The jade bath was vast, its crystalline waters steaming gently in the morning light.
Within it, two figures lay immersed—Li Chen and Xiaobai, both naked and unguarded.
Xiaobai sat quietly in his lap, her delicate fingers soaking his hair.
Occasionally, she lifted her hand to caress his face.
Their skin was so close it almost felt like they were one.
Xiaobai's heart fluttered in her chest, pounding louder with each breath.
Yet she didn't stop. She kept washing him, kept tending to him—because in this moment, she belonged only to him.
Why do I feel like this? she wondered, her cheeks warming.
Is it because we're alone?
Or because… this is my first time feeling so close to someone?
Whatever it was, it felt strange. Strange… but wonderful.
Lost in her quiet bliss, she was startled when Li Chen suddenly caught her hand and said,
"How long are you going to keep washing my hair?"
His voice was low and gentle, yet to her, it echoed like a sacred bell in a quiet temple.
Xiaobai froze, then gave a shy smile. She slid her hand down from his hair, gently trailing it over his chest.
Soon after, the water play came to an end.
The two stepped out of the bath.
Xiaobai tenderly dried his body with a cloth especially his hairy cock.
She grabbed his cock and gently wiped its tips as if she was saying—thanks for your 'hard' work last night.
At the end, she also helped him fasten his robe.
Not far away, Xiaona and Xiaoji had also woken. They bathed, dressed, and joined them outside.
Outside, Su Lingxue was cross-legged beneath the pear blossom tree, qi spiraling subtly around her.
Yu Qingci, eyes closed, hovered just an inch above the ground—completely still, as if she were part of the air itself.
And little Li Xuan… he was also practicing again. His brows furrowed, his lips slightly pouted. Focused. Adorable.
Watching this peaceful scene, Li Chen's thoughts turned to the system reward he'd received the night before—the Heaven-Tier Qi Gathering Technique.
Though it was a basic foundational method, the fact that it was Heaven-Tier made it priceless in the lower realm.
If word ever spread, countless cultivators—and even sects from the upper realm—would flock toward them like hungry wolves.
But the real problem wasn't outsiders.
It was his wives.
How am I supposed to explain where I got this?
Last time, when we were in Liang village, they ignored it—maybe because of the urgency back then but what about now...?
They'll definitely ask questions.
Should I lie? No, too risky… What excuse will satisfy them?
His eyes narrowed in thought. Then, an idea clicked.
Yes… that might just work.
He stepped forward, raising his voice.
"Wives, listen."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough.
Eyes opened. Cultivation paused. Attention shifted.
The Xiao sisters followed behind him, neatly dressed and composed. When they approached, they bowed and said in unison:
"Greetings, Master."
That triggered a reaction.
Yu Qingci stood immediately, walking toward them with a flash of irritation flickering in her eyes.
"Stop that. From now on, there are no masters here. We're sisters. That means no more of this nonsense."
She helped them up, her hand surprisingly gentle.
Li Chen smiled awkwardly.
"Alright, alright. Let's get to the real reason I called you. I have something special—a Qi technique that will strengthen all of us."
The group blinked, intrigued. But when he added,
"It's a Qi Gathering Technique,"
their excitement dimmed slightly.
Basic techniques weren't something to get worked up over.
Li Chen saw their disappointment and chuckled.
"Yes, it's a Qi Gathering Technique… but it's of Heaven-Tier."
He let the words hang in the air.
Time froze.
Su Lingxue blinked.
Xiaobai gasped.
Xiaona's lips parted slightly.
Xiaoji mouthed something inaudible, then blushed in embarrassment.
Fuck....
Only Yu Qingci remained still, but a flicker of something passed behind her eyes. She knew what that meant.
Within moments, they surrounded him.
Even Li Xuan came running.
"Father! Father!"
"Husband, is it true?" Su Lingxue asked softly, holding Li Xuan in her arms.
"Are you really giving us Heaven-Tier techniques?"
"This isn't just a legend, right?"
The questions came like rain.
Li Chen nodded.
"Yes. One by one. Let me share it with each of you."
He reached out.
One by one, he pressed his finger to their foreheads. Gentle. Focused.
With each transfer, a wave of qi pulsed outward—clear, potent, warm.
Their eyes widened.
Xiaobai staggered slightly.
Xiaona let out a tiny gasp.
Xiaoji trembled, whispering,
"It's so… pure."
Even Yu Qingci's jaw clenched faintly.
This is not normal, she thought. Even I… in my previous life… couldn't get techniques like this so easily. And his are always so clean. So perfectly tuned.
Her old technique didn't offer this kind of purity.
She smiled, but somewhere inside, suspicion grew.
Where is he really getting these?
Should I ask him now?
No...I'll ask him later.
Unbeknownst to her, the same thought crossed Su Lingxue's mind.
He lastly placed his hand on Li Xuan's head.
Though his bloodline hadn't awakened, and he couldn't yet reach Qi Condensation, his body was instantly infused with pure qi—elevating him to Peak Body Tempering level.
"That tickled!"
The tension broke like a bubble.
As for the three Xiao sisters—they couldn't contain their joy.
They threw their arms around Li Chen, laughing like children gifted the stars.
Amid the joy, Su Lingxue leaned in and whispered,
"Husband, can you come with me for a moment?"
Li Chen already knew why she was calling him.
He followed her—and Yu Qingci followed them as well.
This left Li Xuan and the three Xiao sisters behind.
They understood.
It was normal for the husband and wives to have private conversations.
As concubines, they knew they couldn't always be part of such discussions—even if Li Chen wanted them to be equals like Qingci and Lingxue.
Some conversations… weren't meant for all ears.
Taking Li Xuan's hand, they walked away—leaving the others their space.
The air behind them grew still again.
But ahead—there were questions waiting.
Questions even Heaven-Tier techniques couldn't answer.