Seizing the Dowry

Having finally saved her unborn child, Jiang Shuyue stood up and returned to the courtyard where she lived—the Great Peng Courtyard.

The moment she reached the Great Peng Courtyard gate, several household servants stepped forward and blocked the entrance. "By the old madam's order, a concubine is not worthy of living in the main courtyard."

Jiang Shuyue's expression changed slightly, but for the sake of protecting the child in her womb, she swallowed her anger. "Then where am I to live?"

A middle-aged servant woman stepped forward. "Concubine Jiang, the old madam has already arranged quarters for you. This servant will lead the way."

Hearing that she had gone from marchioness to concubine, Jiang Shuyue felt as though she had swallowed something bitter. Yet for the sake of her child, she had no regrets.

"Lead the way," she said softly.

Less than half an hour later, Jiang Shuyue followed the middle-aged servant woman to the remote southwestern corner of the Zhennan Marquis Estate, arriving before a dilapidated Small Wooden Cabin surrounded by weeds.

"Concubine Jiang, this will be your residence from now on." After saying that, the middle-aged servant woman paid no heed to Jiang Shuyue's reaction and hurried away.

Jiang Shuyue stepped forward and pushed open the wooden door. A cloud of moldy dust rushed into her face, along with moths and insects, choking her until she covered her nose and coughed.

Once the dust settled, she carefully inspected the room.

The room was damp. Several shafts of sunlight pierced through the broken roof, and countless motes of dust floated within them. Several bundles of half-rotted firewood lay piled in the corner, while the floor was not only covered in moss but also sprouted a little grass.

This was clearly a firewood shed that had been abandoned for years—and one meant for servants.

Faced with such wretched living conditions, tears of grievance could not help but spill from Jiang Shuyue's beautiful eyes.

Though the Jiang Clan she came from was not of particularly high standing, her family was wealthy. She had been cherished by her father and brothers since childhood, clad in brocade clothes and fed fine food, living in spacious, bright upper chambers.

Yet a ruined firewood shed like this was beneath even the lowest servants of the marquis estate.

Forcing down her grievance, she still walked into the ruined firewood shed.

She had considered returning to her mother's home to nurture the pregnancy, but when she married into the Zhennan Marquis Estate, her maternal family had provided an enormous dowry that had nearly emptied the Jiang Family's coffers. She truly did not wish to burden them further.

Time flowed on. Jiang Shuyue struggled to nurture her pregnancy in the Small Wooden Cabin for four months. No one showed her any concern; there was not even anyone nearby. It was as though the world had abandoned her.

That day, Zhao Ping'an woke up.

He opened the panel and added 853 points of Bloodline Potential to his Ancient Sacred Body bloodline. At last, the Ancient Sacred Body bloodline proportion surpassed fifty percent!

An ancient, weathered scene appeared in his mind as expected.

But this time, the figure was no longer a towering man. Instead, it was an orphan of six or seven years old, dressed in rags that barely covered his body.

The orphan harbored great ambitions and swore to slaughter every ferocious beast, demon, devil, and evil entity, so that the Human Race would no longer suffer oppression, slaughter, or be treated as food.

He possessed divine strength from a young age and was treasured by a sect that accepted him as a disciple. Yet after cultivating bitterly for three years, despite vast resources being poured into him, he could not open a single meridian.

Without opening his meridians, he could not cultivate. Relying on physical strength alone, he could never defeat ferocious beasts, let alone demons, devils, and evil entities.

He was mocked by his fellow disciples and driven out of the sect.

Yet his will was incomparably tenacious, far tougher than even the resilient meridians within his body.

After a thousand grindings and ten thousand blows, relying only on the beginning volume of the "Dao Scripture," he not only opened his meridians but opened every one of them—all 108 Meridians, including the most extraordinary and mysterious Taiyin Meridian and Taiyang Meridian.

The orphan boy sat cross-legged atop a mountain rock. Slowly, he turned his head and cast a glance at Zhao Ping'an.

Boom—

The scene shattered. Zhao Ping'an came back to himself and, as if struck by realization, opened the panel.

Name: Zhao Ping'an

Age: Seven-month fetus

Cultivation: None

Bloodline: Ancient Sacred Body 50.3%, Wind Spirit Physique 27.6%, Divine River Physique 8.4%, Mortal Body 3.7%, Sixth Gui Physique 1.2%,...

Technique: "Dao Scripture" Beginning Volume (0/)

Maternal Technique: "Clear Void Xun Wind Art" Second Layer (/)(disappears after birth)

Divine Abilities: Sacred Body: Law, Heaven, and Earth (0/ten million), Unblemished Adamantine Body (0/ten million), Blood Rebirth (0/five million), Heavenly Punishment Sacred Eye (0/one million), Kuafu Sun Chasing (0/one million), Valiant Courage (0/one million)

Sacred Body: Law, Heaven, and Earth: The First Generation Ancient Sacred Body created Law, Heaven, and Earth, granting the Human Race bodies stronger than those of the Ten Thousand Races. All other Law, Heaven, and Earth techniques are castrated and weakened versions. Strength and defense increase exponentially by tenfold according to the caster's increase in size. Doubling one's size increases strength and defense tenfold; increasing one's size tenfold increases strength and defense a thousandfold; and so on.

Unblemished Adamantine Body: Immunity to All Evil. Immune to all curses, ignores suppression from any aura, phenomenon, or domain, and reduces damage from spells and demonic arts by a hundredfold.

Blood Rebirth: Even if the physical body is destroyed, one can be reborn from a single drop of blood and recover a portion of one's strength.

Heavenly Punishment Sacred Eye: Views heaven and earth as clearly as palm lines; nothing can hide, all illusions are shattered, and wherever the gaze falls, heavenly lightning descends in punishment.

Kuafu Sun Chasing: Shrinks the earth to an inch, ignoring mountains, rivers, formations, labyrinths, evil domains... and every other obstacle.

Infinite Divine Strength: Divine strength surges on like the waters of great rivers, ceaseless and unending. The longer the battle lasts, the stronger one becomes; the heavier the injuries, the more combat power multiplies, increasing by up to tenfold.

Spells: None

Martial Skills: None

Bloodline Potential Points: 0 (Automatically gains 10 points daily; can also be drawn from the maternal body. Ends after birth.)

Proficiency: 1.19 million (Automatically gains points daily.)

Zhao Ping'an could not help but ponder. Once the bloodline exceeds fifty percent, I begin receiving the technique inheritance of the First Generation Ancient Sacred Body.

According to the inheritance memories of the First Generation Ancient Sacred Body, because the Ancient Sacred Body is too physically powerful, its meridians are extraordinarily difficult to open, and its Essence Sea is also extraordinarily difficult to establish. Does that mean I will suffer in the future?

Wait. I have not been born yet. Perhaps I can open all the meridians throughout my body while still in Mother's womb. It might be easier that way.

With that thought, he immediately put it into action.

Out of caution, worried that his fetal body could not bear too many overly complex insights at once, he first tried adding 1,000 Proficiency Points to the beginning volume of the "Dao Scripture."

In an instant, countless insights surged forth. Zhao Ping'an gained a basic understanding of the beginning volume of the "Dao Scripture," learned how to absorb Heavenly Essence, understood the locations and functions of the human body's 108 Meridians, and could begin cultivating.

The epiphany ended after two or three breaths, and Zhao Ping'an felt a trace of fatigue in his Divine Soul.

I cannot rush. I will spend ten days filling up the Proficiency Points for the beginning volume of the "Dao Scripture."

Besides, I am still too small, and my meridians are too fragile. They may not be able to withstand the impact of True Essence. I will begin cultivating once I reach eight months.

Suppressing the urge to begin cultivating immediately, Zhao Ping'an prepared to actively absorb nourishment.

Just then, a voice suddenly called from outside the wooden cabin. "Concubine Jiang, the old madam summons you."

Jiang Shuyue got out of bed, opened the door with her heavily pregnant belly, and saw an old nanny who served beside the Zhennan Marquis Dowager standing outside.

"Come with me at once. Do not delay!" The old nanny spoke coldly, then turned and hurried away.

Jiang Shuyue could only follow quickly with her large belly.

Fortunately, she was a Primordial Sea Realm cultivator. An ordinary woman seven months pregnant would never have been able to keep up.

Two quarters of an hour later, Jiang Shuyue met the Zhennan Marquis Dowager.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager sat upon a soft reclining chair made from phoenix and luan feathers, turning a string of prayer beads wreathed in Buddha Light between her fingers.

She glanced at Jiang Shuyue's belly, swollen with a seven-month fetus, and disgust showed in her eyes.

Retracting her gaze, she turned two prayer beads faster, then said in a lofty, unquestionable tone, "Jiang Clan woman, hand over all your dowry."

Jiang Shuyue was startled and asked unwillingly, "Mother, why?"

Dowries had always remained in the hands of married women. They were private property. So long as the woman was unwilling, even her husband could not forcibly demand them, let alone her mother-in-law.

"You still have the nerve to ask why?" The Zhennan Marquis Dowager snorted coldly and reproached her. "Because you entered the household first, Yingpeng now has to pay ten times the betrothal gift to marry his principal wife. The sin you caused must be borne by you!"

Though the Zhennan Marquis Estate possessed great wealth and influence, its expenditures were also enormous, and there were other collateral branches to support. Zhao Yingpeng had married once before and already spent a considerable amount. Now that he was marrying again and taking Su Yingluo, the woman's side considered Zhao Yingpeng's marriage not his first and demanded ten times the betrothal gift, along with a grand wedding that had to be carried out in utmost splendor.

The Zhennan Marquis Estate could not spend too much on Zhao Yingpeng's second marriage, or the other members of the estate would object. Thus, the Zhennan Marquis Dowager set her sights on Jiang Shuyue's dowry.

It was an enormous fortune.

Hearing that Zhao Yingpeng was going to take another wife, Jiang Shuyue could not help feeling a wave of sorrow.

Ever since she had been demoted to concubine and driven to live in the ruined little firewood shed in the southwestern corner, she had never seen Zhao Yingpeng again.

She had never expected that the next news she heard of Zhao Yingpeng would be that he was preparing to marry this so-called principal wife.

When Zhao Ping'an heard that the Zhennan Marquis Dowager was shameless enough to forcibly seize her daughter-in-law's dowry for her son's remarriage, he was so furious that he cursed aloud in his heart.

You have gone too far! Once I am born, I will never let off you Old Hag!!!

Unfortunately, he could only curse inwardly. He could not make a sound.

Jiang Shuyue forced herself to pull herself together, determination appearing on her delicate face. "I will not hand over my dowry!"

It did not matter if she herself went without food or drink, but once the child was born, the child's clothing, food, daily expenses, and Cultivation Resources would all depend on the dowry in her possession.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager had said herself that the Zhennan Marquis Estate would not spend a single copper coin on her child.

"How dare you! You dare defy me again!" The Zhennan Marquis Dowager flew into a towering rage, pointed at Jiang Shuyue, and cursed furiously. "You must bear the consequences you caused. If you do not wish to bear them, then pay the price!"

"Guards!" she shouted. "Beat the bastard in her belly out of her!"

Several sturdy servant women immediately stepped forward and surrounded Jiang Shuyue, restraining her in one move and rendering her unable to struggle.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager rose and walked before Jiang Shuyue. With a sinister expression, she asked, "I will ask you one last time. Will you take responsibility or not?"

"I... I am willing to hand over the dowry," Jiang Shuyue said through tears.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager returned to the phoenix-feather reclining chair and sat down. "Remove her Storage Bracelet."

A servant woman immediately yanked the Storage Bracelet from Jiang Shuyue's wrist by force, turned, and presented it before the Zhennan Marquis Dowager.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager picked up the Storage Bracelet, examined its storage space with her Spiritual Sense, and counted the valuables.

After a long while, her gaze fell upon Jiang Shuyue as she interrogated, "Where is the rest of the dowry?"

She had discovered that the valuables within the Storage Bracelet did not add up. About two-thirds were missing.

"Yingpeng already took it for cultivation," Jiang Shuyue answered.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager did not believe her and barked, "You had best tell the truth. I will verify the accounts with Yingpeng."

"Go ahead and ask Yingpeng," Jiang Shuyue said bitterly.

Back then, only a few days after marrying Zhao Yingpeng, she had willingly given two-thirds of her dowry to him to support his cultivation. With the support of her dowry, Zhao Yingpeng's cultivation rose even more swiftly. In one leap, he became the number one prodigy of the Southern Border and joined the ranks of the Great Qian Kingdom's foremost prodigies.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager stared at Jiang Shuyue for a long while. Only after confirming that Jiang Shuyue was not lying did she order, "Release her."

Though she had obtained only one-third of Jiang Shuyue's dowry, it was more than enough to marry Su Yingluo to Zhao Yingpeng.

This dowry truly was abundant.

At the order, the servant women released Jiang Shuyue. Jiang Shuyue wiped away her tears with her sleeve, turned, and left.

Zhao Ping'an had sensed the entire process. He wished he could be born immediately and seek justice for his mother.

Jiang Shuyue did not return to that Small Wooden Cabin. Instead, she left the Zhennan Marquis Estate directly.

The Zhennan Marquis Dowager had snatched away her Storage Bracelet. Not only had she lost her dowry, she did not even have a single copper coin on her.

With no other choice, she could only return to her maternal home to nurture the pregnancy.

Fortunately, Jiang Manor and the Zhennan Marquis Estate were both in White Emperor City. Otherwise, even returning to her maternal home would have been difficult.

Jiang Shuyue sold a piece of jewelry and used the money to rent a carriage back to Jiang Manor. Carrying a seven-month fetus with such a large belly, she could not travel far on foot.

Only after Jiang Shuyue returned to the Jiang Family did her father and brothers learn what she had suffered.

The Jiang Family had previously sent people to visit Jiang Shuyue at the Zhennan Marquis Estate, but they had all been turned away at the gates, unable even to pass along a message.

Jiang Shuyue's father and brothers were furious and immediately wanted to go to the Zhennan Marquis Estate to demand an explanation, but Jiang Shuyue desperately persuaded them otherwise.

Jiang Shuyue only wished to nurture her pregnancy in peace and safely give birth to the child first. The fetus was already seven months old and could not endure any turmoil.

The entire Jiang Family was helpless. Jiang Shuyue's two brothers faced the direction of the Zhennan Marquis Estate and cursed indignantly, "That Zhao is truly wolf-hearted and dog-lunged, ungrateful and faithless! My sister gave him most of her dowry to support his cultivation!"

"When he married my sister, he clearly knew her cultivation was not high. Yet now he demands that she reach the Third Realm before she can bear children."

"By the time my sister reaches the Third Realm, she will be decades older! How could she still give birth then?"

"And that dignified Zhennan Marchioness actually seized her daughter-in-law's dowry to fund her son's remarriage. She is shameless beyond all measure!"