The two women discussed

Cai Lin soon learned of this matter from Cao Ying.

After hearing Cao Ying's gentle yet serious proposal, Cai Lin was stunned for a long while, a rare flash of astonishment passing through her usually cold purple eyes.

"equal wife?"

She truly hadn't thought of this.

It wasn't that she didn't care about Shen Wen; on the contrary, it was precisely because the affection between her and Shen Wen had become so deep, and she was carrying their child, that she viewed many things more lightly.

To her, status was far less important than real companionship and responsibility.

Moreover, her beginning with Shen Wen could hardly be called pleasant. That initial encounter could be described as half-coerced and half-transactional. With the dignity of the Queen of the Snake-People Tribe, she had become a "concubine" by his side without any formal status.

Although the estrangement gradually faded, their affection grew, and the predicament of the Snake-People Clan was resolved because of him, she had sincerely accepted this relationship and the child in her womb.

However, she subconsciously felt that the status of "equal wife," which the Human Race valued highly and which was almost equivalent to the main wife, perhaps did not belong to her.

"I..." Cai Lin came back to her senses and looked at Cao Ying, who was sitting opposite her with a calm expression. She frowned slightly. "This matter... I fear it is inappropriate."

She paused, her tone calm yet direct: "My identity is special after all. As the Queen of the Snake-People Tribe, in the eyes of others, I am ultimately not of their kind. If I were to hold the status of equal wife with this identity, I fear it would bring him unnecessary criticism and trouble."

This was her most practical concern. Shen Wen was now a core member of the Pill Tower with a boundless future; she did not want him to bear additional scrutiny and pressure for no reason because of her origins, which appeared somewhat "alien" to ordinary people.

Upon hearing this, Cao Ying gently shook her head.

She reached out to pour a cup of warm, calming tea for Cai Lin, her voice clear and gentle: "Sister Cai Lin, you are overthinking it. Husband's status in the Pill Tower now is no longer something that can be shaken by ordinary idle gossip. Furthermore..."

She looked up at Cai Lin, her gaze sincere: "The child you carry is Husband's first. When we return to the Pill Tower, this matter will inevitably be known to everyone. If you still lack a suitable status, how will others view it? They will only think that I, the main wife, am jealous and intolerant, or that Husband is unfair and treats you poorly. This would only damage Husband's reputation and put you and the child in an awkward position."

Cai Lin remained silent, her fingertips unconsciously brushing over her slightly rounded abdomen.

Cao Ying's words were indeed reasonable. Although she did not care much about the rules and perspectives of the Human Race society, she had to consider them for Shen Wen and the child.

Seeing her expression soften, Cao Ying continued: "It is most appropriate for me to propose this. We both know that Husband does not favor one over the other. This status is the most secure arrangement right now for you, for the child, and for Husband's reputation."

Her tone was sincere, without a hint of reluctance or grievance, only the calmness and thoroughness of speaking about the matter as it was.

Cai Lin raised her eyes, meeting Cao Ying's clear gaze.

She could feel that this main wife, who came from a great clan and possessed extraordinary talent, was not putting on an act at this moment, but was genuinely considering this "home."

The bit of resistance in her heart, born from the unexpected, gradually dissipated.

"...I understand." Cai Lin nodded slowly, a faint yet genuine warmth rippling in her purple eyes. "Then I will follow your suggestion. Thank you for your trouble."

"We are family, why be so polite?" Cao Ying smiled brightly, and the atmosphere relaxed. She continued: "Once we return to the Central Plains and settle down, I will choose an opportunity to arrange this. The scale naturally doesn't need to be as grand as when we were married, but the necessary formalities will not be lacking; I must ensure you receive this status with dignity."

She paused, her tone becoming more pragmatic: "In the future, I fear I will have to rely on you to share the burden of many household affairs. Now that Husband has brought back many people from the Northwest, his wings are gradually strengthening. After returning to the Central Plains, he will surely begin to establish his own power Foundation. There are many trivial matters inside and out, and I fear I cannot handle them alone."

Cai Lin nodded slightly. She was not a woman raised in a boudoir who ignored outside affairs; having governed the Snake-People Clan for many years, managing affairs and weighing pros and cons were her strengths.

"It should be so." Her voice was calm, but carried the weight of agreement.

The two discussed some trivial arrangements for after their return to the Central Plains, then Cao Ying rose to leave, letting Cai Lin rest well.

...

Space fluctuated slightly, like ripples spreading from a stone thrown into the water.

The next instant, the figure of a child wearing simple cloth clothes, looking about ten years old, appeared before Shen Wen without any warning.

Shen Wen's pupils contracted sharply, and the astonishment on his face was almost impossible to conceal.

He reacted extremely quickly, immediately composing himself, and bowed deeply to the child-like figure, his tone filled with absolute respect and surprise: "Disciple Shen Wen pays respects to the Old Ancestor!"

Xuan Danzi blinked his clear eyes, tilted his head, and revealed an expression with a hint of playfulness: "You know me?"

Shen Wen straightened up, a perfectly measured smile appearing on his face, yet his tone remained respectful: "To have such strength and to be able to appear before this Disciple silently at this moment... apart from the elusive Old Ancestor, this Disciple truly cannot think of a second person."

He spoke frankly. As a Personal Disciple of Old Monster Lin and a core member of the Pill Tower, he naturally had some understanding of the few top figures of the Little Pill Tower.

This Old Ancestor, who had transformed from a Grade 9 Profound Pill and possessed a frighteningly high seniority, was the true anchor of the Pill Tower.

Previously, when the Old Ancestor had sent a message summoning him, he had delayed his return due to unfinished business in the Northwest. Although he knew it was somewhat disrespectful, he had only taken it as an ordinary piece of advice or a test.

But he never expected that this time, because he had sent a message for help regarding the possibility of the Hall of Souls setting an ambush at the spatial wormhole, it would actually alarm the Old Ancestor into coming personally!

In his expectations, at most his Master, Old Monster Lin, would set out, perhaps bringing along two Pill Tower Elders, which would be enough to sweep through the Northwest and deter the Hall of Souls. How could it warrant the Old Ancestor's presence?

Xuan Danzi seemed satisfied with Shen Wen's answer, carrying his small hands behind his back, and nodded in an old-fashioned manner: "Your discernment is not bad."

His gaze swept over Shen Wen, then glanced at the flying boat anchored not far away. "Zhao Kuo has already spoken of the Hall of Souls' little tricks. Since this old man has come, I will not let them succeed."

Shen Wen felt a secret shiver in his heart.

Although he had not had the fortune to witness the Old Ancestor's strength personally, he knew a thing or two from the occasional mentions by his Master, Old Monster Lin.

It was a level that surpassed ordinary Dou Sheng; the Hall Master of the Soul Hall, Soul Mie Sheng, would likely pale in comparison before the Old Ancestor at this moment.

He could not help but recall some past events within the Pill Tower. The fall of the previous Pill Tower Master was directly related to the Hall of Souls.

It was precisely because he had trusted his Disciple Hun Xuzi too much and acted arbitrarily that it led to Soul Mie Sheng nearly stealing the Three Thousand Burning Flame sealed in the Pill Tower.

What was even more regrettable was that after the previous Tower Master discovered the truth that Hun Xuzi had long colluded with the Hall of Souls, he still considered their Master-Disciple bond and failed to make a decisive choice, ultimately being harmed by him and dying.

There were rumors that if the Old Ancestor had been presiding over the Pill Tower at that time, perhaps the outcome would have been different. But the Old Ancestor's whereabouts were elusive, and he was often traveling abroad, so he was not in the tower when that incident occurred.

Since that tragedy, the Little Pill Tower had not formally established the position of Tower Master. Major affairs within the tower were mostly discussed and decided by the few most senior Elders, such as Old Monster Lin, in coordination with the three visible Three Great Powers of the Pill Tower.

This collective decision-making mechanism, which appeared less efficient than one-person rule, maximized the avoidance of repeating the same mistakes due to one person acting arbitrarily or being swayed by personal feelings.

This was also why there were three powerful "Three Great Powers" on the surface of the Pill Tower, while the inside of the Little Pill Tower maintained a delicate balance of power. All major decisions required multi-party discussion; it appeared cumbersome, but it was a cautious choice made after reflecting on the pain.

Xuan Danzi seemed to see through Shen Wen's momentary distraction, but did not point it out, merely saying indifferently: "You wait here. I will go to that spatial wormhole in Tianya City and return shortly."

Before the words had finished, his small figure had faded away like a dream or bubble, as if he had never appeared, not even stirring a ripple in space.