Volume One, Chapter Three: The Inheritance of Blood

Stepping through that door, one entered a completely sealed chamber.

Inside the room, beneath the glow of a crystal night lamp, stood a bed carved from ten-thousand-year-old black ice. Around the bed, silken white gauze curtains of the finest silk hung in delicate folds. Upon the frozen surface, the peerless Su Ran sat cross-legged, utterly unclothed.

Faintly visible upon her chest was a golden phoenix, its plumage aflame with golden fire. The flames licked at Su Ran’s flawless skin, scorching her with their burning heat. It was clear she was using the freezing cold of the ice to battle the searing pain of the golden fire.

Chen Fei froze, his gaze fixed upon her. Her legs were slender and long, elegantly entwined; above them, a delicate waist and proud curves rose and fell in perfect harmony. This woman was simply too beautiful—so much so that Chen Fei was left utterly stunned. Even with a layer of gauze between them, making it impossible to see clearly, his heart pounded uncontrollably.

Suddenly, Su Ran’s eyes opened wide at the sound of his entrance. She saw Chen Fei and instinctively tried to cover herself or move away—but then she quickly realized: this was her newly wed husband, and moreover, her husband was blind.

Su Ran released the garment in her hands, frowning as she spoke, “Chen Fei, there’s no need to worry. I was only pricked by a nail just now.”

Chen Fei snapped out of his daze and hastily stretched out his hands, pretending to feel his way around like a sightless man. Beside the bed was a small round table, upon which sat a teapot and teacups. Chen Fei felt for the teapot and clumsily poured himself a cup of water, drinking it down in one gulp.

He said, “I was thirsty and couldn’t find any water. Hearing a sound from here, I stumbled in through the hidden door. I didn’t expect you to be resting here, Miss Su. In any case, thank you for saving my life.”

Su Ran’s expression remained cold as she nodded slightly. “No need to thank me. We’re simply using each other. The Blood Serpent Elixir will heal your bruises, but to mend your dantian you’ll need a Saint’s Healing Pill, and I don’t have one. As for your eyes, no medicine can restore them now. It will take an extraordinary opportunity—perhaps only in the capital of the Great Qing Dynasty might you find a chance.”

Chen Fei let out a long sigh. “To have survived is enough for me to be grateful.”

Su Ran’s face showed no emotion as she continued, “After marrying me, you’ll only attract more people who wish to kill you. Whether you can truly preserve your life depends on your own fortune. The young lord of the City Lord’s Mansion, Ye Bufan, has long pursued me, oppressing my family and forcing me to marry him. I had no choice but to hold a public selection for my husband—you are nothing more than a shield. There is no need for gratitude. I cannot keep you by my side at all times, so you’d best stay indoors and avoid going out. Go back to your room, and do not come here unless necessary.”

Chen Fei nodded and, hands outstretched like a blind man, stumbled out of the secret chamber.

Su Ran frowned slightly, thinking to herself: how strange. Even though he’s blind, I can’t shake the feeling he saw me unclothed. But she dismissed the thought and resumed her cultivation. Every moment was precious—she had to complete the Phoenix Soul Fusion as soon as possible.

Returning to his room, Chen Fei’s heart was still racing. He couldn’t help but regret that he hadn’t had the chance to pull aside those gauzy curtains around the black ice bed. But there would be plenty of opportunities in the future—they were married now, after all. His wife clearly had her own secrets. Her cultivation method was unlike anything he had ever heard of.

Chen Fei stroked his chin. He had, of course, heard of Su Ran before. She was on the same level as Qin Shuang—together known as the Twin Beauties of Yellow Mist City. It was said Su Ran’s beauty was even greater, while Qin Shuang was known for her gentle, kind-hearted nature—a true white lotus.

Who could have imagined that the real Qin Shuang would have the heart of a viper?

Until now, the city had only known of Su Ran’s beauty and her skills in commerce; never had anyone heard of her having any martial prowess.

Now, it seemed Su Ran’s true secret lay in the golden flaming phoenix upon her chest.

“Could it be… a legendary bloodline inheritance?” Chen Fei’s expression turned to shock. If it was truly a bloodline awakening—and not just any, but the one-in-a-million Phoenix Bloodline—then his wife’s future would be limitless, soaring straight to the heavens. Even the greatest cultivators of the Great Qing would pale in comparison.

“But that’s Su Ran’s concern for now. I have the Myriad Void Cauldron to replace my shattered dantian, and my eyesight has returned. The vengeance owed to the Qin family must be repaid!”

“In the past year, I gave the Qin family strategy and advice, performed countless deeds, and helped them rise to become one of the Three Great Clans. To rapidly improve Qin Shuang’s cultivation, I risked my life time and again, searching for rare herbs and wondrous elixirs. For her sake, I bore injuries and even delayed the advancement of my own cultivation.”

“Yet I never imagined—it was all a conspiracy. I became nothing but a pitiful fool. My unborn child… I can only hope Qin Shuang will let him live.”

“For me, now the most urgent task is to recover my strength as quickly as possible.”

Forcing the image of Su Ran’s graceful figure from his mind, Chen Fei sat cross-legged and began cultivating, channeling spiritual energy with the Myriad Void Cauldron as a replacement for his dantian. The spiritual energy in the room rapidly gathered into his core, transforming into spiritual power that permeated his entire being.

“Amazing! With the Myriad Void Cauldron replacing my dantian, I’m absorbing spiritual energy even faster than before! What a blessing in disguise—though Qin Shuang shattered my dantian, it revealed the cauldron, and now my cultivation is advancing at an astonishing pace.”

“It won’t be long before I recover my strength as a Ninth Grade Spirit Master!”

Chen Fei was soon lost in cultivation. Two hours later, he stretched and smiled with satisfaction.

“I’ve already reached the level of a Second Grade Spirit Master! This Myriad Void Cauldron is incredible! Unfortunately, the spiritual energy here is thin—I’ve nearly absorbed it all.”

“I’ll need to find a place rich in spiritual energy for further cultivation.”

“Strange, I feel thirsty again. Well, I’ll just go back to my wife’s chamber for another drink of water!”

The thought of entering the secret chamber once more made Chen Fei’s throat go dry with anticipation. He eagerly leapt from his bed and pushed open the stone door to the chamber at the back.