The usual calm of Zhou Kai’s courtyard had evaporated, replaced by a thick, suffocating tension.

Chen Ziyi stood outside the cultivation room, her delicate hands clenched so tightly her knuckles were white. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the closed door as if trying to see through the wood.

Beside her, Lin Zhiwei stood in her signature green robes. Usually composed and aloof, even she looked unsettled today. A flicker of nervousness marred her refined features.

“I’ve heard that breaking through to the Bone Forging realm is an extremely perilous process,” Chen Ziyi murmured, her voice trembling slightly.

Lin Zhiwei nodded, her expression grave.

“The path of body cultivation is brutal. Bone Forging is a crucible of rebirth and transformation. It requires shattering the old to build the new. One misstep, and the cultivator is crippled for life.”

She paused, then added gently, “However, Fellow Daoist Zhou has prepared thoroughly. His foundation is solid. He will pass through it safely.”

Zhou Kai had indeed prepared.

Inside the quiet room, the air was heavy with concentrated energy.

The Isolation Grand Array was fully active, sealing the room from the outside world. The Spirit Gathering Array hummed softly, pulling in wisps of Spirit Qi until the density in the room was nearly palpable.

Zhou Kai sat cross-legged on a meditation mat. Before him sat several jade bottles filled with top-grade healing pills, ready for any emergency.

“Bone Forging means breaking bones,” Zhou Kai muttered to himself, his eyes sharp with determination.

He opened his system panel.

[Host: Zhou Kai] [Vitality: Meridian Opening Ninth Layer (1405/1350) – BREAKTHROUGH READY]

“System, initiate breakthrough!”

BOOM!

The moment the command left his mind, a terrifying power detonated within his body.

It wasn’t a gentle flow; it was an explosion. The accumulated Vitality roared like a trapped dragon, crashing against the limits of his mortal flesh.

Zhou Kai’s body became a vortex, greedily devouring the Spirit Qi in the room. The energy surged into his limbs, seeking out every bone, every joint.

His skin flushed a deep, alarming crimson. Veins bulged and twisted beneath the surface like snakes trying to escape.

Then came the sound.

CRACK.

It started in his fingers, a sickening snap that echoed in the silent room. Then his wrists. His forearms.

“Ugh—!”

Zhou Kai gritted his teeth, his eyes bulging. He desperately clung to his clarity of mind as the agony washed over him.

It was indescribable. It felt as if a giant hammer was systematically smashing every inch of his skeleton into dust. Or perhaps billions of ants were gnawing his marrow from the inside out.

Crack. Snap. Crunch.

The sounds of his own body breaking filled his ears.

Sweat poured from his pores, instantly evaporating into a white mist due to the raging heat of his Vitality.

The saying ‘break bones to be reborn’ was no metaphor.

He could feel it. From his toes to his skull, his old bones were disintegrating, shattering into fine powder. Then, catalyzed by the vast Vitality and infused with pure Spirit Qi, the powder began to fuse.

New structures formed. Denser. Harder.

The nascent bones shimmered with a faint, jade-like luster. They were forging themselves into something far stronger than mere mortal calcium.

But the process… it was a hundred times more painful than death by a thousand cuts.

Outside the quiet room.

Creak.

Another door opened, and Chen Ziqing peeked her head out. Her hair was messy, her eyes wide with alarm. She had been up all night deducing formulas but had been jolted awake by the terrifying fluctuation of Vitality.

She rushed to her sister’s side.

“Sister… Big Brother Zhou, he…”

Seeing Ziyi and Lin Zhiwei’s pale faces, her heart squeezed.

“Ziqing, don’t worry,” Chen Ziyi whispered, though she sounded like she was trying to convince herself. “Your husband is blessed. He will surely pass this trial.”

Lin Zhiwei remained silent, her gaze locked on the room.

The commotion inside was terrifying. Violent surges of power were followed by eerie, death-like silences. Every fluctuation tugged at the women’s heartstrings.

Time lost its meaning. An hour? Two?

Finally, the violent Spirit Qi storm began to subside. The churning vortex of Vitality slowly contracted, fading into stillness.

Everything returned to calm.

“Succeeded… or…” Chen Ziyi took a step forward, her breath caught in her throat.

Creeaaaak.

The door to the quiet room slowly opened.

A figure stepped out. His clothes were soaked in sweat and stained with dark impurities expelled from his pores. He looked disheveled, wild.

But his eyes… his eyes shone with the brightness of stars.

It was Zhou Kai. And he looked exhilarated.

“Husband!”

Overjoyed to the point of tears, Chen Ziyi rushed forward.

“Big Brother Zhou!” Chen Ziqing was faster. She practically launched herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest.

Lin Zhiwei didn’t move, but her tense shoulders relaxed, and a rare, genuine smile touched her lips.

“Haha! A mere Bone Forging realm? Piece of cake!”

Zhou Kai laughed heartily, wrapping his arms around the sisters.

[Ding! Congratulations Host on breaking through to Bone Forging First Layer!] [Vitality: Bone Forging First Layer (105/3000)] [Ding! Chen Ziqing Affection +10] [Chen Ziqing: Affection 100 (Unwavering)] [Reward: 100 Omni-Interaction Points!]

Unwavering…

Zhou Kai’s grin widened. So, the little tea artist was finally, utterly his.

He lowered his head and planted a firm kiss on Chen Ziyi’s forehead, brushing aside a damp strand of hair.

“There now. It’s over. I’m fine. Sorry for worrying you.”

He turned to Ziqing, who was looking up at him with teary, sparkling eyes. He laughed and kissed her cheek soundly.

“And you, little crying cat. What are you weeping for? Aren’t I perfectly fine?”

Finally, he looked at Lin Zhiwei. He didn’t hug her—not yet—but he reached out and gave her shoulder a gentle, firm squeeze.

“Zhiwei. Thank you for guarding me.”

Lin Zhiwei lowered her gaze, her cheeks faintly pink. “Fellow Daoist Zhou flatters me. It is good that all is well.”

“Haha! Today my mood is excellent! I’ll cook personally! Let’s have a feast to celebrate!”

Soon, the enticing aroma of spirit food filled the small courtyard.

The dinner was warm and harmonious. Chen Ziyi kept piling food into Zhou Kai’s bowl, her eyes filled with undisguised adoration. Chen Ziqing was back to her lively self, chattering about her progress with the pill formulas, though her gaze now held a new depth of infatuation.

Even Lin Zhiwei seemed to relax, her eyes lingering on Zhou Kai longer than usual.

After the meal, Zhou Kai set down his chopsticks. He wiped his mouth and looked at the three women, his expression turning serious.

“Ziyi. Ziqing. Zhiwei.”

“You are all my women—Zhou Kai’s women. Your cultivation cannot fall behind. From now on, I will do everything within my power to help you rise.”

“Husband… we know,” Ziyi whispered.

“Big Brother Zhou! We’ll listen to you!” Ziqing chirped.

When Lin Zhiwei heard “you are all my women,” her heart gave a strange, powerful thud. She didn’t feel repulsed. Instead, a warm sense of security washed over her.

She lowered her eyelids to hide the complex emotions swirling in her gaze and gave a soft mental “Mm.”

Zhou Kai noted her reaction with satisfaction. Then, a mischievous grin spread across his face.

“Alright then! Let’s talk business. I have two matters to arrange.”

“First: Ziqing. Tomorrow morning, use my name to invite Wang Qiaoqiao over. I have matters to discuss with her.”

“As for the second matter…”

He dragged the tone out, his eyes darting between the two sisters like a wolf eyeing two particularly plump rabbits.

Ziyi and Ziqing both felt a sudden, ominous shiver. Ziqing’s cheeks began to burn. Ziyi shot him a warning glare.

“The second…”

Zhou Kai burst out laughing. His figure blurred, moving with the speed of a ghost!

“Aiya!” “Ah!”

Before they could react, Zhou Kai had scooped them up—one over each shoulder like sacks of grain!

“Husband! Put us down right now!” Ziyi shrieked, pounding on his back, half-embarrassed, half-anxious.

“Big Brother Zhou! You… what are you doing?! Put me down!” Ziqing kicked her legs in the air, her heart pounding with a mix of shyness and thrill.

Lin Zhiwei stood frozen, her mouth slightly agape, staring wide-eyed at the sudden abduction. Her hands clenched and unclenched, unsure if she should intervene.

“Hehe! Tonight the moonlight is perfect! The sisters must unite their hearts to research the Great Dao with me!”

Zhou Kai strode purposefully toward the master bedroom, ignoring their protests.

“What… what researching Great Dao together?!” Ziyi cried, her face burning so hot she felt faint.

“Big Brother Zhou, you rogue! Put me down! Sister Lin is still here!”

“That is precisely why!” Zhou Kai’s voice was teasing and triumphant. “Let her see how harmonious our family is!”

BANG!

The bedroom door was kicked open and slammed shut.

Muffled exclamations and protests could still be heard, followed by Zhou Kai’s victorious laughter.

Lin Zhiwei stood alone in the courtyard. The sounds drifting from the bedroom were unmistakable. Her cheeks burned like fire, and her heart pounded against her ribs like a trapped bird.

She glanced at the closed door, recalling his words.

“You are all my women.”

She bit her lip, myriad emotions swirling in her heart.

The night was still long… and inside the bedroom, the spring scenery was just beginning to bloom.