Volume One Chapter 1: Stepping Stone

“Shuang, you should drink less—don’t harm the little one in your belly!”

In the lavish and exquisitely decorated chamber, Chen Fei gently stopped his beloved, Qin Shuang, from drinking more wine.

Across from him, Qin Shuang smiled lightly—her beauty truly captivating. She set her cup down and said, “No, I won’t. I’m especially happy today, for there are three, no, four joyous events!”

Chen Fei’s eyes brimmed with affection as he laughed, “So many reasons for joy? Tell me, Shuang, what are they?”

Qin Shuang, radiant and charming, her lips curling up adorably, began, “First, thanks to your help, our Qin family has not only become a business titan, but we’ve also acquired the Heavenly Pill Pavilion, officially ranking among the three great families of Yellow Mist City!”

“Second, in the year since we pledged our hearts to each other, you risked your life for me again and again, gathering dozens of rare spirit herbs. Today, I finally broke through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, becoming the youngest Grand Spirit Master in Yellow Mist City!”

“Third, the acceptance letter from Silver Moon Academy has arrived. They even sent the academy’s symbol—the Silver Crescent Blade!”

As she spoke, Qin Shuang produced a silver dagger, caressing it with delight, her eyes alight with excitement and joy.

Hearing this, Chen Fei’s face changed. He hurriedly said, “Wait, Shuang, you’re five months pregnant. It’s not suitable for you to go to Silver Moon Academy to cultivate right now. It won’t be too late to go after the baby is born!”

Qin Shuang shook her head and walked over to Chen Fei, her enchanting gaze filled with tenderness.

She gently embraced him and whispered, “Chen Fei, I have my own plans. Don’t worry about our child—I’ll take good care of him. Besides, there’s a fourth piece of good news I want to tell you.”

Chen Fei smiled. “This fourth joy must be about our son, or perhaps our wedding plans, isn’t it—?”

He didn’t finish his sentence.

The sharp Silver Crescent Blade instantly pierced Chen Fei’s dantian!

The blade twisted, shattering his core completely!

With a heavy thud, Chen Fei collapsed to the ground, a massive bloody hole torn open in his abdomen. He stared in disbelief at the bewitching Qin Shuang before him.

Qin Shuang continued to smile softly and said, “The fourth joy is that today, I will replace my spiritual root with your Three-Eyed Spirit Sight. From now on, my path of cultivation will be ever brighter—unstoppable!”

Chen Fei shook his head, unable to comprehend how the gentle woman he’d known for a year could reveal such a face. Even more so, she still bore his child! “No… why? Why have you become… like this?”

Qin Shuang chuckled lightly, her tone tinged with disdain. “Actually, I’ve always been this way. In my heart, there’s only one goal: to become the Supreme Spirit Sovereign and restore the Qin family’s glory from a century ago! But our family has fallen so far that my cultivation was blocked at every turn—until I met you! Chen Fei, thank you for everything you did this past year. I’m grateful. In your next life, find a good woman as your companion!”

With a swift motion, Qin Shuang knocked Chen Fei unconscious.

…

He had no idea how much time had passed.

Chen Fei woke up.

A searing pain stabbed through his eyes.

“Ah!” Chen Fei couldn’t help but cry out in agony. All was darkness before him—no light remained.

He felt himself jolting violently on horseback.

“Young master, you’re awake! Hold on a bit longer—we’ll be out of here soon!” came the voice of his servant, Li Zhong, in his ear.

Chen Fei gritted his teeth against the pain and asked, “Li Zhong, what’s happening now?”

Li Zhong spoke quickly, “Young master, a week ago, the Qin family gouged out your eyes and destroyed your dantian. They accused you of plotting against the clan chief and hung you at their gates for all of Yellow Mist City to scorn, as a warning to others. I finally found a chance to rescue you. Now I’m taking you to the Su family—once we reach them, you’ll be safe!”

Chen Fei’s mind exploded—an icy hatred stabbing into his soul.

“The Qin family! How could they be so ungrateful!”

His body shook as scene after scene flashed through his mind.

Chen Fei had once been a university student on Earth. A year ago, a bronze cauldron had fallen on him in a temple; by miracle, he had transmigrated to this Xuanhuang Continent, into Yellow Mist City of the Daqing Kingdom.

Perhaps it was the gift of a transmigrator—Chen Fei awakened the Three-Eyed Spirit Sight root, becoming a cultivation prodigy.

It wasn’t long before Qin Shuang, one of Yellow Mist City’s famed beauties, fell madly in love with him, risking her life to pursue him. At last, they became the perfect pair in everyone’s eyes.

Chen Fei, too, adored Qin Shuang. He lived in the Qin residence, sharing love with her daily, and she soon became pregnant with his child.

For her sake, Chen Fei used his knowledge from his previous life to make the Qin family rich beyond measure, elevating them to one of the city’s three great families. He exhausted himself seeking spirit herbs to aid her cultivation.

Yet, all of it was but a ruse!

He had become nothing more than a stepping stone for Qin Shuang and her clan!

Li Zhong, clutching Chen Fei, sat atop a reddish-brown corner horse, dashing wildly through the city. He continued, “Young master, Qin Shuang has already left for Silver Moon Academy. The Qin family wants you dead—they’ll never let you reveal the truth! Now I’m taking you to the Su family. Miss Su Ran is willing to take you as her husband. Once you’re in their house, the Qin family won’t be able to touch you!”

Bloody tears streamed from Chen Fei’s ruined eyes as he shook his head. “I’m already a cripple. Su Ran is a renowned beauty—why would she want to marry me?”

Li Zhong explained as he rode, “Young master, the city lord’s son, Ye Bufan, forced a marriage proposal on the Su family. Su Ran refuses to marry him—she needs a shield. I heard of this and contacted her. She agreed instantly, saying you’d be safe as soon as you entered the Su family… Listen!”

Arrows whistled from behind, thudding into Li Zhong’s back!

He spat out blood and cried, “Young master, grab the reins—run, just keep running! The Su family is just ahead! I’ll hold off these Qin scoundrels!”

Leaping from the horse, Li Zhong bought precious time.

Chen Fei clung to the reins, his world still shrouded in darkness.

Soon, the sounds of suona horns, firecrackers, drums, and gongs rang out ahead!

“Chen Fei, you’re finally here! Come, it’s time to bow and marry!” urged a Su family maid.

He was helped down from the horse.

A scarlet wedding veil was placed over his head!

“First bow, to Heaven and Earth!… Second, to the ancestors!... Third, to each other as husband and wife!”

“The rites are complete—send the groom to the bridal chamber!”

“From this moment, our young mistress Su Ran and Chen Fei are husband and wife, witnessed by Heaven and Earth, the sun and moon as our witnesses!”

“Our young mistress is now a married woman. Naturally, she can’t marry anyone else. Gentlemen who came to propose, please forgive us!”

Amidst laughter and gossip, Chen Fei was led into the bridal chamber.

“Did you hear? Chen Fei tried to assassinate the Qin clan chief. They took his eyes and destroyed his dantian.”

“Such a pity. Just a year ago, he arrived in Yellow Mist City as a nobody. In that year, he rose from ordinary man to ninth-rank spirit master—a true cultivation prodigy. Who’d have thought he’d end up crippled and become the Su family’s live-in son-in-law! Fate is truly fickle.”

“I’d say he’s blessed with romance! First, he dated Qin Shuang, now he’s married Su Ran! Both are famed beauties of the city—he’s had them both!”

“Romance? Hah, Su Ran only married him to use him as a shield. I wager he won’t last three days before the young city lord kills him!”

Sitting at the bedside, Chen Fei was numb to their mockery.

Now, survival was all that mattered.

Inside, only rage burned.

Night fell.

The Su residence grew quiet.

At that moment, the door to the bridal chamber opened and Su Ran’s maid, Miao Yue, entered.

She carefully shut the door and lifted the red veil from Chen Fei’s head.

Beneath it, his handsome face was revealed.

But now, blood still oozed from his empty eye sockets; only the whites remained, not a trace of his irises.

Miao Yue gulped and dared not look further. She turned away and asked, “Chen Fei, do you resent becoming our lady’s live-in husband?”

Chen Fei shook his head with a bitter smile. “If Miss Su hadn’t taken me in, the Qin family would have killed me by now. She saved my life—it’s only right that I repay her with mine. I have no complaints.”

Miao Yue was startled, then burst out laughing. “It’s good you think that way! But don’t get any ideas about repaying with your life. Our lady said, marrying you is just for show. After today, you and she aren’t to share a bed.”

“I understand,” Chen Fei replied.

Relieved, Miao Yue said, “Now, you are our lady’s lawfully wedded husband. So long as you don’t leave the Su residence, the Qin family can’t harm you.”

She placed the red veil back over his head, then hurried off to the rear courtyard.

Inside, Su Ran lounged in a wooden tub, bathing. Her fair skin glistened like mutton-fat jade beneath the hot water, her proud figure enough to drive any man mad.

Seeing Miao Yue enter, Su Ran asked, “Xiao Yue, did you check carefully? Is Chen Fei truly crippled?”

Miao Yue nodded firmly. “His dantian is shattered—he’s completely ruined.”

“And his eyes—he’s really blind?” Su Ran pressed.

Miao Yue sighed, “Both eyes bloodied, the Three-Eyed Spirit Sight gouged out, blind for good—he’ll never recover.”

Su Ran smiled, satisfied. “Excellent! I prefer a blind and broken man like that! Come, Xiao Yue, help me dress. From tonight, I’ll share a room with him!”