Zong Shou’s carefree, maddening smile remained, even as the hardness in his lower half slowly slid back into her soft, drenched core. A sense of fullness, swelling yet pleasantly tingling, instantly surged back into her heart.

Xuanyuan Yiren let out a soft moan, then her thoughts shifted suddenly, and she returned his gaze with a half-smile: “Husband, it has been four days now. Surely no one can accuse you of being distant from women anymore, can they?” This man, the reason he was tormenting her like this, was surely revenge for what happened four days prior.

And most likely, he was preparing to shatter those rumors with ‘tangible action.’ Zong Shou, furious, gripped her vibrant, delicate waist and drove forward with immense force. In that moment, Xuanyuan Yiren felt her consciousness flash toward the very apex of the clouds, the wave of * pleasure nearly causing her to black out on the spot.

She felt that no joy in the world could surpass this, and slowly, unable to control herself any longer, she began to scream * hysterically. Only a full half-hour later, after they reached the absolute zenith of their shared ecstasy, did Zong Shou finally cease his movements.

Xuanyuan Yiren was left gasping, her face flushed crimson. Thinking back on the words she had just uttered—phrases like, ‘This servant needs more—push harder, don’t stop—I can’t bear it, I’m dying’—she was filled with shame beyond measure.

To share intimacy with Zong Shou truly required abandoning all the dignity she possessed as a woman. This single hour had drained nearly all of her physical reserves.

Yet, she could feel Zong Shou’s lower body was still rigid, like an unparalleled steel spear. Its sharpness was undiminished; even after four days and nights of fierce combat, it showed no sign of softening in the least.

Xuanyuan Yiren finally began to feel a flicker of dread, her rationality finally overcoming the frenzied lust. She dared not provoke or demand more, a look of pleading flashing in her beautiful eyes as she held Zong Shou tightly, conceding defeat.

“Husband, we can’t do any more. If you keep bullying me, I truly won’t survive.

Next time, okay? I’ll let you dictate any game you wish.

But just Yiren alone isn’t enough. Why don’t you take Xue’er in too—” Zong Shou was completely satisfied, but also worried that continuing might damage Xuanyuan Yiren’s fundamental vitality.

He couldn't help but lovingly pinch the cheek of the woman in his arms, then channeled his True Force using the Primordial Origin Spirit Breath Art, directing it into Xuanyuan Yiren’s delicate body to help her recover her strength. Yiren was his virtuous wife, yet in private, she was wickedly enchanting, a genuine * temptress.

She was utterly lovable! It was only when he heard the latter part of her request that his expression shifted into a wry smile tinged with helplessness.

However, that little girl? He was definitely going to claim her, just not right now.

He extended his divine sense, detecting a familiar vital energy stealthily retreating outside the hall. It was Chuxue, her face flushed, tiptoeing away quietly.

Using the ‘Concealment’ Divine Art of the Blood Moon Saber, she flickered in and out of existence, seemingly nowhere at all, yet Zong Shou’s Great Dao Star Map was already spread across this thousand-zhang expanse. Every gust of wind, every rustle of grass, escaped his spiritual perception.

Zong Shou’s lips curved slightly into a knowing, enigmatic smile. Xue’er was indeed reaching the age where curiosity about matters of the flesh begins to bloom.

※ ※ ※ ※ Following this interlude, Zong Shou’s days in the palace finally returned to a semblance of order. But this so-called normalcy only meant that the decadent acts weren't happening daily.

He still ignored the tedious affairs of state, spending every day with his wife and child. He would not remain in the Cloud Realm for long.

Thus, every moment was precious. Even though Zong Shou’s lifelong ambition was to reach the absolute zenith of the Sword Dao, he refused to spend this time delving into the Heavenly Dao or profound cultivation insights.

Instead, without intentional effort, he found success in unexpected ways; by momentarily casting aside everything else to focus solely on enjoying the pleasure of having a wife and children, his martial arts and spiritual techniques actually saw significant advancement. It was on the twentieth day that a sudden fluctuation arose within Zong Shou’s primordial soul, a tide surging through his spirit.

When Zong Shou probed his awareness inward, he realized that the Great Dao Star Map had undergone some subtle changes. Many Dao Seeds of the stars had, without his conscious direction, completed their rearrangement, finding more suitable positions.

It still resembled the star chart of the night sky, but these Dao Seed Dragon Pellets no longer adhered to Zong Shou’s previous arrangement, each finding a more appropriate location within his Sea of Consciousness. And once this structure was established, the soul power supplied was boosted by a massive thirty percent!

Zong Shou clearly felt that the Great Dao Laws contained within these stellar Dao Seeds had been substantially strengthened, and he could even faintly draw upon a portion of stellar power. The increase was particularly immense during the night.

“It is rumored that every star reflected in the night sky is a convergence of a certain Law within this world, thus possessing infinite power.” Zong Shou had seen this assertion in many classic texts explaining celestial phenomena, but this was the first time he felt its truth so deeply, confirming the claim. It wasn't just the Three Thousand Starfall Art that progressed; his martial arts had also seen breakthroughs.

During a chance execution of a sword technique, he unexpectedly discovered four or five previously unnoticed flaws in the Primordial One Swords he manifested. Zong Shou had a sudden realization—this wasn't just advancement in cultivation, but rather ‘correction.’ Previously, his mind had been too tightly wound.

He had only focused on relentless advancement, racing against time, climbing toward the peak with utter disregard for everything else. But this approach left many hidden dangers he hadn't been aware of.

Now, with his wife and child by his side, his heart was peaceful. Many things he had previously overlooked were now exposed and observable.

The path of cultivation also required a balance of work and rest, of tension and release. He realized he had indeed been too reckless before, his temperament too anxious.

Continuing to cultivate in that manner might have led him down the same path as that Li Wuque. With these benefits realized, Zong Shou felt even more at ease indulging in his leisurely days.

The most delightful surprise came nearly a month after spending time with his wife and child, when Dan’er finally opened her mouth and stutteringly called him ‘Dada.’ Zong Shou was beside himself with joy; he felt that the gradual breakthroughs in his cultivation over the past month could not compare to the sheer delight Dan’er gave him today. Yet, a wave of sadness washed over him, knowing that soon this child would have to be sent to Xiu Guan.

He might not see her for decades, and in the meantime, Zong Shou hadn’t exactly been idle within Qian Tian Mountain. The Demonic Cult was launching attacks everywhere.

Even with the combined might of Da Qian and the cultivators from the Sword Sect and Cangsheng Dao suppressing them with full force, stragglers still managed to slip through. There were instances where Da Qian officials, even ordinary citizens, were attacked by the demonic factions.

Dong Lin and Hui Zhou were relatively safe, but Nan Fengyun Lu was a disaster zone. Fortunately, those Saint-ranked figures seemed to be contained, preventing large-scale casualties.

However, the entire realm of Da Qian was gripped by anxiety. In just one month, nearly thirty percent of officials resigned successively.

Some were dissatisfied with him, the ‘tyrannical ruler’ of Da Qian, for suppressing the Confucian School and causing the fall of the Sage Dongzi. Others resigned to escape the impending catastrophe, unwilling to be implicated or assassinated by the Demonic Gate.