Cultivation starts with picking up attributes-Chapter 49: Ch-: Central Region

The gentle rays of dawn seeped through the silk canopy, painting golden lines across the intimate interior of the marriage tent.

Tian Shen stirred first, his body still humming with the residual energy from the previous night’s union.

Beside him, Feng Yin lay nestled under his arm, her breath steady and serene, her skin glowing faintly from the harmonious fusion of Qi.

For a few quiet moments, he simply watched her.

Her hair was slightly tousled, a few strands sticking to her temple from the warmth of their bodies.

Her lips were curved ever so slightly in a soft smile, and the red marks left along her neck and shoulder made Tian Shen’s chest tighten with both pride and affection.

Last night had not only sealed their union as husband and wife—it had unlocked something deeper, an unspoken resonance that now pulsed between them.

A flicker of energy rippled through his body, and his eyes widened slightly.

He closed them, took a deep breath, and then activated his spiritual sense.

A pulse. Then another. His meridians vibrated gently as his Qi surged like a gentle tide, circulating faster, purer than before.

『Cultivation: 2nd Stage of Foundation Establishment Realm』

He blinked in disbelief, then chuckled.

"Well, that’s unexpected."

"Morning, husband," she whispered, voice hoarse with sleep. Her eyes fluttering open. She looked up at him, her voice laced with drowsy contentment.

"Morning, wife," he replied, brushing a thumb over her cheek.

She let out a content sigh and rolled on top of him, resting her chin on his chest. "How does it feel? Being a married man."

He gave a faint smile. "Strange. Comforting. Right."

Feng Yin’s eyes twinkled.

"Good answer."

"You broke through, didn’t you?"

He asked.

She tilted her head, then sat up abruptly, focusing inward. A moment later, her eyes widened.

"I did...!"

She turned to him, stunned.

"We both did."

"Seems like dual cultivation really lives up to its name," Tian Shen said, smirking.

Feng Yin narrowed her eyes at him, though her joy was impossible to hide.

"Don’t get too cocky, little husband. I’m still ahead of you in combat experience."

Before Tian Shen could retort, a fluffy red blur burst out from his storage ring and landed on the bedding with a dramatic twirl.

"Kyuuu~"

’Youuu two!’

Little Mei, the Blood Fox Spirit Beast that you almost forgot, shrieked, pointing a paw accusingly at them.

Tian Shen blinked as he spoke to her through their connection.

’You’ve been inside the companion space the whole time?’

"Kyuu~, Kyu~, Kyuuu~"

’Yes! I was enjoying a spirit peach, then suddenly there’s Qi flooding everywhere, and I get tossed around like a sock in a cyclone!’

Little Mei huffed, her ears twitching.

"Kyu~, Kyuuu~, Kyuuu~"

’Also, why didn’t you tell me you were getting married? To someone else at that!? Do you not like little Mei anymore?!?’

Feng Yin raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms beneath the silk sheet.

"Wait. Is this your beast companion? Why didn’t you tell me about it?"

Tian Shen raised both hands defensively.

"In my defense, she only showed up recently."

"That’s just an excuse!"

Feng Yin’s voice sharpened, but her eyes sparkled with mirth.

Little Mei wagged her tail smugly.

"Kyu~, Kyu~, Kyu~, Kyu~"

’At least someone recognizes my importance. Little sister, I will forgive you for marrying my master—but only if you give me a slice of honeyfruit later.’

Feng Yin looked at Tian Shen, then at the fluffy fox.

"What is it saying?"

"Well, it–i mean, she, she’s a female, and she is saying ’please don’t get angry at my master’".

Tian Shen lied with a straight face, which was immediately retorted by his beast companion.

"Kyuu~, Kyuu~"

’That’s not what i was saying!’

But unfortunately, neither could Feng Yin understand her, not Tian Shen wanted her to.

Feng Yin, unaware of his trickery, easily believed her.

"Aww~, isn’t she a little cutie~"

The blood fox, offended by the ’little’, retorted as she glared irritatingly at Feng Yin.

"Kyu~, Kyuuuuu~."

’You are little, your whole family is little!’

But again, the one she was targeting couldn’t understand her.

...

[A/N: Such an unfortunate poor little thing~.]

Little Mei: ’Only My Master can call me little, No one else. NOT EVEN YOU, AUTHOR!’

[A/N: tsk~ in the future, your alone time with ’your master’ will be cut half. Hmph.]

Little Mei, this time pleading: I-i am sorry, ok, don’t cut me off. You hear me, right? Hey, Hey, ANSWER. Please~.

...

Despite the light bickering, a warm peace settled among the trio. The air was still fragrant with incense, and the remaining marriage talismans still fluttered lazily outside the tent.

Feng Yin leaned back against the pillows, her expression softening.

"So... what now? We’re married. Stronger. Together. But what’s next?"

Tian Shen’s expression grew more serious.

"That’s the question I was just asking myself. We’ve overcome many hurdles, but this world isn’t about to give us a peaceful life. Not for long. Well, first things first."

They all shared a chuckle before tidying up. The morning was too peaceful to waste.

Later, dressed and refreshed, The sky was a perfect blue, a few clouds drifting lazily.

Tian Shen tilted his head.

"So... what now?"

At that moment, a faint knock echoed through the barrier. A familiar Qi signature accompanied it.

"Come in, Sect Master," Tian Shen called.

Feng Yan stepped inside with uncharacteristic softness, his gaze sweeping over the scene with quiet approval.

"I won’t disturb your honeymoon long," he said with a faint smile.

"But there’s something important we need to discuss."

Tian Shen and Feng Yin exchanged a glance before nodding.

Feng Yan’s expression turned grave.

"The northern region... isn’t safe anymore. With the collapse of the Ethereal Talisman Sect’s remnants and the disturbances caused by your recent adventures, attention will be drawn here. Eyes we don’t want."

"You’ve offended enemies, uncovered ancient secrets, and are bonded to legacies long buried. Staying here would only stall your growth... or endanger those around you."

Feng Yin glanced at Tian Shen.

"We just got married."

"I know," Feng Yan said gently. "Which is why this is your decision. But if you want to carve a future for yourselves, this is the next step."

Silence settled for a moment.

Breaking the delicate silence, Feng Yan pulled out a scroll and unfurled it on a conjured spirit table.

"The Central Region holds more opportunities—and more dangers—but it’s away from the growing pressure here. You two have grown strong, but you need exposure, trials, and a wider world."

Feng Yin frowned.

"You want us to leave the sect?"

Feng Yan nodded.

"Only temporarily. Consider it a journey, not exile. Your marriage gives you a solid foundation. Now, you must forge the future yourselves."

Tian Shen studied the map. The Central Region was vast, marked with neutral cities, ancient ruins, beast domains, and wandering cultivator sects.

He let out a breath.

"When do we leave?"

Feng Yan smiled faintly.

"That’s up to you. But the longer you stay, the greater the danger that follows."

Feng Yin walked to the map, her eyes scanning the paths.

"So it begins again. Another journey."

She turned to Tian Shen.

"Do you regret it?"

He reached out, brushing her cheek.

"Not a single thing."

Little Mei twitched beside them.

"Kyuu~"

’If we’re going on a journey, I demand at least three spirit fruit and two nap per day.’

"Deal," Tian Shen said with a smile.

Feng Yin took Tian Shen’s hand. "Then we go. Together."

Feng Yan looked at them, pride glinting in his eyes.

There was a strange connection between them—this strange little trio of cultivators bound by fate, spirit, and love—and nodded.

"Then prepare yourselves. The world beyond the Northern Region won’t be forgiving. But neither are you."

As he turned to leave, he paused.

"And Tian Shen?"

"Yes?"

"Protect her well. She may be strong—but so are your enemies."

Tian Shen’s eyes hardened.

"I will."

Tian Shen’s reply lingered in the air long after Feng Yan had disappeared into the inner hall, the soft shuffle of his robes fading behind thick curtains of spirit-reinforced fabric.

The silence that followed was both sobering and heavy, like a final punctuation to a Chapter they had just closed.

Feng Yin slid her hand into Tian Shen’s, fingers cool and firm. She leaned her head lightly on his shoulder, gazing out at the horizon where soft clouds kissed the jagged tips of distant mountains.

The sky was a canvas of gold and rose, the early rays of the sun creeping gently over the sect’s walls.

"Did that sound like a blessing," she murmured, "or a warning?"

Tian Shen wrapped his fingers more tightly around hers.

"Maybe both."

He looked down at her—her presence calm, eyes distant in thought. She hadn’t said much after the dual cultivation, after the quiet surprise of finding themselves stronger, more synchronized, like their hearts and cultivation paths were slowly merging.

But he could sense the same question lingering in her mind: What awaits us outside?

Little Mei, now curled on a sun-warmed stone nearby, yawned and stretched her fluffy limbs.

Feng Yin chuckled.

"You can’t stay a spoiled fox forever, you know."

Little Mei raised her head dramatically.

"Why not? Tian Shen’s basically a walking disaster magnet. The world will come to us anyway."

Tian Shen snorted.

"You make it sound like it’s my fault the heavens keep throwing problems at me."

’"It is your fault,"’ both little Mei and Feng Yin said in unison, sharing a glance before bursting into laughter.

And for a moment, amid the looming journey ahead and the weight of legacy and fate, they were just three souls basking in morning light—bonded by trust, mischief, and something deeper.

...

Later that day, as the sun rose higher, the couple stood at the edge of the sect’s perimeter.

Tian Shen looked back once, taking in the place that had become his home, even for a short time.

Feng Yin reached for his hand.

"Let’s go, husband."

And together—with a blood fox curled on Tian Shen’s shoulder—they stepped into the vast unknown, where destiny waited with bared fangs and boundless promise.