The Nine Deaths Spiritual Phoenix Body's death tribulation was a troublesome existence even for the Saint Sects and Imperial Dynasties of the Heavenly Realms.
However, for Ling Fan, it was not an insurmountable problem.
He was once the foremost Heavenly Venerate of the Ten Great Heavenly Realms, the majestic Azure Cloud Emperor, whose cultivation shook the heavens and earth. If even he couldn't protect Lan Xueyi through her tribulation, then no one in this world could.
"How is it, is there still hope for my meridians to be repaired?"
Lan Xueyi asked.
A hint of fear flickered in her eyes; she was afraid of becoming a cripple from now on.
Seeing Ling Fan remain silent for a long time, her heart grew even more anxious.
Ling Fan snapped back to reality and said, "Your meridians are just the smallest of problems. What I need to help you solve now is another major challenge."
Lan Xueyi was stunned. If even her shattered meridians were a minor issue, how dire was her actual problem?
Ling Fan said, "Xueyi, you are actually a peerless genius!"
Ling Fan said solemnly.
Lan Xueyi's cheeks puffed out in annoyance. "You still have the mind to tease me! In front of you, a true genius unparalleled in both weapon forging and martial arts, what kind of genius am I? I knew it, you still resent what happened before! Do you feel you suffered a lot back then, and now you want revenge on me."
Ling Fan was at a loss for words!
He wasn't joking. How could this little girl's thoughts wander so far? Where did her mind go? Or was this how women were?
"I'm serious, Xueyi, listen to me, you are the Nine Deaths Spiritual Phoenix Body!"
Nine Deaths Spiritual Phoenix Body!
Lan Xueyi's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this, not understanding what Ling Fan was talking about.
After Ling Fan explained everything about the Nine Deaths Spiritual Phoenix Body, Lan Xueyi was completely stunned, unable to speak for a long time.
"So, I really am an exceptionally rare peerless genius..."
"But this peerless genius is incredibly ill-fated, and I might die under this physique before I can even grow?"
She came back to her senses, a hint of self-mockery in her voice.
Her mind was a blank slate now, and she didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
"When will the first tribulation arrive?"
She suddenly stared intently at Ling Fan and asked.
Ling Fan pulled up Lan Xueyi's sleeve.
A purple line appeared on her wrist.
"When this purple line spreads to your heart, the first tribulation will erupt. Judging by its speed, it will be in about two to three months."
"Meaning... I only have two to three months to live..."
A tear quietly slid down Lan Xueyi's eye.
"You won't die."
A hand gently wiped away the tear.
Ling Fan cupped Lan Xueyi's face, his voice filled with determination and a domineering aura that looked down upon the universe.
"You are my wife, Ling Fan's wife. What is the death tribulation of the Nine Deaths Spiritual Phoenix Body? If I don't let you die, even the Annihilation Heavenly Tribulation will not be able to take you away from me."
Hearing Ling Fan say this with such seriousness, Lan Xueyi gazed at his well-defined face, lost in a daze.
"With these words from you, I would have no regrets even if I died."
Lan Xueyi propped herself up with one hand, then quickly kissed Ling Fan's face. Before Ling Fan could react, she dodged and hid under the covers, wrapping herself up like a zongzi.
"I need to rest now!"
Ling Fan shook his head and smiled.
Lan Xueyi usually presented herself as a dignified and composed noble lady, a goddess to everyone. Little did they know she also had such a playful and shy side.
"I'm leaving now."
"You don't need to worry about your meridians. Take good care of yourself. After two months, once you've passed the first tribulation, your meridians will naturally reshape themselves, transforming into true Spiritual Phoenix meridians. Only then will the immense talent of this supreme physique truly manifest."
Ling Fan said this.
However, a sense of urgency also surged within him.
To help Lan Xueyi successfully pass the first stage of her death tribulation, he needed to reach at least the Profound Gang realm.
This meant he had to advance from his current peak Meridian Opening realm to the Profound Gang realm within two months!
For other geniuses, this process might take five, ten, or even a lifetime to successfully break through.
Even the Holy Sons, Divine Maidens, and Imperial Descendants of the Heavenly Realms would need at least a year to achieve this and solidify their foundations.
Ling Fan, however, only had two months.
But what was almost impossible for others was not without hope for Ling Fan.
...
When Ling Fan closed the door and left, Lan Xueyi's head finally emerged from the covers.
She was in a daze, lost in thought.
She had wanted to ask all along why Ling Fan knew so much, how he possessed such astonishing talent in weapon forging, and how he had suddenly transformed from a martial arts novice into a peerless genius capable of defeating those in the Profound Gang realm.
But she was somewhat afraid to ask.
She feared that all of this was a dream, and that asking would shatter it.
Thinking of Ling Fan's desperate expression when he said he wouldn't let her die, she slowly became resolute.
"No matter what, in this life, I am yours..."
She made up her mind. No matter how many secrets Ling Fan held, as long as he didn't say, she wouldn't ask. Because she believed Ling Fan would never harm her.
...
The next day.
The sky was already bright, but many people in the Lan family were still sound asleep.
Lan Tianxiong, the dignified family head, led the way. Lan Junjie was wrapped in layers of bandages, as was the usually steady Li Shan, along with many other Lan family members. They were all sprawled across tables, some even sleeping under the tables, clinging to others' legs.
At one point, snores filled the air.
Ling Fan couldn't help but find it amusing.
By the afternoon, everyone's drunkenness had slowly worn off.
Outside the Lan mansion, luxurious carriages of all kinds were already parked.
Experts from the major families and powers of Jiangnan City had been waiting outside the Lan mansion for a full morning.
"Lu Bai, the Grand Manager of the Ten Thousand Merchants Association of Jiangnan City, requests an audience with Master Ling Fan."
"Wu Wei of the Wu Family of Jiangnan City requests an audience with Master Ling."
"Master Wang of the Jiangnan City Weapon Forging Masters Association has come to congratulate Master Ling on winning first place in the Martial Arts Competition."
"Huo Ting of the Huo Family of Jiangnan City, accompanied by Young Master Huo Wuguang, has come to pay respects to Master Ling."
...
Announcements rang out one after another.
When the Lan family servants saw the weighty visiting cards, they felt an unprecedented sense of pride!
The Ten Thousand Merchants Association, the Wu Family, the Huo Family, the Weapon Forging Masters Association...
These were all top powers in Jiangnan City!
Previously, the Lan family was considered only a middle-tier power. Even if they wanted to curry favor with these top powers, they might not have been acknowledged.
Today, however, they were arriving one after another, all seeking an audience with the Lan family's son-in-law, Ling Fan!
Ling Fan, accompanied by Lan Tianxiong and Li Huimei, met the distinguished guests from Jiangnan City in the Lan family's council hall.
Li Huimei's face was beaming with joy!
She hadn't stopped smiling since the beginning.
Ling Fan had originally planned to go to that fire crystal mine today.
If it weren't for Lan Tianxiong, why would he have the leisure to entertain these people from Jiangnan City?