They lingered in the Ice Tear Frogs’ territory for several days. This was Ning Yuzhou’s decision. He deliberately used the Ice Tear Frogs as Wen Qiao’s training opponents, instructing the Shadow Scaled Guards to control the number of frogs and confine them to a designated area where Wen Qiao could battle them.
This method, while risky, was highly effective. Cultivation, after all, was a path of defying the heavens, fraught with countless crises. Only by pushing oneself, growing through combat, and constantly improving could one hope to survive and thrive.
Ning Yuzhou understood this deeply.
Thus, he systematically honed Wen Qiao’s skills, insisting she participate in combat, even allowing her to get injured without calling for the Shadow Scaled Guards’ intervention. Moreover, when planning Wen Qiao’s training regimen, Ning Yuzhou demonstrated an uncanny ability to maintain balance. He pushed her just enough to train effectively but ensured she stopped short of complete collapse. This meant Wen Qiao was constantly cycling between her limits and exhaustion.
Every session left Wen Qiao dishevelled and battered. The once-dainty girl had transformed into a bedraggled figure resembling a homeless wanderer, a far cry from the elegant and protected bride who had entered Lin Tai Hunting Valley under Ning Yuzhou’s and the guards’ watchful care.
Her lifestyle had taken a dramatic turn.
Yet Wen Qiao knew Ning Yuzhou had her best interests at heart. Previously, her frail health often confined her to bed for half the month, leaving little time for cultivation, let alone combat experience. This opportunity to address her lack of battle skills was something she cherished deeply. She wished her body were stronger, so she could train even more.
The results were astonishing. Wen Qiao’s cultivation progressed at an alarming pace.
—
After another gruelling training session, Wen Qiao collapsed from exhaustion. Ning Yuzhou approached, first feeding her a spiritual pill before scooping her up from the damp, icy ground and carrying her into a nearby tent.
Inside the tent, the cold, foggy world outside was replaced by warmth and comfort. The ground was layered with soft beast pelts, and a warming array kept the chill at bay.
Ning Yuzhou prepared water and began cleaning the sweat and blood from Wen Qiao’s face and exposed skin. When he moved to remove her sweat-soaked, bloodstained clothes, the exhausted girl quickly clutched them tightly, her face flushing as she whispered, “I’ll do it myself.”
Ning Yuzhou studied her for a moment, noting that she still had enough strength to change her clothes, and thought to himself that he could intensify her training regimen.
Turning his back to give her privacy, he waited until she was done changing before carefully applying powdered spiritual medicine to her wounds.
Between the internal and external treatments, her injuries were mostly healed by the following day, allowing her to continue training.
Afterward, Ning Yuzhou brought her a bowl of freshly prepared Six Yang Seven Flavours Profound Yin Soup to drink.
Once she finished her soup, the sky had darkened. Ning Yuzhou sat across from Wen Qiao as she straightened her back, adopting an attentive posture to listen to her husband’s critiques of her performance.
Ever since Wen Qiao had broken through to the Yuan Feather Realm, Ning Yuzhou had taken on the role of a mentor, offering her detailed feedback after every battle. At first, Wen Qiao had been stunned when he pointed out flaws in her execution of the Elegant Swan Sword Style.
She had already suspected that her husband wasn’t the useless mortal everyone believed him to be, but this level of insight was beyond extraordinary. Despite his inability to cultivate, his precise observations and vast knowledge made him akin to a walking encyclopaedia of cultivation. His ability to critique and improve cultivation techniques was nothing short of terrifying.
For a fleeting moment, Wen Qiao even wondered if he might be the reincarnation of a great expert.
However, Ning Yuzhou quickly dispelled her suspicions. Noticing her thoughtful expression, he explained, “While I can’t cultivate, I’ve spent my life immersed in the cultivation world. Observing and analysing techniques is second nature to me. Besides, these are relatively low-level techniques. Any experienced cultivator could discern their strengths and weaknesses.”
He smiled gently, his tone warm and reassuring.
Wen Qiao was left speechless.
It was then she realized that her husband was an exceptionally intelligent and formidable individual. Despite his lack of spiritual power, his sharp intellect and vast understanding were as formidable as any high-level cultivator’s abilities.
This understanding was further solidified by the behaviour of the Shadow Scaled Guards. They not only obeyed Ning Yuzhou’s every command but revered him almost religiously. Wen Qiao eventually discovered that the guards weren’t just a faction of the Ning royal family—they were Ning Yuzhou’s personal creation. They owed their loyalty solely to him and would die for him without question.
After critiquing Wen Qiao’s performance that day, Ning Yuzhou announced, “You’ve now reached the late Yuan Feather Realm. Tomorrow, we’ll leave this area and move on to the next. It’s time to aim for the Yuan Bright Realm.”
Clearly, the Tier 3 Ice Tear Frogs were no longer suitable opponents for Wen Qiao. Ning Yuzhou decided it was time to find a new challenge.
In just ten days, Wen Qiao had advanced to the late Yuan Feather Realm, crossing three minor stages—a rate of progress that would astonish any cultivator. This demonstrated the extraordinary quality of her Supreme Celestial Spiritual Root, which, under Ning Yuzhou’s careful guidance and the supportive environment of Lin Tai Hunting Valley, allowed her to make remarkable strides.
—
The next day, they left the Ice Tear Frogs’ territory.
The lingering scent of frog blood on them from days of battle seemed to deter other frogs, making their departure unusually smooth.
The icy fog gave way to warm, humid air. Lush greenery surrounded them, with towering trees draped in dense vines and the occasional sound of unseen insects scuttling in the underbrush.
This area was rich in both beasts and spiritual herbs, making it clear that Lin Tai Hunting Valley’s current environment was dominated by beast territories rather than unique landscapes. Many cultivators would be disappointed to find fewer rare treasures than anticipated.
That day, Wen Qiao was carefully harvesting a Tier 3 Silken Grass when a loud explosion startled her. The noise sent nearby low-level beasts fleeing, one nearly trampling her precious find.
With a deft motion, she grabbed the fleeing beast by the scruff and held it aloft.
“Help! Someone, help!”
A desperate cry rang out, accompanied by a buzzing sound. Moments later, four figures burst from the foliage, pursued by a swarm of fist-sized Moon Bees. The dense cloud of bees resembled a dark storm, relentlessly chasing the fleeing cultivators.
The four individuals hurled explosive talismans at the swarm, each detonation killing several bees but provoking the rest into greater fury.
Spotting the Shadow Scaled Guards ahead, the four lit up with hope and sprinted toward them, clearly intending to redirect the danger.
Wen Qiao swiftly collected her Silken Grass and stood protectively in front of Ning Yuzhou, her expression serious.
Recognizing the futility of retreat, Qian Shou ordered the guards to form a defensive formation.
The four cultivators reached the group and veered aside, shamelessly leaving the Shadow Scaled Guards to face the bees.
A unit of guards intercepted the swarm, their precise attacks cutting down the bees. Another unit flanked the swarm and unleashed fire talismans.
Within moments, the bees’ numbers were reduced by half.
The four cultivators collapsed onto the ground, panting and pale. As they popped spiritual pills into their mouths, they glanced back at the guards’ coordinated efforts. The guards’ lavish use of talismans left them both envious and resentful.
“Where do these wastrels come from? Using so many talismans on Tier 2 bees…” one muttered, shaking his head.
When they noticed Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao among the group, realization dawned.
“So it’s the useless Seventh Prince and his wife,” one whispered.
In the eyes of most cultivators in Lin Tai Hunting Valley, Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao were just sightseeing tourists. Without the Shadow Scaled Guards, they wouldn’t have made it this far.
With the Moon Bees defeated, the guards began clearing the battlefield and collecting intact bee carcasses. Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao approached the four cultivators, the guards flanking them like an impenetrable wall. Looking down at the dishevelled group, Qian Shou demanded, “Who are you? Which family do you belong to?”
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