Seated upright on the bed, Liu Changxu only slowly opened his tightly shut eyes after stabilizing his cultivation somewhat. Two dazzling shafts of cold light instantly shot from them.
Then he rose unhurriedly, carefully straightened his clothes, and looked toward his wife Wu Xuege nearby, saying gently:
"Sister Wu, I still need to go into seclusion to consolidate my cultivation further. I'm afraid I won't be able to stay with you all for the next two years."
Wu Xuege nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with understanding and tenderness. Her cherry lips parted as she said softly:
"Go ahead! I also have something to attend to back at the Sun Moon Sect."
"All right. Be careful on your way back!"
Liu Changxu could not help reminding her:
"All right!"
With that, the two walked out of the bridal chamber together!
Just then, Zhao Qi'er, Murong Yuyao, Xiao Zier, Dongxue, and the other women gathered around them and offered their congratulations:
"Congratulations on your great advance in cultivation, husband!"
"I was fortunate to break through this time. Next, I'll need at least two years in seclusion to consolidate my cultivation! I'll leave the sect and lineage's affairs in your hands."
Liu Changxu said:
"All right, husband. Go into seclusion without worrying!"
After a round of earnest reminders, Liu Changxu turned and entered the Secret Chamber he used specifically for secluded cultivation.
Once inside the Secret Chamber, Liu Changxu walked to the Golden Meditation Cushion in the center, sat cross-legged, and began cultivating with complete focus.
Time passed like a white steed flashing past a gap, and two years vanished in the blink of an eye.
One afternoon in September of the year 4308 of the Great Tang Calendar, after two years of quiet cultivation, Liu Changxu finally consolidated his integrated body