People from Zhuangjia are naturally immune to cold. If another person with profound strength were to absorb the cold from her body, she could circulate her internal energy and widen her meridians again, allowing her body to adapt to the trajectory of the cold. In that case, no matter how much cold she absorbs in the future, she will no longer be affected and can accelerate her cultivation speed, making rapid progress in her cultivation.

She knew the Zhuang family would never easily agree to absorb the cold energy for her. Even if Zhuang Batian acknowledged her as his son and allowed her to live in the Zhuang family as the heir, Shen Meier would never let her succeed. She knew these two people too well; given how well Shen Meier had maintained her position as Madam Zhuang, she wouldn't allow an illegitimate son to climb over her. What she needed to do was find the right opportunity to make Zhuang Batian willingly absorb the cold energy for her. She didn't have much time; she couldn't afford to waste it on them. Outsmarting them was the quickest way.

Therefore, she spared no effort to sow discord between Zhuang Batian and his wife, making them suspicious of each other. She angered Qu Chiyang, causing him to choose to stand idly by. Taking advantage of Shen Meier's murderous intent towards her, she pretended to be injured and collapsed beside Zhuang Batian.

She was so weak that even if Zhuang Batian had doubts, he wouldn't just stand by and watch Xiang Wan, who bore his blood, die in front of him, especially after being beaten to the point of vomiting blood by his wife.

“Mei’er, you have disappointed me greatly. He is my bloodline, and I cannot bear to watch him die before my eyes. If you still consider me your husband, then protect me and I will save him!”

Shen Meier looked at Xiang Wan with gritted teeth, but had no choice but to compromise under Zhuang Batian's gaze and reluctantly uttered "Okay".

Xiang Wan no longer paid attention to the surrounding noise. She focused on driving the cold energy in her body to her back for Zhuang Batian to absorb, while at the same time, the vital energy in her abdomen was circulating wildly. For every bit of cold energy that left, a large amount of vital energy would surge in, forcibly expanding her meridians to their limit.

This procedure causes immense damage to the body in a short period of time, and the pain is exceptionally intense. But Xiang Wan didn't want to give up. She understood that this opportunity might only come once, and if she missed it, she would miss it forever.

Zhuang Batian focused intently on absorbing the cold energy, his expression remaining unchanged. Xiang Wan, on the other hand, was sweating profusely, trembling all over, and a trickle of blood slowly dripped from the corner of her mouth.

To onlookers, Xiang Wan appeared to be undergoing torture. While nominally being treated by Zhuang Batian, her condition was actually worse than when she collapsed. Shen Meier and Zhuang Aoxue's lips curled into cold smiles, while Qu Chiyang's gaze towards Xiang Wan was somewhat subtle, his thoughts unreadable.

As the cold air was gradually absorbed, the remaining cold air in her body began to gather towards Xiang Wan's widened meridians. Zhuang Batian absorbed the cold air at a slower and slower rate, so he increased his force. Xiang Wan, on the other hand, stretched the cold air once more, as if she were in a tug-of-war with Zhuang Batian.

With her meridians nearly fully expanded, Xiang Wan guided the cold energy, gradually gathering it in her lower abdomen, where it circulated wildly under the guidance of her vital energy. At this moment, Zhuang Batian increased his force, determined to completely expel the cold energy from Xiang Wan's body.

Xiang Wan was perfectly aware of his intentions. Zhuang Batian might have initially tried to save Xiang Wan's life, but upon contact with the potent cold energy emanating from her, he harbored a desire to plunder it. His Ice Palm technique had been stagnant for a long time, and when Xiang Wan's cold energy entered his body, there were faint signs of a breakthrough. Therefore, sensing that Xiang Wan's cold energy was about to retreat, he began to increase the intensity of his absorption.

Once all the cold energy is absorbed, Xiang Wan will suffer a backlash from her body. This is because her body has adapted to the cold energy, resulting in a balance between it and her vital energy. Once the cold energy completely leaves her body, her vital energy will become uncontrollable, and she will instantly explode and die.

Whether in his past life or this one, Zhuang Batian never held even the slightest place in Zhuang Xiangwan's heart. Even knowing she was his son, he had no intention of letting her go. Because beneath Zhuang Batian's kind and benevolent exterior lay an ugly and selfish soul.

With his vital energy circulating at full power, the chilling energy began to gather within Xiang Wan's body. Zhuang Batian was unwilling to give up and continued to absorb it with even greater force. This was a tug-of-war; if Zhuang Batian stopped now, Xiang Wan could save her life. But he was too greedy; he wouldn't stop until he had completely absorbed all of Xiang Wan's chilling energy.

As evening approached, Xiang Wan's vital energy began to display its domineering power, accelerating its circulation and absorbing all the heat from the surrounding air. A layer of frost appeared on her body, and she began to frantically absorb the cold air, growing larger and larger as her vital energy circulated.

Xiang Wan's body was emitting heat one moment and cold the next, and the suction force gradually increased. Before anyone knew it, it had begun to draw the cold energy from Zhuang Batian's body towards itself.

With Zhuang Batian's chilling aura, the suction force within Xiang Wan's body intensified again, and the frost gradually spread from her body to Zhuang Batian's palm. By the time Zhuang Batian realized that his chilling aura was leaking away, it was too late to stop, because the frost that had condensed on Xiang Wan's body had already turned into ice, and it was continuing to thicken, gradually extending from Zhuang Batian's arm to his entire body, until both of them were completely covered by the ice.

"Batian, Batian, how are you?"

As Shen Meier watched the two gradually being frozen, her tone was anxious, but her eyes held a hint of triumph. She had seen Zhuang Batian practice his skills countless times; whenever he froze, it meant that his Frost Palm technique had made another breakthrough.

Zhuang Aoxue looked proud, straightened her back, and began to speak with a firmer tone.

"Father is about to break through again, and the Zhuang family's strength will reach a new level."

The onlookers looked at each other, some even with a hint of worry.

These people from minor sects originally wanted to curry favor with the Crimson Sun Sect because of its considerable strength, which is why they spoke up in defense of Xiang Wan. Now that Zhuang Batian's strength has increased even further, and considering that they have already displeased Shen Meier and offended the Zhuang family, they need to reconsider their next move.

Although those people didn't speak, they gradually moved together, showing a tendency to distance themselves from the Crimson Sun Sect.

Qu Chiyang saw this but didn't say anything to stop it. He just stared in Xiang Wan's direction, lost in thought.

"Master, my father's breakthrough will take some time. How about we have all the guests rest in their rooms first, and then celebrate together when he comes out?"

Zhuang Aoxue, behaving like a cult leader's wife, stood next to Qu Chiyang and put her hand on his arm.

Qu Chiyang glanced to his side, took a step back, and distanced himself from Zhuang Aoxue.

"Husband, what's wrong?"

Zhuang Aoxue looked puzzled. Her father's improved martial arts skills were a good thing for her, so why did her husband seem somewhat dissatisfied?

She called out uncertainly, "Husband?"

Qu Chiyang frowned, took a few steps forward, looked at the crowd around him, and remained silent. Zhuang Aoxue walked over and asked with concern, "Husband, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"The ceremony is not yet complete, so calling him 'husband' is a bit premature."

Qu Chiyang's words were devoid of any emotion. Zhuang Aoxue asked, puzzled, "We've already paid our respects to heaven and earth, so what's wrong with calling me 'husband'?"

"Of course not, because he's mine!"