Seeing this scene, Lv Yi immediately clutched the shovel in her hands.

"Young master, working like this, you don’t have a hint of life’s charm left!"

"What need is there for life’s charm!" Jiang Ning chuckled lightly.

"There is a need! There is a need!" Lv Yi nodded repeatedly, "Working like the young master feels like you’re no longer human but rather a celestial being!"

"Then continue shoveling snow!" Jiang Ning smiled helplessly.

"Okay!" Lv Yi nodded repeatedly, her face full of excitement.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning walked towards his courtyard.

After taking a couple of steps, he paused again: "By the way, make a bit more for breakfast later, I’m feeling a bit hungry!"

"Okay, young master!" Lv Yi nodded firmly behind him.

...

East courtyard.

Jiang Ning stepped into his courtyard and saw the snow piled up everywhere.

A thin layer of ice had also formed on the lake.

"Next, it’s time to practice well! With his deterrent these days, it’s temporarily considered safe!" The thought flashed in his mind.

His thoughts went back to Wang Qintan from last night.

Reflecting on Wang Qintan’s words, he couldn’t help but feel touched.

Leaving behind his bloodline was something he had never considered before.

Until last night when he heard those words, his heart was stirred with thoughts and ideas he’s never had.

Walking this path until now, whether he can break out of the impasse, he doesn’t have complete confidence.

After all, the opponent’s strength is unknown and his growth needs time.

And precisely, time is at its scarcest and hardest to grasp.

The amount of time left to him doesn’t depend on him, but on when the Martial Saint can no longer withstand it.

Once the Martial Saint passes away, no matter how peaceful the era, it would be overturned in an instant.

Regarding this, he is now extremely certain.

The prosperity over eight hundred years depends on one person.

"In the future, those closely connected to me must be more cautious about distance! If I fail and die, I can’t drag them down!" He murmured to himself, for his previous decision not to make his relationship with Wang Qintan public, he now feels immensely relieved.

With their current public relationship, Wang Qintan still has a chance not to be implicated by him.

If he had chosen to make their relationship public back then and thoroughly confirmed it.

From then on, their fates would be tied, and once he fails and dies, Wang Qintan would also be implicated and affected.

His thoughts returned to Wang Qintan’s words from last night, causing him to shake his head quietly.

Regarding leaving behind a lineage and offspring, he holds no expectations in his heart.

As martial arts strongmen grow in strength, birthing offspring becomes increasingly difficult.

This phenomenon is especially evident after entering the Third Grade Grandmaster level.

Above the Third Grade Grandmaster, the probability of conceiving offspring is less than one percent of ordinary people, even lower.

Just these few times being together, how could there be any possibility of succeeding?

As he calmed down, countless stray thoughts burgeoned in his mind, growing wild.

A moment later.

A burst of sword intent erupted from within, instantly clearing his mind.

He slowly closed his eyes.

In a flash.

The world spun, time and space shifted.

When he opened his eyes again, overhead was the sun unchanged through the years, with invisible barriers blocking the surging fog around him.

In the next moment, he entered into practice.

Inside the inner realm, he felt the long passage of time, experiencing his mind becoming increasingly tranquil.

No idea how long had passed.

No sense of the passage of time.

He slowly opened his eyes.

At this moment, the two hours felt just like before, yet he felt countless years had passed, his eyes taking on a hint of sordid wisdom.

After several breaths.

He adjusted himself, his gaze regaining clarity.

[Skill]: Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method (Great Success 4577/10000)

"This improvement is much greater than before!" He looked at the changes in his experience value panel, his expression somewhat thoughtful. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Try again tonight!" Following his thoughts, he made a silent decision.

...

The next day.

The snow fell harder and harder, covering Dongling City’s night-time bustle and throbbing.

In the Commandery Governor Mansion, Wang Qintan leaned by the window, watching the vast snowy landscape outside, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold window lattice.

Last night’s warmth still lingered, yet Jiang Ning’s silent departure left her heart with a sense of indescribable emptiness and determination.

Her father’s words echoed in her ears, she wasn’t unaware of the dangers involved, but some paths, though known to be perilous, she was even less willing to miss out due to fear.

As thoughts flashed through her mind, she couldn’t help but touch her flat abdomen.

Then she sighed softly.

She knew that in just two days, successfully conceiving Jiang Ning’s offspring was almost impossible.

Because she understands how formidable Jiang Ning’s strength is.

How strong his body is, how high the level of life.

Such a strongman with extraordinary lineage finds it extremely challenging to produce offspring.

At this moment.

The sound of footsteps on the wooden floor echoed from outside, then the maid’s voice rang out.

"Miss, the master invites you to the study."

Wang Qintan retracted her thoughts, organized her somewhat complex emotions, returning to her usual cold and dignified demeanor: "Understood."

In the study, the charcoal fire warmed, but Wang Shouyi’s brows were slightly furrowed, looking at a freshly received confidential report.

As he saw his daughter enter, he handed the report over.

"Take a look, it was hastily delivered from the Royal Capital this morning."

Wang Qintan took it, quickly scanned, her expression gradually grim.

The report’s content was not directly about Jiang Ning, but mentioned recent turmoil in the Royal Capital, several noble old ministers long unseen, and even some seemingly unrelated sect people suddenly becoming active.

Though the Inspection Bureau’s Heavenly Disc monitors the chi of strongmen across the realm, it’s hard to fully discern the intentions of those who haven’t used power beyond limits or haven’t reached such limits in life level.

"These movements, though not clearly stated, the timing is too coincidental." Wang Shouyi said solemnly, "Two days ago, the Martial Saint thunderously acted, shocking all sides. Yet some people, perhaps not scared but possibly... stimulated."

"Father’s meaning is, they might accelerate certain arrangements?" Wang Qintan keenly caught the crux.

"As the tree prefers calm, the winds do not cease." Wang Shouyi sighed, "The more the Martial Saint shows invincible remains, the more some people worry about another ’Martial Saint’ following his departure. They would think if they cannot eliminate it while its wings are not fully grown, should they wait another eight hundred years? Fear and greed, both can provoke the most extreme actions. Dongling Marquis’s return to the Royal Capital this time, seemingly safe, is likely entering another vortex center."

Wang Qintan was silent, her fingers slightly tightened, causing creases on the report’s edge. She recalled Jiang Ning saying "half and half" about his confidence, in which there was no fear, yet a clear weighing.

"I... understand." She finally just responded softly, handing the report back, "Thank you for the reminder, Father."

Wang Shouyi watched his daughter’s seemingly calm yet increasingly determined side face, knowing persuasion to be futile, he only waved: "Enough, you go ahead. I’ll do my utmost to stabilize the situation on this side, so he feels at ease. As for yourself... Be careful in everything. Do what you aim to do, I support you! With just you and Qinghan, you are my only concern in this world!"

"Thank you, Father!" Wang Qintan bowed deeply.

...

Elsewhere.

At Jiangning Mansion.

Jiang Ning sat cross-legged in the pavilion by the lakeside of the east courtyard, his aura restrained, seemingly merging with the flying snow.

Since entering the inner realm for practice in the morning, progress has been remarkable, yet the closer he gets to "Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method’s" perfection, the more he feels the weight of that invisible barrier.

Second grade perfection, to break through to First Grade Mixed Element Realm requires not just quantitative accumulation, but a qualitative shift in thoroughly integrating one’s essence, spirit, and energy in deeper resonance with heaven and earth.

A moment later.

He emitted a faint glow.

This glow, though gentle, was incredibly mystical.

Even with eyes closed, it could be seen through the heart’s perception.

[Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method experience value +10]

[Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method experience value +9]

[Spirit Platform Illuminating True Self Method experience value +10]

[...]

At this moment, after adjusting his state, he entered again into the state of practice.