Cultivation starts with picking up attributes
Chapter 101: Ch-101: Elegance gets rewarded

Chapter 101: Ch-101: Elegance gets rewarded

The world outside the courtyard moved relentlessly forward, but here—beneath the sheltering plum trees and beside the ever-gurgling pond—time seemed to slow, fold in on itself, and reshape.

Three months had passed.

Three months marked by steady cultivation, countless shared breaths, and the silent weaving of spiritual energy between husband and wife.

The seasons had shifted softly.

The plum blossoms had long since fallen, replaced by the verdant green of early summer leaves.

The lotus pond now teemed with life—dragonflies skimmed its surface, and the gentle splash of frogs filled the quiet moments.

Yet the courtyard remained a sanctuary untouched by the world’s chaos, a place where the air hummed with latent power and unspoken promises.

...

Tian Shen sat cross-legged on the veranda, the familiar weight of his sword resting by his side.

His eyes were closed, calm and steady, as he guided the flow of Sword Qi in tandem with the spiritual Qi patterns Feng Yin had helped him weave.

Nearby, Feng Yin lounged on a large stone near the waterfall, her posture relaxed but poised like a cat ready to pounce.

Her dark hair spilled over her shoulders, damp from the cool mist, shimmering as it caught the sunlight.

The faintest smile played on her lips—part tease, part challenge.

"Any complaints?"

She called out, voice dripping with mock superiority.

He opened one eye lazily.

"Only that you keep looking like you’re about to strike me down for being too slow."

She laughed—a clear, musical sound that rippled through the courtyard.

"I’m just reminding you who’s leading this dance."

He smirked.

"Good to know you’re still bossy."

"Bossy, yes. But effective."

She rose gracefully and stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with that same warmth that had first drawn him to her.

The intimacy between them was unspoken but thick, like the charged air before a summer storm.

They often trained together like this—silent partners in a sacred rhythm of energy and intent, each movement a conversation, each breath a vow.

...

The breakthrough had been coming for weeks.

Feng Yin’s Cultivation—always vibrant—had deepened in hue and density, glowing faintly with the soft chill of ice tempered by heat.

Her cultivation progressed rapidly, fueled by the dual cultivation sessions they shared under moonlight and candle flame.

There was power in their connection, a resonance that amplified both their energies beyond what either could achieve alone.

Tian Shen remembered the night clearly—the night Feng Yin crossed the threshold from Nascent Soul to Core Formation Realm.

She had been elusive all evening, flicking teasing glances his way, her touch lighter than a breeze yet grounding him like gravity.

Their practice had started with quiet meditation, hands hovering near but not quite touching—then, as the moon rose higher, the passion between them surged.

Neither said a word.

The world outside their courtyard melted away.

In the stillness, their spiritual Qi intertwined, weaving together in a dance of light and shadow, heat and cold.

Feng Yin’s movements were sharper, her presence more commanding.

Yet her warmth hadn’t faded—if anything, it had grown deeper, tempered by newfound power and confidence.

They trained harder, longer, pushing each other beyond limits with a balance of challenge and care.

Their dual cultivation sessions, Well triple if count the mischievous little fox in, continued—frequent and intense—each a delicate balance of spiritual and physical closeness.

There was no need for words; the energy between them spoke volumes.

This took place for week until the fruit of their ’efforts’ finally blossomed.

When Feng Yin’s core finally solidified, a radiant pulse rippled through her body, and a faint halo of frost-tinged flames circled her like a crown.

She opened her eyes slowly, and for a moment, the fierce spark in her gaze softened into something almost vulnerable.

Then, with a mischievous grin, she whispered.

"Looks like I’ve caught up to you."

Tian Shen laughed softly, reaching out to cup her cheek.

"You’ll always be a step ahead."

...

This morning, as sunlight spilled across the courtyard, Tian Shen watched Feng Yin effortlessly deflect a series of spirit blades conjured from thin air.

Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she toyed with him.

"Your defenses are still sloppy," she teased.

"Only because you keep distracting me with those ’weapons’ of yours."

She arched an eyebrow.

"Am I not supposed to?"

"Not if you want me to keep up."

They moved in a practiced rhythm—attack, parry, counter—with neither gaining clear dominance but both reveling in the contest.

Little Mei, ever the mischievous observer, darted between them, her crimson eyes sparkling.

"Let me try!"

She declared, summoning a small gust that caught Tian Shen off-guard.

He stumbled but recovered with a grin.

"Alright, fox, show me what you’ve got."

The afternoon drifted by in a blur of laughter, sweat, and the faint crackle of spiritual energy.

...

As evening settled, the courtyard quieted.

Feng Yin and Tian Shen sat side by side beneath the plum tree, the soft scent of blossoms mingling with the cool night air.

Tian Shen reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

Her eyes locked onto his—warm, mischievous, full of unspoken promises.

They rose together, the moonlight casting long shadows as they moved inside.

The world beyond the courtyard faded once more.

Inside the quiet sanctuary of their chamber, their energies intertwined, forming a complex dance that transcended words.

The room filled with a subtle glow as their spiritual Qi flowed in harmony, reinforcing and refining each other.

Together, they forged deeper into the Core Formation Realm, this time with the absence of a certain someone, the pulse of their combined cultivation echoing like a heartbeat through the night.

Outside, Little Mei’s soft snores blended with the distant clucks of Drowsy—guardians of their shared peace.

And for the first time in a long while, Tian Shen felt truly anchored.

Not just by cultivation or power—but by love.

...

The next morning dawned cool and clear, dew glistening across the leaves like tiny jewels.

Mist curled around the stones at the courtyard’s edge, slowly dispersing under the rising sun.

Feng Yin was dressed immaculately, her robes embroidered with pale frost lotus sigils that shimmered faintly—subtle, but unmistakable.

The telltale signature of a newly ascended Core Formation cultivator.

Tian Shen, meanwhile, looked less prepared.

Mostly because he’d been half-dragged out of bed by his wife, who had apparently decided punctuality was more important than breakfast.

"I still say this could’ve waited till after the meat buns."

He grumbled, adjusting his sash with one hand and brushing fox fur off his other shoulder.

Little Mei had refused to be left behind and now sat atop his head in her small fox form, tail curled like a crown.

Feng Yin didn’t bother turning around as she walked ahead, chin lifted.

"It’s traditional to report breakthroughs to Our Master."

"It’s also traditional to let your husband sleep past sunrise if he’s been used as a human furnace to help with your breakthrough."

She smirked over her shoulder.

"You’re welcome, by the way."

They ascended the side path toward the upper pagoda, where Elder Su resided—a quiet cliffside villa with a sweeping view of the valley below.

Elder Su was already waiting on the veranda, her white robes fluttering like feathers in the wind.

Her hair spilled down her back in a braid too neat for someone who claimed to live a "retired" lifestyle.

She smiled when she saw them.

"Well, well. The frozen storm has bloomed."

She said, her gaze settling warmly on Feng Yin.

"And not a day too late. I felt the ripple from here."

Feng Yin bowed gracefully.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder Su."

"Guidance?"

Elder Su chuckled.

"All I did was point at a wall and say, ’Break it.’ You lit it on fire and walked through."

[A/N: just to make sure, she meant it in a motivational sense, not a literal one.]

She reached into her sleeve and produced a slender jade scroll, wrapped in silver thread and stamped with the Elder’s personal seal.

"A Reward for the effort. Core Formation is no small feat—especially when earned honestly."

Feng Yin accepted the scroll with a nod.

"I’ll put it to good use."

Tian Shen cleared his throat loudly.

Elder Su’s gaze drifted to him.

"Ah, the problematic boy lives."

"I was just wondering," Tian Shen said with a wounded look, "where my reward was when I broke through three months ago."

Su arched an eyebrow.

"Did you report it with ceremony and grace?"

"I reported it!"

"Mm. Lacks elegance."

Feng Yin coughed delicately into her sleeve to hide a laugh.

Elder Su strolled forward, hands behind her back, her tone turning wry.

"You’re always welcome to break through again. Maybe next time, try doing it without making a fuss out of it."

"That was one time."

"One very weird timed," she said, smiling.

Tian Shen sighed.

"I am grievously underappreciated in this sect."

Little Mei squeaked from atop his head.

"He really is. He needs snacks and head pats."

"I believe that’s your department,"Elder Su said, lips twitching. "Mine is handing out scrolls to competent cultivators who remember to bow."

Tian Shen bowed, dramatically.

"Too late," She said, now sweetly.

Feng Yin finally spoke, eyes glinting.

"So, do I outrank him now?"

"Absolutely."

"What?!"

Tian Shen turned, betrayed.

"You’re supposed to support me!"

"I do," Feng Yin said. "Just not when I’m winning."

Su laughed.

"Ah, you two are dangerous together."

She turned back toward the villa, waving casually behind her.

"Come in for tea. I’ll show you how to activate the reward properly. And maybe find a cookie for our underappreciated trouble boy."

Tian Shen looked at Feng Yin.

"See? I told you complaining works."

Feng Yin smiled.

"No. Mei worked."

Little Mei’s tail wagged in agreement.

As they followed Elder Su inside, the sun rose higher, casting gold across the sky.

The quiet mountain wind rustled the trees, and Tian Shen—grumbling and happy—took his place beside the woman who always led the dance.