I Was Forced to Marry a “Trash” Cultivator, But She Turned Out to Be a Reborn Empress!

Back in the meditation room, Shen Xian tapped the air with a fingertip. Three layers of restrictive wards fell silently into place, completely isolating the chamber from the outside world.

He sat cross-legged, the three treasures floating before him.

On his left, the [Void Rope] undulated like a living serpent. The newly acquired [Void Guiding Jade Pendant] pulsed with a warm cyan glow, while a mass of silvery-white liquid—the [Void Essence Soul]—slowly oozed out from the rope’s fibers.

Shen Xian’s hands moved in a blur, forming complex seals. Nine distinct colors of True Fire burst from his fingertips.

If any other artifact refiner were present, they would have been shaken to their core. This was the long-lost [Nine Revolutions Artifact Condensation Technique].

Although the three ancestral treasures were naturally drawn to one another and would eventually merge on their own, the process would take far too long.

As a fifth-rank artifact refiner, Shen Xian had no patience for waiting.

The True Flames wove together in the air, forming the phantom of a massive furnace. One by one, the three treasures were drawn into its heart.

The first to change was the [Void Guiding Jade Pendant].

Under the intense tempering of the True Flames, dense Dao patterns surfaced on the jade’s smooth exterior, spreading like spiderwebs across ice.

Crack.

With a crisp sound, the jade shell shattered and peeled away, revealing a three-inch-long rod of black iron hidden within.

Suddenly, the [Void Rope] trembled violently. It dissolved into a stream of light, wrapping itself tightly around the black iron rod.

Then came the [Void Essence Soul]. It flowed like mercury, seeping into the microscopic cracks of the iron body, fusing the layers together.

The entire process was eerily silent. There was no violent backlash of spiritual energy, no blinding explosion of light—only ancient runes igniting along the ruler’s surface, lighting up one by one like stars in the night sky.

When the final rune flared to life, Shen Xian grunted in pain.

The broken ruler moved on its own, piercing his palm. It drank greedily of his Essence Blood.

Visibly engorged, the ruler elongated, finally stabilizing at seven inches. Its surface turned a peculiar dark silver, etched with textures that looked like rope yet felt like jade—a material that defied classification.

“Is this the Immortal Venerable Dao Artifact?”

Shen Xian stared at the dark silver mark now branded onto his left arm. A sensation of vast, ancient desolation washed over him. The patterns on the artifact exuded an aura that felt older than the sect itself—profound and mysterious.

Although it was only one-third complete, he could clearly sense the terrifying potential dormant within this broken ruler.

“In terms of durability alone, I’m afraid even three True Spirit Treasures striking it at once wouldn’t leave a scratch,” Shen Xian assessed coolly.

This was, after all, an artifact that once belonged to an Immortal Venerable. Its pedigree was unmatched.

It was just a pity that it was incomplete, and the artifact spirit remained in a deep slumber.

If he could gather the other two-thirds, perhaps he could awaken the spirit. Then, it might unleash combat power comparable to a Tribulation Transcendence Immortal Venerable without draining him dry.

Shen Xian recalled the words of the founding patriarch.

Of the other two parts of this [Measuring Heaven Ruler], one had fallen into the Demon Abyss. The other was in the hands of the Betrayer.

And this Betrayer… was in the Northern Region.

The patriarch hadn’t left a name, but Dao Artifacts shared a bond. If the parts came close to one another, they would resonate.

“Perhaps this trip to the Northern Region will let me find the second piece,” he mused.

It sounded like a fool’s dream.

The Betrayer’s strength was bound to be terrifying, and the forces backing them likely far exceeded anything Shen Xian could currently handle.

But what if?

This was an Immortal Venerable Dao Artifact.

Regardless, he was going to the Northern Region anyway. If an opportunity arose, Shen Xian certainly wouldn’t let it slip through his fingers.

He stored the [Measuring Heaven Ruler] away and stood up. It was time to return to Wei Zhaoli’s room.

There was still… cultivation to be done.

The next day, the sky was a piercing blue, without a cloud for ten thousand miles.

The expedition team finally returned to the Sect.

On the lead war chariot, Elder Xuanming had lost his leisurely demeanor. His face was etched with melancholy.

Lin Lang was dead.

Not only was he a key disciple cultivated by the Sect, but he was also the future heir of the Lin Family. To have him perish in the Godfiend Battlefield was a diplomatic nightmare.

As the leader of this expedition, Elder Xuanming would have a lot of explaining to do.

The chariot landed, and the disciples dispersed.

Shen Xian returned to his long-neglected residence—Rainfall Pavilion.

The place was exactly as he left it. By the spiritual spring, the Purple Cloud Ganoderma stood quietly, absorbing the ambient Qi of heaven and earth.

He approached the plant and retrieved the [Azure Spirit True Water] he had obtained earlier, carefully dripping a few drops onto its leaves.

Instantly, the Ganoderma erupted with rich spiritual light. A vast vitality surged from its roots, and the patterns on its cap began to shift and swirl. It was evolving.

“That sped things up nicely,” Shen Xian noted with satisfaction.

He then summoned the millstone-sized black turtle from his pet bag and tossed it into the spring, throwing the [Myriad Spirits Heavenly Soil Map] after it.

“Don’t forget your job,” he reminded the beast.

The Purple Immortal Ganoderma was critical for his treasure-hunting plans in the Northern Region. Using the Azure Spirit True Water to accelerate its ripening was a worthy investment.

The black turtle gurgled, spitting a few bubbles in acknowledgement, and silently released its spiritual energy to nurture the plant.

Shen Xian left the garden and headed to his secret chamber to refine artifacts.

He had hauled a massive amount of loot from the ruins, but some of it was… sensitive.

First on the list was Lin Lang’s Blood Jade Ring.

The item was too conspicuous. If he wanted to use it, he needed to make it unrecognizable. Otherwise, if the Lin Family spotted it, it would lead to an endless headache.

He wasn’t afraid of the Lin Family, but he hated being annoyed. He had more important things to do than fend off vendettas.

He spent the rest of the day stripping the ring down and re-forging its exterior, ensuring it looked nothing like its original form. He did the same for the [Profound Heaven Azure Cloud Robe], altering its appearance to mask his identity.

He worked until nightfall.

Under the bright moon, Shen Xian emerged from his workshop. He was just about to call Wang Yu over for a drink when a figure appeared outside his courtyard gate.

It was Wei Zhaoli.

He was momentarily surprised.

“Um… are we still dual cultivating?” she asked, her voice tinged with shyness.

Over the past few days, she had experienced the benefits of dual cultivation firsthand. Her cultivation was soaring, and she was desperate to improve her strength quickly. She wanted to be useful—to be able to help him when the inevitable clash with Zhao Wuji occurred.

Shen Xian chuckled, opening the gate. “Of course.”

The night passed in a blur of breathless silence.

Morning arrived. A beam of sunlight pierced through the window, illuminating a discarded peony-embroidered bellyband on the floor.

On the large, soft bed, Shen Xian lay flat on his back. His breathing was even, but his face was slightly pale—the look of a man who had been thoroughly drained.

Beside him, Wei Zhaoli lay on her side, her fair arm draped across his chest. Her long, slender legs were tangled with his. Her complexion was rosy and radiant, and the corners of her mouth were curled up in a satisfied smile, as if she were in the midst of a sweet dream.

Shen Xian opened his eyes, inhaling the lingering scent of peonies.

He looked down at the beauty in his arms and tightened his embrace.

Wei Zhaoli’s eyelashes fluttered. Her eyes opened slowly, clear and rippling like spring water, full of undisguised affection.

“Husband, you’re awake?” she murmured softly.

Shen Xian smiled, his hand gently stroking her smooth shoulder. “I plan to return to the family estate in a few days to officially marry you. What do you think?”

The marriage needed to happen. Zhao Wuji could emerge from seclusion at any moment. Keeping Wei Zhaoli within the main Shen family estate was the only way to guarantee her safety.

Hearing the word “marry,” Wei Zhaoli’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She buried her face in his chest.

After a long silence, a muffled sound came from against his skin.

“Mm.”

Shen Xian smiled. Feeling his energy return, he leaned over her once again.