200: The reunion in the cave and the "greetings" from the elders.

Tianyuan City, Inner City, Flying Spirit Peak.

This was the residential area for high-level Cultivators in Tianyuan City, where the concentration of Spiritual Qi far exceeded that of the outer city. At the peak sat a secluded Immortal Cave, protected by layers of Restrictions that blocked all outside prying.

Inside the Immortal Cave, red candles flickered, and the fragrance of tea wafted through the air.

Nangong Wan was dressed in loose-fitting red casual wear, her dark hair casually tied up. She lacked some of her usual cold majesty shown to outsiders, replaced by the gentle charm of a devoted wife. She sat at a jade table, absentmindedly fiddling with the tea set, though her gaze frequently drifted toward the entrance of the Immortal Cave.

"Buzz—"

Outside the Immortal Cave, the Nine-Cycle Labyrinthine Formation—sufficient to block the Divine Sense probes of a Late Stage Soul Transformation Cultivator—suddenly rippled with a subtle, unannounced wave.

No alarms were triggered.

A cyan figure appeared silently in the main hall of the Immortal Cave, like a fish gliding through water.

The teacup in Nangong Wan's hand trembled slightly, and the scalding spiritual tea splashed out, yet it did not hit the ground; instead, it was steadily caught by a slender, powerful palm.

"After all these years, are you still this careless?"

That familiar voice, carrying a hint of playfulness and an unshakeable tenderness, sounded beside her ear.

Nangong Wan turned abruptly and threw herself into a broad, solid embrace.

"Husband..."

This single call contained centuries of longing and worry.

Zhou Wannian (Han Li) held the beauty in his arms tightly, feeling her familiar warmth and fragrance. His heart, which had long since become as cold and hard as iron through slaughter, finally softened completely at this moment.

"I've kept you waiting."

Zhou Wannian lowered his head, gently kissing away the tear stains at the corners of her eyes.

"I thought... you would stay in the Human Realm until the Late Stage of Soul Transformation before your Ascension." Nangong Wan buried her head in his chest, her voice muffled. "This is the Spirit Realm, where danger lurks at every step. You've only just arrived; it's too risky."

"To see you, let alone the Spirit Realm..."

A flash of pride crossed Zhou Wannian's eyes. "Even if it were the True Immortal Realm, I would dare to venture through it."

"And..."

Zhou Wannian grabbed Nangong Wan's hand and pressed it against his chest.

"The current me isn't that easy to kill."

Under her palm was the tactile sensation of muscles as hard as metal, yet brimming with explosive power. That was not the hardness of an ordinary Body Cultivator, but an indestructibility that seemed to contain the Laws of Heaven and Earth.

"Husband, your Physical Body..." Nangong Wan looked up in surprise, "How could it have become powerful to this extent? I'm afraid even my Vermilion Bird Ring wouldn't be able to bind you."

"Ahem, this was also 'required for my Cultivation.'"

Zhou Wannian gave a wicked grin and leaned in to whisper in her ear:

"It's not just good at taking hits, it's also... more long-lasting."

Nangong Wan's pretty face instantly turned crimson, and she gave him a reproachful thump. "You old rogue! You've only just ascended and already..."

However, right in this tender moment.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The Restriction light screen outside the Immortal Cave was suddenly and crudely knocked upon.

The knocking sound carried the vibration of spiritual power, clearly indicating the visitor came with ill intent and had no regard for the owner's face.

"Fairy Nangong! The Council of Elders' Special Envoy 'Jin Yu' requests an audience!"

A sharp, arrogant voice entered the Immortal Cave.

"Please open the Restrictions! Cooperate with the investigation!"

Nangong Wan's expression changed, the tenderness in her eyes instantly turning to frost.

"It's someone from the Jin Family," she said in a low voice. "That Jin Yu has always harbored designs on me. Relying on the fact that he's the nephew of a Council of Elders Deacon, he has harassed me many times."

"The Jin Family?"

Zhou Wannian's brows twitched slightly, a flash of coldness appearing in the depths of his eyes.

"It seems the flies in Tianyuan City are even more numerous than in the Five Dragon Sea."

"Husband, you should hide for a moment," Nangong Wan said with some anxiety. "You smuggled yourself into the inner city. If the Council of Elders catches wind of this, it will be very troublesome."

"Hide?"

Zhou Wannian released his embrace, straightened his collar, and turned toward the Immortal Cave entrance.

"I didn't hide in the Human Realm."

"Now that I'm in the Spirit Realm, there's even less need to hide."

"I'd like to see who dares to behave so atrociously at the door of my Immortal Cave."

...Outside the Immortal Cave.

A feminine-looking youth dressed in golden robes hovered in the air, followed by two Law enforcement guards also clad in golden armor.

Jin Yu (Middle Stage Soul Transformation) toyed with a Law enforcement medallion in his hand, an overbearing smile plastered on his face.

"Nangong Wan, oh Nangong Wan, I heard that today in the Guanghan Realm, you actually attacked a fellow sect member for the sake of a Lower Realm ascender?"

"Humph, colluding with a Cultivator of unknown identity from the Lower Realm is a serious crime!"

"If I don't make you pay dearly today, my name isn't Jin!"

Just as he was preparing to forcibly strike the Restrictions again.

"Rumble—"

The Immortal Cave door slowly opened.

Nangong Wan walked out with a cold expression.

"Special Envoy Jin, trespassing at a female Cultivator's Immortal Cave in the middle of the night—is this the rule of the Council of Elders?"

"Rules?"

Jin Yu sneered, his gaze unscrupulously scanning Nangong Wan's body.

"The words of the Council of Elders are the rules!"

"Nangong Wan, someone reported that you were secretly involved with the Lower Realm ascender 'Han Li' in the Guanghan Realm, and even gave him precious true toad fluid in private!"

"Where is that person now? Is he hidden right here in your Immortal Cave?!"

"Hand him over! Otherwise, don't blame this Special Envoy for conducting a forced search!"

As Jin Yu spoke, he prepared to lead his men inside.

"I'd like to see who dares."

A red light flashed in Nangong Wan's hand as the Vermilion Bird Ring let out a clear Phoenix cry, blocking the entrance.

"Oh? You still dare to resist?"

A flash of excitement crossed Jin Yu's eyes. Resistance was good; with resistance, he had an excuse to use "forceful measures," and then he could pin this proud woman beneath him... "Seize her! If she dares to resist, kill her with no—"

Before the word "mercy" could leave his mouth.

A hand abruptly reached out from the shadows behind Nangong Wan.

The hand looked ordinary, without even a hint of spiritual power fluctuation.

But it was incredibly fast.

"Slap!"

A crisp slapping sound echoed through the silent night sky.

Jin Yu spun a dozen times in the air like a top before crashing heavily to the ground. Half his face instantly swelled into a pig's head, and teeth flew everywhere.

"Who is it?!"

The two Law enforcement guards were pale with shock and hurriedly summoned their Magic Treasures.

A youth wearing black light armor with his hands in his pockets strolled slowly out from behind Nangong Wan.

He didn't even glance at Jin Yu on the ground, but simply lowered his head and blew on his palm.

"What thick skin; it made my hand ache."

"Who are you?!" Jin Yu scrambled up while clutching his face, his eyes venomous. "Daring to strike a Law Enforcement Special Envoy! Do you want to rebel?!"

"Who am I?"

Zhou Wannian (Han Li) walked up to Jin Yu, looking down at him from above.

"I am the Vice Captain of the Black Sha Guard's Seventh Squad, Li Feiyu."

"Li Feiyu? That rookie king?" Jin Yu was stunned for a moment, then became even more furious. "A mere newly enlisted ascender dares to interfere in the business of the Council of Elders?!"

"Regarding Fairy Nangong's collusion with that person named 'Han Li'..." Jin Yu roared, "We need an explanation!"

Zhou Wannian tilted his head, glanced at Nangong Wan behind him, and then back at Jin Yu.

"Explanation?"

The corners of Zhou Wannian's mouth curled into a cruel arc.

"I am the explanation."

Boom!

Before the words finished.

Zhou Wannian raised his foot and, without any fancy movements, stepped directly onto Jin Yu's chest.

"Crack!"

That was the sound of ribs breaking, accompanied by the crisp shattering of protective spiritual light.

"Ah—!!!"

Jin Yu let out a scream like a slaughtered pig. He felt that what was stepping on his chest wasn't a foot, but a massive mountain!

"You ask why I'm here?"

Zhou Wannian applied a bit of pressure with his foot, causing Jin Yu to foam at the mouth.

"Because I am her Dao Companion."

"Dual Cultivation Dao Companion, understand?"

"Does my wife seeing me require an explanation to you?"

"Or perhaps..."

A gray light (Yuan Ci Divine Light) flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

"You want to watch us live?"

"No... I don't dare! Spare me! Senior Li, spare my life!"

Jin Yu completely lost his nerve.

This pure physical suppression left him with no power to fight back. He could feel that if he dared to say one more word, this madman would truly crush his heart!

"Get out."

Zhou Wannian withdrew his foot and kicked him away like a piece of trash.

"Go back and tell that Council of Elders."

"If they want to find trouble, come at me."

"If I see anyone else daring to harass my Wan'er..."

A pitch-black iron fragment (black void meteoric iron fragment) appeared in Zhou Wannian's hand.

"Crunch."

The iron fragment was crushed into powder between his fingertips.

"This will be the consequence."

"Yes, yes, yes! We're leaving! We're leaving now!"

Jin Yu scrambled away, leading the two terrified guards as they fled Flying Spirit Peak like stray dogs... Outside the Immortal Cave.

Silence was restored.

Nangong Wan looked at the back of the figure standing in front of her, her eyes full of infatuation.

"Husband, by doing this, you've completely offended the Jin Family."

"If I've offended them, then so be it."

Zhou Wannian turned around, a gentle smile returning to his face.

"Anyway, in a few days, I'll be going to the 'Wildlands' for a mission."

"By then, the sky will be high and the birds will fly free; what can they possibly do to me?"

Zhou Wannian scooped Nangong Wan up in his arms and strode toward the depths of the Immortal Cave.

"Now, the flies have been driven away."

"Wan'er."

"We should continue what we... haven't finished yet."

"Husband..."

The Immortal Cave door slammed shut.

The Restrictions were fully activated.

That night, the moonlight over Flying Spirit Peak was exceptionally gentle.