The sky overhead had begun to clear, and the heat from the forest had dissipated. He assumed that meant Mei Xilan and Zhou Lihua had both succeeded in breaking through the Deva Realm. It could have also meant they had failed, but he had faith in them, so he wasn’t too worried.

He was about to head back to Zhou Lihua when he paused midstep. The sounds of the forest had stopped during his battle, so all he heard was the rustling of grass and leaves swaying in the breeze. Nothing seemed out of place.

And yet…

“Hoooo? You detected my presence. You’ve gotten more powerful, it seems.”

Wu Jian took a calming breath as someone spoke behind him. He had not felt them seconds before, meaning they had appeared instantly.

It was nearly impossible to sneak up on Wu Jian now. During this past year, he had honed many of his skills, and while he had heavily emphasized training his sword skills, that did not mean he neglected the others.

Spatial Awareness was a skill he had honed to a fine point during this past year. This sensory technique that allowed to sense changes and movement in the space around him had become so much more. It was now a passive skill that was always active, meaning no one could sneak up behind him, and he had expanded its range from just a few chi around him to ten zhang. If someone wanted to surprise him, they would need to appear within his bubble, so to speak, within an instant.

Just like this man.

“I haven gotten more powerful, though clearly not powerful enough to stop you.”

Wu Jian turned to find a man with cerulean hair like a main of spikes that descended down his back in overflowing waves, antler-like horns parting his hair to jut from his head and curve behind him. He dressed simply. His bright blue hanfu was reminiscent of dragon scales and glistened in the light. Pale skin, a sharp face, and silver eyes gazed at him with the same arrogance he had seen the last time they met. As always, Wu Jian could not sense his cultivation.

“Loong Chen, it’s been a while. If you’re here, does that mean Hou Jingshu is here, too?”

“Hate to break it to you, but no. It’s just me. My apprentice is busy training. She doesn’t have time to meet with you,” Loong Chen said with a snort.

Loong Chen was a flood dragon and a Perfection Realm expert. He was a pinnacle existence on this planet. Only a small handful of people could even hope of going toe-to-toe with him. The sect master of the Heavenly Sword Sect was one of those people. Wu Jian did not know any other.

“So what are you doing here, then?” asked Wu Jian

“Me?” Loong Chen snorted. “I felt a disturbance in the forest and decided to check it out. I should have known it’d be you. You’re always causing trouble for me.”

Wu Jian shrugged as he began walking. “I don’t think I’m causing you any trouble. You could have just ignored our battle.”

“Tch. Smart ass.” Loong Chen kept pace with Wu Jian as they walked through the forest. “So, what are you doing here?”

Since there was nothing to lose by telling Loong Chen about his circumstances, he informed the flood dragon of what he had been up to and his purpose in coming here. The forest was just a stopping point on his journey. They had decided to stop here because it was out of the way and no one would disturb them when Zhou Lihua and Mei Xilan attempted to break through the Deva Realm. That was all.

“I see. So those two who just broke through are your companions. Hmmm. I remember the one called Zhou Lihua. She’s your other woman, isn’t she?”

“That’s right,” Wu Jian nodded.

“Tch. I can’t believe you have another woman when my apprentice is so devoted to you.”

“It wasn’t my decision to practice polygamy with them.”

“Hah! Spoken like a true harem king.”

Wu Jian furrowed his brow at what he perceived was an insult, to judge by this man’s tone, but he didn’t pursue that line of question, instead opting to change the subject.

“How is Jingshu?”

“Hmmm. She’s excellent. She grows stronger each and every day.” Loong Chen scratched his chin, then grinned at him. “She’s much stronger than you.”

“Really? That’s amazing!”

“Oi, oi! Did you not hear me? I said she’s stronger than you!”

“I heard you just fine. I can’t wait to see how strong she’s become.”

“Tch. At least act with a little more dignity. You should be ashamed after hearing that a woman is stronger than you are.”

“Why should I feel ashamed by that?” asked Wu Jian.

Loong Chen looked startled. “E-excuse me?”

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“I understand that men have for the longest time held a more dominant role in society and that to be weaker than your woman is considered a disgrace by many… but who cares? I’ve never once cared about that kind of crap. My women are strong. I take pride in knowing that they love me even if I’m weaker than them. They are my pride.”

Men have long held dominant roles in society thanks to the time before cultivation--tens of thousands of years ago, when it was the strength of a person’s body and not their spirit that determined who held the power. Take away cultivation and men became stronger than women. They weighed more, were generally taller, and built muscle mass more easily. That was why men often took on the role of decision-maker, since they were the protectors and providers.

That was no longer the case since the age of cultivation had begun. Women could become just as strong as men. However, the gender roles that had been inherited by tens of thousands of years of human existence could not be distinguished so easily. That was why many still considered it shameful to be weaker than a woman.

Wu Jian didn’t give two shits about that.

He took pride in the strength his women possessed.

I wonder how much stronger Jingshu has become?

Wu Jian was at the peak of the Deva Realm, and Loong Chen said that Hou Jingshu was stronger than him, which meant she must have become a Seeker Realm cultivator at the very least. That would be impressive.

Wu Meiying was also at the Seeker Realm. She had only reached that realm recently because she had been suppressing her cultivation to better increase her power before breaking through. He had been there when she reached it. The awe-inspiring sight of her entire body undergoing a strange metamorphosis as though she were de-aging had been quite the sight. She said it was the result of her cultivation method. With each new realm she reached, her body would become younger, though she could change her physical age to match her mental age.

Not that it meant much to them right now. He and Wu Meiying were both still 17 years-old. They were quite young by cultivation standards. The fact that they had reached such heights at their age was seen as a symbol of their strength and talent.

“Tch, I see you’re the same as always.”

“You haven't changed much either, cantankerous old man.”

“Brat, am I gonna have to beat your ass some more?”

“Bring it on.”

They continued talking and Loong Chen needled Wu Jian with sarcastic jokes until they emerged into the lake clearing where Zhou Lihua had broken through. Youmei and Zhou Wen were both there. The little panther was hopping around on the grass. It looked like she was imitating the frog she was following--he hoped she wouldn’t try to eat that. Zhou Wen was calmly leaning against a tree.

Zhou Lihua, Mei Xilan, and Shuchang were also present.

While there was no outward difference in Zhou Lihua, Mei Xilan had undergone several changes--her hair in particular. It used to be silvery with blue ends, but now it looked even more ice. Her eyes were also lighter. Before, they had been more of a cerulean blue, but now they were an icy blue that more closely resembled Hua Xue’s.

Not every cultivation method created such intense changes in a person. In fact, most did not. Wu Jian’s and Zhou Lihua’s cultivation methods were like that. The physical changes they underwent were relatively minor. Their skin became clearer and their physical features became more attractive, but they were small changes. They still looked like them. Mei Xilan’s cultivation method was different in that her physical features underwent sweeping changes every time she reached a new realm.

This sort of change was often attributed to one’s body becoming more aligned to their elemental energy. Mei Xilan practiced the Ice Phoenix Cultivation Method, which was associated with the ice element. As she advanced in her cultivation, her body became more aligned that that element, which affected her physical appearance. Meanwhile, Wu Jian’s and Zhou Lihua’s cultivation methods did not have that elemental alignment. His was a cultivation method that focused on understanding the Dao of Space and Zhou Lihua’s the Dao of Alchemy.

As they stepped into the clearing, everyone turned toward them. Zhou Wen froze, Mei Xilan’s body went stiff, and Zhou Lihua blinked several times. Only Youmei seemed unaffected.

Hmmm.

Wu Jian studied Zhou Wen, who looked quite pale. It was like she had seen a ghost. Come to think of it, he didn’t think they had ever met, even though Zhou Lihua would often visit the Shang Kingdom imperial palace before she left to apprentice under Master Yun Chi. She wasn’t a cultivator to the best of his knowledge, however, so she should not have been able to sense his cultivation or power. Why was she acting so horrified?

Wait. I forgot Loong Chen is a flood dragon.

While he currently wasn’t showing off his tail, the antlers on his head marked him as a magical beast of the dragon variety. Dragons were revered and worshiped. Even the weakest dragon was born at the Asura Realm. Loong Chen was a dragon who had at least reached the Deva Realm, which meant he was an existence that could snuff out a small kingdom if he wanted. Of course, he was much stronger than that. He could probably destroy several nations if he wanted to. Anyone would fear such a powerful creature.

“Whoa… who’s this guy? I can tell he’s strong. My hairs are standing straight up.”

“You don’t know who that is? That’s uncle dragon.”

“Uncle… dragon… huh…”

Loong Chen clicked his tongue. “Listen here, brat, I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, do not call me that. I’m no one’s uncle.” He eyed Shuchang for a moment. “I see you’ve found with Vermillion Bird blood. I didn’t think anyone with his blood existed anymore.”

Shuchang shrugged. “I’m a special case.”

“Dàshī Loong Chen,” Zhou Lihua greeted with a bow. “It has been some time.”

“Hmm. That it has. I see you’ve gotten stronger, too. I suppose congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ve heard about what you’re all doing here? You plan on heading over to fight against an entire sect in order to reclaim this girl’s throne.” He hitched a thumb at Mei Xilan. “That sounds like a lot of fun. I’m going to have you take my apprentice.”

“Jingshu will be joining us?” asked Wu Jian in surprise.

Loong Chen shrugged. “She’s become pretty strong now. However, she hasn’t had a chance to test her new strength. It’ll be good for her to fight as many strong people as possible. This will also help her cultivation.”

Right. Hou Jingshu grows stronger with every battle. I’m sure her growth will be explosive if she fights even stronger opponents… though I doubt anyone is as strong as this man right here. He most likely wants her to gain more experience fighting a bunch of different people.

Hou Jingshu practiced the Nine Heavenly Dragons Embodiment, an ancient and powerful cultivation method left behind by her ancestor--the famous Azure Dragon. This cultivation method was heavily reliant upon the cultivator enjoying a battle. The stronger the opponents she faced, the more she enjoyed the fight, the stronger she would become. It was a method of cultivation that allowed someone to gain explosive growth simply by fighting strong opponents.

“How much stronger as Jingshu gotten?” Zhou Lihua wondered out loud.

Loong Chen smirked. “Wait just a few days for her to arrive and you’ll find out.”