The entrance to the Deep Cold Cavern in the Lost Desert, in the Virtual Universe's Journey game.
Black-and-white light flashed, and Tang Ping and Luo Xiaoyu appeared side by side.
The moment they entered the cavern, a bone-chilling wind swept over them, carrying an icy aura. Luo Xiaoyu's brows knitted together, and the long spear on her back slid free with a whoosh. Pale blue energy gathered at its tip. Steady as a mountain, she warily scanned their surroundings.
Like Tang Ping, she had activated all five senses to 100%, and she could clearly sense that something was wrong here. Not only did their bodies have to endure the biting wind, but an invisible force was repeatedly battering their minds as well. It was an attack on both their spirits and their bodies.
"Wife, don't be nervous." Tang Ping stepped forward and gently put an arm around her waist, his voice steady. "We have enough wealth to reach the peak of Star Rank in a short time, but you have two key problems right now: first, you haven't mastered a domain; second, your will isn't strong enough."
He paused, then patiently explained, "Origin Force is the soldier, the body is the weapon, and the will is the general. An incompetent general wears out his army.
"That's why your Strength Amplitude still hasn't broken through five times. Your will hasn't kept up. And this Deep Cold Cavern happens to be the perfect place to train it.
"Remember, mental exhaustion can't be restored by refreshing the virtual world. We'll need a plan: come here once every three days and train to our limits each time. When we return, we'll take medicine to restore our spirits, then rest for three days before coming back. That way, we'll make progress without damaging our foundations."
"Whoosh!" Luo Xiaoyu put away her spear and turned her cool face toward Tang Ping. Flecks of light glimmered in her eyes as warmth welled up in her heart.
She had once thought that she had chosen Tang Ping to help him escape Earth's limitations and enter the wider world of the stars. Neither of them owed the other anything.
But now, the pride of the Luo Family, a heaven-blessed genius, had to rely on her husband to pave the way for her and plan her cultivation. His devotion was more precious than any heavenly treasure.
How could Luo Xiaoyu not know that the elders of the great families must have discovered the caverns, or other similar methods of training one's will?
But no one was willing to do it. First, the process was simply too painful. The wind cut to the bone, and the mind was injured; ordinary people couldn't endure that kind of torment. Second, it was too inefficient. Young people could grit their teeth and suffer, yet see no noticeable improvement in the short term. Who would be willing to waste their effort?
More importantly, there was the cost-benefit ratio.
Heavenly treasures that restored the spirit were expensive. With the same time and money, one could directly improve one's cultivation, and one's will would naturally grow along with it. There was no need to take this "roundabout route."
As for those who couldn't break through to Universe Level, the great families had plenty of people to cast a wide net. If one person couldn't do it, someone else could. Those who failed to break through could be sent to serve as cannon fodder, doing the dirty and exhausting work.
That was the law of survival among the stars: the fittest survived, and the weak were eliminated. Even the Luo Family was no exception.
After all, the larger the family, the more it had to uphold "fairness and impartiality." If everyone showed favoritism, morale would crumble, and the family would eventually fall apart.
But beyond these cold rules, aside from her parents, perhaps only the husband before her would give to her unconditionally and accompany her along this difficult path.
Luo Xiaoyu had never been good at saying sweet things, and she had no idea how to express her gratitude. But she knew what Tang Ping liked. She lifted her head and looked at him, her voice gentle but firm. "Honey, I love you."
Before she had even finished speaking, she raised her hands and began undoing the clasps on her Origin Force Battle Suit. The black suit slid away, revealing the delicate skin of her shoulders and neck, faintly gleaming in the dim cavern.
Tang Ping: "???"
His eyes widened, and he hurriedly grabbed her hands. His voice even trembled a little. "Wife! This is the Deep Cold Cavern! The wind is freezing, and there are mental attacks, too. If we do it here, won't it kill me?
"My body... I don't think I can take it!"
Three days later, Tang Ping emerged from the Virtual Universe. The pride he'd felt after breaking through to Star Rank was gone. His eyes were unfocused, and his hands and feet shook like a sieve. He could barely even pick up the restorative medicine on the jade table in front of him.
With trembling hands, he unscrewed the bottle and gulped down three times the usual dose. Only then did he let out a long breath, feeling as if his soul had finally returned to his body.
He opened his personal panel and saw the message [Will: Star Rank, Level 4 (488/1000)]. The corner of Tang Ping's mouth twitched.
The good news: he'd found a fast way to improve his will!
The bad news: this method was too "taxing," and he was nearly at his limit.
"But how can a man admit defeat? Let's go!" Tang Ping clenched his still-trembling fist and forced down his reluctance.
Over the next year, the two of them fully embraced a cultivation routine that was "painful but pleasurable."
With heavenly treasures piled high, their strength skyrocketed as if they were riding a rocket. Luo Xiaoyu not only advanced to Star Rank, Level 2, but also successfully mastered the Water Domain. When she spread her pale blue domain, it condensed countless blades of water in the freezing wind, combining offense and defense.
Tang Ping's progress was even more astonishing. His Mental Power Amplitude had broken through to twenty-four times, and he could finally use the second secret technique of the Sky-Splitting Sword, "Sword Escape," with ease. When he used it, dozens of colorless swords gathered into a pair of sharp wings. With the added boosts of the Wind-Thunder Secret Technique and his Level 2 Fusion Domain, his speed reached its absolute limit. Even the monitoring system in the Journey game took a moment to catch his trajectory.
His Wind and Thunder Domains were also nearing their third level, and a breakthrough seemed imminent. Whenever Babata dropped by to check on him, she would flap her wings at top speed, her eyes full of astonishment.
After all, progress this visible and rapid didn't fit Tang Ping's identity as a native of Earth. Could it be that Earth really was like she had suspected, producing unusual geniuses just like the peak human races?
If so, would Earth's future be in danger if it continued to reveal its potential?
One day.
Tang Ping looked at his sword wings and had a sudden thought: Wouldn't sparring with Luo Xiaoyu at this speed be exciting?
He quietly jotted down the bold idea in his "Little Notebook."
Their bodies weren't strong enough yet, but once they got stronger, they could try it, couldn't they?
A married couple should explore new things together. That was how every day stayed fresh. Otherwise, why would people talk about the "seven-year itch"?
Even the most beautiful goddess could lose her initial charm if you watched her fart and poop every day.
At the thought, Tang Ping perked up again. He picked up a fresh bottle of restorative medicine, ready to accompany Luo Xiaoyu and endure a little longer the next time they went into the cavern.
That was what a man did. If his wife was wonderful, then of course he should shield her from the wind and rain, standing firm as her rock!
As for where all that wind and rain came from, don't ask.
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