Cang Ling saw that Jiang Huai seemed genuinely interested, so she put even more effort into her storytelling, as if presenting a treasure:
“In short, that world has customs similar to the territory here, but it developed a distinct and more extreme culture.”
“Women are revered above all else—it permeates every aspect of life, from birth to death, from public etiquette to the private bedchamber.”
She quietly moved a little closer to Jiang Huai and said, “Starting with status, women are born regarded as pillars of the family, inheriting the family legacy, wielding authority, and it is natural for them to step out into the world and achieve greatness.”
“Men, on the other hand, mostly focus on ‘internal guardianship’—being virtuous and gentle, managing the household, and educating their wives and daughters is their proper role.”
“Powerful female cultivators serve as the heads of the household, possessing absolute authority, while men must adhere to the ‘Three Obediences and Four Virtues’: before marriage obey the mother, after marriage obey the wife, and after the wife’s death obey the daughter.”
Hearing this, Jiang Huai’s expression remained unchanged; he felt no surprise.
After all, during his years caring for Wu Zhaohua in the courtyard, he had lived a fairly mundane life, and the local customs generally respected wives above all.
But Cang Ling paused briefly, lowering her voice:
“As for matters of love and intimacy, within the bedchamber, women also take the lead.”
She carefully studied Jiang Huai’s expression, worried that she might offend him or make him uncomfortable by saying too much.
But evidently, Jiang Zhun did not mind, so she continued:
“Men must be as gentle and attentive as possible, prioritizing the happiness of the wife.”
“It is said… ahem.”
She cleared her throat lightly, glancing at Jiang Huai’s still calm profile:
“Before intimacy, men even bathe in fragrant water and carefully adorn themselves, as if performing a ritualistic offering—all to please their wives.”
“If the wife is dissatisfied, she can neglect or even punish him.”
“And women are not bound by such constraints; they act freely as they wish. It has already become a cultural habit.”
Jiang Huai still showed no change in expression.
However, Cang Jing, standing behind Cang Ling, listened carefully and her eyes revealed a trace of something unusual.
“Moreover,” Cang Ling added, eyes sparkling, “that world places great importance on male chastity—unmarried men must not cross the slightest boundary, or else it is considered a dishonor to their family name!”
Zhu Siyao couldn’t help but interject, addressing Jiang Huai, “You’d fit in there perfectly, really.”
This male lecher would probably be beaten to death if he went there.
Jiang Huai glanced at her helplessly, unwilling to explain.
“They have plenty of festivals there too. During celebrations, many strange customs revolve around bedchambers, but I won’t go into detail,” Cang Ling smiled.
Jiang Huai nodded slightly and asked, “So this Secret Realm originally belonged to that small world, shattered by an ancient war.”
“Is that small world still around?”
Cang Ling shook her head and replied, “Not sure, but probably. It’s said this world wasn’t shattered completely during the ancient war.”
Many small worlds became various very tiny Secret Realms.
Jiang Huai pondered. It seemed the Five Provinces Continent was connected to some small worlds, but had no ties with many others.
During their casual chat, Jiang Huai asked curiously, “Can you transform into a dragon?”
He suddenly thought of Qin Qingyue, who often liked to turn into a Little Black Dragon clinging to him, or “smoking” in strange places.
At his words, a flash sparked in Cang Ling’s eyes. She transformed, her delicate figure shrinking gradually until she became a small Yellow Dragon about two fingers wide, radiating a faint golden light, swimming nimbly toward Jiang Huai.
Zhu Siyao saw this and couldn’t help but show curiosity.
Seeing Jiang Huai didn’t resist, the small Yellow Dragon boldly climbed onto his shoulder, winding around him. The dragon’s mouth opened, speaking human words:
“How is it? How do I look in my true form? Not bad, right?”
Cang Ling was naturally confident in her appearance and made an effort to be endearing.
It was the first time Jiang Huai had a dragon cling to him, and he looked curiously at this small Yellow Dragon, whose horns and scales differed from Qin Qingyue’s.
This little Yellow Dragon was very heroic-looking.
“Not bad, but not as pretty as our family’s,” he said after careful consideration.
He felt the Black Dragon Qin Qingyue was still cuter and more beautiful.
Hearing this, Cang Ling’s expression flickered slightly, and she couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Huai a few more times.
Recalling the Black Dragon Horns he had revealed earlier, her heart shuddered.
What kind of prestigious sect was he from? Was Nine Heavens Palace some hidden super sect? And they even raised dragons?
This was definitely unacceptable to the Five Great Dragon Clans.
Zhu Siyao’s dislike grew stronger—already clinging to him? Shameless!
Rumble!
Suddenly, from the distant horizon, a booming sound rolled like a muffled thunder, and the earth began to tremble lightly.
Everyone’s faces changed sharply as they turned to look.
At the far end of their sight, dust billowed into the sky, rushing toward the center of the Secret Realm like a black tide.
It was a terrifying beast tide made up of countless demonic beasts of various forms, all with blood-red eyes.
They seemed driven by some force, losing all reason, left only with a frenzy to kill.
Their momentum was terrifying, and everything in their path was trampled to dust.
Cang Ling quickly slipped off Jiang Huai’s shoulder, transforming back into human form, clenching her fists tightly.
“Be alert!” Jiang Huai shouted coldly, instantly casting aside their previous idle talk.
His long sword rang out as it was drawn, held horizontally before him.
The other four reacted quickly as well.
Zhu Siyao’s body was covered in crimson armor, flames swirling.
Xiao Yue pointed her sword, a clear sword intent surging forth.
The Cang sisters stood back to back; dragon scales instantly coated their arms, dragon claws sharp and cold.
The beast tide closed in in an instant.
A stench of blood rushed over them, the roars deafening.
Jiang Huai stood at the forefront, his eyes icy cold.
Within him, the Chaos Dao Platform spun rapidly as the twin energies of Yuanyang and Xuanyin Qi surged out, infusing his sword.
Wherever the sword’s light passed, it sometimes blazed fiercely like the sun, other times chillingly cold like ice.
It forcefully carved out a small safe zone within the raging beast tide.
Most of the demonic beasts instinctively avoided this death zone, unwilling to approach lightly.
Beside him, Xiao Yue’s swordsmanship was also exquisite.
The Wenxuan Sword Intent flowed as she cut down the oncoming beasts.
But compared to Jiang Huai’s Yin-Yang powered killing sword art, her efficiency was clearly inferior.
Her beautiful eyes shimmered with admiration as she watched his every move, deeply shaken.
Had the Grandmaster’s understanding and application of Wenxuan Sword Intent really reached such a realm?
Did the Honored Master keep a secret from me? Why does it feel like the Grandmaster’s swordsmanship is better than mine?
As the five struggled against the beast tide, a strangely seductive laugh pierced through the deafening roars, clearly reaching Jiang Huai’s ears.
“Hehehe…”
“Little young master, what a coincidence, long time no see.”
“You didn’t get killed by that Black Dragon’s misfortune—your fate’s pretty tough, huh?”
Following the voice, Jiang Huai looked toward the rear of the beast tide.
There, perched elegantly on a towering rock, was a demonic fox with pitch-black fur, its eyes flickering with a strange pink light, looking down disdainfully.
Its tail swayed gently, and the frenzied demonic beasts around it instinctively avoided the area where it sat.
Seeing the demonic fox and hearing that familiar voice, Jiang Huai’s pupils contracted slightly.
The Calamity Secret Realm—it was this demonic fox back then who had continuously used its divine will to manipulate him into killing the weakened Qin Qingyue.
“So it was you.”
Jiang Huai’s voice was cold, the tip of his sword dripping with demonic beast blood.
“Indeed~” The fox’s voice carried an intoxicating charm.
“I said before, our fate isn’t over yet—we would meet again. See? It’s come true.”
Before it finished speaking, the pink light in its eyes flared.
The massive beast tide seemed to receive a clear command and intensified its furious charge toward Jiang Huai and the others.
Obviously, this demonic fox was the leader of this beast tide.
As the pressure tilted toward Jiang Huai and his group, cultivators elsewhere in the Secret Realm, like the White Dragon Clan’s cold and aloof young girl observing from afar with confusion, immediately felt the pressure ease.
Jiang Huai swung his sword, cutting down a charging ferocious beast.
The Yin and Yang energies flowed ceaselessly along the blade.
The demonic fox’s once mocking and alluring gaze suddenly stiffened upon sensing the mixed Yin-Yang power on Jiang Huai’s sword.
It seemed to see something extremely terrifying and its voice instantly changed tone, letting out a sharp scream of fear:
“Yin! Yin-Yang Power?! How is this possible?!”
“You’re a Yin-Yang Body? Yin-Yang Bodies don’t have descendants, do they?!”
“How could there be a Yin-Yang Body?!”
Memories of the ancient era, when they were dominated and crushed, surged into its mind like a tidal wave.
The being who had perfected the Yin-Yang Dao and rampaged the world, slaughtering nearly all of their full-form Great Perfection Yin-Yang Bodies.
If not for that being, they wouldn’t have hidden away in silence for such a long time.
It stared at Jiang Huai in disbelief.
The man before it was obviously only at Foundation Establishment stage, yet the pure and unmistakable Yin-Yang Dao aura was from the same origin.
But Yin and Yang were supposed to be passed down in a single lineage—how could this appear again?
After the overwhelming terror came a tide of hatred.
He must not be allowed to grow.
While he was still so weak, they must do everything to crush him here.
He must not be left alive.
But currently, under the Secret Realm’s rules suppressing her strength, she could not act personally.
Hearing the fox’s words, Jiang Zhun’s heart tightened—had his identity as a Yin-Yang Body been discovered?
“You… send me to that world.”
The one this Secret Realm should originally belong to.
Then take your time to deal with me there.
The pink charm in the fox’s eyes instantly turned into dense, pitch-black evil.
It let out a sharp, piercing shriek as black mist rose around it, locking onto Jiang Huai.
Jiang Zhun felt the surrounding space violently twist and collapse.
An irresistible enormous suction force came from the depths of the void, suddenly grabbing him.
His footing became unstable, almost pulled in.
“Watch out!” Zhu Siyao shouted, instinctively stretching out her hand and tightly grasping Jiang Huai’s wrist.
Her spiritual power erupted as she desperately tried to hold him back.