elder Yu Wanying's Aptitude, cultivating this Heaven Heart Technique will not only rapidly increase their cultivation but also make up for the deficiencies in their previous Cultivation Techniques, and their future achievements will be limitless.

"Shuier, take this Cultivation Technique." Zhou Liangan handed the Jade Slip to Yu Shuier and said softly: "Heaven Heart Technique, Saint Rank Low Grade. With your Aptitude, it shouldn't be too difficult to Cultivate. After cultivating it, your Meridians will be further widened, and the speed of your Spiritual Qi circulation will also be greatly improved."

Subsequently, he looked at Second Elder Yu Wanying again, his tone becoming a bit more respectful, "Auntie, this Cultivation Technique is also suitable for you to Cultivate. You are now at the Tongmai Peak, stuck in this Realm for many years, presumably limited by the Bottleneck of your Cultivation Technique. The circulation path of the Heaven Heart Technique is more exquisite and should be able to help you touch the threshold of the Huagang Realm sooner."

Second Elder Yu Wanying had wanted to decline, but when her Divine Thought swept over the Jade Slip, she froze instantly.

The aura of the Saint Rank Cultivation Technique was vast and majestic, carrying a kind of majesty originating from ancient times, instantly impacting her Sea of Consciousness.

The indifference on Second Elder Yu Wanying's face instantly disappeared, and an expression of disbelief appeared in her beautiful eyes. The look she gave Zhou Liangan also contained a few more complex emotions—shock, gratitude, and a trace of deep curiosity.

Second Elder Yu Wanying had lived for so many years, and the highest grade Cultivation Technique she had ever seen was just the Yu Family's clan-protecting Heaven Rank top-grade "Yu Water Technique". She had never thought that one day she would be able to see a Saint Rank Cultivation Technique, and that the other party would give it to her and her daughter so easily.

"You boy still have a conscience." Second Elder Yu Wanying's tone softened a lot, and her gaze was no longer as distant as before, "Shuier, accept it."

Yu Shuier also recognized that this was a Saint Rank Cultivation Technique. Her face was full of pleasant surprise, and she hurriedly took the Jade Slip, carefully putting it into her storage ring.

Although her storage ring was only the lowest-end storage apparatus, with a space of only about one cubic meter, in the current time when Spiritual Qi has not yet recovered, it was already an extremely precious treasure, which only Core Disciple could possess.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom sped all the way, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the city and driving toward the endless deep mountains.

After the car had been driving for more than three hours, the surrounding scenery had completely changed.

The mountains were towering, piercing straight into the clouds, and the mountains were covered with dense forests, lush and green, with the air filled with the fresh scent of vegetation and faint Spiritual Qi.

Zhou Liangan leaned against the car window, feeling the increasingly dense Spiritual Qi around him, and sighed in secret admiration in his heart.

Even though Spiritual Qi has not yet recovered, the concentration of Spiritual Qi here was several times higher than in the provincial capital, almost equivalent to the location of a low-level Spiritual Vein.

No wonder the Disciples of the Hidden Family far exceed the Cultivators of the secular world as soon as they leave the mountains; with such a cultivation environment, it would be hard not to improve.

"We are almost there." Second Elder Yu Wanying said, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible gravity.

The car stopped on an open space at the foot of the mountain, and the driver respectfully walked to the back row and opened the car door for the three of them.

Zhou Liangan got out of the car first, his feet treading on soft fallen leaves, his ears filled with the crisp chirping of birds and the rustling sound of wind blowing through leaves, as if he were in a paradise away from the world.

Second Elder Yu Wanying walked to a stone wall not far away. The stone wall was as smooth as a mirror, without any marks on it, looking no different from ordinary mountain rock.

Second Elder Yu Wanying waved her hand gently, and a black token appeared in her palm. The token had the character "Yu" engraved on it and emitted a faint Spiritual light.

Second Elder Yu Wanying pressed the token gently against the stone wall, and the token instantly merged into the stone wall.

Immediately after, a shocking scene occurred.

The originally hard stone wall suddenly rippled, like a calm lake surface into which a stone had been thrown, forming layers of water ripples.

A moment later, a translucent light curtain appeared on the stone wall, and behind the light curtain, one could vaguely see the scene of another world.

"This is the Yu Family's Blessed Land, which the Old Ancestor discovered by chance a hundred years ago." Second Elder Yu Wanying explained, stepping into the light curtain first, her figure instantly disappearing.

Yu Shuier held onto Zhou Liangan's arm and explained with a smile, "The Opportunity and Legacy inside here had already been taken when the Old Ancestor discovered it, but the Spiritual Qi inside the Blessed Land is more than ten times denser than outside, and it has a natural Spirit Gathering Array, making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort. Only our Yu Family's Core Disciple can live here."

Zhou Liangan nodded thoughtfully. A Hidden Family can be passed down for thousands of years; it truly has a foundation that ordinary people cannot imagine.

Such a Blessed Land, if placed in the secular world, would probably have triggered a bloody storm long ago.

He followed Yu Shuier into the light curtain, only feeling a blur before his eyes, and the surrounding scenery instantly changed.

[part:gemini-3.5-flash]

The original deep mountains disappeared, replaced by an open valley.

Within the valley, the Spiritual Qi was so dense it had almost condensed into mist. In the distance, a continuous stretch of palace-like buildings stood with upturned eaves and ancient charm, where many Disciples in uniform could be faintly seen shuttling to and fro.

Second Elder Yu Wanying was standing not far away, waiting for them. Standing before her were two young men dressed in casual wear.

These two young men looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with tall, straight figures and steady auras. Their cultivation had both reached above the Fifth Level of the Spirit Guiding Realm.

Their gazes fell upon Zhou Liangan, carrying a hint of scrutiny and arrogance, their eyes faintly betraying unfriendliness, but out of respect for Second Elder Yu Wanying's status, they did not display any obvious offense.

“Second Elder,” the two young men bowed slightly to Second Elder Yu Wanying, their tone respectful. The “Second Elder” they spoke of was Second Elder Yu Wanying's status within the Yu Family.

The internal hierarchy of the Yu Family was strict. Aside from the Old Ancestor, there were four Elders who managed different affairs, and Second Elder Yu Wanying was one of them, holding an esteemed status.

Second Elder Yu Wanying took out her token and handed it to the two for inspection.

One of the young men took the token, carefully verified its patterns and aura, and after confirming there were no issues, returned the token to Second Elder Yu Wanying. Stepping aside to clear the path, he said, “Second Elder, please enter.”

After the three walked past, Zhou Liangan faintly heard the two young men whispering in discussion behind them.

“Is that the kid from the secular world that Yu Shuier found? He looks completely ordinary, and his cultivation is only at the Peak of the First Level of the Spirit Guiding Realm. How could he possibly be worthy of Young Miss Shuier?”

“Who knows? I heard he's just a playboy from an ordinary Family. To think that the Second Elder actually agreed to let him come to the Blessed Land, it's truly baffling.”

“Just wait and see. I'd like to see how he enters the Meridian Opening Realm overnight. When he fails, not only will he humiliate himself, but the Second Elder and Young Miss Shuier will also be embarrassed.”

...

Yu Shuier clearly heard these words as well. A flash of anger crossed her face, and she turned to Zhou Liangan, saying, “They are Disciples from a branch of the Yu Family, named Yu Hao and Yu Feng. Their talent is decent, and they later aligned themselves with the Third Branch. The Third Branch has always been at odds with our Second Branch, which is why they are deliberately targeting you.”

Zhou Liangan didn't care about this and merely smiled faintly. “It doesn't matter. Their mouths belong to them; we can't control what they want to say. As long as we do our own things well, that's enough.”

Zhou Liangan said this, but in his heart, he silently noted these two down.

What Zhou Liangan believed in was returning every single slight!

Naturally, he would not let these two off easily.

Along the way, they encountered many Yu Family Disciples, mostly young people around twenty years old. The lowest cultivation among them was at the Third Level of the Spirit Guiding Realm, while the highest even reached the Eighth Level of the Spirit Guiding Realm.

When these Disciples saw Second Elder Yu Wanying, they would all bow respectfully, but the looks they cast toward Zhou Liangan were mostly filled with curiosity, contempt, and disdain.

Clearly, the news of Zhou Liangan, this “son-in-law from the secular world,” had already spread throughout the Yu Family.

To the Disciples of these Hidden Families, people from the secular world were like frogs at the bottom of a well, completely unworthy of being compared to them, let alone becoming the partner of a Yu Family Core Disciple.

Zhou Liangan paid no attention to these strange looks, focusing all his mind on sensing the Spiritual Qi within the Blessed Land.

The dense Spiritual Qi surged into his body like a tide, nourishing his Meridians and Dantian.

He could clearly feel that the shackles of the Peak of the First Level of the Spirit Guiding Realm were constantly loosening, and the Spiritual Qi in his body had become exceptionally active, as if it could break through the Bottleneck and step into the Second Level of the Spirit Guiding Realm at any moment.

If it were any ordinary Cultivator, they would have surely taken the Opportunity to make a Breakthrough, but Zhou Liangan forcibly suppressed this urge to break through.

He had his own plans. Nine was the limit of numbers, and the Spirit Guiding Realm was divided into nine levels. If he could directly leap across nine levels of cultivation from the First Level of the Spirit Guiding Realm and step into the Tongmai Realm in one fell swoop, it would surely shock the entire Ancient Martial World.

This would not only allow the Yu Family to hold their heads high, but also make those who looked down on him see him in a whole new light.

Second Elder Yu Wanying seemed to notice Zhou Liangan's actions. She cast a glance at him, a trace of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes, and then spoke to warn him, “It is a good thing for young people to have high ambitions, but you must also act within your capabilities. You have always been in an environment starved of Spiritual Qi, so suddenly arriving in a place with abundant Spiritual Qi makes it normal for your Realm's shackles to loosen. However, if you forcibly suppress the Breakthrough, once your body adapts to the concentration of Spiritual Qi here, the shackles will become firm again. When that time comes, wanting to break through will only be even more difficult.”

Although Second Elder Yu Wanying's tone still carried a hint of coldness, the concern within it was plain to see.

“Thank you for the guidance, Auntie,” Zhou Liangan nodded with a smile, not explaining his plans.

Some things are pointless to say too much; only practical actions can prove them.

Second Elder Yu Wanying gave Zhou Liangan a deep look and said nothing more, swaying her slender, snake-like waist as she walked toward the main hall in the distance.

She was going to meet the Old Ancestor to report on the matter of inviting the major families to observe the ceremony.

Watching Second Elder Yu Wanying's departing figure, Yu Shuier turned to look at Zhou Liangan, her eyes filled with worry. “My mom is right; forcibly suppressing a Breakthrough is very dangerous. Are you really sure you can step into the Tongmai Realm in one go? Why don't you break through to the Second Level of the Spirit Guiding Realm first?”

Zhou Liangan reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender yet voluptuous waist. Feeling the soft sensation in his arms, his heart felt warm.

He lowered his head and whispered softly in Yu Shuier's ear, “Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Since I dared to make this bet, I must have a foolproof plan. Your husband isn't that useless.”

Zhou Liangan's warm breath brushed past Yu Shuier's ear, instantly causing a faint blush to rise on her cheeks.

Yu Shuier's delicate body trembled slightly. With a hint of shyness in her beautiful eyes, she lightly punched Zhou Liangan. “Who's worried about you? I'm just afraid you'll make a fool of yourself when the time comes.”

“Oh? Really?” The corner of Zhou Liangan's mouth curled into a playful arc. He lowered his head close to her face, his nose almost touching hers. “Then why did I feel like someone was very nervous just now?”

Yu Shuier's heart raced under Zhou Liangan's gaze. She quickly turned her face away, not daring to meet his eyes. “Stop messing around, let's go to our lodging first. I'll take you to see your room. The environment is very good, perfect for cultivating.”

Zhou Liangan didn't tease Yu Shuier any further, keeping his arm around her waist as they walked toward a villa not far away.

This villa was built against the mountain, with an elegant exterior. It was surrounded by rare flowers and exotic herbs, and the Spiritual Qi here was even denser than in other places.

Walking into the villa, the interior decoration was simple yet luxurious. The furniture was all crafted from precious spiritual wood, which was not only hard in texture but could also slowly release Spiritual Qi.

The villa was brightly lit, fully equipped with all kinds of modern facilities, but Zhou Liangan soon discovered that there was no signal here, and mobile phones could not be used at all.

“The electricity here is supplied by generators. The Blessed Land is isolated from the outside world, so there's no signal or internet,” Yu Shuier explained. “But don't worry, all the daily necessities are fully provided. If you need anything, just let me know anytime.”

Zhou Liangan nodded, not minding this at all.

For Zhou Liangan, as long as there was enough Spiritual Qi and a quiet environment for cultivation, it was enough.

After confirming that Second Elder Yu Wanying was no longer nearby, Zhou Liangan turned and pulled Yu Shuier into his arms.

Yu Shuier's delicate body trembled slightly, a trace of shyness flashing in her beautiful eyes. She gave Zhou Liangan a gentle push, “Bad guy~ The doctor said we can't fool around right now~”

Zhou Liangan looked down at Yu Shuier's flushed cheeks, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing even more playful. “Oh, you. I just wanted to hold you. It seems a certain little pervert has misunderstood something.”

“Who misunderstood!” Yu Shuier retorted defiantly, but her cheeks flushed even deeper. Her pearly teeth bit her lower lip, her beautiful eyes filled with shyness. “A certain someone said the exact same thing before, but in the end, didn't you still...”

Yu Shuier was too embarrassed to say the rest of the words, but the blush on her face already explained everything.

Looking at Yu Shuier's bashful appearance, Zhou Liangan felt a flutter in his heart.

He lowered his head and whispered softly in Yu Shuier's ear, “Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Seriously, do you really believe in me that much, that I can break through to the Tongmai Realm?”

Yu Shuier lifted her head, her gaze becoming incredibly firm. “Of course. After all, you are my husband, and the father of my child.”

Looking at the unreserved trust in Yu Shuier's eyes, a warm current welled up in Zhou Liangan's heart.

Yu Shuier's beautiful eyes, brimming with tender affection, were glued to Zhou Liangan's face, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

She didn't say anything more, only snuggling meekly deeper into Zhou Liangan's embrace.

Zhou Liangan looked down at the flushed earlobes and pursed pink lips of the person in his arms. A faint, sly smile curled on his lips as he tightened his arms, holding Yu Shuier even closer.

He turned his head slightly, his warm breath brushing over Yu Shuier's earlobe, and whispered, “Shuier, actually, I still need you to do me a favor.”

Yu Shuier looked up, meeting the mischievous grin that Zhou Liangan couldn't hide in his eyes. Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, like a ripe honey peach.

Yu Shuier gently bit her lower lip, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, carrying a hint of shy reproach. “What favor? What are you plotting again?”

Zhou Liangan didn't answer directly. He only brought his lips closer, almost pressing against Yu Shuier's ear, and whispered a few words in a low voice that only the two of them could hear.

Zhou Liangan's words made Yu Shuier's cheeks turn so red they seemed ready to bleed, and even her neck was dyed a lovely shade of pink.

Yu Shuier abruptly turned her face away, her watery eyes glaring at Zhou Liangan. Her eyes rippled with charm, yet there wasn't a hint of real anger. She merely rolled her eyes at him with a playful pout, “Bad guy~ You always talk such nonsense!”

Yu Shuier's tone was soft and sweet, sounding more like coquetting than scolding.

Seeing this, Zhou Liangan reined in some of his playful expression. He raised his hand to gently stroke Yu Shuier's hair, his gaze becoming incredibly serious. “I'm telling the truth, I'm not messing around with you. Doing this can really help me stabilize my aura, laying a more secure foundation for breaking through to the Tongmai Realm.”

Yu Shuier blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. Before the shyness in her eyes could fade, a trace of hesitation and curiosity was added.

Before Yu Shuier could open her mouth to answer, Zhou Liangan leaned down and gently kissed her soft, delicate lips...