Husband, It's Cold. Put on a Robe

After Jiang Mingyang and Qian Renxue finished, they slowly fell asleep, and Jiang Mingyang had a dream:

In the dream, Jiang Mingyang yawned, though he did not feel particularly sleepy.

On the contrary, at forty-five, Jiang Mingyang was in the prime of his life and full of energy all day. He set down his brush and picked up a tea bowl for a sip.

The entire continent had been in turmoil for years. After campaigning north and south to "set the world in order," Jiang Mingyang had become the pillar everyone relied on.

Thinking of this, Jiang Mingyang could not help recalling the beautiful yet brutal past:

Forty years earlier, two great powers had dominated Douluo Continent: the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. But one mountain could not hold two tigers, and they had fought endlessly in the shadows.

Later, a Titled Douluo had proposed establishing a third power, "Spirit Hall," to bring about balance. Before the next day was out, that Titled Douluo had "fallen ill and passed away."

It was said that at least four Titled Douluo had struck that day. From then on, no one dared propose establishing a new power again!

But grief and ambition kept building beneath the surface.

Thirty years earlier, ten-year-old Jiang Mingyang had come to the Heaven Dou Empire Capital for the first time after his adoptive father, Jiang Tian, received a promotion.

There, Jiang Mingyang first met the partner who would accompany him for life—"Xue Qinghe," a princess of the imperial family who dressed as a man and posed as the Crown Prince for the sake of stability.

Many things happened that year that changed the continent.

Most notable was the death of Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo and heir to the Clear Sky Sect, then foremost among the Heaven Dou Empire's Upper Three Sects. Still at Level 90, he was accidentally killed by Qian Xunji, sect master of the Angel Sect, foremost among the Star Luo Empire's Upper Three Sects, while Qian Xunji was searching for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Because of its far-reaching consequences, it became known to history as the "Successor Incident."

After it happened, Tang Hao's grandfather, Tang Chen, the Clear Sky Sect's former Clear Sky Douluo, came in a fury and killed Qian Xunji.

Everyone thought that would be the end of it. Instead, the Angel Sect's former sect master, Qian Daoliu, joined forces with Bibi Dong, its acting sect master after Qian Xunji's death, to attack Tang Chen. Astonishingly, all three perished together.

When the Star Luo Empire learned of this, its Upper Three Sects reached an agreement over their shared interests. They formed an alliance and struck without hesitation, intent on destroying the Clear Sky Sect in revenge.

The Heaven Dou Empire's Upper Three Sects stood together like branches of one tree. They, too, formed an alliance and met the enemy.

A war that swept across the continent had begun. The two empires were officially at war.

Nearly thirty Titled Douluo died in that war. Jiang Mingyang's adoptive father, Jiang Tian, was among them.

After that battle, the two empires enjoyed nearly ten years of "peace." Clashes large and small continued throughout, while both sides gathered strength.

But that period also gave the younger generation, led by Jiang Mingyang, time to grow.

Fifteen years earlier, Jiang Mingyang's era had officially begun. At thirty, he became the youngest Titled Douluo in the history of Douluo Continent.

By then, most of the older generation's greatest fighters were either dead or crippled. Hardly any could still wield the power of a Titled Douluo.

Thirteen years earlier, the Balak Kingdom rose in rebellion. The imperial family failed to suppress it, and other powers across the continent followed suit.

All of Douluo Continent descended into chaos. The Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Star Luo Imperial Family had almost no influence left.

Jiang Mingyang also learned the true identity of his partner, "Xue Qinghe": she was the daughter of the late Angel Sect master, Qian Xunji.

Jiang Mingyang seized the opportunity to rise. Using Fasinuo Province, left to him by his late adoptive father Jiang Tian, as his base, he began suppressing rebellions under the banner of "restoring Heaven Dou and ending the uprisings."

In this era "without Titled Douluo," Jiang Mingyang was invincible.

Jiang Tian's old friends and former subordinates pledged themselves to Jiang Mingyang, who also won over the younger generation led by Tang San. Thus took shape the beginnings of the greatest power under heaven.

Later, when he reached the Star Luo Empire, Qian Renxue's help meant that his rule met no resistance from the locals.

Now, after all these years, Jiang Mingyang's territory encompassed roughly two-thirds of the former Heaven Dou Empire and two-thirds of the Star Luo Empire.

Lately, however, Jiang Mingyang had no wish to bring the remaining lands under his control.

When he had first conquered territory, he had done so under the banner of restoring Heaven Dou.

But now... Jiang Mingyang had made plenty of moves in secret, and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family had been wiped out.

That banner needed changing!

But how should he raise the matter?

Suddenly, a cool yet gentle voice sounded behind Jiang Mingyang, and two hands came to rest on his shoulders.

It was his woman, Qian Renxue. After all these years, her looks had not changed in the slightest. She still had that youthful air—and it was not just her looks...

Without turning around, Jiang Mingyang reached up and stroked the delicate hand on his shoulder. "Wait for me in our room."

Unexpectedly, Qian Renxue produced a robe out of thin air and draped it over him. "Husband, it's cold. Put on another layer!"

Jiang Mingyang smiled and turned to kiss her, only to freeze when he saw the garment. It was a Dragon Robe.

Rustle... rustle... rustle!

Without waiting to be summoned, all the brothers who had fought beside him to conquer the realm hurried into the hall and dropped to one knee. "Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

Jiang Mingyang was overjoyed inside, but he put on a furious face. "You... what are you doing? Do you know what this is? You've brought such hardship upon me!"

At the head of the ministers, Tang San—the posthumous son of Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo of the Clear Sky Sect—hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the realm has no ruler. It ought to be governed by a person of virtue!

"Your Majesty is a benevolent man. Sorry to trouble you, but please consider the countless people under heaven. For the sake of their peace, please bear this hardship a little longer!"

Jiang Mingyang flew into a rage. "What twisted reasoning is this? Fine... fine... but let it not happen again."

Jiang Mingyang then founded a dynasty and proclaimed himself emperor, with Qian Renxue as his empress.

Two years after he became emperor, Qian Renxue bore Jiang Mingyang his eldest son, Jiang Su.

Nearly half a year had now passed since Qian Renxue gave birth. She had more or less recovered, and Jiang Mingyang decided he would visit her bed tonight...

Just then, the dream ended. Jiang Mingyang opened his eyes in the real world. Night had fallen, and Qian Renxue was quietly, carefully getting out of bed. Even so, she had woken him, and the dream was gone for good.

Jiang Mingyang was speechless. Why did I have to wake up now? Give me just ten more minutes, and I'd have finished in the dream!

Qian Renxue glanced at him. "Were you dreaming?"

Jiang Mingyang thought for a moment. "No."

Unconvinced, Qian Renxue patted his chest. "Hmph. Then why were you calling out 'Qianqian' and 'Xuexue'?

"Look how red your face is. It was an erotic dream, wasn't it? Men in this world! Tsk, tsk, tsk... all the same..."

Jiang Mingyang looked at her indignantly. "How can we all be the same? Don't you know how strong I am?"

Qian Renxue then asked, embarrassed, "Do you have any water in your Soul Tool?"

Jiang Mingyang took a bathtub with a base measuring three or four square meters straight out of his bracelet Soul Tool. He had prepared it specially before coming here.

After all, someone like Qian Renxue was bound to be particular about cleanliness. Being prepared could not hurt.

Qian Renxue smiled when she saw it. "You came well prepared. I don't know about other men, but you're no good! Now, get out!"

Jiang Mingyang leaped off the bed, scooped Qian Renxue up in his arms, and stepped into the tub. "If you're having a bath, why can't I?"

Qian Renxue's face flushed scarlet, but she did not resist.

The Grand Ancestor Emperor was born amid chaos. Seeing that chaos was shaped like an egg, with clear qi above and turbid qi below, and finding himself lonely and desolate, he opened the heavens. Clear qi became humans, turbid qi became Soul Beasts, and their mingling became plants. Soul Beasts later gave rise to beasts, and thus all things in the world came to be.

—Grand Ancestor's Creation of Heaven