The night passed, and the storm gave way to clear skies.

The Bronze Shell Leaf expanded to over ten feet wide, like a small boat floating on the vast, misty surface of the lake.

Fang Cheng stood atop the leaf, gazing into the distance. All he could see were the rippling turquoise waters of the lake and the vast, boundless sky.

Sky and water merged, an endless expanse of brilliant azure!

In the east, the sky began to pale as the sun rose, casting a shimmering golden light across the water.

He had seized the opportunity presented by the thunderstorm to refine his Thunder Pill to the seventh level in one fell swoop. Now, he was utterly exhausted, his Magical Power all but gone.

He took a deep breath, feeling a warm current as his Magical Power slowly began to recover. With a flicker of intent, the Bronze Shell Leaf carried him into the air, flying toward Cangwu Mountain.

「Half an hour later.」

Fang Cheng returned to the Jade Tower. He sat alone on the third floor, sipping tea, nibbling on some Spiritual Cuisine, and watching the sunrise.

Ye Yan came upstairs wearing a white silk nightdress. It was quite short, the hem just managing to cover half of her pert bottom, revealing a pair of long, pale, and perfectly straight legs with flawless curves.

The couple had been quite intimate these past few days, and Ye Yan seemed even more graceful, radiant, and alluring for it.

Her smooth, gorgeous face held a tempting, rosy blush, like a flower in full bloom. Her elegant nose and luscious lips, which seemed to beg for a kiss, all spoke to the coquettish charm of a newlywed.

Her incredibly expressive eyes were as clear as water, shining with every glance. Long, curved eyelashes fluttered, captivating to watch. That, combined with her smooth, lovely oval face and a seductive figure that sparked the imagination, constantly tugged at Fang Cheng’s heartstrings.

She looked at Fang Cheng with curiosity in her beautiful eyes and teased, "Husband, you were out all night. Were you off visiting some old flame?"

Fang Cheng couldn’t help but chuckle. "What old flame?" he denied. "I don’t have any."

Ye Yan gave a playful huff. She walked over, twisted her slender waist, and plopped right into his lap. After giving his clothes a good sniff, she snorted, "Don’t think I don’t know. I’ve heard things. They say when you lived in the market, you were always fooling around at the Miaoxiang Tower..."

"Who said that? That’s slander!" Fang Cheng frowned, feigning indignation. "I demand a face-to-face confrontation!"

Ye Yan burst out laughing, gently punching his shoulder with a small, pale fist. "If you don’t want people to know," she chided, "you shouldn’t do it in the first place!"

But then her beautiful eyes shifted, and she smiled. "Then again, you were all alone cultivating in the market. You must have been lonely. I understand. But you have me now, and I won’t allow you to go to those kinds of places anymore!"

"Don’t worry, your husband isn’t that kind of man." Fang Cheng pulled Ye Yan into an embrace, sweet-talking her a bit to change the subject.

He sounded utterly sincere!

And it was true—he hadn’t been to the Miaoxiang Tower to refine his Gu in a very long time...

SHIING...

Just as the couple was enjoying a tender moment, the protective wards outside the tower were suddenly triggered.

Fang Cheng recognized the sound at once. It was a Flying Sword Communication.

With one arm still around Ye Yan, he gestured with his free hand, parting the Jade Tower’s wards to let a small, golden Flying Sword fly inside.

He caught the Flying Sword, removed the attached letter, and read it. A strange expression immediately crossed his face.

The sender was a woman named Lu Wei. The message required all Outer Disciples of the current intake to gather at the Merit Pavilion in the Dragon Spine Archipelago in seven days to be assigned a sect mission.

"Who’s Lu Wei?" Fang Cheng asked.

Ye Yan took the letter from him curiously. A quick scan with her beautiful eyes was all it took for her to grasp the situation. "This is a mandatory sect mission. No Disciple of the Yinluo Sect can refuse, otherwise it’s considered treason."

"Lu Wei... I think I remember my mother mentioning her. She’s one of the sect’s Outer Elders, in charge of the largest Spirit Plant gardens in the outer sect. Many Disciples have studied the Spirit Plant Technique with her."

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng said, "So this mission is probably related to Spirit Plants and Spiritual Medicine."

Ye Yan nodded.

As someone from a prestigious family, she had never needed to worry about cultivation resources, let alone bother with sect missions. Thus, she found the whole thing rather curious.

Fang Cheng, however, was different. He felt a faint sense of danger from the summons, a feeling that this mission would not be so simple.

It was a profound, mysterious feeling, one he couldn’t quite put into words.

He had been cultivating peacefully at home with his beautiful wife, wanting for nothing. To suddenly be forced into a mandatory mission was, to say the least, irritating.

’Besides, there are Life Talisman Realm Cultivators involved. This won’t be a simple task!’

Reading his expression, Ye Yan’s shapely brows furrowed slightly. "Do you want me to ask my mother about it?"

Fang Cheng quickly waved his hands. "No, it’s fine. I’ll ask around myself."

Madam Ye’s presence was too overwhelming; he had no desire to trouble his mother-in-law if he could avoid it.

The two of them put the matter aside and spent a while longer cuddling in the tower before finally separating.

Ultimately, Fang Cheng couldn’t shake his unease. He left his home and flew toward Flame Demon Island.

Among the Outer Disciples, he was on fairly good terms with Feng Mo. Plus, Feng Mo came from an established family and had a high Cultivation level; he was bound to have good information.

...

Flame Demon Island was vast, but security was extremely tight.

Ten squads of patrolling Cultivators circled the skies above the island, riding on the backs of flying drakes and displaying all the pomp of a top-tier family.

These Cultivators were all Loose Cultivators recruited by the Feng Family or hereditary Spirit Servants raised from childhood. They clung to the Feng Family as if to a great, towering tree, all for a few meager cultivation resources.

The Ye Family was actually much the same. It was only because he was now a son-in-law of the Ye Family, and favored by the Clan Elders Council, that he could come and go as he pleased.

Fang Cheng approached a squad of Feng Family patrol Cultivators and stated his purpose. One of the Cultivators immediately flew off to deliver the message.

A short while later, the Cultivator returned and said respectfully, "Young Master Feng is waiting for you in his residence. Honored guest, please follow me."

Fang Cheng followed him, descending from his streak of Escape Light to land before a Cave Mansion on Flame Demon Island.

The Cave Mansion was opulently built, a sprawling, three-courtyard complex that housed a great number of servants and family members.

At the main gate, Feng Mo stood waiting, dressed in green robes and watching Fang Cheng approach with a warm smile. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

His features were as fine as jade—a classically handsome man with a gentle disposition, which made Fang Cheng feel he was easy to get along with.

"Brother Fang, it’s been too long! Your Cultivation has grown quite a bit, I see!" Feng Mo said with a cheerful laugh.

Fang Cheng returned the customary salute with a smile of his own. "I can’t compare to you, Brother Feng. Looks to me like you’re about to reach the eighth level of Sensing!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Feng Mo led Fang Cheng into the courtyard.

As they talked, Fang Cheng learned that Feng Mo was already married with children—his household numbered more than a dozen people in total.

Feng Mo called over his wife, concubines, and children to greet Fang Cheng before leading him into an elegant private room.

"Brother Fang, you’re known for keeping to yourself. I imagine you’ve come today because of the sect mission, haven’t you?" Feng Mo said with a knowing smile, glancing at him.

Fang Cheng nodded. "Exactly. I never feel comfortable with the unknown, so I wanted to find out what’s going on and prepare accordingly."

Feng Mo smiled. "Then you’ve come to the right man. When it comes to this affair, I doubt anyone outside of my Feng Family truly knows the inside story!"