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Ten days had passed in the blink of an eye.
At the Yunlan Sect's main peak, the grand hall was quiet but serious. Yun Yun, dressed in her signature white robes, listened attentively to a report from a black-clad messenger.
"I understand. You may go," Yun Yun said after hearing the full report, waving her hand. The messenger bowed and quickly left the hall.
As the sect leader, Yun Yun naturally commanded her own network of intelligence agents, who kept an eye on everything happening in the sect.
"Yanran has been spending a lot of nights at Chen'er's place recently…" Yun Yun muttered to herself, frowning.
Young people… they had no sense of restraint. Something like this could cause trouble sooner or later.
Normally, she wouldn't interfere in the affairs of other disciples. But these two were her most treasured students—disciples she had personally nurtured. One of them was even the successor she had chosen for the Yunlan Sect.
Her mind was conflicted. On one hand, she didn't want to intervene; on the other, she worried about their well-being.
"If I stop them from meeting, Chen'er will be distracted and unable to focus on his training. But if they continue like this… can his body really handle it?" Yun Yun sighed, concerned for her young disciple.
It seemed she needed to speak with Chen'er directly.
---
Meanwhile, sunlight filtered softly through the window of a quiet room, scattering warm, golden patterns across the floor. Inside, a young man sat cross-legged on his bed, his hands clasped around a magical core.
A subtle, mysterious energy radiated from his palms, pulling the chaotic energy of the core toward him. The young man's face, already handsome, seemed to glow with a warm, jade-like radiance.
Feeling the power flowing into him, he didn't stop. His eyes remained closed as he maintained perfect hand seals, focusing his mind entirely on absorbing the core's energy.
The strands of energy flowed through his skin, nourishing his bones and purifying his meridians. The core slowly shrank, from the size of an egg to something closer to an egg yolk, as its energy completely transferred into him.
Time passed unnoticed. He trained tirelessly, forgetting sleep and food, until the sunlight outside gradually softened and the scorching heat of the day waned.
Finally, the last bit of energy was absorbed. He blinked slowly, opening his jet-black eyes. The next moment, a surge of power rippled through him.
"Five-star Dou Shi…"
Ye Chen's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he sensed the tremendous energy now filling his body. He had been training in seclusion, using the Devourer's Art to refine his strength. In just ten days, he had broken through twice, reaching the level of a five-star Dou Shi.
Not yet sixteen, and already a five-star Dou Shi—if word of this spread, it would shock the entire Gamma Empire.
He stretched, feeling his body alive with energy. First, a bath, he thought. Yanran should be here soon.
Since activating the Dragon-Elephant Physique, Ye Chen's stamina had greatly increased. Even after intense nights of training, he could recover quickly and dedicate himself fully to cultivation—a true balance of strength and discipline.
He wasn't a genius in time management, but he knew how to plan his life well.
---
Night fell, and Nalan Yanran arrived as promised. After a tender evening together, she nestled into Ye Chen's arms, their closeness filled with warmth.
"Yanran… do you feel unwell anywhere today?" Ye Chen asked, concern evident in his voice.
"I… I don't know. I just feel like I have no appetite, and I feel a little nauseous," she replied, frowning slightly.
Ye Chen's heart tightened. So the pregnancy symptoms were finally starting.
He immediately spoke, voice firm yet gentle: "Yanran, from now on, no strenuous activity. Eat well, drink well, rest well. Our child must be safe."
"…Our child?" Nalan Yanran froze, her eyes widening in shock.
"Senior Brother… you mean… I'm pregnant?"
Her face turned pale. A sudden realization struck her like lightning. I'm… pregnant? Before even being married?
Ye Chen noticed her expression and asked gently, "Yanran… what's wrong? Aren't you happy?"
"I… I'm not saying I'm unhappy," she stammered. "But Senior Brother, we haven't even married yet.
What would my father… my grandfather… say? What will they think of me?"
Her hands trembled slightly as she spoke. Her greatest wish had always been to marry Ye Chen properly and then have children together. But now, that plan had been upended.
The Nalan family was strict. An unwed pregnancy was a serious violation of family rules.
If her father or grandfather found out, they would be furious, and her reputation...and the family's honor...would be in jeopardy.
Ye Chen's expression softened. He wrapped her tightly in his arms, his tone calm and reassuring.
"Yanran… don't worry. You're my woman now. No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you."
Feeling her anxiety, he added, "If you're worried about the engagement with the Xiao family, I'll handle it.
I'll go tomorrow and formally end it. After that, no one can interfere with us."
Nalan Yanran's face paled further. The engagement to the Xiao family had always been a thorn in her heart.
She feared public criticism if she married someone else before officially breaking off that engagement.
Ye Chen, however, had no intention of letting her suffer. He wanted to protect her honor and comfort.
He would ensure she felt secure and cared for during this delicate time.
"Rest assured, Yanran. Before your belly starts to show, I'll make sure everything is settled.
Our marriage… our child… we'll handle it properly. You won't have to worry about anything."