My Celestial Ascension

Empress Selena immediately filled Yuan and his wives in on the situation: the Holy Church had dispatched Archbishop Gregor and the summoned Heroes to the city, and they were already en route to rescue the so-called Holy Son.

Upon hearing this, Yuan lifted his head sharply, his expression shifting to one of surprise. The sight made Empress Selena's heart skip a beat, a faint blush coloring her cheeks at the sudden impact of his stunning appearance—so effortlessly charming that any woman could easily lose herself in his gaze.

'No wonder he's managed to win over so many beautiful women…' She thought, glancing at him briefly. 'With that face, he could make anyone fall for him. Even I—married and a mother of two—find it hard to tear my eyes away…'

She quickly pulled herself together, letting out a quiet sigh before offering a calm, composed smile. She couldn't afford to let Valeria or anyone else notice her brief lapse. The thought of facing her husband and children if she lost control of herself was simply too mortifying.

"The summoned Heroes… They've gone as far as to involve them in this mess? Unbelievable! A bunch of hypocrites!" Valeria snapped, her face contorted with fury. In the next instant, her powerful aura surged outward, causing the atmosphere in the room to shift—an icy pressure settling over everyone.

She stood from the sofa, fists clenched. "I'll make sure the Holy Church pays for this. They dare bring the Heroes here, even though they're clearly in the wrong? Instead of owning up to their actions, they escalate things further—declaring war on us!"

"Calm down, Valeria," Selena said quickly, raising her hand in a placating gesture. "They haven't arrived yet. Who knows? This could be a bluff—a way to intimidate us by flaunting their Heroes. Let's not jump to conclusions."

Valeria paused, considering Selena's words. They made sense—rushing in blind anger wouldn't help. After a moment, she exhaled slowly, her aura settling.

"Let them come," she said coolly. "I'll be waiting. And when they arrive, I'll personally greet them—and teach them a lesson they won't soon forget. It's time someone shattered their delusions."

"That would be wonderful… if you can manage it," Selena replied with a soft sigh. "But don't underestimate the Holy Church. With the Heroes on their side, things might become… unpredictable."

"Don't worry, Selena. They can't be stronger than us—I'm sure of it," Valeria said confidently, a proud smile spreading across her face.

"If you say so…" Empress Selena mumbled under her breath, though doubt lingered in her eyes.

After a while, Empress Selena took her leave, departing from Valeria's mansion and returning to the Imperial Palace.

Once she was gone, Anna Grace turned to her beloved son with a gentle smile and asked, "What do you think about the Heroes, darling? Could they be… from 'that' world?"

"I don't know," Yuan replied after a long sigh. "But once I meet them, I'll find out. Still… that doesn't mean I'll show them mercy just because they're from that world. If they choose to support the Holy Church despite its obvious wrongdoings… I won't hold back."

At that moment, Valeria approached him, her eyes gleaming with intent. She gracefully sat on his lap, wrapping her strong arms around his neck and pulling his face closer. A seductive grin played on her lips.

"You can deal with the Heroes however you see fit," she whispered. "But leave that old goat to me. Archbishop Gregor is mine."

Without waiting for a reply, she pressed her lips against his, kissing him passionately for a brief yet heated moment.

"Alright," Yuan said with a chuckle, his hand brushing against her waist. "He's all yours. Do what you must. After all, this is your home—you have every right to protect it."

They shared another quick but passionate kiss before Anna Grace gently placed her hand on Valeria's shoulder.

"If you ever need help," she said warmly, "we'll be there for you. Always remember that."

Valeria turned to her with a soft smile. "I'll remember that, Mother-in-law."

Meanwhile, Princess Livia sat quietly, her expression pale and stricken with unease. The news about the Heroes coming to rescue the Holy Son—a vile scumbag who didn't deserve to be saved—had shaken her deeply.

But the more she thought about it, the more obvious it became: the Holy Church had undoubtedly twisted the truth, feeding the Heroes a tale filled with lies and half-truths.

To them, the Holy Son was probably portrayed as a kind, benevolent soul with a heart full of virtue.

That's how the Church always operated—spinning their web of deceit, hiding their corruption behind a mask of divine righteousness.

It wasn't hard to predict their moves. The Church would stop at nothing to preserve its image as the chosen messenger of the gods—beings of light and justice who claimed to lead humanity toward a so-called "brighter future."

It was through these manipulations that they'd gained complete control over the Holy Light Empire, expanding their influence by preaching that the Goddess of Light and Justice had delivered an oracle to them—one that would guide the world into salvation.

"Archbishop Gregor…" Princess Livia murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "He's the cruelest member of the Church—second only to the Pope. He'll do anything to take the Holy Son back with him… we must be careful." Her hands clenched tightly in her lap as old memories resurfaced, still vivid, still haunting.

"Just leave him to Valeria," Yuan said confidently, a proud grin curving on his lips. "She'll handle him. Don't doubt her strength—no mere mortal could even scratch her, let alone hurt her."

Hearing those words, Princess Livia could only nod silently. She chose to believe in Yuan, especially after witnessing his overwhelming might when he had crushed the Golden Skull Organization without effort. That display of power had forever shifted her understanding of strength.

They could easily conquer a kingdom—no, even an empire—without breaking a sweat. Yet, they remained low-key, choosing a life of wandering and adventure over dominance and power.

She didn't understand it. Most people with that kind of strength would seize the world and rule it. But Yuan and his wives? They were different. Truly different.

'They're… unique. Unlike anyone I've ever known. Just what are they looking for? Why travel the world instead of ruling it?' she wondered, exhaling a long, thoughtful sigh.

"The Heroes, huh?" Yuan suddenly muttered, looking up at the ceiling. "Now I'm getting excited to meet them. I just hope they meet my expectations… and don't do anything stupid that would bring about their own downfall."

—

Over the next two days, Yuan and his wives focused on training—sharpening their weapon mastery with unrelenting dedication.

Even with their formidable cultivation levels, they knew raw power wasn't enough. In the world of cultivation—especially in the unforgiving realm of the Nine Heavens—technique mattered just as much, if not more.

A lower-level cultivator with superior skills could defeat someone far above their level. That was the brutal reality.

And so, despite their overwhelming strength, they chose discipline over arrogance. Sword strikes, spear thrusts, graceful dances of deadly intent filled the training grounds as each of them refined their techniques to perfection.

They trained not just to grow stronger—but to survive.

The Nine Heavens was a world ruled by strength. There were no laws, no fairness. Only the strong were right, and the weak? They were nothing but prey.

It didn't matter if it was just or unjust—when a wolf bares its fangs, the lamb's virtue means nothing.

And so, they prepared. Not just for the Heroes. But for the world beyond.

Without the strength to fight back, they would be like a helpless lamb thrown into a den of ravenous wolves—devoured before they could even scream. What made it worse was that his wives were all incredibly beautiful, their presence turning heads wherever they went.

With women like them walking the streets, it was only a matter of time before arrogant Young Masters from prestigious families or ambitious disciples from powerful sects began showing up, seeking to claim what didn't belong to them.

There would be no end to their advances. And if Yuan were weak… he wouldn't be able to stop them.

He needed strength. Not just for himself—but to protect them. Always.

Yuan watched his wives with a warm smile as they trained with unwavering focus, their weapons slicing through the air with practiced grace. Each of them was determined, pushing themselves harder, not just for their own growth, but to be strong enough to stand by his side and have his back.

Even Miss Zara and Little Zoe trained beside them, just as dedicated and serious. After two nights of intense cultivation, they had already reached the peak of the Spirit Master Realm. Their progress was astonishing.

"I should start my training too," Yuan said with a smile, inspired by the determination around him. "Seeing them work so hard… I can't let myself slack off."

He reached into his System Storage and retrieved a wooden sword, the same one he always used for honing his basics. But the moment his fingers wrapped around the handle, something felt… wrong.

"Huh…? What the hell is happe—Aghhh!"

Yuan suddenly screamed, staggering as he clutched his head. It felt like something sharp and searing had pierced straight through his skull.

Thud!

His body collapsed onto the training ground with a heavy thump.

"DARLING!!" Anna Grace shrieked, panic erupting in her voice as she dashed toward him. Her face was pale with horror, eyes wide with fear.

The others froze in shock for a brief moment before they all rushed toward him, their hearts pounding in fear and confusion.

"Darling! What happened to you?! Open your eyes and tell me! Why aren't you listening to me?! Open your eyes, Darling!" Anna Grace cried out, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks. Panic gripped her heart as she shook his body gently, desperate for a response.

Her son—her pride, her light—lay motionless in her arms, and she felt helpless for the first time in a long while.

Moments later, the others rushed over. One by one, they surrounded Yuan, their faces filled with fear and disbelief.

"What happened to him?! Why isn't he responding?!" Lily cried, clinging tightly to Yuan's still body. Her sobs echoed in the quiet training ground as she shook him, hoping he'd stir awake.

"Quickly, check his pulse!" Valeria commanded urgently, tears welling in her eyes despite her usual composure.

"On it!" Emma nodded and immediately checked his pulse, her fingers trembling as they touched his wrist.

Her eyes widened. "His pulse… it's normal…"

"What?!"

Everyone gasped. One by one, they checked for themselves, and the result was the same—his heartbeat was steady, his breathing normal. No signs of injury or illness. Yet he remained completely unconscious.

Meanwhile, in an unfamiliar and shadowy space, Yuan stood in silence. Darkness surrounded him like a living mist, thick and cold.

He blinked a few times, trying to process his surroundings.

"Where… am I?" he muttered.

Just moments ago, he had been preparing to train with his sword—and now, he found himself standing in this dark, eerie void.

As he tried to make sense of the sudden shift, a deep, commanding voice echoed from the darkness. It sounded ancient, distant… yet strangely familiar.

"You're here at last. I thought you'd take ages to come here and show yourself before me," the voice said, calm yet powerful. "I guess I underestimated you quite a lot, kiddo."