Translator: CinderTL
"Oh, you're awake?"
A clear, bright voice suddenly came from behind him, startling Xu Sanyan. He hadn't noticed anyone nearby.
Turning around, he saw a young woman clad in animal skins sitting beneath a tree, drawing something on the ground with a twig.
"You are...?" Xu Sanyan asked softly. Since she hadn't attacked him while he was unconscious, she likely meant no harm.
"I'm Xun Ancai. You can call me Ancai or Cai'er," the girl said, tossing aside the twig. She clapped her hands, smiled, and stood up. Xu Sanyan realized she was quite tall, nearly as tall as him.
"Where is this place?" Xu Sanyan retrieved a storage pouch from his mouth, rummaged through it, and pulled out some clothes to change into. His previous garments had been corroded by stomach acid, leaving him naked.
Xun Ancai blinked, watching him change without the slightest embarrassment. She even nodded approvingly.
Hearing his question, she replied, "This is the Dog Clan."
"Huh?" Xu Sanyan turned his head, his tone surprised. "The Dog Clan?"
What a strange name. How could anyone name themselves after dogs?
"That's right."
Xun Ancai scrutinized Xu Sanyan for a moment, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
"You're so pale. I like you a lot."
"Huh?" Xu Sanyan thought he must have misheard. What do you mean you like me?
"I said I like you a lot. I want to marry you," Xun Ancai repeated, assuming he hadn't heard clearly.
Xu Sanyan's mind grew increasingly chaotic. "Wait, let me get this straight. You're saying you want to marry me?"
"Mhm."
Xun Ancai spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then added, "Marrying me has many advantages. I'm the strongest in our tribe—"
Her voice faltered slightly. "The second strongest, actually. I'm also a skilled hunter, so you'll never go hungry. Though you do look a bit... frail."
Xu Sanyan sized her up. This woman named Xun Ancai had sturdy limbs, wheat-toned skin, and an air of robust health. She was also quite attractive, with large eyes that radiated a piercing intensity. Her chest, barely contained by the animal hide, revealed a pair of prominent, almost bursting breasts.
"You're... very strong?"
Xu Sanyan frowned. He didn't sense any overwhelming pressure from the young woman, yet Xun Ancai's tone suggested she looked down on him.
This was the first time in ages anyone had called him weak. Back in the day, whether it was Xiang Tan, Qin Manyang, or even Madam Wu, the chieftain's wife from long ago, all had been conquered by his robust physique.
This little girl probably hadn't experienced his stamina, which explained her arrogance. If he got the chance to teach her a lesson, she'd quickly learn her place.
Xun Ancai's figure flickered, instantly appearing beside Xu Sanyan. She pinched his arm, shaking her head slightly. "Someone like you? I could take on ten of you."
Her eyes held no contempt, only genuine sincerity, as if she were speaking her honest thoughts.
Xu Sanyan's eyes narrowed slightly. Such speed!
He hadn't even seen how she moved—one moment she was there, the next she was beside him, as if she'd teleported.
And... he sensed no fluctuations in spiritual power!
Xu Sanyan's heart jolted. He closed his eyes, sensing for the heaven and earth spiritual energy, then his eyes snapped open wide.
This world... has no spiritual energy?!
No matter how hard he tried, not a trace of spiritual energy flowed into his body. Even the spiritual power within him had vanished.
It was as if... this world forbade the existence of spiritual energy!
He tried to retrieve a spirit stone from his storage pouch, but the moment it left the pouch, it crumbled into dust and scattered across the ground.
"Just as I suspected..." Xu Sanyan muttered to himself. Without spiritual power, he couldn't even manifest his dao body, as maintaining it required a constant expenditure of spiritual power.
His combat strength had instantly plummeted by seventy percent.
"Your body is so weak," Xun Ancai said softly, gently grasping Xu Sanyan's arm and slowly massaging it while secretly watching his expression.
When he showed no reaction, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, a secret joy blooming in her heart.
Xu Sanyan frowned, realizing she wasn't joking. After a moment's contemplation, he said, "Shall we spar?"
"Sure, I'll go easy on you," Xun Ancai nodded.
Xu Sanyan stretched his limbs, never having shown weakness in his physical form since obtaining the heavenly earth treasure. He was eager to see what this girl was capable of.
"Come at me!"
Xu Sanyan clenched his fist and threw a swift, powerful punch aimed at Xun Ancai's shoulder. He held back, using only seventy percent of his strength, intending to test her capabilities.
Thud!
A muffled sound echoed through the air. Xu Sanyan's eyes widened abruptly, his face etched with disbelief.
Xun Ancai had effortlessly caught his fist with one hand. The overwhelming force of his strike vanished instantly, and she hadn't even taken a step back.
With a slight sway of her body, she completely neutralized the impact.
After assessing the situation, Xun Ancai nodded slowly. "You're quite strong. I doubt I could take on ten of you."
"Hmm... maybe nine," she amended, offering a more balanced assessment.
Xu Sanyan's heart pounded with shock, his eyes filled with incomprehension and a hint of excitement.
He couldn't fathom how Xun Ancai's slender frame could possess such immense strength. There had to be some trick to it.
His excitement stemmed from the possibility that this secret realm might offer a way to enhance his physical body.
He knew that the strength of his physical body was directly linked to the power of his dao body. The stronger his physical body, the greater the potency of his dao body.
The Blood-Red Dagger had already reached its limits in augmenting his physical strength. Even as a heavenly earth treasure, it had its limitations. But here, it seemed, there was another path to physical enhancement.
Xu Sanyan retracted his slightly numb arm, shook it gently, and praised, "You're incredibly strong."
"Heh heh..." Xun Ancai rubbed her hands self-consciously. "Not really, just a little bit."
"How did you train?" Xu Sanyan asked.
"It's simple, just..." Xun Ancai trailed off, her lips pressing into a tight line.
"Why did you stop?" Xu Sanyan's eyes narrowed imperceptibly before he flashed a smile.
"I'll tell you if you agree to marry me," Xun Ancai said, her small face flushed crimson as her gaze drifted through her clothes to Xu Sanyan's bare chest.
"Marry you? How would that even work?" Xu Sanyan genuinely didn't understand; he'd never married anyone before.
"Well... um, you know..." Xun Ancai's face grew even redder, her excitement palpable. "We'd just... sleep in the same bed at night..."
Xu Sanyan chuckled. This is something I'm good at.
But he didn't agree immediately. He could tell this woman coveted his body, and if that was the case, he could play hard to get.
"Where is your Dog Clan?"
"Over there," Xun Ancai pointed.
"How many people are in your village?"
"Hmm... quite a lot."
"Besides the Dog Clan, are there any other tribes around here?" Xu Sanyan asked, casually wrapping his arm around the girl's waist.
Xun Ancai stiffened, her voice trembling slightly as she replied, "Yes, there are the Bear Clan, the Snake Clan..."
"Oh..."
Xu Sanyan took her slightly rough hand, his fingertips teasing her palm as they slowly traced upward, brushing past the fine hairs on her arm until they reached her shoulder. He could feel her body trembling with excitement.
Xun Ancai's cheeks flushed crimson. Having never experienced such green tea-like tactics, she quickly succumbed completely.
"Hmm~ Does that feel good...?"
Xu Sanyan leaned close to her ear, his breath washing over her earlobe. Xun Ancai's heart fluttered wildly, and she murmured, "So good..."
"Heh..." Xu Sanyan smirked, a trick he had learned from Madam Wu, the village chief's wife.
Indeed, in any group of three, there must be a teacher among them!
(End of the Chapter)
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