Chapter 375: I Can't Sleep Without Holding You

Three days later,

Huff…

Xu Sanyan crushed the soul crystal in his hand, now devoid of soul power, and stood up, brushing the powder off his clothes.

The fullness of his divine soul left him feeling deeply refreshed, but it was a pity he had exhausted his supply of soul crystals. The one he had just used was his last.

Over the past three days, he had not only absorbed soul crystals but also improved his proficiency in the Detailed Explanation of the Soul-Gathering and Brilliance-Preserving Grand Formation. Though the panel showed no change, his understanding of the formation had deepened significantly.

Xu Sanyan gazed at the white clouds outside the window, his eyes filled with contemplation. He felt it was time to begin preparing to deploy the formation.

The preparatory work for the formation was incredibly complex and could not be completed in a short time. Early planning was essential.

First, he needed to find five cities that met the required conditions. Then, he would have to carve the formation’s patterns, transforming the cities into formation cores.

This was a massive undertaking that had to be carried out in complete secrecy, lest it be discovered by those with malicious intentions.

Most importantly, this task could only be completed by Xu Sanyan himself. Others couldn’t set up the formation, but they could gather the necessary materials for him.

To accomplish this, he needed the support of a substantial power behind him.

Xu Sanyan’s brow furrowed deeper. Perhaps he should try to establish his own faction, one dedicated solely to serving him.

This faction would need to meet several criteria:

First, it had to be extremely secretive. The work he was doing was inherently clandestine. Once the Great Formation was complete, millions would perish instantly. If his plans were leaked, he would likely meet a death without burial.

Second, the disciples he recruited had to possess abilities that could aid him, whether through financial resources, rare treasures, or exceptional operational skills. They needed to offer some distinct advantage.

Loyalty wasn’t a concern, thanks to his Purple Mountain Heart-Planting Art. Once the Demonic Seed was planted, even the most virtuous women would become his puppets.

The more Xu Sanyan considered it, the more feasible it seemed. He began mentally scouting potential candidates.

Lin Fan immediately came to mind. Though the Demonic Seed inexplicably failed to take root in him, his loyalty to Xu Sanyan was unquestionable. Moreover, Lin Fan possessed exceptional abilities and remarkable luck, making him highly likely to succeed in any endeavor.

One crucial point needed consideration: though Lin Fan hailed from a demonic sect, he possessed a strong sense of justice. If he learned of Xu Sanyan’s plans, he would likely not only refuse to help but actively try to stop him. Therefore, a little manipulation—a lie—was necessary.

As he pondered this, he pushed open the door to find Wang Zixuan waiting outside.

Xu Sanyan tilted his head slightly. “Something you need?”

“Well…” Wang Zixuan’s cheeks flushed crimson as she stammered, “We’ve been married for days, but my husband has been so busy. If you have some free time soon, I was hoping…”

“Hoping for what?”

“Hoping to bear you a child,” Wang Zixuan’s voice grew softer, as if she were embarrassed.

Xu Sanyan waved his hand dismissively. “Let’s wait. I don’t have time for that right now.”

Even if he did have time, he wouldn’t choose this moment to start a family. A child would tie him down, making it impossible to act freely.

Wang Zixuan’s face visibly fell, but she quickly rallied, forcing a smile. “Then I’ll wait until you’re free, my husband.”

“Mm.”

Xu Sanyan ignored her, striding past with the callousness of a scoundrel, discarding her after having his way.

Wang Zixuan lowered her head, her true purpose for coming revealed: she had been sent by her mother.

Because the First Madam’s daughter was also set to marry Xu Sanyan as a secondary wife, the two women would be nominally equal in status, with similar backing. Whoever conceived Xu Sanyan’s child first would gain greater favor in his heart.

This was another form of vying for his affection.

But Xu Sanyan had never considered such matters. His sole focus remained on breaking through to the void harmony realm as quickly as possible.

Thirty miles outside Thousand Autumns City, Xu Sanyan conjured a mountain cave. He intended to re-enter the secret realm.

This realm had already consumed too much of his time. He needed to extract its remaining value swiftly before shifting his full attention to achieving void harmony.

As he channeled spiritual power, Xu Sanyan’s figure vanished into the cave. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself on a desolate mountain.

After checking the markings on a nearby tree, Xu Sanyan continued forward.

He didn’t know how far he was from the Dog Clan’s territory, but he assumed he was close. He had traveled for three days on his previous journey, so even at a slower pace, he should be nearing his destination.

Roar!

Hearing a distant roar, Xu Sanyan gripped his longsword, his senses on high alert.

Several hours later, the tree markings disappeared. Xu Sanyan’s eyes widened as he scanned his surroundings. A faint sense of familiarity washed over him—he must have entered the Dog Clan’s territory.

“Phew~”

Xu Sanyan exhaled in relief. He was much safer now that he had reached this point.

“Woof!”

Suddenly, a dog’s bark echoed from the side. Xu Sanyan’s heart tightened, and he immediately called out, “It’s me, Xu Sanyan!”

He had planned to sneak into the Dog Clan territory and seize an opportunity to kill those old geezers, but he was discovered the moment he stepped in. To avoid being mistaken for an enemy, he had no choice but to reveal his identity.

“Oh, you’re back?”

A familiar voice called out from ahead—it was Xun Ancai.

She had been patrolling the village with her team when her Companion Dog suddenly dragged her toward this spot. She had assumed a wild beast had wandered in, but instead, it was her man returning.

“Woof!”

Five dogs circled Xu Sanyan, their tails wagging furiously.

Xu Sanyan smiled indulgently and bent down to stroke the first dog’s head. After petting the first, he moved on to the second, then the third, fourth, and sixth…

Sixth?

Xu Sanyan paused in surprise. He lowered his head and counted again—there were indeed six dogs.

Had Xun Ancai’s strength increased again?

Xu Sanyan sized her up. “You…”

Before he could finish, Xun Ancai pulled him into a tight embrace, her voice filled with concern. “Did you encounter any danger on your way back? I told you not to come until the long night ends and I could come fetch you!”

Xu Sanyan gazed at the blurry figures standing nearby. He couldn’t make out their faces, but he knew they were all Dog Clan people.

“It’s alright,” he said, his voice dripping with affection. “I missed you so much, and the long night felt endless. I couldn’t wait any longer.” The cloying words slipped out without a trace of shame.

“Mmm…”

Xun Ancai’s cheeks flushed crimson, though her naturally dark complexion and the dimness of the night concealed her blush.

Xu Sanyan pressed close to her ear and whispered, “I can’t eat if I don’t see you for a day, and I can’t sleep if I don’t hold you at night. I don’t want to be apart from you.”

As they embraced, Xu Sanyan couldn’t see Xun Ancai’s expression, but he felt her embrace grow increasingly fervent.

Xu Sanyan secretly curled his lip. She can’t even handle this little trick?

“Come on, let’s go inside quickly.”

“Alright.”

Xun Ancai instructed her clansmen to continue their patrols while she led Xu Sanyan back up the mountain.

In a corner of the mountain cave, Xun Ancai lit a fire. The dim light spread out, the glow from the burning pile of firewood barely brighter than a single match.

The darkness of the long night was devouring the light.

But having some light was better than none.

(End of the Chapter)