Wan Lei and Xiao Yu, after their arrangements were made, tore open the spatial barrier and returned directly to the Immortal Realm.
Now both of them were Half-Saint powerhouses, and tearing open space was as easy as lifting a hand.
Upon returning to the Five Elements Hall, they went straight to their own small courtyard and entered the house, closing the door behind them.
"Are we... going to become Saints?"
Fang Xiaoyu furrowed her delicate brows, a hint of worry in her voice. The matter had come too suddenly, and she hadn't yet prepared herself mentally.
Everyone knew that Saints were the pinnacle of cultivation for any cultivator. To suddenly be asked to become the most powerful being in the Immortal Realm made her feel a little apprehensive.
"Xiaoyu, keep a calm mind. Becoming a Saint is just the first step. Our most crucial goal is to become Immortal Venerables. Only by becoming Immortal Venerables will the Prime Plane have even a sliver of hope for a comeback."
Next, Wan Lei recounted everything Wan Hong had told him to Fang Xiaoyu.
After listening, Fang Xiaoyu became even more worried.
"But it's all happening so suddenly, and I haven't had any preparation. I haven't even fully comprehended the Dao of Life yet, and the Saintly Dao is still in its nascent stage, far from enough to ascend to Sainthood. With such urgency, how long will this comprehension take?
Moreover, your Dao of Order hasn't been fully comprehended into the Saintly Dao either, right? Comprehension is all about accumulation and enlightenment..."
Before Fang Xiaoyu could finish speaking, she was struck dumbfounded.
Above, a mysterious and majestic white cloud condensed, and from it, a golden-yellow stairway of the Great Dao descended slowly.
"The... Saint Ascension Ladder?"
Fang Xiaoyu stared at the ladder, her eyes wide with disbelief.
At this moment, the Five Elements Hall was exceptionally lively. Wan Lei and his companions had gone to the Ghost Realm early, but most of the disciples were still busy with mobilization and purchasing supplies.
When the Saint Ascension Ladder appeared, everyone noticed the scene.
"What is that thing?"
"Idiot, you don't even know the Saint Ascension Ladder? That white cloud is the will of the Immortal Realm. It has descended the Saint Ascension Ladder; someone is about to become a Saint!"
"Become a Saint! It's been twenty to thirty thousand years since anyone in our Five Elements Hall became a Saint. Who is about to ascend?"
"Look quickly, the end of the Saint Ascension Ladder has landed in the small courtyard halfway up Thunder Peak."
"That's Wan Lei's residence."
"It must be Wan Lei who is about to become a Saint."
"Heavens, how long has he been in the Five Elements Hall? Just ten years ago, he was still a disciple of the Void Realm, and now he's becoming a Saint?"
"Legend has it that Wan Lei only took ten years to cultivate from an ordinary mortal with no cultivation to becoming an Immortal.
Ten years to become an Immortal, ten years to become a Saint. Even the Immortal Venerables back then weren't this fast!"
"Hahaha, Wan Lei has become a Saint! We have another strong warrior for the decisive battle against the Demon race. This is great."
"Let's go, let's go, let's get back to our tasks. Sooner or later, I will also make the Immortal Realm's will descend the Saint Ascension Ladder."
Fang Xiaoyu looked at Wan Lei dazedly, her adorable expression melting Wan Lei's heart.
"When did you comprehend the Saintly Dao? You didn't even tell me?"
"Just recently. Those past two months weren't that busy, so I finished my comprehension. It's just that I encountered the need to support other universes, and then this great battle today. I just hadn't initiated the descent of the Saint Ascension Ladder."
"Damn it, I'm still a step behind you!"
Fang Xiaoyu stomped her foot in annoyance, her flustered yet adorable demeanor making Wan Lei burst into laughter.
"Alright, alright, my wife is also very impressive. I believe you will follow soon."
After sulking for a while, Fang Xiaoyu gritted her teeth secretly. Then, with a charming smile, she hugged Wan Lei's waist, her small head resting on his chest.
"Husband is so amazing, husband is so great. I admire husband the most."
Seeing this, Wan Lei was greatly surprised. His first thought was, is this girl going to make a move on me?
This is too abnormal. Is this still the icy loli Fang Xiaoyu?
"What... what are you doing?"
Wan Lei was filled with doubt.
"Nothing, really. I was just thinking, you're about to ascend the Saint Ascension Ladder. I heard that once a person steps onto it, they cannot come down, or all their efforts will be in vain, and the Saintly Dao will backlash. Once you go, you won't be able to hug me for a long time.
So, I want to... with you..."
Fang Xiaoyu's face blushed like a ripe apple, her shyness boundless.
"Oh~ I get it. You want *that*, don't you?"
Wan Lei scooped up Fang Xiaoyu and placed her on the bed.
"Oh, don't say it like that, it's so embarrassing."
Wan Lei chuckled, then lay down on Fang Xiaoyu. He parted her hands that were covering her face and grinned mischievously, saying,
"Wife, the last time you were this proactive was probably our first time in the Thunder Star Sea."
"Stop talking, stop talking..."
Fang Xiaoyu was, after all, thin-skinned.
But Wan Lei was thick-skinned.
Thinking about the process of becoming a Saint that would last for several years, and the life-and-death crises they might face in the future, Wan Lei also felt that it was good to have some intimacy now, as opportunities might be scarce later.
"Wife, here I come."
...
...
(Ten thousand words omitted.)
...
After the sounds of panting from the room subsided, it was already dark.
Wan Lei slept with little sister Yu, and the next morning, they did it again.
After finishing their "important business," Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu got up and dressed.
"Wife, do you really not need me to wait for you?"
"No need. The sooner you ascend the Saint Ascension Ladder, the sooner you become a Saint, and the sooner you can contribute to the Prime Plane. Perhaps the great crisis will be resolved one day sooner because of it.
Don't worry, I won't be far behind you. I'll catch up with your progress soon."
Fang Xiaoyu gently and attentively fastened Wan Lei's buttons.
"Alright then. My wife is truly virtuous and considerate. I am truly fortunate to marry you in this lifetime."
"Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Hurry up and go up. I'll be watching you in the courtyard. I'll keep my eyes on you."
"Mmm-hmm."
The two of them walked out of the courtyard. Wan Lei looked at the golden Saint Ascension Ladder that slanted down from the cloud canopy. Encouraged by his wife, he resolutely stepped onto it.
Wan Lei didn't count the steps of the Saint Ascension Ladder, but from halfway up to the clouds, there were at least ten thousand steps.
Every step he took required him to condense his own Saintly Dao to stand firm before taking the next.
For ordinary Saints, this process took thousands to tens of thousands of years. Even the five great Immortal Venerables and the Ghost Emperor, with their peerless talent, took a full eight or nine years.
Wan Lei set a small goal for himself: three years to reach the summit.
As days turned into weeks, the Five Elements Hall quickly transitioned from lively to desolate, as most of the disciples had rushed to the battlefield.
It was heard that
the war had begun.
During this time, Fang Xiaoyu stayed in the small courtyard, making all sorts of delicious food. The aroma wafted up into the sky and reached Wan Lei's nostrils.
This made Wan Lei feel both hungry and worried.
With the urgent battle situation, why wasn't this Xiaoyu hurrying to comprehend the Saintly Dao and become a Saint? Why was she still eating and drinking?