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

Chapter 238: A Gift Returned, A Conversation in the Courtyard

Several days later, the stone door to the meditation chamber ground open. Qiu Ruoli emerged, her aura stabilized, her realm secure.

The moment she stepped into the sunlight, she saw Shen Xian standing quietly in the courtyard, hands clasped behind his back. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes, followed by a complicated ripple in her heart.

Over this journey, she had come to a confusing realization: this man was nothing like the typical Evil Cultivator.

Most Heretics treated their cauldrons like disposable livestock—imprisoning them in damp dungeons, extracting their Yin essence day and night until their foundations crumbled and they died as withered husks.

But this man… Shen Xian…

Although he viewed her as a tool for dual cultivation, he granted her a baffling amount of freedom. As long as she didn’t try to escape or defy him, she was allowed to cultivate as she pleased.

Possessing the Gui Water Spiritual Root, Qiu Ruoli knew better than anyone that if he wished, he could use that terrifying Turtle-Snake Lamp to drain her dry in an instant. Instead, he had fed her an Infant Transformation Pill—a priceless treasure—to help her break through.

What is his game?

Qiu Ruoli met his gaze. His eyes were scrutinizing, sharp… but they didn’t hold the lecherous hunger of a predator looking at meat. instead, they held a strange sense of… expectation?

It was maddening.

“Congratulations,” Shen Xian said, stepping forward. His tone was bland, neither warm nor cold.

Qiu Ruoli pursed her lips. After a moment of hesitation, she offered a stiff nod.

She hadn’t forgotten that she was a captive. It was absurd to feel grateful to a kidnapper just because he was a slightly benevolent tyrant. Yet, despite her pride, her hostility had dulled, replaced by a wary curiosity.

Shen Xian didn’t care about her internal conflict.

In his eyes, this woman—who had tried to kill him multiple times—was simply a high-yield investment. If not for the Turtle-Snake Lamp binding her fate to the array, he would have killed her long ago.

Right now, he was only here for the payout.

Hundredfold Return.

He was itching to see what the System would grant him in exchange for the Heavenly Secrets Disk.

Without wasting words, Shen Xian raised his hand. The blood-jade ring on his index finger flashed.

Hum.

Space distorted, and the Heavenly Secrets Disk materialized, floating between them.

Qiu Ruoli froze.

Another gift?

Since becoming his cauldron, he had thrown resources at her with careless abandon. At first, she thought they were trapped, or marked with slave seals. But after using them, she realized they were pure, high-quality treasures without a hidden catch.

It made no sense. Why treat a tool this well?

“This is the Heavenly Secrets Disk,” Shen Xian introduced casually, as if talking about a common vegetable. “A Top-Grade True Spirit Treasure.”

Qiu Ruoli’s pupils shrank to pinpoints. Her fingers convulsed, gripping the hem of her robe.

Top-Grade… True Spirit Treasure?!

Her breath hitched.

Such an artifact would make even Soul Formation Venerables bleed with envy. It was a strategic weapon, a cornerstone for top-tier sects.

She stared at the bronze compass hovering in the air. In the center of the disk, a wisp of divine fire flickered rhythmically. The aura it radiated was ancient and heavy, pressing down on her soul.

It felt even more terrifying than the Golden Lotus that guarded the Tianyao Sect!

Was he showing off? Taunting her with power she couldn’t have?

Or… is he giving it to me?

Qiu Ruoli’s heart hammered against her ribs. She immediately tried to squash the thought. It was delusional. Such a treasure could cause a bloodbath across the entire Northern Region. No sane person would give this to a prisoner.

“What?” Shen Xian frowned, seeing her hesitation. “You don’t want it?”

Boom!

The words struck Qiu Ruoli like a physical blow. Her eyes widened, disbelief written across her exquisite features.

He was serious.

Why?!

Was it guilt? Was he trying to buy her loyalty?

Her mind raced through a thousand dark possibilities, but she dismissed them one by one. If he wanted to harm her or control her, he had simpler ways. He held her life in his hands; he didn’t need to bribe her with a kingdom’s worth of wealth.

He must be trying to make amends, she concluded shakily.

Taking a deep breath, Qiu Ruoli reached out. Her hands trembled slightly as she grasped the Heavenly Secrets Disk.

The moment skin touched metal, a majestic surge of spiritual power washed over her. It was heavy, dense, and undeniably real.

It’s real. It’s actually real.

[System Alert] [Host has gifted Dao Companion the Top-Grade True Spirit Treasure: Heavenly Secrets Disk.] [Blessing Return Triggered: Hundredfold Increase.] [Reward: Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure — Starry Sky Disk. Would you like to claim it?]

The prompt flashed in Shen Xian’s vision. Success.

But before he could check the rewards, Qiu Ruoli spoke, her voice trembling with complex emotion.

“Wang Yu… what exactly do you want?”

She looked at him, her expression a chaotic mix of confusion and hope.

“What happened at the Godfiend Battlefield was my fault,” she said hurriedly, clutching the disk to her chest. “I shouldn’t have tried to kill you. I was wrong.”

She took a step forward, her eyes earnest. “If you let me go, I will swear a Heavenly Dao Oath right now. I will act as if none of this ever happened. I will never seek trouble with you, and I will owe you a life debt!”

In her mind, this was the only logical explanation. He was treating her well, helping her advance, and giving her treasures because he regretted the kidnapping. He was trying to de-escalate.

If he had a conscience, maybe she could negotiate her freedom.

Shen Xian raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning glacial.

This woman has quite the imagination.

“Use what I give you,” Shen Xian cut her off, his voice dripping with ice. “Stop spouting nonsense.”

He stepped closer, looming over her. “And get one thing straight. You are my cauldron. Don’t ever dream of escaping. Not in this lifetime.”

Qiu Ruoli stiffened.

The illusion shattered. The devil had revealed his true face again.

Her grip on the Heavenly Secrets Disk tightened until her knuckles turned white.

I almost let myself be fooled…

He didn’t care about amends. He didn’t care about her. He just wanted a higher-quality prisoner. He was fattening the sheep to shear the wool.

The hope in her heart curdled into a sharp, biting hatred.

“Remember,” Shen Xian said as he turned to walk away, having achieved his purpose. “Your only reason for existing is to cultivate well. And live well.”

Live well.

The command hung in the air like a curse.

Qiu Ruoli stared at his retreating back.

Was it a threat? Or was he simply telling his tool to stay sharp?

The cold metal of the disk bit into her palm. He was investing in her, grooming her into a more efficient battery for his own cultivation.

“Wang Yu…” she whispered, her eyes burning. “On the day my cultivation surpasses yours… I will kill you.”

The vow took root in her heart, deeper and darker than before.

She wasn’t stupid enough to use the Heavenly Secrets Disk against him immediately. If he dared to give it to her, he certainly had a way to counter it.

Just wait, she thought. I will take your resources, I will use your treasures, and one day, I will pay back this humiliation ten thousand times over.

Shen Xian didn’t care about her murderous intent.

Let her hate him. Let her scheme.

No matter how hard she cultivated, her gains would be returned to him a hundredfold. She was running on a treadmill he built; the faster she ran, the stronger he became. She would never catch him.

Back in his room, Shen Xian sat down on his bed, his attention shifting entirely to the System interface.

[Reward: Starry Sky Disk (Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure)]

“Heaven-Connecting grade…” Shen Xian murmured, his eyes lighting up.

According to the description, the Starry Sky Disk was also a formation-based artifact, likely an evolution of the Heavenly Secrets Disk.

“Let’s see what a Heaven-Connecting treasure can do.”

He selected [Claim].