Inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Yu Qing was leisurely leaning against a soft couch, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility. He had one arm around Purple Pearl's slender yet elastic waist, while his other hand rested extremely naturally on those mounds that could be called the World's lethal weapons.
Purple Pearl's pretty face flushed crimson, her eyes rippling like water. Not only did she show no resistance, but she also carried a hint of small pride and satisfaction. She thought smugly, "Hmph hmph~ In terms of size, besides Sister Xin's 'over-spec' one, mine is the one Husband likes the most~ Sister A Rou and Sister Fox Consort are also wonderful, but they are slightly inferior to me~ Sister Ruyi goes without saying~" She had always been quite proud of her impressive assets.
The two of them thus enjoyed this quiet and enchanting afternoon tenderness, as if all the turmoil outside had nothing to do with them.
However, at the same time, hundreds of miles away in Heaven Dou City, an important plan concerning the "expansion of the Family population" was quietly underway... Outside an elegant courtyard with a serene environment in the west district of Heaven Dou City.
Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi stopped in their tracks. They looked up at the closed courtyard gate and exchanged glances.
"After so long... I wonder if the two sisters, Wuxiang and Wuyue, are still here?" Duan Xin said with some uncertainty. Their trip outside had been delayed too long due to contract spirit souls and revenge, far exceeding the original plan.
Zi Ruyi pondered for a moment and shook her head, "They should still be here. Their Family is pressuring them severely about marriage. With their personalities, they definitely wouldn't yield so easily. Hiding here is the quietest option. I guess... there's a high probability they are still here."
"That makes sense." Duan Xin nodded, walked forward, and reached out to knock on the bronze door knocker.
"Knock, knock, knock—" The crisp sound of knocking echoed in the quiet alley.
A moment later, faint footsteps sounded from inside. With a creak, the courtyard gate was opened a crack. A petite and exquisite pretty face, bearing a hint of vigilance, peeked out from behind the door.
This was a young girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen. She had long, purplish-blue hair like deep sea waves, styled into cute twin tails. Her round, doll-like face and skin that seemed ready to burst with moisture, paired with large, crystal-clear eyes that sparkled with lively light like amethysts, made her look especially playful and adorable.
When she clearly saw Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi standing outside the door, the vigilance in her eyes instantly turned into pleasant surprise.
"Eh?! It's you two! Sister Xin! Sister Ruyi!" The girl's face immediately blossomed into a brilliant smile. She swung the door wide open and said cheerfully, "I thought you two had forgotten about us sisters! You haven't come to visit us in so long!"
"Sorry, sorry~" Zi Ruyi smiled gently and explained, "We truly had urgent matters recently and had to leave Heaven Dou City for a while, which caused some delay."
"Hehe~ Sister was just saying, if you didn't come back soon, we'd really have to go home and face those annoying blind dates!" The cute girl named Shui Wuyue playfully winked, stepped aside, and let the two enter the courtyard.
"Don't worry~ We are people who keep our word. Since we promised you, we absolutely won't go back on our word, much less trick you!" Duan Xin patted her chest and said heroically, her astonishing curves swaying, causing Shui Wuyue to subconsciously look down at her own somewhat 'reserved' chest, pouting slightly with a flash of imperceptible envy.
Shui Wuyue led the two through the exquisitely arranged front yard to the inner room.
As soon as they stepped into the living room, a faint, cold fragrance akin to snow lotus wafted toward them. By the window, a woman stood quietly.
She was tall and graceful, with long, water-blue hair as smooth as a waterfall casually draped behind her. Her skin was as white as snow, seeming to glow under the light filtering through the window lattice. Her features were as exquisite as meticulously carved artwork, yet the aura she exuded carried an unapproachable coldness and distance, like an iceberg that never melts. She was Shui Wuyue's older sister—Shui Wuxiang.
Hearing the footsteps, Shui Wuxiang slowly turned around. Her icy blue eyes swept lightly over the three people who entered. Upon seeing Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi, a very subtle ripple flashed in her eyes, but it quickly returned to calm. Her voice was pleasant to the ear but carried a natural chill, "Long time no see. Please have a seat."
"Mhm, long time no see, Wuxiang." Zi Ruyi smiled and nodded in response, sitting down on a chair opposite Shui Wuxiang with Duan Xin. Shui Wuyue sat obediently beside her sister.
The four sat facing each other. After a brief casual exchange, chatting about recent updates and some interesting news from the continent, the atmosphere gradually became harmonious under Zi Ruyi's gentle guidance and Shui Wuyue's lively banter.
Finally, the topic was steered toward the core matter through a seemingly casual turn by Duan Xin.
"Wuxiang, Wuyue," Zi Ruyi's expression became a bit more serious, her gaze fixed on the Shui sisters, "Do you still remember what we mentioned about Spirit evolution the last time we parted ways?"
At these words, the atmosphere in the living room instantly tightened!
A sharp light suddenly ignited in Shui Wuxiang's usually calm, waveless icy blue eyes. She sat up straight, her gaze locked tightly onto Zi Ruyi. Although her voice was still cold, it carried a trace of imperceptible urgency: "What you said back then... is it true? Is there really a way to evolve our Spirits?"
This question acted like a switch, instantly igniting all the curiosity and anticipation in Shui Wuyue's eyes. She also widened her purplish-blue eyes, staring unblinkingly at Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi.
Facing the sisters' burning gazes, Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi exchanged a smile. Zi Ruyi did not answer directly but slowly raised her right hand.
"Buzz—" A deep and powerful wave of spirit power spread from her palm, and a plant Spirit manifesting a peculiar shape slowly emerged.
It was no longer the simple Purple Cloud Vine from their memories, but a brand new Spirit that was entirely noble Purple-Gold in color, its leaves seemingly inlaid with countless fine stars, and its vines interwoven with mysterious golden patterns. Its form, its energy level—everything felt vastly different from before.
"This... this is?!" Shui Wuyue suddenly covered her small mouth, her purple-blue eyes filled with disbelief. She clearly remembered that in the Continental High-Rank Spirit Master Tournament, Zi Ruyi's Spirit was troublesome, but it was absolutely not this... this... soul-stirring.
Although Shui Wuxiang maintained her seated posture, her pupils also contracted sharply. For the first time, a clear look of shock appeared on her icy face. She could clearly feel that the quality of the Spirit before her had definitely surpassed the scope of a high-rank Spirit, perhaps even... a top-tier Spirit! Was this really evolution?
"As you can see," Zi Ruyi's voice was gentle, yet carried undeniable power, "My Spirit—the Purple Cloud Vine—has successfully evolved into the Nebula Purple Emperor Vine."
Before the Shui Family Sisters could recover from the shock.
"Hehe~ It's not just Sister Ruyi!" Duan Xin also stood up with a smile. With a thought, *Boom!* A scorching, violent, terrifying aura carrying ancient Dragon might instantly erupted, causing the air around her to slightly distort from the heat.
Behind her, a ferocious, majestic phantom of a giant Dragon, covered entirely in ruby-like scales and burning with platinum flames, let out a silent roar toward the sky. That pure Dragon might, that heart-palpitating sense of oppression, instantly caused the Shui Family Sisters, who possessed the Luan Bird Spirit, to feel a tremor and suppression originating from the depths of their Bloodline.
"This... this is... a True Dragon Spirit?!" Shui Wuyue cried out in shock, her small body trembling slightly. Although the Luan Bird was also a top-tier flying Spirit Beast, it would be greatly suppressed in the face of a True Dragon Clan, especially one with such pure and immense Dragon might.
Shui Wuxiang also took a sharp breath, her icy countenance filled with horror. Duan Xin's previous Crimson Flame Dragon Lizard Spirit was decent, but it absolutely did not possess such pure Dragon might and such terrifying oppressive power. This evolution... was simply a complete transformation, earth-shattering!
The greatest aspiration of the Shui Family, passed down through generations, was the hope that one day, a clan member's Spirit would undergo a beneficial mutation and eventually evolve into the legendary top-tier Spirit—the Ice Phoenix. For this goal, they spared no effort in arranging marriages with major Spirit Master Families across generations, attempting to fuse excellent ice-attribute Bloodlines, yet the results were minimal.
Now, seeing two living examples of successful Spirit evolution right before their eyes... the impact on these two sisters was unparalleled. The deep-seated desire and obsession they held for Spirit evolution were instantly ignited.
Shui Wuyue fiercely grabbed her sister's arm, her voice trembling with excitement: "Sister! It's real! They really did it!"
Shui Wuxiang gripped her sister's hand tightly, forcing herself to calm down. She raised her head, her ice-blue eyes burning with an unprecedented fervor, yet her voice tried to maintain a shred of composure: "Tell us... how did you do it? As long as our Spirits can evolve... we sisters... are willing to pay any price! To do anything for you!" Her tone was filled with unquestionable resolve.
Hearing this, Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi simultaneously thought to themselves, "Finally... they took the bait!"
Zi Ruyi's expression remained unchanged as she slowly spoke, "We can tell you the method. But... you must swear by your Spirit... never to reveal anything about the Spirit evolution to anyone in the Shui Family, at least... not until we permit it! Can you... do that?"
Shui Wuxiang and Shui Wuyue exchanged a look and nodded heavily, almost without hesitation: "We can! We can swear!" Compared to the vague and slim hope of the Family's marriage alliance plan, this tangible path to evolution before them was clearly far more attractive. For power, to break free from the Family's constraints, they were willing to keep the secret for now.
"Very good." Zi Ruyi nodded with satisfaction, then began to recount, "About three years ago... we met a person. A man... who was profoundly knowledgeable, whose research on Spirits could be called the pinnacle. His name was... Yu Qing."
Duan Xin interjected, her tone showing undisguised adoration and love: "That's right! It was him! Husband possesses a unique theory and method capable of guiding a Spirit toward evolution to a higher level. We only managed to successfully evolve our Spirits under his meticulous guidance and help!"
"Not only that~" Zi Ruyi smiled slightly, dropping another bombshell, "With his help, our spirit power Cultivation speed... also far exceeds ordinary people's imagination. Why don't you guess... what level our spirit power has reached now?"
Shui Wuyue tilted her head and thought for a moment, guessing tentatively, "Spirit Emperor? To Cultivate from Spirit Ancestor to Spirit Emperor in three years is already incredibly astonishing!"
Shui Wuxiang pondered, her tone more conservative: "Peak Spirit Emperor? That... should be the limit." Increasing by over ten ranks in three years, in her understanding, was already miraculous speed!
Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi exchanged a smile, their expressions carrying a hint of mystery and... the cunning satisfaction of a successful prank. They didn't drag out the suspense any longer... instead, they... directly... released their spirit rings!
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!..."
Yellow! Yellow! Purple! Purple! Black! Black! Black!
A total of seven spirit rings rose up from beneath their feet one after another. The dazzling light and the surging spirit power instantly filled the entire living room.
"!!"
The Shui Wuxiang and Shui Wuyue sisters were struck as if by an invisible thunderbolt, leaping up from their chairs. Their pupils contracted, and their minds seemed to completely shut down at that moment.
"Spirit...Spirit Saint?!" Shui Wuyue's voice became shrill, breaking completely. "Seventh ring?! How is this possible? Three years... from Spirit Ancestor to Spirit Saint? This... this is an increase of over twenty levels! This is something that cannot be achieved!"
Shui Wuxiang's delicate body also trembled violently. Her icy composure completely shattered, and she cried out in shock, "Could it be... could it be that Mr. Yu Qing used some evil method that overdrafts potential and consumes the Origin of life? That's why you improved so quickly?" This was the only reason she could think of that might barely explain this unbelievable phenomenon.
"Of course not!" Duan Xin immediately denied it, her tone carrying a hint of displeasure. "My Husband would never use such despicable methods. The methods he masters are safe, stable, and have no side effects. Not only that..." She changed the subject, pointing to the three deep black spirit rings beneath her feet, a smug curve forming on her lips. "My Husband has also mastered the theory and method for absorption of spirit rings beyond the limit. Why don't you guess again... what are the specific ages of my fifth, sixth, and seventh spirit rings?"
Shui Wuyue looked at the three pitch-black spirit rings whose energy fluctuations far surpassed ordinary ten-thousand-year spirit rings, swallowed hard, and guessed in a dry voice, "O-one hundred and fifty thousand years? Three hundred thousand years? Five... five hundred thousand years?" She was already guessing towards the highest possible values.
Duan Xin shook her finger, the smug look on her face growing stronger. "Incorrect! Guess higher!"
Shui Wuxiang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the towering waves in her heart, and voiced what she considered her boldest guess: "Could it be... two hundred thousand years? Four hundred thousand years? Six hundred thousand years?" This already exceeded the limits of her understanding of Spirit Masters.
Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi exchanged another knowing smile. Duan Xin cleared her throat and delivered the final answer in a tone as casual as if commenting on the weather:
"Two hundred thousand years, four hundred thousand years, and... seven hundred thousand years."
"!!!"
Silence, a deathly silence.
Shui Wuxiang and Shui Wuyue were completely frozen in place, their beautiful eyes wide open, mouths hanging open unconsciously, their faces... showing only blankness and utter bewilderment.
Two hundred thousand years, four hundred thousand years, seven hundred thousand years.
These three numbers, like three massive hammers, relentlessly and repeatedly smashed apart all the common knowledge and Worldview regarding Spirit Master Cultivation that they had accumulated over more than a decade.
This was no longer a miracle... this was clearly a divine miracle, something only a deity could accomplish.
Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi enjoyed the shocked expressions of the Shui Family Sisters, whose beliefs were shattered and who doubted their very existence, feeling an indescribable sense of satisfaction and mischievous pleasure. Indeed... watching others be stunned speechless by their Husband's "abnormal" abilities was a very, very interesting thing.
After a long while... Shui Wuxiang finally seemed to regain her voice. Her voice was hoarse and trembling slightly. "You... what you said... is it all true? That Mr. Yu Qing... can really do these things?"
"Absolutely true." Zi Ruyi nodded solemnly.
"Then..." Shui Wuxiang took a deep breath, trying to calm her violently beating heart. "What do we need to pay to... receive Mr. Yu Qing's help? Is it just... joining you?" She asked the most crucial question.
Zi Ruyi looked at her and smiled faintly, the smile gentle yet carrying an undeniable meaning. "No. It's not just joining us. To receive my Husband's wholehearted, unrestrained help, you need to... become his wife."
"Wife... wife?!" Shui Wuyue cried out again, her pretty face filled with astonishment! "You... you and that Mr. Yu Qing... are already... married?"
"Of course~" Duan Xin replied with pride and happiness, puffing out her chest—a movement that caused Shui Wuyue to instinctively glance again at that astonishing curve—secretly feeling envious. "He is our most beloved, the best, and the most powerful Husband in the entire World!"
Shui Wuxiang and Shui Wuyue exchanged glances; both sisters saw immense shock and... hesitation in the other's eyes.
"Two women... sharing one Husband?" Shui Wuxiang's voice held disbelief. This... this completely surpassed the concepts they had been taught since childhood.
Zi Ruyi seemed to perceive their shock and hesitation, and calmly dropped another bomb: "Furthermore... we need to remind you... my Husband... does not only have us two wives."
"???" Big question marks reappeared on the Shui sisters' faces.
"Currently," Duan Xin took over, counting on her fingers, "including us, my Husband has five wives in total. Every single one of them possesses exceptional talent, top-tier Spirits (or evolved into top-tier ones), and... strength far exceeding their peers. If you wish to evolve your Spirits, absorb spirit rings beyond the limit, and step onto an unprecedented path of strength, then... the sooner you join us, the better for you~" Her tone carried a hint of temptation, as if she were marketing a peerless treasure.
Boom—!!!
Five wives sharing one Husband!
This piece of information was like the final heavy hammer! It smashed fiercely into the hearts of Shui Wuxiang and Shui Wuyue.
On one side were deeply rooted traditional concepts, the expectations of their Family, and the awkwardness and unwillingness to share a Husband with others.
On the other side was the ultimate temptation of Spirit evolution, the miraculous path of absorption of spirit rings beyond the limit, and the infinite possibility of ascending to the heavens at once and becoming a top-tier powerhouse.
The two ends of the scale were terrifyingly unequal in weight, yet the shackles of tradition and inner reserve were so heavy.
Shui Wuxiang and Shui Wuyue fell into complete silence. They lowered their heads, their delicate brows tightly furrowed, engaging in an unprecedented and intensely fierce internal struggle.
In the living room, only the sisters' slightly rapid breathing could be heard... along with the gazes of Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi, filled with faint smiles, as if everything was within their grasp.
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