Chapter 90.1: When Golden Wind Meets Jade Dew, It Surpasses Countless Mortal Encounters

Qi Yuan’s figure turned into a streak of flowing light, diving deeper into the secret realm.

Suddenly, his gaze froze.

In the distance, spiritual energy flowed like streams of water, continuously washing over a crystal coffin.

From somewhere above, vines dangled precariously, slowly pulling the coffin upward, as though trying to carry it away. Inside lay a figure Qi Yuan knew better than anyone else—Little Bride.

The moment he saw who was in the coffin, Qi Yuan gripped his vegetable knife, his entire cultivation surging to the extreme.

With a single swing, heaven and earth trembled. This strike was far stronger than anything unleashed by his Radiant Sword. The knife crashed violently into the vines.

Blood trickled from Qi Yuan’s lips. “Pffft—”

The vines, however, remained unscathed. Instead, the coffin was pulled upward even faster.

All emotion drained from Qi Yuan’s eyes, replaced by a frightening calm. When he first saw Little Bride, joy and panic had seized his heart. But now, he was utterly still.

He exhaled softly, and whispered, “Sharing One Robe.”

Yes, he had activated his skill. As long as he and Little Bride existed within the same space, no matter how far apart they were, she would appear by his side.

Before his eyes, the indestructible vines snapped apart.

The crystal coffin burst open, and a figure in a bright red wedding gown stepped forth, walking upon condensed streams of spiritual energy.

All the vines writhed madly, stretching and coiling, trying to drag her back. Nevertheless, she continued forward, step by step. Her footsteps made no sound, yet every step struck directly against his heart.

Vines shattered one after another. The wedding gown fluttered weakly, almost unraveling.

Qi Yuan whispered softly, “Foolish Little Bride...”

He swung his knife again with all his might, slashing at the vines. They did not budge. Still, Qi Yuan kept hacking.

Little Bride stumbled forward, tripping and falling again and again, entangled by the vines. Even though each of her steps seemed clumsy, he knew every single one cost her immense effort.

The knife hacked madly, while Little Bride drew closer. At the same time, blood dripped from Qi Yuan’s mouth.

A hint of self-mockery crossed his eyes. “Your husband... is still too weak.”

He didn’t know how long it took, but she eventually reached him.

Crimson armor spread all over Qi Yuan. Now nearly a hundred meters tall, he was covered in red spikes. And yet, his aura carried a strange, gentle calm, like a tender god of death.

A moment later, the fusion state ended. The wedding gown fluttered down softly into his arms. Qi Yuan caught Little Bride’s cold, familiar self, wrapping his arms tightly around her slender waist.

A small wooden plaque. slipped into his hand.

Stick close.

Looking at the unconscious Little Bride, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but smile faintly. He held her close, as though embodying the carved words.

In a quiet murmur, he said, “I’d thought I might never see you again. Or that if I did, it would be after the world had changed. Oceans turned to mulberry fields, and ages had passed. The Civil Affairs Bureau’s long gone, the cooling-off period for divorce has long expired, and still I hadn’t seen you. Guess that means this marriage isn’t ending after all. They say happiness that comes easily is never cherished. Still, I think yearning for something unattainable is one kind of longing. To have you right here in my arms, that’s what feels truly real. To me, it’s only been three or five months without you. But for you, how long has it been since you last saw me?”

When he had awoken on Moonwatch Continent, his side had been empty. Little Bride was nowhere to be found, and his Sharing One Robe skill had failed to respond. He had thought he would only see her again after reaching the Yin Spirit Realm, able to roam the void and travel across worlds.

He never imagined that he would see her now so easily, so plainly. There was no thunderous reunion, no heaven-shaking emotion. Just quiet joy, as simple and pure as the first sunlight of dawn.

He held her, watching her sleep peacefully.

Then, new text appeared before his eyes:

[She is the slumbering Wedding Garment Empress. The wife you once welcomed with eight palanquins. May awaken at any moment, or perhaps she is waiting for your call.]

There was a lot more information this time.

“She’ll wake up,” Qi Yuan whispered, uncertain what he himself was feeling. Then, after a pause, he muttered, “Damn... I’ve been single so long, even a wedding dress is starting to look cute to me.”

He thought for a moment, then dressed Little Bride in one of his own robes.

After all, others had seen the crystal coffin and the figure within. He didn’t want anyone recognizing her.

“Dressing a wedding gown in clothes... this is oddly entertaining.”

Casting one last glance at the crystal coffin, Qi Yuan carried the sleeping Little Bride away.

***

"Land of the Sunken Coffin!"

Meanwhile, Li Xiao and Kang Fulu stood by the dark, misty waters, both looking helpless.

Li Xiao said anxiously, “If you don’t know the way across the River of Lost Souls, even a Nascent Soul cultivator could perish within.”

He had stayed for two reasons. To find Qi Yuan and bring him out, and to stop the old king’s plot. If the king succeeded, the Divine Radiance Sect would face disaster. Just like the sect master, Li Xiao had grown up in the sect and saw it as his family.

Both men watched the river in silence, desperate to find a way across.

"Qi Yuan must be stuck in this river, as long as he is alright, it would be a blessing."

"But where is he?"

They stared at the River of Lost Souls, thinking of how to cross the river. Finally, they decided to release several paper cranes imbued with spell energy to search for Qi Yuan.

Some time passed, and a streak of light shot across the sky.

Li Xiao’s eyes sharpened. “Someone’s coming!”

An enemy?

“Qi Yuan?” Kang Fulu’s white hair suddenly regained two streaks of black.

Elder Li was stunned. “He came out from

inside

the river?”

He did not know how Qi Yuan had even entered. Moments later, Qi Yuan crossed the River of Lost Souls and landed beside them.

Li Xiao squinted, Qi Yuan was really able to cross the River of Lost Souls!

Li asked hurriedly, “H-how did you make it through? Did you meet Great Shang's old king inside?”

Kang Fulu, however, was staring at the strange being in Qi Yuan’s arms. A special life form dressed in ill-fitting clothes.

Qi Yuan glanced at them and smiled faintly. “It’s safe in there. There's no danger. In fact... I even found my wife.”

Li Xiao and Kang Fulu froze. Was the chief disciple being serious? Calling anyone he just met “wife”? On Earth, he’d be called a

simp

.

“As long as you’re unharmed.” Li Xiao sighed in relief.

He assumed Qi Yuan had simply been lucky and hadn’t run into the old king. He wouldn't stand a chance against a Nascent Soul monster with a hundred Red Demon Cores otherwise.

“Qi Yuan,” Elder Li Xiao continued, “you may not know, but the old king of the Great Shang faked his death and secretly came to this place. If he gains control of the Celestial Dragon Realm, our sect is doomed!

Li Xiao was already prepared to sacrifice himself. "Qi Yuan, you and Kang Fulu should leave this place. I’ll stay and find a way to sabotage his plans. Tell me, how did you cross the River of Lost Souls?”

Qi Yuan shook his head and said softly, “No need. The old king’s already dead.”

Li Xiao and Kang Fulu were both stunned. “What?”

Qi Yuan opened his palm and hundreds of bloodstained Soul Thought Flowers floated there. Among them was the Main Soul Thought Flower.

“They wanted to kill me. I needed the Soul Thought Flowers. So I killed them instead. I’ll be going now, holding my wife like this isn’t very comfortable without a bed. Goodbye, Elder and Senior Brother.”

With that, Qi Yuan turned into a streak of light and vanished.

Li Xiao and Kang Fulu looked at each other, speechless.

After a long silence, Li Xiao finally said, “Did I hear that right...?”

“You did,” Kang Fulu muttered. “Those Soul Thought Flowers... they were soaked in blood.”

Li Xiao could already imagine the carnage that had likely taken place. According to the sect master’s estimation, there had been at least a hundred Red Demon Cores in that sealed place. Plus the old king himself, a being on par with a Nascent Soul.

Just how did Qi Yuan do it?