Jiang Che was shaken awake by Chen Ningshuang.
"Jiang Che, stop sleeping! Something big has happened!"
Jiang Che, bare-chested and bleary-eyed, had exhausted himself the day before—even the super-healing factor of Deadpool couldn't keep up!
Not to mention, there were two catgirls at home, one big and one small.
Catgirls... well, they had those little barbs, you know... the ones on their tongues. Ahem.
"Chen Ningshuang, this better be important!" Jiang Che had a temper when woken up, especially when he was already dead tired.
If it weren’t for the fact that Chen Ningshuang was his woman, anyone else would’ve been slapped so hard they’d be embedded in the wall, impossible to pry out.
A trace of resentment flickered in Chen Ningshuang’s beautiful eyes.
"Ahem, Shuang’er... don’t look at me like some neglected wife. I haven’t mistreated you," Jiang Che said, pulling her into his arms.
He might have a harem, but he prided himself on treating his women well.
Any girl he’d been with, no matter how busy he was, he always made time for them.
"Here, take a look at the news yourself!"
Chen Ningshuang shoved her phone in front of Jiang Che’s face.
"News?"
Jiang Che took the phone and skimmed through it, then immediately facepalmed.
Shouldn’t the state media be debunking this "spiritual energy resurgence" nonsense?
But he quickly realized—trying to suppress it would be pointless. Better to guide the public and prepare in advance.
In Dragon Country, martial artists were already a common sight, so people were pretty adaptable. The spiritual energy resurgence just gave everyone a chance to step into the extraordinary.
Right then, Jiang Yunhuang’s call came through.
"Hey, Che’er! I know you’ve been... busy at night, so I waited until noon to call..."
Jiang Che’s lips twitched at the old man’s tone.
Damn, this geezer really had him pegged.
"What’s up?"
"Oh, nothing much. You seen the news? The government’s gone public about the spiritual energy resurgence ahead of schedule."
"From what I hear, this was a long-planned move, but the sudden surge of spiritual energy sped things up. They’ve already set up a special department to handle it... and they’re rolling out a whole new system."
"Rumor has it they’re establishing cultivation academies nationwide, making ‘cultivation studies’ a third major subject in the college entrance exams, alongside liberal arts and sciences."
Jiang Che: "..."
As everyone knew, in every urban fantasy novel, there was always one mysterious organization: the "relevant department."
Clearly, the higher-ups had seen this coming and already had a game plan.
Compared to them, groups like the "Chosen Ones Association" or the "Human Pavilion"?
Just a bunch of clowns!
"The cultivation academies are being built now, and enrollment starts with this year’s college entrance exams. I’ve been appointed as the first headmaster..."
Jiang Che’s eye twitched. Did he wake up in some high-martial world overnight?
"Che’er, you’re already strong—you’ve reached the Shattering Heaven stage, right? Why not join the academy? You’d be in the first batch, the only one at that. Every student after would have to call you ‘senior brother’!"
Jiang Che smirked. The old man was keeping up with the times, huh?
But... he couldn’t be bothered with some damn cultivation academy!
"I think Ruoxu should go. That guy loves showing off—being the ‘senior brother’ would suit him perfectly."
"Ruoxu? That kid’s too weak, not even at the Shattering Heaven stage yet... he’d just embarrass me!"
"Oh? From the way you’re talking, Grandpa... Dragon Country’s got more Shattering Heaven experts now?" Jiang Che raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly! These past few days, I took your grandmas into the spirit-gathering array to train. They were already skilled, and now they’ve all broken through... six new Shattering Heaven experts!"
Jiang Yunhuang’s tone oozed pride, practically screaming, "How awesome am I?"
Jiang Che: "..."
Almost forgot—this old man was quite the playboy in his youth.
"Grandpa, need any more Life-Extending Pills? I’ve got a whole bottle."
"Don’t need those. Shattering Heaven experts live five hundred years—that’s plenty. With the spirit-gathering array, breaking through wasn’t hard for your grandmas."
"What about Youth-Restoring Elixir? I can make them look young again."
Jiang Che dropped the bombshell.
Even Jiang Yunhuang froze for a second. Restore their youth?
The old man glanced at the elderly women beside him—his wives.
Though age had weathered their looks, their breakthroughs had revitalized them, leaving them glowing with energy.
"Heh... no need for us. We’ve lived long enough—why bother with youth potions?"
"Right. Our hearts have aged. This is fine."
The old women smiled warmly.
Why were there still so many elderly figures in fantasy novels, even with endless youth-preserving pills?
Because... when the heart grows old, the face follows.
"Che’er, keep the elixirs for yourself." Jiang Yunhuang chuckled lightly.
He felt the same. At their age, just being alive was enough. Sometimes, all they wanted was to sit back and watch the younger generations thrive.
...
After hanging up, Jiang Che paused for a moment.
They didn’t even want Youth-Restoring Elixir?
He shuddered involuntarily. The thought of growing old, his heart withering, turning into a shriveled husk while the beauties around him aged into grannies... just imagining it was horrifying.
"Shuang’er!" Jiang Che looked up, locking eyes with Chen Ningshuang.
"Wh-what?"
The next second, he cupped her face and planted a kiss on her lips.
"Hah! As long as lust remains, a man stays young till death!"
Jiang Che laughed heartily.
Chen Ningshuang: "..."
Weird man.
Jiang Che was in high spirits, unbothered by the spiritual energy resurgence.
Glancing at the still-sleeping girls on the bed, he yanked the blanket off.
With ease, he hoisted Yu Wan’er and Huangdoufen up by the scruffs of their necks.
"Get up already! Everyone’s cultivating now, and you’re still sleeping?!"