Though how many years had passed, the appearance of the Heavenly Demon remained utterly unchanged; her face tranquil and natural, as if she were merely in a deep slumber. This testified to the power of the Lishui Zhi Po (Soul of Separated Water), a primordial spiritual treasure long inherited by the Yaksha clan, possessing an incomparably potent effect in healing injuries. However, the Heavenly Demon's wounds were primarily those of the spirit and soul. The Lishui Zhi Po could only significantly slow the deterioration but could not aid in the full recovery of her shattered Nascent Soul.

Lei Dong guided his divine sense, slowly pouring a bottle of the Divine Water of Life into the Heavenly Demon's mouth, allowing the milky white liquid to gradually permeate her throat and internal organs.

The incomparably pure life energy immediately took effect, seeping into every inch of her skin and every cell. Especially her damaged Purple Mansion Nascent Soul, which, under the nourishment of the Divine Water of Life, began the slow process of regeneration and healing.

This change instantly sent the profoundly tense Lei Dong into ecstatic delight. It worked. The Divine Water of Life truly lived up to its reputation as the most spiritually restorative divine medicine across the Six Domains and Nine Continents. Before this, Lei Dong had been utterly fraught with anxiety.

The core belief that had sustained his struggle over the years was the hope that the Divine Water of Life could save the Heavenly Demon. He had dared not entertain thoughts like, "What if the Divine Water of Life proves ineffective against her injuries?" Under his divine sense, her Nascent Soul was recovering at an astonishing, visible rate, bit by bit. The oppression and heaviness in Lei Dong’s heart vanished instantly, replaced by boundless joy.

Three days. Lei Dong remained quietly by her side for three full days.

For an cultivator, especially one at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm like Lei Dong, three days should have passed in a mere blink. Yet, during these three days, Lei Dong experienced unprecedented agony. The healing of the Nascent Soul had been completed not long after the Heavenly Demon first consumed the Divine Water of Life.

But for these three days, the Heavenly Demon showed virtually no sign of waking, seemingly still caught in a profound sleep. And Lei Dong could only endure, daring not to make the slightest movement, terrified of disturbing her recovery.

Finally, just as even Lei Dong’s iron will was about to snap, the Heavenly Demon’s long, beautiful eyelashes fluttered slightly. This tiny movement sent a fresh wave of wild joy through Lei Dong's restless heart. Immediately after, her eyelids struggled a few times, and her sensual, soft, delicate lips parted, emitting a soft moan that sounded to Lei Dong like heavenly music.

"Lei, Lei Dong." Half-asleep, the Heavenly Demon murmured his name.

"I am here, Sister Mei, I am here." Lei Dong’s heart surged with emotion. He quickly stepped forward to the edge of the Lishui Zhi Po, answering her.

Hearing Lei Dong’s voice, the Heavenly Demon’s eyes immediately opened. As if recalling something, her expression shifted, and she cried out, "Lei Dong, run! That old thief Xuan Yuan is not someone you can handle!"

"Sister Mei, Sister Mei..." Lei Dong rushed inside the internal space of the Lishui Zhi Po, disregarding the intensely damp atmosphere within. He reached out, pulled her into his embrace, and soothed her tenderly, "Don't be afraid, Sister Mei, don't be afraid. That old thief Xuan Yuan is already dead."

"Dead?" The Heavenly Demon’s senses seemed not yet fully clear. She was slightly dazed, but being held by the beloved man of her heart instinctively gave her an ineffable sense of security. She looked up blankly, "Old thief Xuan Yuan is dead? Lei Dong, then, then I..." I remember... I think I died. Could it be, Lei Dong, you..." As she spoke, her face turned extremely pale and terrified.

In her memory, the final instant was being struck down by Xuan Yuanzi while trying to protect Lei Dong, leading to her death.

Although the Ghost Emperor’s all-out effort in Time Reversal had forcibly pulled the Heavenly Demon back from the brink of death, memory is memory; it is not erased or annihilated simply because a segment of time has flowed backward.

This was the first time in his life Lei Dong had seen the usually stern and overbearing Heavenly Demon display such panic and vulnerability, like a lonely, helpless little girl. Immediately, immense compassion filled his heart. He tightly hugged her delicate form, giving her security, and comforted her with soft, gentle words, "Sister Mei, don't worry. We are both alive. Neither of us died, no."

"Then?" The Heavenly Demon looked around the space with some confusion. The pale blue, damp space felt unreal, like a dream. She frowned, seeming to concentrate deeply, her expression tinged with difficult pain, "Am I still dreaming? Lei Dong..."

"Sister Mei, don't think about anything for now. Relax, just relax a little," Lei Dong whispered gently near her ear, "I will tell you everything."

Then, Lei Dong began to recount the past events by her ear, as if narrating a story. The Heavenly Demon, Mu Yanmei, gradually eased out of her extremely tense state. Nestling comfortably in Lei Dong's arms, she stared at him with wide eyes, "Lei Dong, I believe what you are saying is true."

"Hmm?" Lei Dong looked at her, slightly puzzled.

"Because... you have aged," Heavenly Demon Mu Yanmei's eyes were filled with heartache and affection. She reached out her slender, jade-like hand and stroked the hard lines of Lei Dong's face, "I never thought that my sleep would last so many years. Seeing that you've aged a bit, it truly pains my heart."

Lei Dong laughed and held her hand down. "Aged? That's an exaggeration, isn't it? It's just that I've been rushing around a bit too much these years and haven't paid much attention to upkeep. My face has matured; the youthful look is just gone."

"A little older is fine too, otherwise when we are together, I always feel like an old cow grazing on tender grass." After Lei Dong's lengthy explanation, the confused consciousness of Heavenly Demon Mu Yanmei gradually cleared. A happy smile touched the corner of her lips, "It’s good. This way, we look more suitably matched when we are together."

"Heh heh, indeed, quite well-matched," Lei Dong chuckled softly, lightly touching her smooth, delicate skin that seemed about to burst through its surface, savoring the silky sensation. "My Mei Mei, after being nourished and protected by the Lishui Zhi Po for so many years, looks more and more like a fresh, tender young girl. It makes me feel like the one grazing on tender grass now."

Even a woman like the Heavenly Demon needed coaxing. Lei Dong’s words filled her heart with delight, "Really? Lying here sleeping all these years turned out to be a beauty sleep?"

"Mei Mei, do you know the one thing I most want to do right now?" Lei Dong raised her chin with his hand, gazing deeply into her face, "The thing I most want to do is get revenge on you. Back when I was a young man in my early twenties, as fresh and tender as a flower, I unfortunately encountered you, this female demon. As a result, my precious virginity was brutally snatched away by your forceful methods."

"Heh heh." Hearing Lei Dong say that, the Heavenly Demon also recalled their very first meeting. What happened then was truly dramatic. Having been poisoned by the Silver Dragon's aphrodisiac, she had executed a Blood Escape technique and landed right beside Lei Dong, resulting in... this unforeseen encounter, which forged the karmic thread between them that continues to this day. Recalling it made the Heavenly Demon feel both amused and deeply cherished.

"Female demon, you dare laugh?" Lei Dong put on a fierce expression, looking savage, "Today, this Venerable One will enact justice on behalf of Heaven and severely punish you, this licentious female demon, to avenge my lost purity." With that, he lunged forward, claws brandishing, frantically tearing open her thin clothing and pressing down hard.

"With you? You've grown some courage," the Heavenly Demon’s lips curved into a smile, yet her eyes held a stubborn gleam. Her long, jade-white legs wrapped around Lei Dong's waist, and with a twist of her hips, she flipped over, landing squarely on top of him, revealing an expression of alluring desire, "This Venerable One wants to see just how many rounds you can last under my supreme might?"

"This Venerable One is now a pinnacle expert. How can I allow a female demon like you to ride beneath me?" Lei Dong struggled fiercely, trying to flip her over.

"Heh heh, little lover, you've forgotten a few things." The smile on the Heavenly Demon’s lips remained as she forcefully pinned Lei Dong down, "Even though you are now at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, you are a summoner by preference, skilled in divine sense. Strictly speaking of physical strength, you are still far behind this Venerable One. Little darling, just accept your fate and continue to serve obediently beneath me."

Good heavens. Lei Dong felt dizzy. It was true he had overlooked this. Although he was now in the late Nascent Soul stage, he had never been adept at brute strength. Facing lower-level opponents, he could hold an advantage, but before the Heavenly Demon, his meager strength was hardly enough to act presumptuously. After all, the Heavenly Demon primarily cultivated the Tianmo Dafa (Great Heavenly Demon Technique). And the Tianmo Dafa had evolved from the cultivation methods of higher-ranking demons.

The cultivation methods of higher-ranking demons, while incorporating numerous ranged spells, placed far greater emphasis on the sheer power of the physical body. All such techniques dedicated great attention to tempering physique and strength.

Lei Dong struggled a few times, but relying purely on physical strength, he truly could not reverse the situation under the Heavenly Demon's suppression. A sense of desolate gloom settled in his heart. Was playing the summoner truly an unorthodox path? While his summoned entities were formidable, he certainly couldn't summon Ghost Thorn or Town Evil to help during a close-quarters battle for dominance with his own wife, could he? That would be too humiliating.

"Ah!" Just as Lei Dong was lost in his thoughts, the Heavenly Demon settled her curved hips down deeply, emitting a captivating, sweet moan. Simultaneously, as her body went soft, Lei Dong finally felt he could move. He quickly thrust upward forcefully, and amidst the Heavenly Demon’s deep, yielding cries, he flipped over onto his mount, beginning fiercely to exact revenge for his lost purity.

"Little lover, love me well," the Heavenly Demon murmured weakly, her voice hazy and charming, "I want you to pay back all the dues you owe me over these years, all at once, today."

... ... (To be continued)