Lin Yi's heart brimmed with joy as he nodded vigorously.
Although it had already been decided that he would marry multiple wives and bear many children to ensure the prosperity of his bloodline, receiving An Miaoyi's explicit approval brought him unexpected peace of mind.
He genuinely wanted to treat all his wives well.
As the saying goes: "Be devoted, but not exclusive; affectionate, but not promiscuous."
Seeing the contentment on Lin Yi's face, An Miaoyi naturally guessed what was on his mind.
At the same time, she could feel the spiritual energy subtly surging around them—just like a Martial Dao cultivator who had stepped into the Innate Grandmaster realm, able to sense the flow of qi in the air.
Due to the presence of a Spirit Root in Lin Yi's body, the sensation of this energy was even more distinct.
Yet, no one—not even Qin Yao—could determine exactly what type of Spirit Root Lin Yi possessed.
Lin Yi himself had tried cultivating using the Withered Tree Reviving Spring technique, but absorbing spiritual energy from the air didn't come easily. It required focused perception, and even then, the results were sluggish. However, he could at least confirm that energy particles did exist around him—meaning he was indeed capable of cultivation.
But the slow progress was frustrating.
"If this goes on, all my effort will be in vain," Lin Yi grumbled to himself. "Looks like I'll have to rely on my 'special physique' to cultivate instead. And that means… marrying more wives."
He scratched his head in thought.
"But how do I do that? How can I find and gather women in Great Harmony Town with compatibility scores over eighty and persuade them to marry me?"
When Lin Yi explained his plan to An Miaoyi, she surprisingly agreed to help him.
It wasn't just out of generosity.
In truth, her cultivation had also improved rapidly thanks to their use of the Withered Tree Reviving Spring Dual Cultivation Technique. Not only had her injuries fully healed, but her realm had even risen slightly.
Over the next few days, even though constables swept through Great Harmony Town in search of her, they found nothing.
Time passed.
On another day, An Yingxiong finally made his way to the back mountain.
There, An Miaoyi shared the plan she had been discussing with Lin Yi. She told him that she would continue hiding in the mountain cave to avoid being discovered by the Scorching Sun Sect. Meanwhile, Lin Yi would be pushed forward as a representative of the An family—and more boldly, as An Yingxiong's adopted grandson.
An Lao Ye was stunned.
He pulled An Miaoyi aside in the herbal garden, his expression pale with anxiety.
"Yi Yi... tell your Second Grandfather honestly. What's going on? How could you allow your husband to take multiple wives and concubines? Did he wrong you in any way? If he's betrayed you after receiving the An family's Immortal Fate, I swear on my life—I won't let him off! I'll drag him down with me if I must!"
An Miaoyi quickly shook her head, cheeks blushing with a hint of shyness.
She leaned close to his ear and whispered the truth.
"What? He… he has that kind of special physique?" An Lao Ye blinked in disbelief. "That means… he can really grow stronger through dual cultivation?"
His heart wavered for a moment, but soon steadied again.
"My father once said that beyond Spirit Roots, cultivation potential also depends on powerful physiques and noble bloodlines—attributes respected in the Martial Dao world. If Lin Yi truly possesses such a gift… then his future is boundless."
After a long pause, An Yingxiong let out a heavy sigh.
"Alright. I'll support him. I'll handle the arrangements so Lin Yi can take wives and concubines, and I'll recognize him as my adopted grandson. But Yi Yi… you must be prepared for hardship. And you must ensure one thing—"
His eyes turned sharp.
"Lin Yi must never forget the An family's kindness. He may take other wives, but he must remain loyal to you—and to us."