In a grand courtyard in Luzhen City, the capital of the Dakwang Empire, an elderly man listened as a middle-aged man passionately recounted the events from today’s court assembly.
After finishing, the middle-aged man, still unable to contain his excitement, said, “Lord Kan, that Su Cen is the legitimate daughter of Sixth Master. Now that Tie Qi is sending an army to slaughter the Qiyuan Domain Kingdom, shouldn’t we secretly rescue her?”
The old man cast a cold glance at him. “I see you’ve been in the Dakwang court too long—your brain’s nearly rotted away. Rescue Su Cen? Are you trying to get the last of my Di family’s bloodline wiped out? How would we even save her? Forget a mere woman—even if it were Di Sha’s only son, we wouldn’t lift a finger. The Di family’s bloodline is here, not in Qiyuan.”
“Oh… then Su Cen, she…” The middle-aged man faltered, blurting it out instinctively.
The old man snorted. “If she can’t even hide properly, she deserves to die. From now on, no one in this household is to discuss Su Cen or the Qiyuan Domain Kingdom.”
“Yes…” The middle-aged man replied meekly, his spirit deflated. He began to wonder if his years of risking everything for the Di family had been worth it—some people and things weren’t as he’d imagined.
…
In Tianyuan City, the spiritual energy swirling around Su Cen suddenly doubled, if not more. At the same time, her cultivation aura surged steadily. An hour later, she opened her eyes. Black impurities seeped from her skin, and the world around her seemed sharper.
“Young Master…” Su Cen’s first glimpse of Lan Xiaobu sparked joy—she wanted to share her breakthrough—but then she noticed the grime oozing from her body.
Before she could speak, Lan Xiaobu waved a hand. “Go wash up. Then we might need to leave Tianyuan City.”
With that, he stepped out of the room.
Su Cen had successfully built her foundation. He decided to take her away from Tianyuan City. The king of Qiyuan Domain Kingdom had likely guessed he was a cultivator, which explained the lack of interference so far. Seeing the king’s tact, Lan Xiaobu figured he’d help solve the man’s troubles on his way out.
An hour later, Su Cen emerged, freshly bathed, her cheeks flushed.
Compared to before, she’d transformed—not just in vitality, but her skin now gleamed like polished jade. Were it not for the scar on her face, she’d resemble a descended仙子. This was thanks to the *Longevity Technique*—a top-tier cosmic cultivation method.
“Su Cen, you’ve built your foundation?” Lan Pi, mid-conversation with Lan Xiaobu, gaped at her change, asking in disbelief.
The Su Cen before him, aside from the facial scar, exuded an entirely different aura.
Su Cen nodded, then looked at Lan Xiaobu, about to call him “Young Master.” He cut in, “No more ‘Young Master’—call me Xiaobu from now on. If you’re willing, we can marry soon. I’ll take you to explore this world, then head where we’re meant to go.”
“I’m willing,” Su Cen replied, not bowing her head this time. She met his gaze, seeing care and anticipation in his eyes.
In her heart, she’d long been his. She’d never dared dream of a proper marriage with him. Now, with her foundation built, confidence swelled within her.
Lan Pi blinked, then beamed. “Congrats, Big Bro Xiaobu, Sister-in-law Su Cen! I’ll handle the wedding—it’ll be grand!”
He’d known Xiaobu intended to marry Su Cen. After her foundation-building, her boldness to say “I’m willing” aloud stunned him. For a maid to speak so took guts. The notion that a maid couldn’t be a proper wife didn’t even cross his mind.
“Great, you take care of it. After Su Cen and I wed, you might stumble into a grand opportunity,” Lan Xiaobu said, patting Lan Pi’s shoulder.
He had a hunch—once married, he’d prove the Reincarnation Dao, becoming a true Fourth-Turn Saint. Before leaving, he could leave Lan Pi a wealth of cultivation resources, paving his way to the Immortal Realm.
…
Tianyuan City, capital of the Qiyuan Domain Kingdom, had been steeped in tension lately. Citizens were on edge, gripped by fear. Word had spread that the Dakwang Empire’s Black Sha Army loomed outside, poised to storm in and raze the city at any moment.
The Black Sha Army’s infamy was known even to common folk. With them camped beyond the walls, who wouldn’t be terrified?
Worse, their presence choked trade—merchants couldn’t enter, and residents couldn’t leave. The first few days were bearable, but as time dragged on, shortages hit. Prices soared, stoking public dread and brewing unrest across Tianyuan City.
In the royal hall, Prime Minister Zai Qian wore a grim look, at a loss for solutions.
Ju Qian, Chief of the礼部, stepped forward. “Your Majesty, if this continues, we won’t need the Black Sha Army to slaughter us—the city will collapse on its own. I suggest we surround the Lan household, seize them, and beg the empire for mercy.”
“Hmph,” Wu Li snorted. “By your logic, even if Tie Qi spares us, the Black Sha Army will still butcher Tianyuan City. And that’s assuming Tie Qi forgives us at all.”
Ju Qian shot back, “Slaughter the whole city? Hardly. If we kill one Black Sha soldier and let them vent by culling a few, so what? Qiyuan has tens of millions—losing a few thousand won’t break us. Just some unruly peasants, anyway.”
“Utter nonsense!” Zhong Qing barked angrily.
Before he could say more, a guard rushed in. “Your Majesty, the Lan family’s holding a celebration. Young Master Lan Xiaobu and Su Cen are tying the knot. Their street’s decked with festive lanterns.”
Zai Qian froze. He’d ordered the Lans watched from afar, with reports on anything notable. A wedding was the last thing he’d expected—this was…
Zhong Qing, ecstatic, said, “Your Majesty, this is a golden chance. Let’s steel ourselves and fight. Send envoys with lavish gifts to congratulate the Lans, while I lead our army to wipe out the Black Sha forces outside.”
“You’ll doom us all!” Ju Qian roared.
Wu Li sneered, “I back Master Zhong. Killing one Black Sha soldier offends the empire—killing them all is the same. I’d wager Dakwang’s main force is already sailing here on Black Ga warships to crush us. Either way, we’re dead—why not go out with a bang?”
As Ju Qian opened his mouth to argue, Zai Qian slammed the table. “From now on, Qiyuan fights as one. Anyone mentioning surrender dies. Wu Qing, Master Zhong—muster the troops, annihilate the Black Sha Army, leave none alive. I’ll personally attend the Lan wedding.”
“Your Majesty is wise!” Wu Li and Zhong Qing boomed.
Zhong Qing hadn’t wanted to join this massacre, but with one Black Sha soldier already dead, he was in too deep. Might as well go all in.
…
For Tianyuan’s people, today was bizarre.
Amid such tension, Young Master Lan was getting married. The Lans went all out—anyone who showed up, gift or not, was welcomed to feast and drink.
Even Lan kin who’d once coveted Lan Xiaobu’s wealth came to celebrate.
For the first time, Lan Xiaobu felt utterly at ease, free of burdens. Saints? Sometimes, they didn’t live as freely as ordinary folk. Right now, he wasn’t pondering Fourth-Turn Sainthood or proving Reincarnation. His heart was set on savouring his wedding with Su Cen.
For him, this wedding would follow his rules. He stood with Su Cen on the welcoming steps, greeting guests. Lan Pi and Lan Qing flanked them, assisting.
Su Cen’s eyes sparkled with joy. Since she could remember, she’d never felt this happy. In this moment, she’d die content.
“Haha, congrats to Young Master Lan and fairy Su Cen! Wishing you a joyous marriage, early heirs, and… boundless blessings!” Zai Qian nearly said “a hundred years together” but caught himself. If Lan Xiaobu was a cultivation powerhouse, that’d be no blessing.
Even his State Preceptor Zhong Qing had lived over two centuries—top cultivators far longer.
“Your Majesty…” Lan Xiaobu didn’t know Zai Qian, but Lan Pi gasped beside him. He hadn’t dreamed Qiyuan’s king would come to bless the wedding.
