Chapter Eight: The Alchemist Senior Loves to Spread the Word

Upon hearing such heartfelt words from Mo Bufan, and seeing how earnest his expression was, Ge Nie could not help but let a strong feeling of disdain show on his face.

“This brat, acting all innocent with me. I may not have a wife, but back in the day, I had my share of adventures. Love? That’s nonsense. As a certain sage once said, there’s no real love in the world—only the impulses of certain organs. You’re turning those impulses into poetry. You’re even more shameless than I ever was! Back then, I relied on charm and cultivation to get what I wanted, no need for all this romantic drivel...” Ge Nie internally grumbled.

Of course, Mo Bufan had no idea what Ge Nie was thinking. Maintaining his pure demeanor, he continued, “You probably don’t believe me, senior brother. I didn’t believe it myself until the wedding night, when I saw Yuxuan... Ah... The gentleness of her lowered gaze, like a water lotus shyly trembling in the cool breeze...”

Ge Nie:

A new height of shamelessness!

But I like it.

In fact, I’m even more moved!

To risk his life strengthening his body for our little junior sister—looks like I’ll soon be holding a little nephew in my arms. Damn, after all these years, none of my fellow brothers or sisters have given me a nephew; why is that?

Ge Nie immediately walked over to Mo Bufan, sympathy and understanding written all over his face as he patted Mo Bufan’s shoulder. “Brother-in-law, I admire you, truly. Your actions move me. Don’t worry—I’ll speak highly of you before our junior sister and the others, so you and she can become a heavenly couple sooner.”

“Thank you, senior brother!” Mo Bufan bowed deeply to Ge Nie, though he felt it could use more embellishment, so he continued, “It’s all because my abilities are lacking. If I were stronger, I’d really want to grow old with Yuxuan, never parted from her!”

Upon hearing this, Ge Nie’s face twitched. This time, his admiration was genuine. He replied at once, “Brother-in-law, as long as you love each other, cultivation, time, even age—none of it matters. That’s true love.”

“You’re absolutely right!” Mo Bufan exclaimed, finally reaching the limits of his performance. Knowing it was time to stop, he asked, “By the way, senior brother, about those pills...”

Ge Nie, also feeling he could no longer keep up the act, hurried into the pill workshop and brought out more than a dozen bottles. “These are what I’ve refined recently. To help you as much as possible, I increased their potency—they’ll help you strengthen your body even faster!”

Mo Bufan was delighted, quickly stowing the pills in the storage bag Song Yuchen had given him before. “Thank you, senior brother... Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back. Cultivation waits for no one!”

“Yes, don’t waste time. Safe travels, brother-in-law.” Ge Nie saw Mo Bufan out.

Mo Bufan rode his crane away, gazing at the pouch of pills with immense joy in his heart.

Ge Nie watched Mo Bufan’s anxious departure and finally let out a long breath, though the smile never left his face. “This little guy’s story must be shared with all the brothers... And I must tell our junior sister just how deep this fellow’s feelings run…”

Back in his own quarters, Mo Bufan resumed his body training and cultivation, ignoring everything beyond his window.

With these more powerful body-refining pills, his training sped up considerably. Time was precious and not to be wasted.

Meanwhile, Ge Nie was busy spreading the tale of Mo Bufan’s relentless efforts for Song Yuxuan. He first sought out several of their fellow disciples, embellishing Mo Bufan’s devotion to their junior sister, so much that the elders who supported Mo Bufan’s marriage into the Heavenly Profound Sect were utterly delighted.

Especially the second brother, who was deeply impressed by Mo Bufan’s perseverance.

As for those previously skeptical or neutral, seeing how things had progressed, and given that “food and lust” are a man’s nature, they decided it wasn’t so bad—so long as junior sister was sincere, they’d support her.

Next, Ge Nie approached several female elders for a second round of storytelling. This time, the focus was not “lust,” but sincerity:

A man risking everything to win a woman’s heart...

His talent in cultivation was meager, and only by risking his life could he approach Song Yuxuan…

He wished to grow old with her, but his lack of strength caused him constant sorrow…

Soon, Mo Bufan became a figure of pity and sympathy in everyone’s minds.

The female elders, softer at heart, felt that although Mo Bufan’s abilities were lacking, his sincerity and courage were remarkable. If the two could forge a romance that transcended cultivation and age, it would be a truly romantic tale.

Thus, they quickly joined the ranks persuading Song Yuxuan.

Everyone’s persuasion centered on Mo Bufan’s sincerity.

At first, Song Yuxuan looked down on Mo Bufan, barely willing to spare him a glance—especially after the incident with the “Golden Wind Jade Dew Pill,” which only worsened her opinion. Yet, with so many brothers and sisters whispering in her ear, this naive and inexperienced girl’s heart began to change.

Of course, a man risking his life for such a cause did not make her like Mo Bufan, but he certainly drew her attention.

At first, after cultivation, she’d occasionally glance at him. Later, she started watching Mo Bufan every time she took a break. Sometimes, seeing him exhausted like a dying dog, she even felt a pang of concern.

Unconsciously, she had already made room in her heart for this “good-for-nothing” at the Dao Comprehension stage.

Yet, Song Yuxuan was shy, and having called Mo Bufan vulgar before, she had no reason to speak to him. So, she could only stubbornly observe, never finding an opportunity to exchange even a few words.

Half a year later, after a training session, she watched Mo Bufan as usual, only to find him leaning against a boulder taller than herself, playing with a ball of fire in his hand!

“Fire Manipulation Technique!” Song Yuxuan was astonished.

She immediately spread her spiritual sense to check Mo Bufan’s cultivation—and was utterly shocked.

This man, long considered useless, had reached the eighth level of Dao Comprehension!

Ten months ago, he was only at the third level. Now he had advanced so far, his rate of progress rivaled even her own back then!

“How did he do it!” Song Yuxuan was amazed, forgetting her composure and status as she flashed over to Mo Bufan.

Mo Bufan was engrossed in his newly learned Fire Manipulation, when he saw Song Yuxuan approach. Distracted, he lost control and set his own clothes ablaze.

“What are you doing here…” Mo Bufan asked, frantically patting out the flames.

“You broke through to the eighth level of Dao Comprehension?” Song Yuxuan asked eagerly.

Seeing her dramatic reaction, Mo Bufan scratched his head, “Just broke through, learned some Fire Manipulation.”

“How did you do it?” Song Yuxuan pressed.

Mo Bufan patted the boulder behind him, then shook the pill bottle in his hand, “Just like this.”

Song Yuxuan couldn’t believe it—since when did body training alone lead to breakthroughs in cultivation? She frowned, suspecting Mo Bufan was hiding some secret.

With that thought, she snorted, and summoned the force of heaven and earth, controlling Mo Bufan before he could react. Her spiritual sense swept over him, seeing through him completely.

His bloodline was stronger than before.

His spiritual energy had reached the eighth level.

His meridians and dantian expelled spiritual energy much more slowly, but were still overflowing, unable to contain more.

His muscles were perfectly sculpted, his close-fitting pants were red... Wait, that was a mistake...

His belongings, apart from some gifts from senior sisters, were just the clinking bottles in his storage bag—nothing unusual.

...

Song Yuxuan’s cheeks flushed as she withdrew her spiritual power and sense.

He had truly broken through; his body was still absorbing spiritual energy to the limit, but now that limit was the eighth level, not the third.

When Song Yuxuan controlled Mo Bufan’s body, he felt a fleeting sense of danger. Thankfully, it vanished quickly, but after being released, he was so startled he plopped down on the ground. Looking at the blushing and dazed Song Yuxuan, he said angrily, “What are you doing, trying to murder your own husband?”

Song Yuxuan knew she’d been a bit impulsive. She coughed and said, “I was just curious… Are you really taking those pills to cultivate?”

“What else? You think I enjoy self-abuse?” Mo Bufan grumbled, “If you can’t help me, fine—but there’s no need to try to kill me.”

Song Yuxuan, feeling guilty, didn’t argue.

But in her mind, she recalled senior brother Ge Nie’s words: “It’s all because my abilities are lacking. If I were stronger, I’d really want to grow old with Yuxuan, never parted from her!”

“Could it be he really isn’t harboring any strange motives… Maybe I’ve misunderstood him all along?” Song Yuxuan forced herself to reconsider.

Looking at the still disgruntled Mo Bufan, her guilt deepened.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been so rash,” Song Yuxuan said softly.

“Huh?” Mo Bufan was surprised, “It’s... It’s fine, just don’t do it again.”

Song Yuxuan thought for a moment and said, “I really can’t help you, but I think someone else might be able to.”

Mo Bufan was pleased—he wasn’t stubborn; help was always welcome. Yet he replied, feigning humility, “No need, a real man relies on heaven, earth, and his wife—not on others.”

This time, hearing “wife,” Song Yuxuan felt no particular aversion, only smiled, “Wait here, I’ll go find him.”

With that, her figure flashed, vanishing in an instant.

Mo Bufan watched his quick-tempered wife disappear before he could say anything else, a wry smile on his face. “Even immortals can be this impatient… I envy her ability to vanish in an instant… And that smile when she left—so beautiful, better than anything I’ve seen in movies…”

“Sigh… With a wife like this, showing her off would be the height of prestige… And happiness!”