East Xuan Continent.
Xuan Region.
The Nine Heavens Supreme Purity Palace was composed of countless floating islands.
Cranes spread their wings, clouds drifted around, creating a scene akin to a celestial paradise.
On one of the islands, a figure slowly opened his eyes in a courtyard.
In his gaze, a fierce light flashed, striking fear into anyone who saw it.
"Finally, I've reached the Nirvana Realm. It's time to leave seclusion and check on Qingzhu's progress."
Chen Xuan rose and walked out of the small courtyard, his Nirvana Realm aura unintentionally spilling out.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother Chen, on your advancement!" At the entrance, the junior sister guarding the gate bowed deeply with utmost respect.
Chen Xuan nodded, "You've worked hard."
"It's my duty."
"Oh, is Senior Sister Qingzhu still in seclusion?" Chen Xuan asked softly.
"Senior Sister Qingzhu... she's still busy."
The junior sister's expression became uneasy, her response hesitant.
Noticing something was off, Chen Xuan pressed, "Where is she?"
Seeing his persistence, the junior sister could only muster the courage to reply, "Senior Sister Qingzhu... went out. I don't know what she's busy with."
After several evasive attempts, Chen Xuan grew angry, his tone sharp, "I asked you, where did she go?"
"She left the palace to look for something important. She should be back soon!"
The junior sister's face flushed with panic. Despite her efforts to conceal it, Chen Xuan could easily see through her.
He glared at her, "One last time. Where exactly did she go?"
His Nirvana Realm energy surged out, creating a pressure that forced the junior sister to kneel, trembling and drenched in sweat.
Unable to bear the pressure, she answered truthfully, "The... Great Yan Empire."
In an instant, Chen Xuan's eyes filled with a terrifying storm of rage. His fists clenched tightly.
"Who did she go with? How long has she been gone?"
"She... went alone. It's been... a while."
"Exactly how long?"
"Almost a month."
The junior sister, nearly in tears, bowed her head even lower.
I'm sorry, Senior Sister Qingzhu. It was Senior Brother Chen who forced me.
"I specifically told her not to go to the Great Yan Empire alone! Did she just ignore my words?"
Chen Xuan was furious.
Five years ago, he had risked his life to save a drowning child during winter, leaping into the freezing river.
When he awoke, he found himself in the Eastern Xuan Continent.
Now, he was one of the two direct disciples of the Nine Heavens Supreme Purity Palace's master.
The other was Ling Qingzhu.
The palace master accepted him due to his unique physique and immense cultivation talent.
Even though he was still in his teens, he had already reached the Nirvana Realm.
Given time, he could at least become a powerful expert at the Samsara Realm, or even the Reincarnation Realm.
After entering the Nine Heavens Supreme Purity Palace, the palace master discovered that Chen Xuan had an immeasurable benefit to Ling Qingzhu's cultivation of the Supreme Purity Art.
To keep him, the palace master personally arranged for Ling Qingzhu to marry Chen Xuan.
A year ago, the palace master even officiated their wedding.
However, due to Ling Qingzhu cultivating the Supreme Purity Art, she needed to sense the Supreme Dao, which required her to remain pure until she succeeded.
Thus, although they had been married for a year, the two had yet to consummate their marriage. Chen Xuan understood this.
As a die-hard fan of the Wu Dong Qian Kun novel, he knew that in the future, Ling Qingzhu would lose her purity to Lin Dong in the Great Yan Empire's Tianyan Mountain Range.
To change that fate, Chen Xuan repeatedly warned her never to go to the Great Yan Empire, especially not to Tianyan Mountain.
Even if she had to go, she needed to bring a Nirvana Realm elder.
Before going into seclusion, he specifically emphasized this again.
Ling Qingzhu had agreed.
But who would have thought that, upon leaving seclusion, he would find out his wife had secretly gone to the Great Yan Empire alone?
Unsure if it was too late to stop the inevitable from happening, Chen Xuan, seething with rage, prepared to head to the Great Yan Empire.
His figure shot out like a ghostly blur.
Just as he reached the mountain gate, a beam of green light approached from the distant sky, transforming into a green lotus that stopped in front of him.
On the lotus stood a woman in a pale dress, with brows like emerald feathers and skin like white snow. Though her face was veiled, her crystal-clear eyes made the world seem to dim in comparison.
It was Ling Qingzhu.
"Did Junior Brother Chen break through to the Nirvana Realm?"
Noticing his enhanced aura, Ling Qingzhu's delicate voice carried a hint of surprise.
Chen Xuan had only been a disciple for five years, yet his cultivation had already surpassed hers, making him the top talent among the younger generation in the palace.
His talent was terrifying.
Chen Xuan scrutinized her from head to toe, sensing something different about her, an elusive change.
Could it be...?
Without conclusive evidence, he didn't jump to conclusions. He clenched his jaw, nodded, and asked, "Senior Sister Qingzhu, where did you go?"
"Just out to handle some matters."
Ling Qingzhu's eyes wavered, avoiding Chen Xuan's gaze.
She didn't notice anything unusual about him.
[Ding! Ling Qingzhu has generated emotions of panic and nervousness. Emotion value +50.]
Chen Xuan forced a smile, "What matters? Do you need my help?"
"No need, Junior Brother Chen. It's already been taken care of. I need to return to my seclusion for cultivation. Please excuse me." Saying this, Ling Qingzhu tried to escape, fearing Chen Xuan would notice something.
[Ding! Ling Qingzhu has generated emotions of panic. Emotion value +50.]
Chen Xuan blocked her path, "Senior Sister Qingzhu, we are officially married, aren't we?"
Ling Qingzhu froze, confused, but nodded instinctively.
Chen Xuan continued, "Recently, while training outside, I found a peculiar martial art. We can practice it together."
"What kind of martial art?"
Relieved that he wasn't pressing further, Ling Qingzhu felt she had successfully dodged the issue.
"It's a unique dual cultivation method…"
Before Chen Xuan could finish, Ling Qingzhu's face flushed with visible panic at the mention of dual cultivation.
She immediately interrupted, "No! Master said I can't consummate our marriage until I've completed sensing the Supreme Dao!"
"Don't worry, Senior Sister Qingzhu. This martial art actually helps enhance one's comprehension ability. It will greatly aid your future understanding of the Supreme Dao!"
Ling Qingzhu's panicked refusal only deepened Chen Xuan's suspicions.
Still, he held onto a sliver of hope that the worst hadn't happened.
Yet, Ling Qingzhu firmly rejected, "That's still not possible!"