The Ancestral Hall was still silent.
Finally, Patriarch Zhen exhaled through his nose.
It sounded like a storm crossing a mountain range.
"One month."
That was the time he gave the two to prepare.
If it wasn't for Song Yan he'd have demanded the duel to happen that instant.
The prideful Patriarch Ye bared his teeth in what might have been a smile.
"Agreed. My son will turn that peasant into ash."
Ye Lingxiao flicked his fan shut.
"One month? Quite generous for cultivation trash."
Zhen Rou shot to her feet as her chair scraped back.
She spun toward Li Qingmu, cheeks flushed with joy.
"Husband—! ♥️"
But the spot beside Song Yan was empty.
Zhen Rou blinked like an owl.
Her husband had disappeared.
She searched the hall three times with her divine sense.
Then ran out barefoot as her skirt fluttered.
"Husband? Husband!!"
There was no response.
She returned the next dawn with a food box full of osmanthus cake and honeyed spirit dates.
"These are Husband's favorites!"
The small courtyard he'd been given was locked.
Third day, still nothing.
Seventh day, the fairy maiden camped on his doorstep with blankets.
Fifteenth day, she was hollow-eyed, hugging the cold food box like it might warm her.
Finally she cornered Grand Elder Song Yan in the Sun Reflection Pavilion.
Song Yan sat on the railing, jade legs swinging and a sword across her lap like a lazy cat.
The sun turned her hair into beautiful silver.
"Where is he?" Zhen Rou's voice cracked.
Song Yan tilted her head with those gentle eyes.
"He's in seclusion. Patriarch Ye will stuff his son with every heaven-defying treasure under the sky. If your husband wants even a sliver of hope, he must get stronger, not waste time eating sweets with you."
Zhen Rou's fingers crumpled the hem of her sleeve.
"One month… can it really change anything?"
Song Yan's smile was soft yet emotionless.
"That depends on the will of the heavens."
Zhen Rou bowed so low her smooth forehead kissed the floorboards.
"Then… I'll pray every day."
She really did.
Dawn bell, dusk bell, she knelt in the side hall.
"I trust my husband… please let him come back and slap that dog Ye's face!"
She said the same words everyday.
══════
While the outside world counted thirty sunsets, inside the Map of the Nine Mountains, four seasons had already turned to winter and back twice.
The elegant Crimson-Jade Tyrant Palace floated above a blood-red sea of clouds.
Its pillars were carved from ancient dragon bones.
Tiles made of gold stone.
Spiritual energy here was thick, wild, and violent.
It was like drinking from a dragon's vein instead of a gentle spring.
Li Qingmu sat cross-legged on the highest balcony.
His black robes were half-open.
His short hair that looked like a rat's nest had become a long hair loose and wild down to his waist.
The tyrant marks on his bare chest glowed crimson every time he breathed.
This is the effect of time and patience!
One year and seventeen days inside.
Barely a month outside.
He had achieved Late Foundation Establishment just three months in.
Mastered Hidden Shadow Step.
Perfected his Universe Footwork.
With that, he could enhance any sword style!
Then, high on a blood-crystal cliff, he had fused the divine chaos energy of Nine Heavens Tyrant Physique's with his shallow sword intent.
Boom!
The fierce aura of an ancient despot.
A hundred blood-red tyrant swords exploded into reality with power to shake the heavens!
Tyrant Sword Formation Art is born.
Yet after that, his cultivation hit a wall.
So he waited.
And the concubines… delivered.
"We want Lord Li to inflate our bellies with his thick sweet yang! ♥️"
"We want to make more babies for you~"
"Impregante us again, Young Master Li!"
"Our bellies are aching for more, yumm ♥️"
These concubines of his were truly succubi.
His yang essence is like sugar to them.
It didn't matter how beautiful, no fairy would dare leave after sharing a night with him.
Just hearing their desire to get impregnated by him made his dragon stalk grow thick.
The sect sisters saw this and their soon a sticky water stained their undergarments.
They were intoxicated by his arousing presence.
"Let's make more, Lord Li~ ♥️"
These words would soon sound like a threat.
"…"
A frustrated Li Qingmu exhaled and opened his eyes.
Only to see fifteen annoying chubby toddlers using his legs as jungle gyms.
"Waaa—!"
"Papa! Up!"
"Ba ba ba ba ba!"
Three little girls had braided his hair into messy ropes and were swinging from it like vines.
One boy gnawed on his sleeve with fragile teeth.
Another had climbed his shoulder and was trying to pry open his third eye with sticky fingers.
They wouldn't be this strong and tireless if it wasn't for the drops of True Dragon Essence he bought from the market and painted on their bones at birth.
This would improve their spiritual roots in the future.
Li Qingmu tried to circulate his tyrant qi.
A baby slapped his cheek.
Another yanked his hair.
A third peed on his lap.
His cultivation derailed with a miserable poof.
"These children…"
He frowned at them but they just giggled.
[Ding! Host's concubine has successfully given birth to a daughter—spiritual roots: Orange (low). Host receives 3 months pure cultivation + 1 minor Body Tempering Pill.]
[Ding! Concubine has given birth to twin sons with orange spiritual roots. Host receives 8 months cultivation + low-grade Spirit Gathering Bead x3.]
[Ding! Concubine has given birth to a daughter with orange spiritual roots. Host receives…]
The system kept singing like a broken bell.
Twenty-six babies in total.
He had long given up cultivating in peace.
The floating palace now sounded like a battlefield of crying and laughter.
His concubines were tired after giving birth so they left their babies with him.
But when they recovered they seduced him to give their babies a name.
A little grope here and kisses there can do that.
"Li Ah, Li Bei, Li Cee, Li Dah, Li Er, Li Fan, Li Ge…"
All the way to Li Z at the end.
He thought they'd beat him.
Instead they cried tears of joy.
"You even gave them order! Young Master is so sweet and thoughtful!"
"Young Master's heart is for us! ♥️"
"Young Master deserves our bare bodies!"
That night he slept with all 25 concubines.
But their wombs were still recovering so he sprayed their bodies with his whites not their insides.
"Do it inside us, Lord Li!"
"I don't care about my womb, more yang please ♥️"
They stroked his shaft and begged him.
Some even licked the remaining yang off his tip like a cat would drink milk.
But Li Qingmu denied their peaches of his yang.
He needed their wombs to be in good condition.
He's a strict husband!
[Ding! Because the mothers are moved by Host's "loving names" affection degree +max. Host receives random reward: 2 years pure cultivation!]
[Ding! Concubine satisfaction breakthrough. Host receives low-grade Heavenly Spirit Pill x5!]
They babies had weak spiritual roots.
Mostly red or orange, but it was enough.
His spiritual roots jumped from…
Trash red → orange → yellow in a single night.
Peak Foundation Establishment came as naturally as breathing fresh air.
A core vortex already spun wildly in his dantian as it roared for heavenly tribulation.
But he held back.
A Mortal-Dao Core would cripple his future.
He needed a Heaven-Defying one.
And then on the 360th day inside the family spiritual dimension Elder Sister Huang's water broke.
The entire palace panicked.
"Elder Sister is giving birth!"
"Quick, get some hot water!"
"Young Master has been standing outside the door for six hours, just look at his face!"
Li Qingmu indeed stood there like a statue.
His eyes were glazed and mouth half open.
But that is because of his cultivation blessings!
[Ding! Detecting extreme heavenly providence…]
[You've won the lottery! Concubine Huang Shiyue is giving birth to a heaven-blessed child!]
Inside, Elder Sister Huang's cries shook the palace.
"Push—push harder, Sister Huang!"
"The head crowned! I see hair!"
Li Qingmu gripped his heart and smiled inwardly.
A heaven-blessed child!