méi chī guò zhū ròu ， zǒng jiàn guò zhū pǎo bù ， shào nǚ suī rán xiū wèi tài qiǎn ， gǎn shòu bù chū nǐ de jù tǐ jìng jiè ， dàn yě xīn zhōng yǒu shù ， duì fāng kěn dìng shì níng dān yǐ shàng de xiū xiān zhě 。
没吃过猪肉，总见过猪跑步，少女虽然修为太浅，感受不出你的具体境界，但也心中有数，对方肯定是凝丹以上的修仙者。
The girl couldn't help feeling a bit nervous. She didn’t believe that a refined soul of the condensation core stage, who had seen so much in cultivation, would take an interest in some worthless talismans and medicinal materials she was selling.
tā bù yóu de yǒu xiē jǐn zhāng qǐ lái le 。
她不由得有些紧张起来了。
Could it be someone with ill intentions?
tā kě bù rèn wéi ， yī táng táng de níng dān qī xiū xiān zhě ， huì kàn shàng zì jǐ suǒ mài de jǐ jiàn bù zhí qián de cái liào fú lù 。
她可不认为，一堂堂的凝丹期修仙者，会看上自己所卖的几件不值钱的材料符箓。
For example… someone who was attracted to her beauty.
nán dào shì bù huái hào yì de rén me ？
难道是不怀好意的人么？
The thought made her face even paler. In the cultivation world, low-rank female cultivators selling their bodies for protection from high-rank cultivators wasn’t something that brought shame; it was a common practice.
bǐ rú shuō …… kàn zhòng le zì jǐ de měi sè 。
比如说……看中了自己的美色。
But Li Zhilan didn't think like this. Her background was quite complicated, and she had deep ties with the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion.
xiǎng dào zhè lǐ ， shào nǚ de liǎn sè gèng shì fā bái qǐ lái le 。
想到这里，少女的脸色更是发白起来了。
Her mother used to be an inner palace official at the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion and was very favored by Elder Sister Ji Yueyu, one of the three elders.
suī rán zài xiū xiān jiè ， dī jiē nǚ xiū chū mài zī sè ， yī fù yú gāo jiē xiū xiān zhě ， zuò duì fāng de jī qiè shèn zhì dǐng lú ， yǐ huàn qǔ yī shí de ān yì yǔ bì hù ， bìng méi yǒu shén me diū liǎn zhī chù 。
虽然在修仙界，低阶女修出卖姿色，依附于高阶修仙者，做对方的姬妾甚至鼎炉，以换取一时的安逸与庇护，并没有什么丢脸之处。
Dream Yuanyan usually didn’t interfere in sect affairs, but Elder Sister Ji Yueyu, as a late-stage婴期 cultivator, was definitely a high-ranking figure.
dàn zhè míng jiào lǐ zhī lán de nǚ xiū kě bìng bú shì zhè yàng xiǎng de 。
但这名叫李芝兰的女修可并不是这样想的。
Although Li Zhilan’s mother had only reached the condensation core initial stage at the time, she was considered to be one of the most promising disciples. With effort, she might have been able to form an元婴 in a hundred years.
shuō qǐ lái ， tā de shēn shì pǒ wèi qū zhé ， yǔ tiān yá hǎi gé yuān yuán yě shì jí shēn de 。
说起来，她的身世颇为曲折，与天涯海阁渊源也是极深的。
According to sect rules, while the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion allowed marriages between its members and outsiders, they even held matchmaking events every sixty years.
tā de mǔ qīn ， céng shì tiān yá hǎi gé de nèi gōng zhí shì ， ér qiě hái shì sān zhǎng lǎo jī yuè rú fēi cháng chǒng ài de yī míng rù shì dì zǐ 。
她的母亲，曾是天涯海阁的内宫执事，而且还是三长老姬月如非常宠爱的一名入室弟子。
Among those who participated in these matches were condensation core cultivators, but they weren’t considered important disciples.
yào zhī dào ， mèng rú yān yì bān bú huì guò wèn mén pài shì wù ， jī yuè rú zuò wèi yuán yīng hòu qī de dà xiū xiān zhě ， yǐ jīng shì jué duì de gāo céng le 。
要知道，梦如嫣一般不会过问门派事物，姬月如做为元婴后期的大修仙者，已经是绝对的高层了。
True elites wouldn't marry outside the sect, right?
lǐ zhī lán de mǔ qīn dāng nián suī rán jǐn jǐn níng dān chū qī ， dàn bèi rèn wéi shì zuì yǒu qián tú de yī pī dì zǐ 。
李芝兰的母亲当年虽然仅仅凝丹初期，但被认为是最有前途的一批弟子。
Although this rule wasn't explicitly stated, everyone knew about it.
zhǐ yào nǔ lì xiū xíng ， bǎi nián zhī hòu hěn yǒu kě néng níng jié yuán yīng 。
只要努力修行，百年之后很有可能凝结元婴。
The core elite of the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion were pure and chaste virgins, yet Li Zhilan’s mother had made a mistake. The esteemed disciple, who was expected to form an元婴 in a hundred years, fell in love with a low-rank cultivator during one of their sea adventures.
cóng mén guī lái shuō ， tiān yá hǎi gé suī rán yǔn xǔ mén xià yǔ wài miàn de nán zi jié wèi shuāng xiū bàn lǚ ， shèn zhì hái zhuān mén jǔ xíng liù shí nián yī cì de xiāng qīn 。
从门规来说，天涯海阁虽然允许门下与外面的男子结为双修伴侣，甚至还专门举行六十年一次的相亲。
This was unacceptable for the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion. Moreover, the man she loved was only at the foundation establishment stage and had a mediocre spirit root; his chances of forming a丹 were almost nonexistent.
xiāng qīn de nǚ zǐ zhōng ， yě bù fá níng dān xiū shì ， dàn qí shí dōu shì bù tài zhòng shì de dì zǐ 。
相亲的女子中，也不乏凝丹修士，但其实都是不太重视的弟子。
Elder Sister Ji Yueyu was furious, as were her fellow disciples. But love knows no reason.
zhēn zhèng de jīng yīng rén wù ， zěn me kě néng wài jià chū qù ne ？
真正的精英人物，怎么可能外嫁出去呢？
She loved him deeply, to the point where it hurt.
zhè tiáo guī jǔ suī rán méi yǒu míng shuō ， dàn rén rén qí shí dōu shì xīn zhī dù míng de 。
这条规矩虽然没有明说，但人人其实都是心知肚明的。
Of course, there was still a way to save their relationship. As a late-stage婴期 cultivator, Elder Sister Ji Yueyu had killed many people in her lifetime. If she could just kill that man, her beloved disciple would be heartbroken for a while but eventually come around.
tiān yá hǎi gé de hé xīn jīng yīng ， dōu shì shǒu shēn rú yù de chǔ zǐ ， kě piān piān ， lǐ zhī lán de mǔ qīn dāng nián què fàn le yí gè cuò wù 。
天涯海阁的核心精英，都是守身如玉的处子，可偏偏，李芝兰的母亲当年却犯了一个错误。
This logic seemed sound, but the manipulation factor was high. The saying "a mother knows best" applied here as well.
táng táng sān zhǎng lǎo de ài tú ， bèi rèn wéi bǎi nián hòu yǒu kě néng chōng jī yuán yīng jìng jiè de rén wù ， zài yī cì chū hǎi mào xiǎn de tú zhōng ， jū rán yǔ yī sàn xiū xiāng ài le 。
堂堂三长老的爱徒，被认为百年后有可能冲击元婴境界的人物，在一次出海冒险的途中，居然与一散修相爱了。
Li Zhilan’s mother knew her master's character well and had taken the Heart Refinement Fruit with her lover.
zhè zhǒng shì qíng ， tiān yá hǎi gé jué bù néng rěn shòu ， piān piān lǐ zhī lán mǔ qīn ài shàng de nà gè nán zi ， hái jǐn jǐn shì yī míng zhù jī qī xiū shì ， ér qiě líng gēn yě xī sōng píng cháng yǐ jí ， zhè bèi zi jié dān de jī huì wēi hū qí wēi 。
这种事情，天涯海阁绝不能忍受，偏偏李芝兰母亲爱上的那各男子，还仅仅是一名筑基期修士，而且灵根也稀松平常以极，这辈子结丹的机会微乎其微。
The name of this pill sounded good, but it was a product of the魔道.
jī yuè rú bèi qì le gè bàn sǐ ， tiān yá hǎi gé qí yú de shī jiě mèi yě rèn wéi lǐ zhī lán de mǔ qīn fēng le ， kě ài qíng zhè ge dōng xī ， hé zēng huì jiǎng lǐ zhì 。
姬月如被气了个半死，天涯海阁其余的师姐妹也认为李芝兰的母亲疯了，可爱情这个东西，何曾会讲理智。
Usually, one alchemical furnace would produce dozens of pills, but the Heart Refinement Fruit could only be made in pairs per batch.
ài le jiù shì ài le ， ér qiě hái dào kè gǔ míng xīn de chéng dù 。
爱了就是爱了，而且还到刻骨铭心的程度。
No matter when you were born, you had to die together.
dāng rán ， xiǎng yào wǎn huí yě bìng bú shì méi yǒu bàn ， jī yuè rú zuò wèi yuán yīng hòu qī de dà xiū xiān zhě ， zhè bèi zi shǒu shàng de xuè xīng yòu qǐ huì zhān de shǎo le 。
当然，想要挽回也并不是没有办，姬月如做为元婴后期的大修仙者，这辈子手上的血腥又岂会沾的少了。
These two pills contained special connections.
zhǐ yào shā le nà míng nán zi ， ài tú jiù suàn shāng xīn yī duàn shí jiān ， suí zhe shí jiān de xiāo mó ， zǒng yě huì màn màn huí xīn zhuǎn yì de 。
只要杀了那名男子，爱徒就算伤心一段时间，随着时间的消磨，总也会慢慢回心转意的。
One yin and one yang, they could be taken by a couple.
zhè ge xiǎng yuán běn méi cuò ， kě cāo zòng xìng yě shì jí gāo de ， rán ér sú huà shuō ， zhī nǚ mò ruò mǔ ， zhè jù huà fǎn guò lái jiǎng yě shì yī yàng de 。
这个想原本没错，可操纵性也是极高的，然而俗话说，知女莫若母，这句话反过来讲也是一样的。
If one died, the other would follow shortly after.
duì yú zì jǐ shì fèng le bǎi yú nián de shī zūn de xìng gé ， lǐ zhī lán de mǔ qīn yì qīng èr chǔ ， suǒ yǐ tā zǎo yǐ hé ài rén yì qǐ fú xià le tóng xīn guǒ 。
对于自己侍奉了百余年的师尊的性格，李芝兰的母亲一清二楚，所以她早已和爱人一起服下了同心果。
Upon learning this, despite her strength, Elder Sister Ji Yueyu couldn’t do anything about it. She was angry but not every master-disciple relationship involved manipulation; in truth, she had cared for Li Zhilan like a daughter.
fèng xīn guǒ 。
凤心果。
Now they faced two choices: either kill their disciple or accept the union between her and that wandering cultivator.
zhè dān yào míng zì bù cuò 。
这丹药名字不错。
After much consideration, Elder Sister Ji Yueyu couldn’t bring herself to do it. She expelled her disciple from the sect, effectively ending their relationship.
rán ér què shì mó dào de xiū xiān zhě liàn zhì chū lái de 。
然而却是魔道的修仙者炼制出来的。
Unlike those who were married through matchmaking events, Li Zhilan’s mother didn't receive any dowry or permission to establish a cultivation family near the Isles of Immortals. This was an unbearable shame for the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion.
yì bān lái shuō ， yī lú dān ， jí biàn zài shǎo ， yě yǒu shù shí méi zhī duō ， kě zhè tóng xīn guǒ ， měi yī lú ， què zhǐ néng liàn chū liǎng kē 。
一般来说，一炉丹，即便再少，也有数十枚之多，可这同心果，每一炉，却只能炼出两颗。
When she left the sect, Elder Sister Ji Yueyu told her never to return; otherwise, she would personally destroy their home.
bù qiú tóng nián tóng yuè shēng ， dàn qiú tóng nián tóng yuè sǐ 。
不求同年同月生，但求同年同月死。
Li Zhilan's mother bowed three times in gratitude and began their wandering life with her lover.
yī lú liǎng méi de tóng xīn guǒ ， bǐ cǐ zhī jiān ， shì hán yǒu tè shū lián xì de 。
一炉两枚的同心果，彼此之间，是含有特殊联系的。
They stayed away from the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion but didn't leave the outer sea. They were familiar with this area since they had grown up here.
yī yīn yī yáng ， kě ràng fū qī èr rén fú yòng 。
一阴一阳，可让夫妻二人服用。
Now as a wandering cultivator, things would be much harder on the mainland of Anzhou.
chī le yǐ hòu ， yī rén sǐ le ， lìng yī rén yě bì dìng yǔn luò 。
吃了以后，一人死了，另一人也必定陨落。
In truth, their early life was quite good. Newlyweds, deeply in love, it seemed like nothing could go wrong.
dé zhī le zhè ge xiāo xī ， yǐ jī yuè rú de qiáng shì ， yě ná zhè bǎo bèi ài tú méi zhé ， xīn zhōng qì guī qì ， dàn bìng fēi měi duì shī tú ， dōu shì hù xiāng suàn jì ， píng xīn lái shuō ， liǎng rén yuán běn qíng ruò mǔ nǚ 。
得知了这个消息，以姬月如的强势，也拿这宝贝爱徒没辙，心中气归气，但并非每对师徒，都是互相算计，平心来说，两人原本情若母女。
But can love replace everything?
xiàn zài miàn lín liǎng gè xuǎn zé ， yào me jiāng ài tú bì le ， yào me jiù zhǐ yǒu niē zhe bí zi ， chéng quán tā yǔ nà sàn xiū nán zi de hǎo shì 。
现在面临两个选择，要么将爱徒毙了，要么就只有捏着鼻子，成全他与那散修男子的好事。
The saying "poor people's marriage is full of misfortunes" held true in the cultivation world as well.
jīng guò zài sān sī liàng yǐ hòu ， jī yuè rú zhōng yú méi néng hěn xià xīn cháng ， zuì zhōng jiāng tú ér zhú chū le mén qiáng ， suàn shì chéng quán le zhè yī duì yuān yāng 。
经过再三思量以后，姬月如终于没能狠下心肠，最终将徒儿逐出了门墙，算是成全了这一对鸳鸯。
If Li Zhilan’s mother had married an old monster at the late-stage婴期, she wouldn’t have to worry about anything; her husband would protect and provide for her.
dāng rán ， yǔ xiāng qīn dà huì jià chū qù de dì zǐ bù tóng ， xiàng lǐ zhī lán mǔ qīn zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng ， bù kě néng dé dào shén me fēng hòu de jià zhuāng ， gèng bù kě néng yǔn xǔ tā men zài yíng zhōu dǎo fù jìn kāi pì xiū xiān jiā zú ， bì jìng zhè jiàn shì qíng duì tiān yá hǎi gé lái shuō ， jiǎn zhí shì wú xǐ jǐn de chǐ rǔ 。
当然，与相亲大会嫁出去的弟子不同，像李芝兰母亲这种情况，不可能得到什么丰厚的嫁妆，更不可能允许他们在瀛洲岛附近开辟修仙家族，毕竟这件事情对天涯海阁来说，简直是无洗尽的耻辱。
In times of danger, he could step forward. When needed materials or treasures, he could provide them.
zhú chū mén qiáng de shí hòu ， jī yuè rú céng duì tú ér shuō guò ， zhè bèi zi bú yào zài ràng zì jǐ kàn jiàn le ， fǒu zé ， tā huì qīn shǒu qíng lǐ mén hù 。
逐出门墙的时候，姬月如曾对徒儿说过，这辈子不要再让自己看见了，否则，她会亲手情理门户。
But now that they were in love but her husband was weaker than her, several times they had been beaten up by sea beasts. She alone fought the monsters to the death.
lǐ zhī lán de mǔ qīn chōng ēn shī kē le sān gè tóu ， yǔ ài rén kāi shǐ le piāo bó áo yóu 。
李芝兰的母亲冲恩师磕了三个头，与爱人开始了漂泊遨游。
As for cultivation resources like crystals and treasures, as a mere wandering cultivator, she had none. Originally, with her potential at the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion, she might have formed an元婴 in a hundred years, but after thirty years of marriage, her cultivation hadn’t progressed.
dàn tā men suī rán bù gǎn kào jìn tiān yá hǎi gé ， què bìng wèi lí kāi zhè wài hǎi de ， bì jìng liǎng rén dōu shì zài zhè piàn shuǐ yù zhǎng dà ， xiāng duì lái shuō hái shì bǐ jiào shú 。
但他们虽然不敢靠近天涯海阁，却并未离开这外海的，毕竟两人都是在这片水域长大，相对来说还是比较熟。
They constantly wandered, and their funds were meager. Sometimes, during quiet nights, she felt mixed emotions. She had love, but as a wife, it was her duty to protect him from harm. If he couldn't do that, how could they have happiness?
rú jīn tuō lí mén pài yǐ hòu ， chéng le sàn xiū ， bīng zhōu dà lù cáng lóng wò hǔ ， zhēn dào nà lǐ qù de ， huì gèng jiā cùn bù nán xíng de 。
如今脱离门派以后，成了散修，并州大陆藏龙卧虎，真到那里去的，会更加寸步难行的。
Of course, her husband loved her deeply, which made her content.
píng xīn lái shuō ， liǎng rén zuì chū de shēng huó hěn bú cuò ， bì jìng xīn hūn yàn ěr ， ér qiě bǐ cǐ gǎn qíng jí wéi shēn hòu 。
平心来说，两人最初的生活很不错，毕竟新婚燕尔，而且彼此感情极为深厚。
So whether or not she regretted it, at least they had been together.
kě ài qíng zhēn de néng dài tì yī qiè me ？
可爱情真的能代替一切么？
The only thing she felt guilty about was her daughter. Following them had meant little peace for the girl.
sú huà shuō ， pín jiàn fū qī bǎi shì āi ， zhè jù huà fàng zài xiū xiān jiè tóng yàng cún zài 。
俗话说，贫贱夫妻百事哀，这句话放在修仙界同样存在。
The dangers of the cultivation world were too many. Three years ago, a family of three encountered a third-stage upper-grade monster. They couldn't have fought back.
jiǎ rú lǐ zhī lán de mǔ qīn jià de shì yī míng yuán yīng qī lǎo guài ， zì rán bù yòng dān xīn shén me ， shì shì dōu yǒu zhàng fū wèi tā zhē fēng dǎng yǔ de 。
假如李芝兰的母亲嫁的是一名元婴期老怪，自然不用担心什么，事事都有丈夫为她遮风挡雨的。
In their last moments, they created an opportunity for their daughter to escape and died together.
yǒu wēi xiǎn ， zhàng fū kě yǐ tǐng shēn ér chū 。
有危险，丈夫可以挺身而出。
Before dying, she handed her disciple a jade pendant given by Elder Sister Ji Yueyu, urging her to return to the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion.
xū yào shén me cái liào bǎo wù ， zhàng fū yě néng ná chū lái 。
需要什么材料宝物，丈夫也能拿出来。
Her cultivation path had ended at the condensation core stage; she hoped her beloved daughter could go further.
kě xiàn zài ， ài qíng shì yǒu le ， kě láng jūn de xiū wèi què bǐ zì jǐ hái ruò ， hǎo jǐ cì yù jiàn hǎi shòu de shí hòu ， dōu bèi dǎ dé pì gǔn niào liú ， quán zhàng tā yī jiāo ruò nǚ zǐ yǔ guài wù shū sǐ bó dòu 。
可现在，爱情是有了，可郎君的修为却比自己还弱，好几次遇见海兽的时候，都被打得屁滚尿流，全仗她一娇弱女子与怪物殊死搏斗。
Poor Li Zhilan was just an灵动期 cultivator. Luckily, she was fortunate and resilient, enduring hardships before finally returning to the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion.
zhì yú xiū xíng suǒ xū de jīng shí bǎo wù ， qū qū yī sàn xiū ， gèng shì shén me yě méi yǒu ， yuán běn liú zài tiān yá hǎi gé ， lǐ zhī lán de mǔ qīn yǒu wàng chōng jī yuán yīng ， kě jià rén sān shí nián yǐ hòu ， tā de xiū wèi què méi yǒu cùn jìn 。
至于修行所需的晶石宝物，区区一散修，更是什么也没有，原本留在天涯海阁，李芝兰的母亲有望冲击元婴，可嫁人三十年以后，她的修为却没有寸进。
Postscript: Reading the urgent requests for updates made Huan Yu's mouth water, but it was too busy during the New Year with endless dinners at relatives' homes. 555, I hate the New Year.
The girl couldn't help feeling a bit nervous. She didn’t believe that a refined soul of the condensation core stage, who had seen so much in cultivation, would take an interest in some worthless talismans and medicinal materials she was selling.
Could it be someone with ill intentions?
For example… someone who was attracted to her beauty.
The thought made her face even paler. In the cultivation world, low-rank female cultivators selling their bodies for protection from high-rank cultivators wasn’t something that brought shame; it was a common practice.
But Li Zhilan didn't think like this. Her background was quite complicated, and she had deep ties with the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion.
Her mother used to be an inner palace official at the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion and was very favored by Elder Sister Ji Yueyu, one of the three elders.
Dream Yuanyan usually didn’t interfere in sect affairs, but Elder Sister Ji Yueyu, as a late-stage婴期 cultivator, was definitely a high-ranking figure.
Although Li Zhilan’s mother had only reached the condensation core initial stage at the time, she was considered to be one of the most promising disciples. With effort, she might have been able to form an元婴 in a hundred years.
According to sect rules, while the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion allowed marriages between its members and outsiders, they even held matchmaking events every sixty years.
Among those who participated in these matches were condensation core cultivators, but they weren’t considered important disciples.
True elites wouldn't marry outside the sect, right?
Although this rule wasn't explicitly stated, everyone knew about it.
The core elite of the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion were pure and chaste virgins, yet Li Zhilan’s mother had made a mistake. The esteemed disciple, who was expected to form an元婴 in a hundred years, fell in love with a low-rank cultivator during one of their sea adventures.
This was unacceptable for the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion. Moreover, the man she loved was only at the foundation establishment stage and had a mediocre spirit root; his chances of forming a丹 were almost nonexistent.
Elder Sister Ji Yueyu was furious, as were her fellow disciples. But love knows no reason.
She loved him deeply, to the point where it hurt.
Of course, there was still a way to save their relationship. As a late-stage婴期 cultivator, Elder Sister Ji Yueyu had killed many people in her lifetime. If she could just kill that man, her beloved disciple would be heartbroken for a while but eventually come around.
This logic seemed sound, but the manipulation factor was high. The saying "a mother knows best" applied here as well.
Li Zhilan’s mother knew her master's character well and had taken the Heart Refinement Fruit with her lover.
The name of this pill sounded good, but it was a product of the魔道.
Usually, one alchemical furnace would produce dozens of pills, but the Heart Refinement Fruit could only be made in pairs per batch.
No matter when you were born, you had to die together.
These two pills contained special connections.
One yin and one yang, they could be taken by a couple.
If one died, the other would follow shortly after.
Upon learning this, despite her strength, Elder Sister Ji Yueyu couldn’t do anything about it. She was angry but not every master-disciple relationship involved manipulation; in truth, she had cared for Li Zhilan like a daughter.
Now they faced two choices: either kill their disciple or accept the union between her and that wandering cultivator.
After much consideration, Elder Sister Ji Yueyu couldn’t bring herself to do it. She expelled her disciple from the sect, effectively ending their relationship.
Unlike those who were married through matchmaking events, Li Zhilan’s mother didn't receive any dowry or permission to establish a cultivation family near the Isles of Immortals. This was an unbearable shame for the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion.
When she left the sect, Elder Sister Ji Yueyu told her never to return; otherwise, she would personally destroy their home.
Li Zhilan's mother bowed three times in gratitude and began their wandering life with her lover.
They stayed away from the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion but didn't leave the outer sea. They were familiar with this area since they had grown up here.
Now as a wandering cultivator, things would be much harder on the mainland of Anzhou.
In truth, their early life was quite good. Newlyweds, deeply in love, it seemed like nothing could go wrong.
But can love replace everything?
The saying "poor people's marriage is full of misfortunes" held true in the cultivation world as well.
If Li Zhilan’s mother had married an old monster at the late-stage婴期, she wouldn’t have to worry about anything; her husband would protect and provide for her.
In times of danger, he could step forward. When needed materials or treasures, he could provide them.
But now that they were in love but her husband was weaker than her, several times they had been beaten up by sea beasts. She alone fought the monsters to the death.
As for cultivation resources like crystals and treasures, as a mere wandering cultivator, she had none. Originally, with her potential at the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion, she might have formed an元婴 in a hundred years, but after thirty years of marriage, her cultivation hadn’t progressed.
They constantly wandered, and their funds were meager. Sometimes, during quiet nights, she felt mixed emotions. She had love, but as a wife, it was her duty to protect him from harm. If he couldn't do that, how could they have happiness?
Of course, her husband loved her deeply, which made her content.
So whether or not she regretted it, at least they had been together.
The only thing she felt guilty about was her daughter. Following them had meant little peace for the girl.
The dangers of the cultivation world were too many. Three years ago, a family of three encountered a third-stage upper-grade monster. They couldn't have fought back.
In their last moments, they created an opportunity for their daughter to escape and died together.
Before dying, she handed her disciple a jade pendant given by Elder Sister Ji Yueyu, urging her to return to the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion.
Her cultivation path had ended at the condensation core stage; she hoped her beloved daughter could go further.
Poor Li Zhilan was just an灵动期 cultivator. Luckily, she was fortunate and resilient, enduring hardships before finally returning to the Heavenly Edge Sea Pavilion.
Postscript: Reading the urgent requests for updates made Huan Yu's mouth water, but it was too busy during the New Year with endless dinners at relatives' homes. 555, I hate the New Year.