C5 [peak of Soul Condensing Stage.]

Is someone there?

Su Yun peered down the dungeon corridor.

But as the figure came into focus, his anxiety melted away.

The newcomer was also a young woman.

Clad in white, her delicate features shone even in the dungeon's dim light. Her beauty was undeniable, and her long, flowing hair gave her the air of an ethereal fairy.

"Yilan..."

Su Yun whispered her name.

The woman before him was his wife, the daughter of the Yun family's Great Elder—Yun Yilan!

"Hmm?"

Yilan glanced at Su Yun, her eyes falling on Zilan and the dagger by her side. Her brows knitted in concern. "What happened here?"

"They came to kill me..."

Su Yun replied with a smile.

Yilan fell silent.

"I'm sorry."

She finally spoke in a soft voice.

"It's not your fault..."

Su Yun shook his head gently.

Without further words, Yilan approached him and asked, "Can you stand?"

Hearing this, Su Yun gave her a helpless look.

In his current state, standing was a challenge, let alone moving.

Seeing his condition, Yilan didn't say another word. She simply hoisted him up and carried him on her back.

"Uh..."

Su Yun was momentarily taken aback.

By the time he gathered his thoughts, he was already being carried by Yun Yilan out of the dungeon.

"Yilan..."

He tried to speak.

"There's no need for words."

But Yun Yilan cut him off.

Realizing resistance was futile, Su Yun resigned himself to her back.

He inhaled deeply, the scent of her hair and the softness of her body overwhelming his senses.

Gazing at her lovely profile, Su Yun smiled, a profound sense of contentment welling up inside him.

But the moment was fleeting, as they were soon bathed in light.

Yun Yilan ascended the stairs, carrying him out of the dungeon. As they emerged, they were met by a throng of onlookers.

The sight of Su Yun and Yun Yilan drew all eyes to them.

"What a disgraceful man, to commit such vile acts!"

"How could the Old Family Head even consider releasing him?"

"Indeed. Such a person deserves a death of a thousand cuts! He's revolting to even look at!"

"Miss Yilan, stop carrying that scum around. Dump him already!"

"Exactly, Miss Yilan! A lowlife like him doesn't deserve you!"

...

Anger, contempt, and scorn were evident in the onlookers' eyes as a chorus of disparaging remarks arose.

Su Yun's face darkened with frustration.

"Don't pay them any mind..."

But then, Yun Yilan's serene voice unexpectedly reached his ears.

Su Yun glanced at Yun Yilan and broke into a smile, nodding in agreement, "Understood."

It was a brief exchange, yet it was saturated with an unspoken trust.

And for him, that was more than enough.

...

Amidst the gossip, Su Yun carried Yun Yilan back to a room in a courtyard, which also served as his quarters.

"Yilan..."

Propped up on the bed, he watched Yun Yilan prepare to leave after setting him down and felt compelled to express his gratitude, "Thank you."

"There's no need for thanks."

Yun Yilan stopped briefly, placing a bottle of medicinal liquid on the table, and explained, "It was Grandfather's decision to let you out. I was simply following orders to escort you. This is the Spirit Pill Liquid he gave you for your injuries..."

She hesitated, glancing at Su Yun, whose expression remained relatively unchanged, before adding, "It should be somewhat effective."

Without waiting for a response, she swiftly exited the room.

"Can't we talk just a bit more?"

Su Yun watched her leave, shaking his head in a mix of resignation and amusement.

But he wasn't surprised.

His relationship with Yun Yilan had always been one of mutual respect.

Their marriage was solely the result of parental matchmaking and the Great Elder's decree.

Su Yun was obeying his own grandfather, who had raised him.

Yun Yilan was following the directive of her grandfather, the Old Family Head of the Yun family, whom she had just mentioned.

His grandfather and the Yun family's Old Family Head were old friends, and his marriage into the Yun family was a fulfillment of his grandfather's wishes.

Su Yun wasn't privy to the full story, only aware that his grandfather had important matters to attend to and had entrusted him to the care of the Yun family.

He had managed to escape the dungeon so swiftly thanks to the Old Family Head of the Yun family, that much was clear.

"Hu..."

With a soft exhale, Su Yun glanced at the Spirit Pill Liquid on the table, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart.

This Spirit Pill Liquid, concocted from a variety of spirit medicines, was highly effective in healing Soul Cultivators. Though it paled in comparison to the Grade 6 Spirit Pill he encountered in the Holy Pagoda—by millions of times—it was still a treasured elixir scarce in Yunhe City.

It was a generous gesture indeed for the Yun family's Old Family Head to offer him such a gift!

Yet, Su Yun was well aware that the Spirit Pill Liquid would do little for his shattered Dantian; at best, it could mend his physical wounds.

But now, his Dantian was the least of his concerns.

Observing his body's internal state, a slight smile played at the corner of Su Yun's mouth.

Using the Thunder God Essence had indeed inflicted further damage on his body, but it hadn't compromised his core. Moreover, the residual essence energy from the Divine Hammer was now being slowly absorbed by his body.

He could sense the energy within him growing rapidly.

"Truly, the power of essence..."

Su Yun sighed, a hint of anticipation in his voice, "It seems I might just break through with this!"

With those words, he closed his eyes, immersing himself in the absorption of the essence energy.

...

Time raced on, and before he knew it, the early morning of the third day had arrived.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting its glow on the young man standing in the room.

As he watched the yellow lightning crackle in his palm, a knowing smile spread across Su Yun's face.

The Thunder God Holy Body was fully restored!

"Absolutely astonishing!"

He retracted the lightning and felt the overwhelming energy within him, ready to burst forth, and he exhaled a breath of amazement.

Peak of the Soul Condensing Stage!

In just three days, as his body was rebuilt, his realm had soared to the pinnacle of the Soul Condensing Stage.

The Soul Condensing Stage had three tiers: Initial, Large Success, and Peak. Previously, Su Yun had barely reached Large Success. But now, he stood at the very summit of this stage.

Before obtaining the Divine Hammer, such thoughts would have been unimaginable for him.

"What exactly did Grandfather leave behind for me?"

Curiosity brimmed in Su Yun's eyes as he inspected the wooden hammer pendant nestled within his dantian. This pendant was a parting gift from his grandfather before Su Yun joined the Yun family.

He had assumed it was merely a keepsake from his grandfather, but now it was clear that there was more to it than he had initially believed.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Suddenly, a series of knocks on the door pulled Su Yun from his reverie.

With a puzzled look, he called out, "Who's there?"

"Young Master, I'm Yun Lih. The Great Elder sent me!"

A voice responded from the other side of the door.

"Father-in-law?"

Su Yun's eyebrows arched inquisitively as he inquired, "What's the matter?"

"The Great Elder wanted me to inform you that, due to your injuries, there's no need for you to attend today's Family Competition. He will forfeit on your behalf."

"Family Competition?"

Su Yun was taken aback, then smacked his forehead in realization, "I completely forgot about that!"

In Yunhe City, a High Sect selection is held every three years. These High Sects are the domain of some of the most formidable Soul Cultivators within the Tiancang Empire, and the selection is their way of scouting fresh talent.

Those who pass the selection earn the chance to join a High Sect, gaining access to cultivation resources beyond what ordinary families can offer. As such, the High Sect Competition draws eager participation from countless youths.

However, the selection isn't open to just anyone; only those with exceptional talent are eligible.

The Yun family, being a prominent cultivation family in Yunhe City, has a few guaranteed spots to send their young members to the High Sect Selection. The Family Competition is their means of choosing the most exceptional candidates for the selection.

As the Yun family's son-in-law, Su Yun was also eligible to compete, having registered for the event half a month prior. But in light of recent events, it had slipped his mind!

"Is the competition being held at the Martial Arts Practice Field?"

Bursting from the room, Su Yun posed the question to a robust middle-aged man who was preparing to depart.

"Eh..."

The burly man paused, taken aback as Su Yun emerged, but instinctively nodded in response, "Yes..."

With confirmation, Su Yun didn't hesitate. He dashed from the courtyard, sprinting towards a particular direction within the Yun family estate.

"This..."

Watching Su Yun's rapidly retreating figure, the stout middle-aged man, still stationed at the doorway, couldn't help but gape in astonishment.

Hadn't they said that this son-in-law had been rendered useless?

That speed, that agile figure...

Could they have been mistaken?