40: Chapter 40 On the Way Back to Hui Country: System Notification: Large Waves in the Far North?

The golden carriage soared through the sea of clouds, drawn by Nine True Dragons. This mobile palace raced towards the Eastern Wastelands with steady, imposing majesty.

Inside the carriage, the intimate warmth had only just begun to settle.

Jiang Liuli nestled lazily in Xu Chen's embrace. Her once neat and flowing immortal dress was now slightly disheveled, especially at the collar, where a few faint crimson marks were visible—medals left by Xu Chen while 'enforcing the family rules'.

Her stunning face still bore a lingering blush, her eyes hazy, her fingers unconsciously tracing circles on Xu Chen's chest.

"Husband... you were so mean just now."

Jiang Liuli's voice was soft, husky, tinged with a hint of coquettish complaint, "You clearly said it was the last time, but then..."

"But then what?"

Xu Chen caught her mischievous little hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it, wearing an innocent expression as he said:

"I can't be blamed for that. Blame your 'Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart' for being too captivating."

"Not only is your comprehension high, but even your body's recovery ability is this strong."

"This husband was merely helping you consolidate your cultivation realm, letting you adapt to this newly reborn body as quickly as possible."

Listening to Xu Chen's utterly serious nonsense, Jiang Liuli couldn't help but roll her beautiful eyes.

Consolidate her cultivation realm?

Whose idea of consolidating a cultivation realm involves rolling around in bed for two hours?

However, though she complained verbally, her heart felt sweet.

"Husband, how much longer until we're home?"

Jiang Liuli shifted to a more comfortable position, nuzzling Xu Chen's chin like an affectionate kitten.

"Soon."

Xu Chen stroked her jet-black, silky hair, his gaze drifting to the clouds rapidly receding outside the window.

"At this speed, we'll reach Changshang Island in three more days."

"By then, you should formally meet my parents, and also..."

Xu Chen paused, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"...and those two elder sisters at home."

Hearing "those two elder sisters," Jiang Liuli's body stiffened slightly. Though she had acted magnanimous before, when it came time to actually face them, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

After all, neither of those two was an easy character.

One was the Tai Chu Saintess, leader of the righteous path; the other was the Demon Sect Empress, peerlessly domineering.

As for her, even though her health was restored now, in terms of seniority and cultivation level, she didn't seem to have a place yet.

"Don't be afraid."

Xu Chen seemed to see through her thoughts, tightening his arm slightly, giving her a firm hug.

"Qingge has a cold temperament but a soft heart. Hongyi is domineering but straightforward."

"Besides, you married into the family with a 'vast fortune'—you brought assets to the table."

"In the Xu Family, if anyone dares to give you a hard time, I'll spank their bottom until it blossoms."

Jiang Liuli let out a giggle, the tension in her heart dissipating considerably.

"Husband, you always know how to sweet-talk me."

She looked up, her eyes, enhanced by the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, gleaming with intelligent light.

"But I'm not someone to be bullied either."

"When it comes to fighting, I'm not the best, but when it comes to schemes..."

A sly smile touched the corners of Jiang Liuli's lips.

"This Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart of mine isn't just for show."

Watching the woman before him instantly switch from a little white rabbit to a little fox, Xu Chen clicked his tongue inwardly.

It seemed the Hall of Eternal Life was going to be lively from now on.

Just as the two were enjoying this rare moment of tenderness...

Suddenly.

The system in Xu Chen's mind, silent for so long, emitted a piercing alarm without warning.

[Ding! Host detected passing through a special area!]

[Beauty Radar automatically activated!]

[Scanning...]

[Scan complete! S-rank target discovered!]

Xu Chen was stunned.

A special area?

He instinctively looked out the window.

The originally clear sky had, at some point, turned somewhat gloomy. The mountains and rivers below gradually disappeared, replaced by a vast, white world of ice and snow.

This place... the border between the Central Plains and the Northern Tundra? The Far North Ice Plains?

[Target locked!]

[Name: Bai Ningbing]

[Identity: Palace Master of the Far North Ice Palace / Ice Plains Empress]

[Appearance Score: 96 (Jade-like skin and bones, coldly stunning)]

[Measurements: B98 (E) | W60 | H96]

Looking at the projection on the system panel—a woman clad in white, icy and aloof, yet with a figure so explosively curvaceous it defied the rules—Xu Chen's eyes instantly went wide.

96 points?

And this kind of cold, mature beauty type?

This system was practically targeting his weakness!

"Ahem."

Xu Chen felt his throat go dry and instinctively swallowed.

He had originally intended to head straight home.

After being away for so long, he missed his wives and children.

But...

"The system said she's in a life-and-death crisis, urgently in need of warmth," Xu Chen silently told himself.

"I, Xu Chen, as a paragon of the righteous path, how can I stand by and watch someone die?"

"This isn't lust; this is boundless, selfless love!"

"Besides, the Far North Ice Palace is rich in Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Lotuses and Icy Soul Marrow. Perfect for bringing back to nourish Qingge and Hongyi."

The reasons were ample.

The logic was flawless.

Thus, Xu Chen looked down at Jiang Liuli in his arms, his expression instantly turning solemn and profound.

"Liuli."

Xu Chen called her name softly.

"Hmm? What is it, husband?"

Jiang Liuli, who had been enjoying his caresses with her eyes closed, lazily lifted her head upon hearing him.

"I suddenly sense..."

Xu Chen pointed towards the vast snow plains below, his tone grave.

"...an extremely powerful wave of frigid energy in this Far North region."

"If I'm not mistaken, it must be some extraordinary natural treasure, or... perhaps a fellow cultivator in distress."

"My Xu Family has always upheld compassion. Since we've encountered this, turning a blind eye would likely affect my Dao Heart."

Jiang Liuli blinked.

Her Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart instantly whirred into action, keenly catching the fleeting flicker of "excitement" and "desire" in Xu Chen's eyes.

Compassion?

Dao Heart?

She glanced at the icy, snowy landscape below, legends about the Far North quickly surfacing in her mind.

It was said there was an Ice Palace there, whose palace master was a peerless great beauty, hailed as the 'Ice Plains Empress'.

Coupled with her husband's 'special' constitution and 'broad-minded' heart...

Jiang Liuli understood instantly.

What natural treasure? What fellow cultivator in distress?

He clearly had his eye on another girl!

If it were an ordinary woman, the jealousy pot would have long since overturned.

But Jiang Liuli was no ordinary woman.

She was too clever.

She knew a man like Xu Chen was destined not to belong to her alone. Rather than obstructing him like a resentful wife, it was better to be a sensible main wife, helping share his burdens, which would actually help her hold his heart more firmly.

And besides...

Having just been 'developed' by Xu Chen, she knew all too well how terrifying this man's stamina was.

Relying on her alone, even with the help of the two elder sisters at home, might still be a bit overwhelming.

Finding another sister to share the 'firepower'... didn't seem like such a bad idea?

Thinking this, a gentle, graceful smile curved Jiang Liuli's lips.

She didn't expose Xu Chen. Instead, she cooperated perfectly, showing a concerned expression.

"Husband is right."

"Cultivators emphasize following one's heart."

"Since husband senses an opportunity, naturally we shouldn't miss it."

"And..."

Jiang Liuli reached out, gently straightening Xu Chen's collar, her tone soft as water.

"The Far North is bitterly cold. If some sister has frozen and suffered, she truly needs a 'blazing fire' like husband to warm her up properly."

Xu Chen was taken aback.

Looking into Jiang Liuli's eyes, which seemed to see through everything yet chose not to speak of it, his old face flushed red.

This girl... being too smart wasn't always good.

No privacy at all.

"Ahem, you know me best, Liuli."

Xu Chen shamelessly hugged her and kissed her cheek.

"Don't worry, your husband is just going to take a look. I'll be back soon."

"If I can save someone in passing, that's virtuous merit; if I can pick up some treasures, that's good luck."

"It's definitely not for any beauty."

Jiang Liuli looked at him with a half-smile. "Husband, I never said anything about a beauty. Why are you explaining?"

Xu Chen: "..."

Great.

The more he explained, the murkier it got.

"Dark Elder!"

Flustered and exasperated, Xu Chen directly shouted into the void.

"Change course!"

"Destination—the Far North Ice Palace!"

"This young master is going to... uphold justice!"

From the void came the Dark Elder's voice, tinged with a bit of helplessness and amusement.

"As you command, young master."

"ROAR—!!!"

The Nine True Dragons let out a long cry. Their massive bodies traced a graceful arc in the sky, turning their heads, and dove towards the vast, white world of ice and snow below.

The cold wind howled; snowflakes swirled.

The golden carriage, like a ball of inextinguishable blazing sun, forcefully charged into this frozen forbidden land.