Early morning.

Zhou Kai opened his eyes, feeling a refreshing clarity wash over him.

Beside him, the warmth of soft jade filled his arms. The Chen sisters were still fast asleep, their faces flushed with a rosy glow of satisfaction and exhaustion.

Recalling last night, a smirk tugged at Zhou Kai’s lips. The battle had been intense, a whirlwind of cultivation and pleasure that had left both sisters surrendering completely on the floor, their voices hoarse from crying out his name.

Not long after, Chen Ziyi’s long eyelashes fluttered.

Seeing Zhou Kai smiling down at her, she snuggled closer into his embrace, burying her face in his chest. “Husband,” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

Zhou Kai kissed her forehead gently, then glanced at Ziqing on his other side. The girl was still lost in dreams, mumbling something incoherent while drooling slightly on his arm.

“This girl Ziqing was quite… enthusiastic last night,” Zhou Kai teased in a low voice.

Chen Ziyi shot him a coquettish glance, full of drowsy charm. “It’s all because of you, husband…” Before she could finish, the memory of her own abandon made her face flush crimson.

Zhou Kai laughed heartily, wrapping his arms tighter around both delicate bodies. “Ziyi, have you sounded out Zhiwei yet?”

Chen Ziyi understood his intent immediately. She sighed softly.

“At first, I tried to hint around it, but she just evaded the topic, seeming confused. Later, I decided to be direct and asked her about her impression of you and her future plans. She just said… she doesn’t know.”

“Doesn’t know?” Zhou Kai raised an eyebrow.

That wasn’t a rejection. It was hesitation.

Just then, Chen Ziqing stirred. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, catching the tail end of the conversation.

Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she nestled deeper into Zhou Kai’s embrace. “Brother Zhou, Sister Lin is just a slow burner. Not like me and my sister! We recognized long ago that Brother Zhou is the best man in the world!”

She paused, then added with a pout, “After all, Sister Lin is at the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation. It’s normal for her to have high standards. Not like that Wang Qiaoqiao—just giving some pill formulas and herbs has Brother Zhou planning so much for her.”

Chen Ziyi frowned slightly, her tone gentle but firm.

“Ziqing, don’t talk nonsense. Husband has his own considerations. Among us sisters, let’s not let discord arise. Miss Wang has been helpful; we should be magnanimous.”

Hearing this, Zhou Kai felt a surge of appreciation for Chen Ziyi.

This is the demeanor of a proper First Wife. Steady. Understanding.

Unlike Ziqing—though adorable—who always harbored petty, jealous thoughts.

“Forget it,” Zhou Kai said, stroking Ziyi’s back. “With only a few of you, I can treat everyone fairly. But if the family grows… deep down, there will need to be a sense of hierarchy.”

He pondered silently for a moment.

“Alright, enough of this. Ziqing, go get dressed and invite Wang Qiaoqiao over.”

Chen Ziqing immediately perked up, saluting playfully. “Don’t worry, Brother Zhou! I’ll bring her here!”

Noon arrived, the sun blazing high overhead.

Wang Qiaoqiao arrived promptly. She had dressed with care today, wearing a light goose-yellow outfit that highlighted her figure without being overly revealing. She came prepared to lay her cards on the table.

But Zhou Kai wasn’t in a hurry. He had Chen Ziyi lead her to the front courtyard to wait.

It was a classic power move—the “Elder” act. Making her wait would dampen her eagerness and put her on the back foot.

The moment Wang Qiaoqiao stepped into the courtyard, her expression froze.

“This… such dense Spirit Qi!”

Waves of shock crashed through her heart. The air was thick with pure energy; a single breath felt invigorating, like drinking cold water on a hot day.

A high-grade Spirit Gathering Array!

She swept her Divine Sense across the area, but it met an invisible wall. It felt like tossing a stone into the deep sea—nothing returned. An advanced isolation array protected the entire compound.

“This Zhou Kai is hiding so much!” Wang Qiaoqiao’s heart raced wildly.

Just as she was reeling, a delicate figure walked out from the inner rooms.

Wang Qiaoqiao’s pupils contracted.

Qi Condensation Seventh Layer!

A powerful female cultivator was living here? As a servant?

Lin Zhiwei nodded slightly, her expression calm. “Fellow Daoist Wang, Alchemist Zhou has been waiting for you inside.”

Wang Qiaoqiao felt dizzy. A Seventh Layer cultivator was bowing to her? Was Zhou Kai treating her with this much respect? Or was this a display of power?

Suppressing her astonishment, she forced a polite smile and returned the bow before entering the quiet room.

Inside, Zhou Kai sat cross-legged on a meditation mat. His expression was calm, his aura completely restrained. To the naked eye, he still appeared as a cultivator at the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation.

Seeing his composed demeanor after making her wait for nearly a month, Wang Qiaoqiao felt a surge of resentment bubble up.

She had planned to maintain the dignity of a Wang family descendant—to question him reasonably. But the moment she opened her mouth, the words came out as a coquettish complaint.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou! You’re really too much!”

“Oh? What do you mean by that?” Zhou Kai feigned ignorance, slowly opening his eyes.

“Hmph! You ask me?!”

Wang Qiaoqiao walked over and sat opposite him, abandoning courtesy.

“It’s been almost a month! I haven’t seen even your shadow! I gathered so many spirit herbs for you, eagerly waiting for you to start refining so I could recoup my investment! And you? You just disappeared!”

Zhou Kai smiled faintly. “I’ve been tied up with trivial matters. Indeed, quite busy.”

As he spoke, he flicked his wrist. A black iron token appeared in his palm.

“What is this?” Wang Qiaoqiao asked instinctively.

“An entry slot for Calamity Abyss Valley.”

Clang.

Zhou Kai tossed the token onto the low table.

“Calamity Abyss Valley!” Wang Qiaoqiao gasped, her eyes widening with wild joy.

He had actually done it.

Before she could recover, Zhou Kai waved his hand again. A pile of jade boxes materialized on the table, each sealed with a preservation talisman.

“These are… the main ingredients and supplementary herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill?” Wang Qiaoqiao’s voice trembled. “You got them from the Chen family?”

Zhou Kai smiled, ignoring the question. “Fellow Daoist Wang, do you think my efforts over this past month were worthwhile?”

“Worthwhile! Extremely worthwhile!” Wang Qiaoqiao exclaimed, her resentment vanishing instantly.

This investment wasn’t just profitable; it was a windfall of legendary proportions!

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, I won’t say much about your kindness! If I establish my foundation, I will open my own shop in Calamity Abyss Valley. All my pills will be sourced from you! I will mobilize every resource I have to find more ingredients for you!”

She took a deep breath, her eyes shining with calculation and sincerity.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, rest assured—even with a low-grade Spirit Root, as long as there are enough Foundation Establishment Pills, there is hope for you to break through!”

It was a strategic statement. She wanted to bind her interests to his completely.

Zhou Kai merely smiled without comment.

Seeing his lukewarm reaction, Wang Qiaoqiao felt a flicker of unease. Her ecstasy cooled, replaced by her usual calculating nature. She adopted a solemn expression.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, I know you possess extraordinary abilities. Regarding the matter with Danyangzi… you didn’t let me participate. I understand. You were protecting me. I acknowledge this favor.”

She paused, struggling with her next words.

“But… you know there is a century of difference in lifespan between Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment. Though we cooperate well now…”

She looked him in the eye, her gaze steady but guarded.

“If we are talking about deeper relations… I must consider the long-term prospects. Investing emotions without a future would become a burden on both our cultivation paths.”

“How about this: Until you successfully establish your foundation—until we see hope for a lasting partnership—let’s maintain this purely mutually beneficial relationship. I will assist you fully, but we needn’t be distracted by romantic entanglements. What do you think?”

“When your path toward greater cultivation becomes clear… we can discuss other matters.”

Zhou Kai listened, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes before settling into an odd, unreadable smile.

She’s weighing the pros and cons even now.

He had grown tired of slow conquests. He had done too much for Wang Qiaoqiao just for Spirit Stones. He needed her fully bound to him—heart, body, and soul.

“Wang Qiaoqiao, ah, Wang Qiaoqiao… your imagination is truly wasted not writing stories.”

Wang Qiaoqiao froze. “Fellow Daoist Zhou… what do you mean?”

“My meaning?”

Zhou Kai stood up slowly.

BOOM!

A vast, terrifying aura erupted from his body, slamming into the room like a physical shockwave.

The Bone Forging Realm!

The pressure was suffocating, heavy with the weight of condensed vitality. It was unmistakably the aura of a body cultivator who had transcended mortal limits.

Wang Qiaoqiao shuddered violently, as if struck by lightning. Her face drained of all color, her eyes filling with horror and disbelief.

This… this is Zhou Kai’s true strength?!

He’s a Bone Forging expert?! An Elder-level figure?!

He’s been hiding it all along?!

“Wang Qiaoqiao.”

Zhou Kai stepped closer, looming over her, his voice low and commanding.

“Are you willing… to become my woman?”