Chapter 7 Husband...it hurts! Help me...

Lin Yue traveled for another half-day with the three women and finally returned "home"!

The so-called "home" was no better than a dog's kennel! His Immortal Cave was originally an abandoned mine shaft. Inside, there was nothing but a broken wooden table, a hard plank bed, and a few prayer mats.

Within the Immortal Cave, there was also a storage room piled high with various junk Lin Yue had collected over fifty years—incomplete Jade Slips, rusted and broken Flying Swords, Magical Artifacts that had lost their original appearance, and various Ores, herbs, and other items. It looked like a lot of stuff, but it wasn't worth many Spirit Stones.

Seeing this scene, the women's reactions were all different.

"Husband, I... I'll help you tidy up." Seeing these simple surroundings, A He didn't show any disdain; instead, she felt a sense of relief at having found a place to stay. She actually took the initiative to start organizing the clutter in the room.

Su Qingyuan stood at the entrance, looking at the scene inside. Her willow-leaf brows were tightly furrowed, and her disdain was completely undisguised. This environment was even worse than the quarters of the lowest-ranking servant girls in her palace.

"This counts as an Immortal Cave?" Luo Ningshuang's attention was not on the environment of the Immortal Cave; her cold gaze fell on the dilapidated Restriction outside. Her tone grew even colder. "I'm afraid this protective Restriction couldn't even withstand a first-rank low-grade Yao Beast, let alone guard against your ill-intentioned fellow disciples. How do you plan to protect the three of us?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, giving Lin Yue a jolt.

It was true; his Immortal Cave had been visited by Yao Beasts more than once. On one occasion, he had nearly lost his life.

When he was alone, it didn't matter much.

But now that there were these three "wives" in the Immortal Cave, none of whom had any means of self-defense, the consequences would be unthinkable if a Yao Beast or an ill-intentioned fellow disciple were to break in.

According to the System rules, if anything happened to his three wives, not only would everything the System gave him be taken back, but he would also suffer even more severe punishments!

However, even the most basic set of defensive Formation Flags would cost at least a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

And to marry these wives, the Spirit Stones on his person had long since been spent...

Lin Yue had no other choice but to search through the pile of junk he usually collected, hoping to find some Materials that could be used to set up a Formation.

Soon, he found five rusty Profound Iron nails. These nails were about three inches long, their bodies covered in corrosion and looking as if they might snap at any moment, though a faint trace of spiritual light still lingered at the tips.

These were Talismanic Tools he had scavenged from the Sect's trash heap, but they had lost all spiritual power and were long since unusable.

At this point, he could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive, seeing if he could first set up a crude Formation to hold out for a while.

[Ding! Damaged 'azure gang seven mystic nails' detected. After repair, the 'Qinggang Seven Mysteries Array' can be deployed, capable of withstanding attacks from first-tier Yao Beasts or Cultivators below the seventh level of Qi Refining. Spend 10 System points to repair them and exchange for the complete Formation deployment method?]

[Current Longevity Wife-Taking Points: 50 points.]

The System notification suddenly rang out.

Lin Yue's heart jolted.

The Qinggang Seven Mysteries Array? He had seen this name in an Incomplete Manual of an ancient book. It was said that this array's defensive power was extremely strong; the full seven-nail version could even withstand a full-strength blow from an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

He didn't hesitate: "Exchange!"

[10 points consumed. Remaining points: 40 points.]

A stream of information flooded into his mind: nail positioning diagrams, spiritual power injection techniques, Formation Flag coordination essentials... Although there were only five nails and he could only set up an incomplete array, according to the method given by the System, it was enough to withstand the attacks of Cultivators below the seventh level of Qi Refining!

And at that very moment, those five rusty Qinggang Profound Nails also gained a wisp of Spiritual Qi...

Following the System's prompts, Lin Yue performed theGang steps. He first drove one azure gang seven mystic nail into the center of the Immortal Cave, then drove one into each of the four surrounding corners. Then, forming hand seals, he began to chant: "Heaven and Earth, Mysterious and Yellow, let the Azure Gang protect this place. Seven nails anchor the positions, let no evil cause harm... Today, with five nails as the foundation, activate the power of the incomplete array!"

As the last line of the incantation fell, "Buzz—"

A low vibration came from beneath the ground. The five Qinggang nails simultaneously erupted with dazzling green light. The patterns on the nails flowed and extended as if coming to life, intertwining in the air to form a green web of light.

A layer of pale green light screen slowly rose, like an inverted translucent bowl, enveloping the entire Immortal Cave within it.

Light shimmered on the screen, and complex runes could be seen flickering in and out of existence, emitting a steady, heavy, and indestructible aura.

In an instant, even the Spiritual Qi inside the Immortal Cave seemed to become a bit richer and more condensed.

The Formation was complete!

Lin Yue let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Although it was only an incomplete array, according to the System, it was more than enough to withstand attacks below the seventh level of Qi Refining.

Now at least there was basic protection...

"This... this is..." Su Qingyuan was stunned. Although she didn't understand Formations, she could feel the powerful protective aura emanating from that light screen.

The most shocked of all was Luo Ningshuang.

She stared at the runes flowing on the green light screen, then looked at the incomplete Formation base formed by the five nails. For the first time, an expression of disbelief appeared on her cold face.

"The Qinggang Seven Mysteries Array... Although it's incomplete, these array patterns, this spiritual power circulation method..." she murmured to herself, then suddenly turned to look at Lin Yue, her gaze incredibly complex. "Where did you learn this? This Formation has been lost for hundreds of years!"

"I obtained it by chance during my travels in my younger years," Lin Yue said, his heart tightening, though his expression remained calm. "Why, do you want to learn? Your husband can teach you!"

Luo Ningshuang turned her head away and completely ignored Lin Yue.

Lin Yue didn't want to say more either and turned to walk into the room.

When he turned and returned inside, he couldn't help but be taken aback. In just this short time, the Immortal Cave that had been as messy as a dog's kennel had actually been tidied up into perfect order.

The floor was swept clean, the broken table and chairs had been wiped down, and those piles of "junk" had also been categorized and neatly stacked on wooden shelves.

A faint aroma of heated food wafted through the air.

A He was currently cooking something. Seeing Lin Yue enter, she quickly stood up, her small face flushing slightly as she whispered shyly, "Husband, you're back? I... I used the leftover Spirit Rice and some dried vegetables in your room to cook some porridge. It'll be ready soon."

She had actually called him "Husband" quite naturally.

Looking at the refreshed little room and the busy A He, a long-lost sense of warmth and satisfaction welled up in Lin Yue's heart.

For the first time, this simple dwelling felt like a "home."

"Thank you for your hard work, A He," he said warmly.

Hearing the praise, A He's face lit up with a happy smile, and shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks.

Inside the small earthen room, a dim yellow oil lamp flickered.

The rice porridge in the clay pot bubbled, and the pale white steam carrying the scent of rice filled the small room. The four of them finished their simple dinner in silence, and a subtle quiet fell over the Immortal Cave.

Lin Yue's gaze swept over the three women.

A He was obediently tidying the dishes, her coarse cloth clothes unable to hide her increasingly graceful figure; although Su Qingyuan kept a cold face, her exquisite features were breathtakingly beautiful under the lamplight; Luo Ningshuang sat cross-legged in meditation, her profile clean and stunningly cold, her temperament ethereal...

Lin Yue swallowed hard, a surge of heat rising in his heart.

He was a normal man, and fifty years of bitter cultivation hadn't been able to completely erase his instincts. With three women as beautiful as flowers right before him, and they were his wives to boot, it would be a lie to say he had no thoughts about it.

But the System's warning echoed in his mind: [Before favorability reaches 90, the host may not forcibly engage in relations with a bound Dao Companion, otherwise all rewards will be retracted and punishment will be administered.]

He gritted his teeth and forcibly suppressed his lustful thoughts.

Thinking of this, Lin Yue composed himself and turned to A He: "A He, come with me to the cultivation room."

As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere in the Immortal Cave instantly became subtle.

"Could it be that Husband wants to..." Hearing this, A He's pretty face turned crimson in an instant, the blush spreading all the way to her ears.

She lowered her head, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, her heart pounding like a drum.

What was bound to come had finally arrived... Although she had been mentally prepared, now that the moment was here, the young girl's shyness still left her at a loss.

She stole a glance at Lin Yue and saw that his expression actually revealed a bit of eagerness. Her heart fluttered even more wildly, and she finally responded in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "Yes... Husband."

A flash of undisguised contempt and disdain instantly crossed Su Qingyuan's cold eyes. As expected, he was just a lust-crazed old lecher! Having just escaped danger, he couldn't wait to perform such filthy acts?

She gave a cold snort and turned her head away, as if looking even once more would soil her eyes.

This crude Immortal Cave, combined with this lustful master, made her feel that her future prospects were bleak.

"A He!" Luo Ningshuang, however, grabbed A He's hand and urged, "Don't go in with him!" In her eyes, Lin Yue was not necessarily any better than the likes of Zhang Ba!

Hearing this, A He's body trembled slightly. She looked up at Luo Ningshuang, then timidly glanced at the waiting Lin Yue, a clear flash of struggle in her eyes.

A He finally pulled her hand away from Luo Ningshuang's, with a sort of resigned helplessness: "Sister Luo, thank you... Since Husband has married me, I am his wife. Serving my husband is also my duty."

These words were like a needle, gently piercing Luo Ningshuang's heart.

Wasn't she also bought like a piece of merchandise? It was just that her nature was proud and unyielding.

Now, hearing A He's submissive words that were tinged with helplessness and resignation, a wave of shared sorrow welled up in her heart, and she could no longer speak words of persuasion.

She let go of her hand, her eyes dimming. She only gave Lin Yue a cold glance and said no more.

A He took a deep breath, as if going to her death. With her head lowered, she walked with small steps and followed Lin Yue into the "cultivation room."

Inside the cultivation room, Lin Yue looked at the girl before him who was so nervous she almost seemed about to faint, and he couldn't help but find it a bit amusing.

He took a jade bottle from his robe and poured out a pill the size of a longan. It emitted a strange, delicate fragrance, and its surface shimmered with a misty glow.

"Take this." Lin Yue handed the Medicinal Pill to A He.

A He looked at the Medicinal Pill in Lin Yue's hand, and then thinking of certain rumors, a flash of fear appeared in her eyes. She pleaded timidly, "Hus... Husband, can I not take it? I... I'm not afraid..."

She had heard that some perverted Cultivators would give women various aphrodisiacs to increase their pleasure.

"No." Lin Yue's brow furrowed slightly, his tone sounding a bit domineering. He had to let A He trigger her potential as soon as possible to activate the System's rewards.

Seeing Lin Yue's serious expression and that there was no room for negotiation, the word "pain" made her even more certain of a certain suspicion. Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't dare to disobey. She could only say tremulously, "Yes... A He understands. Please... please, Husband, be a little considerate..."

The words that followed were more than she, an unmarried girl, could say. She closed her eyes, steeled her heart, and swallowed the Creation Pill.

As the pill entered her stomach, at first she only felt a warm current spread out, which was quite comfortable.

Just as A He was wondering, that warm current suddenly became scorching hot, as if it had turned into countless red-hot steel needles, frantically stabbing into her Meridians, bones, and even her internal organs!

"Ugh, ah—!"

Intense pain instantly swept through A He's entire body. She couldn't help but let out a short cry of pain, and her whole body curled up as she fell to the floor, her sweat instantly soaking through her coarse cloth clothes.

This pain far exceeded her imagination, as if every inch of her flesh was being torn apart and reconstructed.

"Focus on your Dantian! Circulate the breathing method I taught you!" Lin Yue's low shout rang in her ears.

A He gritted her teeth and desperately concentrated her mind according to the technique Lin Yue had previously pointed out. But the pain came in waves like a tide, becoming more and more intense.

At first, she could still suppress her groans, but later, she could no longer control herself, and they turned into heart-wrenching screams.

"Ah—! Husband... It hurts so much! Save me..."

"My bones... they're going to break!"

"Husband... just kill me... it hurts too much..."

The shrill cries and screams clearly reached the outside through the cracks in the stone door.

Su Qingyuan and Luo Ningshuang's faces turned pale as they listened.

Su Qingyuan tightly covered her ears, her beautiful eyes full of loathing and alarm, as she whispered with a spit, "Beast! To torture someone like this!" The scenes she imagined were unbearable to look at, and she was certain that Lin Yue was using extremely perverted methods to humiliate A He.

Luo Ningshuang wanted to rush into the cultivation room several times, but her Meridians had suffered severe damage, and she was powerless.

...