"Can you tell me about your childhood?" Tuoba Wan'er asked curiously.

Xiang Shaoyun looked at Tuoba Wan'er in astonishment, and he started telling the story of his naughty childhood self.

Back then, he was completely free and unfettered. He would do anything he wanted, and he had done a lot of ridiculous things. Now that he recalled the past, he could see how ignorant he was back then. His life then was too comfortable, leading up to the eventual tragedy.

Tuoba Wan'er listened with keen interest, her eyes rippling with envy.

"Don't you think that the previous me was incredibly ignorant?" Xiang Shaoyun asked in a self-mocking manner after he was done with his story.

A flowery smile bloomed on her face as she answered, "Not at all. I think that is a very joyous way of life. It is free and unrestrained, a life one can really yearn for." 

Xiang Shaoyun was completely stunned by her smile. Still in a daze, he said, "You're so beautiful when you smile."

That came out of nowhere for Tuoba Wan'er, causing her eyes to shift around as a blush covered her face. She said, "Am I not beautiful when I'm not smiling?"

Xiang Shaoyun hurriedly waved his hands and said, "How is that possible? But you're much more beautiful when smiling. You should smile more."

Tuoba Wan'er sighed, "I want to smile more as well, but living at the Holy Hall, my every word and action is bound by restrictions. It's really hard to find a reason to smile."

"I thought you and Senior Urchin had just returned from a tour?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.

Tuoba Wan'er replied, "That was an accidental chance I got to leave."

Xiang Shaoyun could see Tuoba Wan'er's helplessness from her eyes. Seeing her misery, he started sympathizing with her. After all, the Holy Earth Hall was cut off from the rest of the world. As the Hall's future holy maiden, Tuoba Wan'er did not have the freedom many had.

Affected by the sympathy he was feeling, Xiang Shaoyun said, "If there is a chance, I will take you around the world. There are a lot of sceneries we have never seen before, different races, fortuitous encounters, and much more."

"Will there be such a chance?" Tuoba Wan'er asked, but the question was more for herself.

"Of course! This is a world where the strong reigns supreme. If we are strong enough, smashing through a cage is nothing!" declared Xiang Shaoyun, brimming with confidence.

At this moment, Tuoba Wan'er found Xiang Shaoyun exuding a certain indescribable aura. This man, who was even younger than her, seemed to have the ambitions to reach the heavens, a man worthy of her respect.

Xiang Shaoyun was someone who had seen much of the world, and he started telling Tuoba Wan'er what he had seen and heard. The more she listened, the more she yearned for freedom. The two chatted without noticing the passage of time, and night arrived unknowingly.

Little did they know, this harmonious scene was being observed by someone. That someone was the first elder. With a smile on his face, he muttered, "The young lady and the holy son-in-law seem to get along nicely. Excellent!"

He then vanished.

"Without realizing it, night has arrived. It has been a while since I have had such a nice chat," Xiang Shaoyun lamented.

There were things he had kept repressed in his heart for too long. With a beautiful listener like Tuoba Wan'er, he couldn't resist pouring out his mind, talking about things he never had a chance to before.

Tuoba Wan'er had an apologetic look as she said, "Sorry, I have wasted your time."

"Haha, you're too polite, young lady. I am very happy that you're willing to be my listener. I should be the one apologizing for holding up your time," said Xiang Shaoyun.

Tuoba Wan'er smiled. "True, you're now the Hall's son-in-law. There is nothing wrong with talking with me."

For some reason, she suddenly found herself approving of Xiang Shaoyun. Perhaps being with him would not be too bad after all. He was handsome, humorous, talented, amiable, and approachable. He also possessed the overbearingness a man should have. Was he not the perfect partner to have?

Xiang Shaoyun was surprised that he would actually earn her approval by talking to her like this. He did not know whether he should laugh or cry.

Rubbing his nose, he said, "Young lady, you jest." He then shifted to voice transmission, "I know you're being forced to do this as well. Just wait until Senior Urchin comes. After I leave, you no longer need to obey the first elder's arrangements."

Tuoba Wan'er's face dimmed as she said, "Got it."

She then stood up and returned to her room. Xiang Shaoyun was completely confused, not knowing why she was suddenly angry. Not even the Light of Wisdom could help him understand women!

He finished the remaining liquor and returned to his room as well. There, he chanted the Serene Clearheart Mantra, throwing all unnecessary thoughts out of his mind, and started cultivating.

He channeled strand after strand of energy from his nine stars to his astral cosmos sea. Through the astral cosmos sea, he sent the energy to his spine, causing his draconic aura to reveal itself. A dragon that was about 34 percent solid showed itself. 

This was proof that he had reached the middle of the third-stage Dragon Ascension Realm. Although this was a decent advancement speed, it still wasn't good enough for him. There were many geniuses in the academy advancing faster than him. If he couldn't maintain a high growth speed, it was only a matter of time before they left him in the dust.

Done with energy channeling, Xiang Shaoyun observed the changes in his astral cosmos sea. He found that the aura inside seemed completely different, as if the nine-colored fog had filled the entire astral cosmos sea, nourishing all life forms inside. The vicious tiger gold lotus, the blaze flower, the mysterious tree, and everything else...they had all undergone considerable changes.

Xiang Shaoyun had a feeling this wasn't caused by the nine-colored fog alone. The solidification of the astral cosmos sea also played a role, turning the space into fertile soil. He even wondered if the astral cosmos sea would turn into an actual world if this continued.

The night passed quickly. Early the next morning, Qiu Yue and Qiu Shui arrived and handed him the things he needed to wash himself before saying, "The young lady would like to invite you for breakfast at the side hall, holy son-in-law."

After washing up, Xiang Shaoyun went with them to the side hall. Following behind them, he looked at their swaying rears. He was no longer as stimulated as before, and he now treated them as mere beautiful and pleasing scenery. Of course, it was undeniable that being attended to by two beauties like them was pleasing. 

He soon arrived at the side hall. Tuoba Wan'er was already waiting there.

Tuoba Wan'er gave Xiang Shaoyun a slight salute as she said, "Good morning, holy son-in-law."

Xiang Shaoyun quickly saluted her back and said, "Young lady, you treat me with too much courtesy."

"Holy son-in-law, you should start calling me wife, now," said Tuoba Wan'er.