Chapter 26: Punishment, a Severe Punishment

Su Xingyue’s voice trembled with barely concealed excitement, her eyes shimmering with hope for the future.

Reaching the twelfth level of Qi Refinement was the final threshold before Foundation Establishment!

No matter how formidable one might be in the Qi Refinement stage, they remained mortal, with a lifespan of merely a hundred years.

But Foundation Establishment was different—truly stepping into the realm of cultivation, doubling one’s lifespan and vastly increasing one’s strength.

“So, how do you plan to repay me?” Lin Fan asked, a hint of playfulness in his voice.

“Spirit stones?”

Lin Fan shook his head. “Spirit stones are a given, but I want something else.”

“Oh?” Su Xingyue raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued as she looked at him with curiosity.

With a swift movement, Lin Fan sat up from the massage table, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “I’ll tell you after I help you breakthrough.”

He placed a hand on Su Xingyue’s shoulder and focused his mind. “System, assist her breakthrough!”

[Notification: Consumed 12 years of lifespan to help Su Xingyue break through the bottleneck at the eleventh level of Qi Refinement!]

[Remaining lifespan of host: 270 years.]

After aiding Ji Qingwan’s breakthrough last time, Lin Fan’s remaining lifespan was down to 182 years. Su Xingyue later gave him a hundred spirit stones, replenishing it to the current amount.

As the lifespan was deducted, Su Xingyue felt the familiar sensation of a breakthrough. A smile lit her face as she sensed the surging spiritual energy within her, her cultivation level rising steadily.

However, once the breakthrough was complete, Su Xingyue noticed that Lin Fan’s hand was still resting on her shoulder, causing her brows to furrow.

“Since you’ve successfully broken through, why don’t you stay here tonight?” Lin Fan said as he drew closer, wrapping his arm around her delicate waist.

Su Xingyue’s brow tightened, a flash of sharpness in her eyes. Suddenly, her snow-white, slender palm struck out fiercely toward Lin Fan, the force accompanied by a piercing whoosh.

“How dare you!”

Her palm carried the power of the twelfth level of Qi Refinement, moving at incredible speed straight for Lin Fan’s chest, the air crackling with the sound of spiritual energy colliding.

In the dimly lit room, the shadows cast by her strike flickered like ghosts, sending a chill down one’s spine.

Yet Lin Fan merely smiled lightly, an amused curve tugging at the corner of his lips. His other hand shot out like lightning, arriving just in time to firmly grasp Su Xingyue’s wrist.

She felt an immense force clamp down on her, as if caught in an iron vice—she was utterly immobilized!

Surprised, she wondered how this young man could be so strong.

She was at the twelfth level of Qi Refinement, and yet her full-strength strike was effortlessly nullified by him?

Before she could react, Lin Fan gave a sharp tug. Su Xingyue staggered, her slender body leaning uncontrollably forward.

Her entire being fell into his embrace, the subtle masculine aura wafting from Lin Fan making her heart race faster.

Within Su Xingyue surged a mixture of shock and fury.

She struggled desperately, spiritual energy raging within her as she sought to break free from Lin Fan’s grip.

But Lin Fan’s arms were like steel bands—no matter how much she struggled, she could not budge an inch.

Seizing the moment, Lin Fan pinned her against the wall with a classic “kabedon.”

With a dull thud, Su Xingyue’s back struck the cold wall.

Madness flickered in her eyes as her spiritual energy erupted like a volcano, unleashing a fierce attack on Lin Fan.

Lin Fan’s expression hardened; his Foundation Establishment spiritual energy surged forth like a dam breaking, overwhelming Su Xingyue’s power and forcing it back.

His hands moved in a blur, tracing phantom images before her, striking precisely at her acupoints to seal her spiritual energy flow.

Su Xingyue felt her internal power falter as though drained completely, her body going limp, utterly devoid of strength.

Lin Fan pressed her gently against the wall, savoring the softness of her form and the faint fragrance she wore, his heart stirring with a wave of emotion.

He lowered his head, leaning close to her ear, his voice low and magnetic, tinged with teasing, pride, and a hint of desire.

“Sister, you lost.”

Su Xingyue’s face turned pale, lips pressed tightly together, her eyes blazing with unwillingness and anger, yet beneath it all lay fear.

She was utterly bewildered, staring wide-eyed at Lin Fan with disbelief.

Those eyes, once filled with allure, now brimmed with shock and confusion as if witnessing something impossible.

Her delicate face stiffened, her rosy lips parted slightly but no sound came forth.

After a long moment, she finally collected herself and asked with a trembling voice, uncertain, “You… have established your foundation?”

Lin Fan nodded without denial.

A playful smile curled at the corner of his mouth. “I broke through more than half a month ago.”

Boom!

Su Xingyue felt a thunderous roar in her mind as if a bolt of lightning had struck her, leaving her stunned and hollow-eyed.

Impossible. How could this be?

She fixed Lin Fan with a piercing gaze, as though trying to see through him completely.

“How… how did you do it?” After a long silence, Su Xingyue finally spoke.

Lin Fan’s smile turned wickedly charming as he suddenly gripped her waist and lifted her into his arms.

Startled, Su Xingyue instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

“What… what are you going to do?”

Her voice trembled slightly.

Lin Fan said nothing, carrying her purposefully toward the bed.

He gently laid Su Xingyue down on the soft mattress, causing her to shiver slightly.

...

An hour later.

The room had returned to calm, only heavy breaths echoing in the air.

Lin Fan rose from the bed, eyes glinting with satisfaction as he looked at Su Xingyue, flushed and dazed upon the mattress.

He had just thoroughly disciplined this woman.

Struggling to sit up, Su Xingyue felt soreness all over as if a cart had run her over.

Gritting her teeth, she glared at Lin Fan, her eyes blazing with anger and unwillingness.

“How… how did you breakthrough?”

Her voice was hoarse and trembling.

She could not comprehend how a waste with five spirit roots could advance so rapidly.

Lin Fan smiled, naturally keeping the secret of the system to himself.

He approached the bed, gently caressing Su Xingyue’s cheek, speaking softly, “Sister, I told you on our wedding night—I possess the Ancient Sun Saint Physique. This constitution allows me to cultivate at an incredibly fast pace.”

Su Xingyue sighed deeply. She had thought she could control Lin Fan, using him as a tool for her own breakthrough.

But now, she had become Lin Fan’s captive, her life and death held entirely in his hands.

“Don’t worry, a day as husband and wife is a hundred days of grace—I won’t take your life.”

Seeing the tension on Su Xingyue’s face, Lin Fan added gently.

“But…”