He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

After listening to Ye Qingxue's choked-up story, Zhang Bufan held her hand tightly, the cool touch of her fingertips gradually calming his anger. He could understand Ye Qingxue's grievances and helplessness, and he was indignant at the Xiao family's bullying and the Ye family patriarch's profit-driven and condescending attitude. However, upon calming down and thinking it over, he could also stand in the Ye family's shoes and understand the helplessness behind their decision.

Although the Ye family of Southern Province is a family of cultivators, they only have a great-grandfather at the early stage of Core Formation, a far cry from the late-stage Core Formation patriarch of the Xiao family in the capital. In the dog-eat-dog world of cultivation, seeking protection from the strong is a survival strategy. The Xiao family's offer of an olive branch is indeed an excellent opportunity for the Ye family to elevate their status and solidify their foundation. The Ye family patriarch, solely concerned with the family's development, so arbitrarily forced Ye Qingxue into marriage; ultimately, it was a helpless act of sacrificing personal happiness for the family's survival. If there were a better option, this patriarch would likely not want to bear the infamy of forcing his juniors.

Having figured out the crux of the matter, Zhang Bufan's frustration dissipated considerably. He gently patted Ye Qingxue's back, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "Qingxue, don't worry, I've already thought of a solution."

Ye Qingxue raised her tear-filled face, her eyes filled with hope and doubt: "What method? The Xiao family is so powerful, even Great-Grandfather wouldn't dare to offend them easily..."

"So what if they have great power? We are not without the strength to fight back." Zhang Bufan's lips curled into a confident smile as he slowly revealed his trump card. "You may not know this, but during the year I was missing, I officially joined the Huashan Immortal Sword Sect and became a core disciple of the sect, as well as a personal disciple of the sect's patriarch, Yue Buwei. I am now at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and my future cultivation prospects are limitless."

"What?!" Ye Qingxue's mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes widened, and the tears on her face were still wet. She was stunned by this sudden news. She stared blankly at Zhang Bufan, as if she were seeing the man in front of her for the first time.

The Huashan Immortal Sword Sect! That's a top-tier cultivation sect renowned throughout the entire Pangu World, with a history spanning tens of thousands of years and profound foundations, far surpassing a hidden cultivation family like the Ye family. And Ancestor Yue Buwei is a legendary late-stage Nascent Soul expert, possessing extremely high prestige in the cultivation world. Zhang Bufan has actually become Yue Buwei's personal disciple, and already at the Foundation Establishment stage?

Ye Qingxue, being a cultivator at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, naturally understood what the Foundation Establishment stage meant. In the current Pangu World, where spiritual energy was scarce, Foundation Establishment cultivators were already a core force coveted by various cultivation powers, not to mention Zhang Bufan's prestigious titles as a core disciple of the Immortal Sword Sect and a personal disciple of Yue Buwei. With such a background, let alone the Xiao family, even the most prestigious cultivation families would have to consider whether they were willing to antagonize the Immortal Sword Sect for the sake of a marriage alliance.

The worries in her heart melted away instantly, like snow meeting the warm sun. The sorrow in Ye Qingxue's eyes completely disappeared, replaced by an irrepressible joy and excitement. The corners of her mouth turned up uncontrollably, revealing an incomparably bright smile. That smile was pure and radiant, as if she had instantly returned to the innocent and naive girl she was in college.

Looking at her beaming face, Zhang Bufan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He gently wiped away the remaining tear stains on her cheeks and said, "Are you relieved now? With the Immortal Sword Sect as your backing, your ancestor, unless he's an idiot, will know what to choose."

"Mmm!" Ye Qingxue nodded emphatically, nestled in Zhang Bufan's arms, feeling the security brought by his strong chest, her heart filled with sweetness. But this sweetness didn't last long. As if suddenly remembering something, the smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by a hint of sullenness. She pouted her pink lips, her voice carrying a hint of grievance and struggle: "But...we're divorced now."

Zhang Bufan was taken aback: "So what if you're divorced?"

"On what grounds do you try to persuade my great-grandfather?" Ye Qingxue looked up, her eyes full of confusion. "This is, after all, a family matter of the Ye family. No matter how high your status is, you are still an outsider. It is inevitable that your direct interference will be improper and your great-grandfather and the others may use this as an excuse to refute you."

Hearing this, Zhang Bufan was taken aback at first, then realized what she meant. Looking at her aggrieved expression, he couldn't help but laugh. He reached out and gently pinched Ye Qingxue's smooth cheek, his tone both teasing and serious: "Isn't that simple? When it's light, we'll just go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to remarry, won't we?"

"Huh?" The sudden proposal to remarry startled Ye Qingxue, who gasped softly, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief.

"What do you mean, 'huh'?" Zhang Bufan looked at her dazed expression, his heart softening even more. He leaned closer to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe. "Don't you agree?"

"Of course I agree!" Ye Qingxue replied eagerly without hesitation. As soon as she finished speaking, she realized how hasty her answer had been, and her cheeks instantly flushed a deep red, even her fair neck turning pink. Too shy to look up, she buried her face in Zhang Bufan's chest, tightly hugging his waist, her burning cheeks pressed against his chest, able to clearly hear his steady, powerful heartbeat.

"Hehe..." Zhang Bufan chuckled softly, gently stroking her smooth, long hair, his heart filled with sweetness. He hugged Ye Qingxue tightly, feeling her soft body in his arms, her familiar fragrance lingering around his nose. At this moment, all the hardships and fatigue vanished, leaving only the peaceful tranquility of life.

The two embraced quietly for a long time, savoring the warmth of this rekindled joy. Just then, a soft "cooing" sound broke the silence of the room.

Ye Qingxue's cheeks flushed even more instantly. She nestled in Zhang Bufan's arms, shifting shyly. Hearing the sound, Zhang Bufan snapped out of his reverie and quickly looked down at the person in his arms, asking with concern, "Are you hungry?"

Ye Qingxue nodded gently, her voice barely audible: "I knew you were coming today, so I got up before dawn to wait for you. I didn't eat breakfast or lunch..."

Zhang Bufan then realized that more than ten hours had passed between their reunion and their intimate moment, and it was now past 11 p.m. Ye Qingxue had been waiting on an empty stomach and had exhausted herself with their intense physical interaction; she was naturally starving. A pang of heartache welled up in his heart, and he quickly stood up, saying, "It was my oversight. Let's go out and get some late-night snacks. I was thinking of cooking something nice for you, but the kitchen is in such a state now that we can't cook. Let's go find a restaurant to eat at."

As he spoke, he looked around. The sofa in the living room was collapsed, the coffee table was broken, the quartz countertop in the kitchen was cracked, and broken dishes were scattered all over the floor. The whole house was a mess, and there was indeed no way to cook. He then added, "After we have supper, we'll find a hotel to stay in. I plan to sell this house and go back to my hometown to build a spacious and comfortable new house for my parents."

Ye Qingxue's eyes lit up instantly when she heard "I'll make you something delicious." Ever since their marriage, she had loved Zhang Bufan's cooking; those home-style dishes, full of warmth and comfort, were the most comforting taste in her heart. In the years since her divorce, she had eaten countless delicacies, but she could never recapture that feeling. Hearing Zhang Bufan's suggestion, she immediately said, "No need to go to a hotel, no need to eat out! You can come to my place, and I'll cook for me. I haven't had your cooking in so long, it's okay to wait a little longer. We can just stay at my place."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bufan naturally wouldn't object. Being able to cook for Ye Qingxue himself would save him the trouble of staying in a hotel—why not? He nodded, "Okay, whatever you say."

After tidying up, the two walked side by side out of the house, now filled with memories and shattered. As he locked the door, Zhang Bufan felt not much reluctance, but rather a surge of anticipation for the future. The past was the past; what he needed to do now was cherish the person in front of him and protect his own happiness.

The two took the elevator down to the underground parking garage. The garage was dimly lit, with rows of cars neatly arranged. Ye Qingxue led Zhang Bufan to a red luxury sports car. Its sleek, elegant lines and fiery red body made it stand out in the dim light. Zhang Bufan immediately recognized it as a limited-edition Ferrari, worth at least tens of millions.

Ye Qingxue skillfully pressed the key, and the sports car emitted a soft "beep" as the doors automatically opened. She got into the driver's seat, turned to Zhang Bufan, and smiled, saying, "Get in, my place isn't far from here, it'll only take about ten minutes."

Zhang Bufan sat in the passenger seat as instructed, and as soon as he sat down, he was struck by the car's luxurious interior. Soft leather seats, exquisite carbon fiber trim, and perfectly placed ambient lighting all exuded understated luxury. He had only known that Ye Qingxue came from a well-off family, but he hadn't realized she was so wealthy.

Ye Qingxue started the car, and the sports car smoothly sped out of the garage like an arrow, merging into the traffic of the night. The city of Shenzhen was ablaze with lights, neon signs flashing, and the scenery outside the car window rushed past. Zhang Bufan turned his head to look at Ye Qingxue, who was focused on driving. The light reflected on her delicate profile, outlining a beautiful contour, which made him momentarily stunned.

Ye Qingxue felt his gaze, and the corners of her mouth slightly turned up, but she didn't speak, focusing instead on driving. A dozen minutes later, the sports car slowly drove into a quiet, luxurious villa community. Security personnel were strictly on duty at the entrance; upon seeing Ye Qingxue's car, they immediately saluted respectfully and let her pass.

The car drove along a winding, tree-lined avenue, with tall camphor trees on both sides, and streetlights casting dappled light through the leaves. Along the way, one could see rows of detached villas, each with its own courtyard and garage, surrounded by lush greenery, creating an extremely elegant environment. Zhang Bufan was secretly amazed; the property prices here had probably already exceeded 100,000 yuan per square meter, and a single detached villa was worth at least several hundred million yuan.

Soon, Ye Qingxue drove the car into the garage of a detached villa by the lake. The garage was spacious and bright, and besides the red Ferrari, there was also a white Maybach and a black SUV parked there, all of which were clearly Ye Qingxue's vehicles.

After the two got out of the car, Zhang Bufan looked around the spacious garage and then through the garage's glass door at the courtyard outside. The courtyard was filled with various rare and valuable flowers, trees, and shrubs, and there was also a small swimming pool, the moonlight casting a soft, silvery glow on its surface. He finally couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Qingxue, your family is so rich!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingxue rolled her eyes at him, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness and a barely perceptible grievance: "My family is the largest cultivation family in Southern Province, what do you think? Many high-ranking officials in the provincial government are collateral descendants of our family. Our family also operates dozens of conglomerates in the secular world with market values ​​exceeding hundreds of billions, spanning real estate, finance, technology, and many other fields. I'm the eldest daughter of the family, do you think I'm rich or not?"

She paused, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes: "The reason I didn't tell you these things before was to protect your pride. I was afraid that knowing my true identity would put pressure on you, making you feel unworthy of me. But you, instead of understanding my good intentions, divorced me because I didn't want to have children..."

Before she could finish speaking, Ye Qingxue gave a soft snort, turned her head away, and stopped looking at Zhang Bufan. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, clearly because she was thinking about the past. She felt both wronged and a little shy.

Hearing this, Zhang Bufan felt a surge of guilt and heartache. He finally understood that Ye Qingxue had concealed her identity to consider his feelings. He, on the other hand, had stubbornly insisted on having children, ultimately leading to their divorce. He stepped forward, gently embracing Ye Qingxue from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice tender and full of apology: "Qingxue, I'm sorry. It was all my fault. I was too stubborn before and didn't understand your difficulties. I'll never do that again. Let's live a good life together, okay?"

Feeling the warmth of his embrace and the apology in his words, Ye Qingxue's grievances instantly vanished. She turned around, nestled in Zhang Bufan's arms, and gently nodded, her voice trembling slightly, "Yes, let's live a good life together."