If a Dou Saint won't do, then a Dou Emperor!

After Xiao Cang spoke Ling Ying's name, the shadow immediately lost its fervent fighting spirit, and the silver spearhead withdrew into the darkness.

A few breaths later, a figure emerged from the shadows.

"Hahaha, good boy. You actually recognized who I am."

The newcomer was none other than Xun'er's secret protector, Ling Ying, an Eight-star Battle Emperor!

"Dark attribute Dou Qi is exceedingly rare across the entire continent. Once one considers that, your identity is naturally impossible to conceal." Xiao Cang smiled faintly.

When he and Xun'er had secretly pledged themselves to each other as children, Xun'er had told him about Ling Ying and even had Ling Ying come out to meet him. Thus, he and Ling Ying could be considered acquaintances.

"What keen insight. As expected of a gifted descendant of the Xiao Clan, and as expected of the man Young Lady has taken a liking to."

"Tsk, tsk. It seems you've lived exceedingly well in the Misty Cloud Sect these past few years. You broke through to the Dou Wang realm at eighteen and even refined a Heavenly Flame. Such progress would not pale even beside the Proud Daughters of Heaven from the Gu... cough, those hidden families across the continent!"

Ling Ying praised him lavishly, but when he instinctively compared Xiao Cang to the Gu Clan's geniuses, he hastily cut himself off and smilingly replaced it with another term.

"Thank you for the praise."

Xiao Cang smiled warmly as he murmured inwardly, The Gu Clan's geniuses can actually rival me as I am now?

Then again, the foundation of an Ancient Family truly isn't something ordinary geniuses can surpass.

But...

As long as I work harder and let Yun Yun bear me children, or take a few more wives, my cultivation will far surpass what it is now!

When that time comes, whether they are geniuses of the Gu Clan or geniuses of the Hun Clan, I'll leave them all far behind.

"By the way, you still haven't said what you came to the Misty Cloud Sect for." Xiao Cang asked.

At his words, Ling Ying's smile immediately vanished. His face darkened with anger as he snorted coldly.

"Hmph! You still have the nerve to ask? What did you promise Young Lady back then? Yet now you've married the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. Where does that leave Young Lady? Do you know how long Young Lady cried after learning that you had married Sect Master Yun?! I couldn't bear it, so I came to demand an explanation on Young Lady's behalf."

As Ling Ying questioned him, the temperature of the surrounding night seemed to drop as well.

"Xun'er..."

Xiao Cang's heart skipped a beat, and he was immediately overcome with heartache.

That's right.

Nalan Yanran had been so heartbroken after learning of my marriage that she went without food for days.

What about Xun'er?

Xun'er and I grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Our bond is even deeper than mine with Nalan Yanran.

After learning of this, Xun'er must have been devastated.

"Please tell Xun'er that I will definitely keep every promise I made. In a few days, I'll go to Wutan City to see her and explain everything to her in person." Xiao Cang said solemnly.

"You make it sound so simple. You've already married Sect Master Yun. How can you marry Miss Xun'er in the future? Do you think Miss Xun'er is truly just an ordinary descendant of the Xiao Family in Wutan City? That she'll simply agree to become your concubine?"

"With Miss Xun'er's status, marrying her is already as difficult as ascending to heaven. Making her a concubine is absolutely impossible! Even if Young Lady agreed, the people behind her never would!"

Ling Ying spoke sternly.

Naturally, Xiao Cang understood what Ling Ying meant.

Xun'er was the beloved daughter of Gu Yuan, leader of the Gu Clan. She had been raised from childhood as the Gu Clan's future successor, and the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame was even sealed within her body.

How could the Gu Clan possibly allow such a Proud Daughter of Heaven to marry as a concubine?

But nothing was absolute.

Gu Yuan might not agree to let Xun'er become the concubine of a descendant from a fallen family, but what if Xiao Cang became a Dou Saint?

And if a Dou Saint wouldn't do, what about a Dou Emperor?

Forget a Dou Emperor—so long as he displayed the potential to become one, Gu Yuan would approve this marriage.

Such potential might be exceedingly difficult for others to attain, but for him... so long as he was willing to work hard, it would be within reach!

"Rest assured, I already guessed long ago that Xun'er's origins were extraordinary, but that will not change my feelings. No matter how powerful the force behind Xun'er is, I'm confident I can earn their approval." Xiao Cang declared firmly.

"What makes you think they will approve of you?" Ling Ying asked in a deep voice as he looked at Xiao Cang's confident expression.

"If they don't approve, I'll beat them into approving. I'll keep beating them until they do!" Xiao Cang said with resounding conviction.

Beat them into approving?

Ling Ying froze for a moment.

He had wanted to say that Xiao Cang did not know the immensity of heaven and earth, but when he saw Xiao Cang's resolute, high-spirited gaze, he wavered.

Without the terrifying resources of the Gu Clan supporting him, Xiao Cang had broken through to the Dou Wang realm at eighteen. What terrifying talent was that?

Not only that, Xiao Cang possessed a Heavenly Flame.

With such talent and fortune, perhaps he really could one day grow powerful enough to make the Gu Clan compromise...

"Fine. I only hope that after you witness the power behind Xun'er in the years to come, you'll still possess such lofty ambition."

"As for Young Lady, I hope you return to Wutan City as soon as possible and give her an explanation."

Ling Ying waved a hand. After offering his reminder, he turned to leave.

Before departing, he paused and said, "When we fought just now, I enveloped this place in my Shadow Domain. The people of the Misty Cloud Sect won't detect the disturbances within. You needn't worry about how to explain it to them."

"Thanks." Xiao Cang clasped his fist in salute.

"Farewell."

Ling Ying said no more. With a stomp of his foot, his figure merged into a patch of shadow and fled into the distance.

After watching Ling Ying leave, Xiao Cang returned to the Wedding Chamber.

He sat down cross-legged and reviewed his battle with Ling Ying.

He was very satisfied with the result.

With the strength of a one-star Dou King, he had exchanged blows evenly with an Eight-star Battle Emperor. Although Ling Ying had not used his full strength, it was still enough to prove many things.

At his current strength, he was practically invincible below the Dou Emperor realm.

Even against a low-level Dou Emperor, he was confident he could put up a fight!

Of course, such strength was still far from enough to satisfy him.

If he wanted to become strong enough, he still had to work harder.

"So getting pregnant is this difficult."

Xiao Cang sighed.

Half a month had already passed since their wedding, yet Yun Yun's belly still showed no sign of movement.

"Husband, do you really want children that badly?" Yun Yun asked.

"Yes. Of the three forms of unfilial conduct, having no descendants is the greatest. I also desperately want to expand our Xiao Family." Xiao Cang said with a solemn expression.

"Then why don't you refine some fertility pills?"

Yun Yun's words jolted him awake.

That's right!

I'm an alchemist!

And a Fifth-grade Alchemist at that!

Wouldn't it be enough to refine some Fertility Pills?!

"You're amazing, Yun'er. You're so clever."

Xiao Cang fiercely kissed Yun Yun on the forehead, then hurriedly put on his clothes and rushed toward the Alchemist Guild.

He could create a Fertility Pill Formula himself, but if he wanted to refine the most effective Fertility Pill, it would be better to visit the Alchemist Guild and find a proven formula.

He could also take the Fifth-grade Alchemist examination while he was there.