Lord Ivan reclined in the plush carriage seat, glancing at Lord Joseph. He explained, “The journey will resume shortly. The soldiers are currently taking down the tents.”
Lord Joseph’s expression soured upon hearing the delay. “Sigh! These uneducated commoners have no concept of time. Do they not understand the significance of this mission?” He sneered at the soldiers.
As one of the kingdom’s high-ranking mages, Lord Joseph Baker possessed an arrogant demeanor and looked down on those of lower status. Lord Ivan couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. ‘As expected of a master-ranked mage, he’s incredibly arrogant and dismissive of commoners… This could become a problem.’
Lady Eliza couldn’t contain her laughter at Lord Joseph’s agitation over such a minor hiccup. “Fufufu~ Lord Joseph, why let such a small matter vex you? It’s a trivial mistake. Why not let it go?”
Upon hearing Lady Eliza’s gentle voice, Lord Joseph promptly calmed down. “Well, if you say so, Lady Eliza, I’ll let it slide this time.”
“You’re being too gracious, Lord Joseph, fufufu~” Lady Eliza giggled.
Both Lord Ivan and Lady Diana were surprised by how effortlessly Lady Eliza had pacified Lord Joseph. Calming a fiery-tempered individual like him wasn’t an easy feat, especially within the capital where his hot-headed reputation was well-known. ‘As expected of Lady Eliza, her charm techniques are truly exceptional and difficult to discern,’ Lord Ivan mused, his surprise evident.
However, Lady Diana saw a different dynamic at play and couldn’t help but curve her lips into a sly smile. ‘So this is what’s happening. The hot-headed Lord Joseph has a soft spot for Lady Eliza. How amusing! Things are becoming quite intriguing… Fufufu~’ She chuckled inwardly, her expression full of mystery.
Lord Ivan caught sight of Lady Diana’s enigmatic smile, his confusion evident on his face.
After some time, the soldiers returned to the carriage, securing the horses for the journey. The captain turned toward the carriage and reported, “My Lord, we’ve completed all necessary preparations for the journey ahead. We’re ready to proceed.”
“Let’s not delay any further. We must move forward,” Lord Ivan responded from inside the carriage.
“As you command, My Lord,” the captain acknowledged, then turned to his comrades, saying, “Alright, everyone, let’s move out. Our destination is Pinebrook village.”
“Aye, aye, Captain!” The soldiers echoed in excitement.
With that, the carriage began to roll forward, gradually picking up speed.
—
Meanwhile, at the Monore family’s manor, Yuan and his wives sat in the backyard. Yuan turned to Rose, gently calling her name, “Rose…”
Rose responded promptly, her attention fully on Yuan, “Yes? What is it?”
“Are you ready to start your cultivation? It’s the perfect time now, and most importantly, you’re free…” Yuan looked into her eyes.
He had planned for Rose to begin her cultivation the day before, but due to his prior commitments with Ava and Julie, it had to be postponed.
Excitement sparkled in Rose’s eyes upon hearing Yuan’s words. She was eager to commence her cultivation, having learned techniques suitable for her. The events of the previous day had nearly slipped her mind.
‘Yeyyy! Finally, I can start my cultivation like Yuan and my other sisters…’ Rose celebrated inwardly, akin to a little girl who had just received a coveted doll.
However, she couldn’t hide her overwhelming excitement from the gazes of Yuan and his wives.
“Hehehe~” Anna, Grace, Emma, Lily, and Xi Meili giggled in unison at Rose’s elation.
Rose’s face flushed with embarrassment at their soft giggles.
Before long, her embarrassment deepened, her face aflame with blush.
“You look very adorable with that embarrassed face, Rose. Really!” Yuan complimented her with a smile, finding her blushing visage incredibly endearing.
“Stop! Don’t say such embarrassing things! You’re making me blush…” Rose protested, trying to regain her composure.
“Hehehe~ Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you now…” Yuan chuckled, causing Rose to shoot him a slightly irritated glance, her face still tinged with red.
Grace shot a seductive smile at Yuan and whispered into Anna’s ear, “Our darling really enjoys teasing his women sometimes… Look at how he’s made Rose blush.”
Anna sighed, “Well, it can’t be helped. He does have a way with words when it comes to ladies. I just hope the number doesn’t increase too much in the future, or it might become quite troublesome.”
Lily observed Yuan for a moment, then turned to Anna, speaking with pride, “Even if little Yuan has many beautiful women by his side in the future, it won’t change the fact that we’re his favorites, especially you two, Mom Anna and Mom Grace. I believe he’ll love us equally, no matter what.”
“Well, I can’t argue on that, after all he loves his mama the most, hehehe~” Grace giggled, her usually cold demeanor now lit up with happiness.
Lily, hearing her mother Grace’s words, felt a twinge of jealousy. With an indifferent tone, she remarked, “Hmph! He also loves me the most…”
“Hehehe~” Anna, Grace, and Emma chuckled, thoroughly entertained by Lily’s display of jealousy.
“Hubby loves me the most…” Suddenly, Xi Meili’s voice chimed in, capturing everyone’s attention. ｎｏｖ𝚕．𝚌ｏｍ
Anna wore a warm smile and affirmed, “Yes, dear. Hubby loves our Xi Meili the most.”
Yuan and Rose, overhearing the discussion about who Yuan loves the most, couldn’t help but chuckle. Xi Meili’s voice sounded particularly endearing to them.
After a few minutes, Yuan turned to Rose and asked, “Rose, did you say if you’re ready to start your cultivation now or not?”
“Why, of course I’m ready. I’m very excited to start, actually…” Rose’s voice brimmed with enthusiasm.
“So, tell me, how should I begin my cultivation? Do I need to review the technique once again?” Rose inquired, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Yuan gently shook his head and explained, “You don’t need to revisit the technique if you remember it correctly. Starting cultivation is quite simple, actually. Just sit in a lotus position, similar to when you were learning the technique, and follow the steps to absorb the spiritual energy around you. That’s the basic idea.”
Listening to Yuan’s explanation, Rose realized that cultivation seemed more straightforward compared to the mana circulation she’d done before. Now, she only needed to absorb the spiritual energy in the air while following the cultivation method.
“I see… So, all I have to do is sit here and absorb the spiritual energy in the air into my body according to the technique. Is that all?” Rose sought confirmation from Yuan.
“Absolutely, that’s how it works…” Yuan affirmed, a warm smile on his face.
“Well, I was surprised at how easy it sounds. Since all I have to do is sit in a lotus position and absorb the surrounding spiritual energy into my body,” Rose commented.
Grace chimed in, her smile still present, “Well, dear, you’re mistaken about cultivation. It’s not as easy as you may think, Rose. Cultivation demands time and patience. While you might experience faster progress initially, as you advance into higher levels, the pace of breakthroughs will slow. It may take much longer than you anticipate for even a small advancement.”
“With each breakthrough, the amount of Qi required for the next one also increases. So, it takes time and patience. Simply put, the higher the realm you reach, the more Qi is needed for the next level. It’s not as easy as you might imagine; it requires a lot of patience,” Grace elaborated, still smiling.
‘Sigh! I’m such a fool for thinking cultivation is as easy as drinking water… How could such extraordinary strength come with little to no effort? Nevertheless, I won’t give up, no matter what. I will cultivate diligently, not just for myself… But for Yuan. He is my everything now…’ Rose resolved inwardly to grow stronger and support her husband with all her might.
Rose fixed her gaze on Yuan, her eyes brimming with determination. She declared firmly, “Since I’ve chosen this path, no matter how hard it is, I won’t give up!”
Witnessing the unwavering resolve in Rose’s eyes, Yuan and his wives exchanged warm smiles. They were touched by Rose’s determination to stand by Yuan’s side for the rest of her life, no matter the challenges.
‘I’m truly fortunate to have found someone like Rose. She’s exceptional.’ Yuan reflected, his smile radiating contentment.
A minute later, Yuan spoke to Rose with a gentle smile, “You don’t need to worry about anything for now. Your main focus should be diligent cultivation. I have a method that can help you achieve breakthroughs faster with minimal effort. Moreover, it can be quite enjoyable.”
Anna, Grace, Lily, Emma, and Xi Meili blushed slightly at Yuan’s words. They understood what he was alluding to, having experienced it themselves, except for Xi Meili, of course.
“Really?” Rose inquired, her face reflecting surprise.
Unfortunately for her, her hopes would be dashed by Yuan’s next statement.
“Indeed, but I wouldn’t recommend trying it just yet. Your body isn’t ready, and it could be harmful,” Yuan explained.
“I see… What a letdown, sigh!” Rose sighed, her hope deflated by Yuan’s response.
“Hehe, don’t be disheartened. Once you reach the warrior realm, we can safely explore that method. It won’t pose any harm by then,” Yuan assured her.
A few moments later, Yuan instructed her, “Alright, assume the lotus position and calm your heart. Then, begin absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy, following the cultivation technique.”
“Understood,” Rose nodded, swiftly positioning herself in a lotus pose on the soft grass. She took a deep breath and focused.
She recited the cultivation technique in her mind. Soon, she could sense the dense spiritual energy permeating the surroundings, resembling sparkling, multicolored motes of dust dancing in the air.
‘This is what spiritual energy looks like. It’s like a vast sea of distant stars twinkling in a clear night sky. How mystifying,’ Rose mused, entranced.
Following the technique’s guidance, she started drawing the spiritual energy into her own body. Minutes passed, and she felt a sensation akin to fullness, despite having eaten nothing. Ignoring the feeling, she continued the absorption.
Eventually, she experienced a small surge within, a burst of refreshing energy coursing through her. It felt as though she’d been plunged into a pool of cool water on a scorching day.
Suddenly invigorated, she sensed changes within her body. It felt notably stronger than before.
“D-Did I… Did I actually become a cultivator?” Rose wondered inwardly, her voice trembling with disbelief.