Shen Xian returned to his courtyard and waited in silence at the door to his room.

A moment later, the door creaked open of its own accord.

He pushed it open and stepped inside.

Ye Qingxian was seated cross-legged on the meditation platform, cultivating before the window. Sunlight spilled across her long, delicate eyelashes, casting a warm glow that did little to soften her cool, aloof features.

Beside her on the floor curled the snow-white spirit cat Shen Xian had won for her in the beast arena. The creature was remarkably well-behaved in her presence, rarely leaving her side as it curled up in the room day after day.

Hearing the soft footsteps, Ye Qingxian slowly opened her eyes. Her deep, pool-like eyes, usually as still as ice, rippled with an almost imperceptible flicker as she recognized him.

“What do you require?” Her voice remained as cool and detached as ever.

Under normal circumstances, she would ignore any disturbance while in seclusion. But when it came to Shen Xian, things were different.

Shen Xian casually tossed a jade slip toward her. “Found this in the Treasure Pavilion. Thought you might find it useful.”

The jade slip traced a smooth arc through the air before a wisp of spiritual energy caught it, holding it steady.

A glint flashed in Ye Qingxian’s beautiful eyes.

She had overheard his conversation with his mother last night. She had assumed he wanted an array for the courtyard’s security; she never expected it was for her.

A faint ripple stirred within her usually placid heart.

“The Tiangang Spirit-Locking Array is said to increase cultivation efficiency by thirty percent,” Shen Xian said conversationally, settling onto a wooden stool. “It should pair well with your Spirit Gathering Array.”

Ye Qingxian’s divine sense swept over the jade slip. The array would indeed accelerate her absorption of the inheritance. But what truly captured her attention was something else—this man always seemed to produce exactly what she needed with uncanny precision.

“There is no need for these tests,” she said suddenly, lifting her gaze. A golden light swirled in the depths of her eyes. “Since I promised to ensure your safety, I will not go back on my word.”

Hearing this, Shen Xian chuckled. “I’m not worried about that. But if you can get stronger, faster, isn’t that better for me?”

He added bluntly, “Besides, this thing is useless to me.”

His directness dispelled any lingering doubts she might have held.

“I will accept this,” Ye Qingxian stated, not one for false modesty.

【Host has gifted Dao Companion a third-grade, high-tier Tiangang Spirit-Locking Array. Received a twenty-fold blessing return. Reward: fourth-grade, mid-tier Ember Tribulation Heaven-Melting Array. Claim?】

The system prompt appeared as expected. A slight smile touched Shen Xian’s lips. “Then continue your cultivation.”

He gave a small wave and turned to leave.

Ye Qingxian glanced at the jade slip in her hand, a trace of softness appearing on her usually indifferent face. With a casual toss, the jade slip unfurled, and the formation within enveloped the entire courtyard.

A vast surge of spiritual energy began to converge on her, causing specks of spiritual light to shimmer around her body.

She closed her eyes and resumed her meditation.

…

Outside in the courtyard, having just acquired a Nascent Soul-level array, Shen Xian was in an excellent mood. He lay back on his reclining chair, casually picking up a piece of osmanthus cake and popping it into his mouth. Then, he turned his attention to the description of the new array.

This formation, the Ember Tribulation Heaven-Melting Array, originated from the ancient sect Burning Heaven Valley. It was created by a Deity Transformation Realm fire cultivator after observing the awesome power of heavenly tribulation thunderfire.

It was said that a mid-Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator once tried to force his way into Burning Heaven Valley’s mountain gate, only to be incinerated by this very array until his physical body disintegrated, leaving only his Nascent Soul to flee in terror.

Later, due to internal strife within Burning Heaven Valley, the array diagram was lost to the outside world and was never seen again.

“Burning Heaven Valley?” Shen Xian vaguely recalled the name; it was a sect from Yan Province.

Among the Nine Provinces, Yan Province ranked third in overall strength, far surpassing the Azure Province.

This fourth-grade array had three core characteristics.

First, once activated, a dark purple curtain of flames would rise within a hundred-zhang radius. The temperature was high enough to incinerate magical instruments of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Second, the flame curtain was composed of Violet Extreme True Flame, which could devour an enemy’s fire-based divine abilities and convert that energy into the array’s own spiritual power reserves.

Third, any cultivator who attacked the array would be marked by the flame curtain with a ‘tribulation mark.’ After three breaths, an ’ember fire backlash’ would trigger, causing their internal spiritual energy to spontaneously combust. The lower their cultivation, the more severe the backlash. It posed a threat even to Nascent Soul cultivators, forcing them to expend precious spiritual energy to suppress the internal fire poison.

In addition, a Violet Flame Fire Essence was hidden at the array’s core. It could actively release a ‘Heaven-Melting Fire Pillar,’ a strike equivalent to the full-power attack of a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator. However, the spiritual consumption was enormous and required a pre-stocked supply of fire-attribute spiritual materials.

Finally, if the array was ever broken, the Fire Essence would self-detonate, creating a wide-range ‘Spirit Incineration Storm.’ All spiritual energy within a ten-li radius would become chaotic, affecting friend and foe alike.

All in all, it was an exceedingly powerful formation.

Shen Xian was tempted, but he wasn’t in a hurry to claim it. The Tiangang Spirit-Locking Array was more than enough protection for now. This trump card could wait.

…

One and a half months later.

Shen Xian lay lazily on his reclining chair, a piece of osmanthus cake held between his fingers as he squinted, enjoying the morning sun. Ever since Shen Li had been dispatched again to deal with the chaos caused by demonic cultivators, the estate had been remarkably quiet.

“Finally, a bit of peace and quiet…” he mumbled to himself through a mouthful of cake.

But just as he was about to drift off for a nap—

Boom!

The entire courtyard shook violently!

Shen Xian’s eyes snapped open, all drowsiness vanishing in an instant. His gaze locked onto Ye Qingxian’s room.

Intense golden light streamed through the cracks of her tightly shut windows, and a vast wave of spiritual energy fluctuations surged out like a tidal wave!

“Hmm?” Shen Xian raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “She finished absorbing it already?”

He had originally estimated that Ye Qingxian would need at least another six months to fully digest the inheritance from the cave abode. He never expected her to be this fast.

Hummm—

In the next instant, the spiritual energy in the courtyard began to boil. Like a hundred rivers flowing to the sea, it poured madly into Ye Qingxian’s room!

The runes of the Tiangang Spirit-Locking Array materialized in mid-air, compressing the spiritual energy to its absolute limit until it transformed into a dazzling pillar of light that shot straight into the sky!

BOOM!

High above, the heavens roiled. Clouds churned as faint thunder rumbled, and flashes of lightning danced within them!

The entire Shen Family estate was shaken!

Several powerful presences instantly erupted from various locations, streaking toward the courtyard!

The first to arrive was the current Patriarch of the Shen Family—Shen Xiong!

He stood mid-air, hands clasped behind his back. His gaze, sharp as lightning, was fixed on the soaring pillar of light, a flicker of shock in his eyes.

“Late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm?” Shen Xiong frowned slightly, muttering to himself, “This girl… she was actually able to recover her cultivation so quickly?”

He had thought Ye Qingxian’s cultivation was lost for good, that she would never achieve anything again in this life. He never imagined that in just a month and a half, she would not only recover but advance even further!

“It seems the legacy of that cave abode is truly extraordinary!”

Following closely behind, Nangong Wan arrived, descending gracefully. She wore a luxurious long dress, her hair coiled elegantly, exuding an air of dignified grace. But right now, her face was etched with worry.

“Is Xian’er alright?” Her first glance was toward Shen Xian in the courtyard. Seeing him safe and sound, she let out a sigh of relief.

“Mother,” Shen Xian said, lazily waving a hand to show he was fine.

Nangong Wan then turned her gaze to Ye Qingxian’s room, a complex expression in her eyes. “This girl is full of surprises.”

She, too, had assumed Ye Qingxian would barely manage to recover her cultivation with the help of the legacy. She never expected it would stir such a massive celestial phenomenon.

“It seems our Shen Family has stumbled upon a real treasure.”

Just then, an aged voice rang out.

“Hahaha! What a fine girl from the Ye Family indeed!”

Everyone turned to see a white-haired elder stepping through the air. It was the Great Elder of the Shen Family. His beard and hair were white, but he was full of vigor, his bright, piercing eyes filled with praise as he looked at the pillar of light.

“Great Elder,” Shen Xiong greeted with a slight nod.

The Great Elder, Shen Xuan, waved his hand with a laugh. “Patriarch, no need for courtesy! This old man merely sensed the disturbance in the heavens and earth and came to have a look.”

His gaze shifted to Shen Xian, a hint of deep meaning in his eyes. “That wife of yours is quite something, eh?”

Shen Xian just shrugged, offering a noncommittal response.

“Hmph!”

Suddenly, a cold snort cut through the air.

Everyone followed the sound, their gazes landing on the Fifth Elder, who stood not far away with a dark, gloomy expression.