An Unexpected Turn: Villain Becomes Dad

“The Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice!” Feng Yuwan exclaimed, her voice filled with astonishment. “The legend is actually true!”

Yang Chen’s expression froze as he recalled what he had read in ancient texts. The Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice was said to grow only when watered daily with Profound Ice Spirit Water. Given how rare Profound Ice Spirit Water was, it would take tens of thousands of years to mature a Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice, making it an incredibly valuable treasure and the sacred object of all ice-attribute cultivators.

Feng Yuwan’s face grew solemn as she soared into the air and flew toward the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice. However, as she approached, a ghostly light shot out from the lotus, striking her with such force that even her Soul Transformation Realm cultivation couldn’t withstand it. She was sent flying, blood spilling from her lips, but Yang Chen quickly caught her.

“Ah! You bastard, let go of me!” Feng Yuwan demanded, her voice hurried and her face flushed with embarrassment, not even bothering to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth. Yang Chen looked down and immediately understood, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. No wonder his hand had felt something soft earlier. He chuckled inwardly—Feng Yuwan truly lived up to her name.*

[*The name “Feng Yuwan” implies a refined, elegant person, much like a phoenix. Here, Yang Chen is playfully implying that Feng Yuwan’s soft, delicate qualities match the elegance her name suggests.]

“Uh, cough, cough!” Yang Chen cleared his throat and reluctantly released his hold on her, then said seriously, “Senior Feng, there should be an array formation inscribed around the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice. The attack earlier wasn’t from the lotus itself but from the power of the array.”

Feng Yuwan, still flustered, glared at him but quickly refocused on the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice in the center of the lake. She pondered aloud, “An array? Could it be that this array was inscribed by the Ice Phoenix Ancestor?”

“The Ice Phoenix Ancestor inscribed it?” Yang Chen echoed, surprised. But as he thought about it, it made sense. This small world had been created by that ancient phoenix, so it was entirely possible that the array around the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice had been its work.

“No matter who inscribed it, I must obtain the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice!” Feng Yuwan declared, her eyes full of determination. If she could acquire the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice, not only would her cultivation rapidly advance, but her cultivation talent would also greatly improve, giving her a chance to reach the Void Refinement Realm in the future. However, to obtain the lotus, the array needed to be broken first. She turned to Yang Chen and asked, “Yang Chen, do you think you can break this array?”

Yang Chen looked toward the lake, assessing the array. It was indeed profound, but it was also ancient. The passage of time had likely weakened it, which might explain why the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice had surfaced. Without answering, Yang Chen flew above the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice and sliced open his palm. As drops of golden blood dripped down, they triggered a reaction—dense lines of patterns appeared around the lotus, then gradually faded until they completely disappeared.

Swish!

As the array was broken, the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice transformed into a beam of white light, attempting to flee. But Yang Chen was quick, catching it in his hand. Feng Yuwan hurried over, her beautiful eyes wide with surprise as she saw the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice struggling in his grip. It was said that some sacred herbs, if they grew for enough years, could develop spiritual intelligence. Today, she had witnessed it firsthand. If she could refine this Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice, not only would she reach the mid-stage of the Soul Transformation Realm, but with enough time, she might even enter the Void Refinement Realm.

“Yang Chen, you’re a fire-attribute cultivator; this Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice is useless to you. Could you give it to me?” she asked, her tone much softer, her face full of expectation. “Don’t worry, I will fulfill my promise and marry you!”

Yang Chen’s lips curled into a slight smile as he responded, “Senior Feng, given our relationship, of course, I can give it to you! However, refining the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice might not be as easy as you think.”

“What do you mean?” Feng Yuwan asked, frowning slightly. Yang Chen handed the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice to her and said, “Senior Feng, try touching it.”

As soon as Feng Yuwan took the lotus, a cold energy swept through her body, instantly covering her face with frost. “So cold!” she exclaimed. With just one touch, she felt as though her entire true energy was about to freeze solid.

“Senior Feng, the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice is indeed the sacred object for ice-attribute cultivators. Watered with Profound Ice Spirit Water for tens of thousands of years, it has finally matured. Even though you are a Soul Transformation Realm cultivator, it will still be difficult to withstand the extreme cold of the Sacred Lotus of Profound Ice. But!”

“But what?” Feng Yuwan asked eagerly.

Yang Chen’s gaze swept over her graceful figure, his tone becoming slightly playful. “But if you have the complementary power of Extreme Yang, refining it will be much easier!”