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

Moonlight streamed through the garage's glass door, casting long, slender shadows of the two figures embracing. A moment later, Zhang Bufan took Ye Qingxue's hand and they walked side-by-side out of the garage towards the villa's main building in the distance. The villa's entrance door was made of heavy pear wood, carved with intricate auspicious cloud patterns, exuding a rustic and elegant charm. Ye Qingxue gently pressed the fingerprint recognition button beside the door; with a click, the heavy wooden door slowly opened inwards.

As soon as I stepped into the living room, a figure hurriedly came to greet me. It was a woman who looked to be in her forties, wearing a well-tailored dark cheongsam, her hair neatly combed, a gentle smile on her face, but her eyes couldn't hide her urgency and concern. Her steps were steady, and a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy emanated from her body, clearly indicating that she was also a cultivator.

"Miss, you're finally back!" The woman walked quickly to Ye Qingxue and looked her over carefully. Seeing that Ye Qingxue looked calm, but with a slight redness in her eyes, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she noticed Zhang Bufan next to Ye Qingxue and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.

Ye Qingxue took Zhang Bufan's arm and introduced him with a smile, "Bufan, this is Aunt Shuang, Ye Ningshuang. She's an elder from a collateral branch of our family and also my housekeeper. She's watched me grow up since I was little and is the closest person to me in the family." After speaking, she turned to Ye Ningshuang, her tone somewhat solemn, and with a hint of barely perceptible shyness, "Aunt Shuang, this is Zhang Bufan, my ex-husband. We're going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to remarry tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bufan immediately stepped forward and respectfully greeted Ye Ningshuang with a cupped-hand salute, saying, "Hello, Aunt Shuang." He could clearly sense that the fluctuations of spiritual energy within Ye Ningshuang's body were not strong, and her cultivation level should be around the fifth level of Qi Refining. However, he did not underestimate her because of this, after all, she was Ye Qingxue's closest person and should be treated with courtesy.

Upon hearing Ye Qingxue's introduction, Ye Ningshuang froze on the spot, her initial confusion instantly replaced by utter shock. Of course, she knew Zhang Bufan—her young lady's ex-husband, a commoner with no cultivation. When her young lady divorced him, many in the family secretly rejoiced, believing it meant she had broken free from constraints. Later, when they heard that Zhang Bufan had fallen off a cliff while mountain climbing and disappeared, everyone assumed he was long gone. Unexpectedly, he was still alive and had even returned with her young lady!

Shocked, Ye Ningshuang subconsciously circulated her spiritual energy, trying to probe Zhang Bufan's cultivation level. But upon attempting this, her heart clenched, and her pupils dilated instantly. Her divine sense, falling upon Zhang Bufan, was like a stone sinking into the sea; she could only sense the aura surrounding him as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, unable to discern any detail about his true strength. She had only ever felt this way with the patriarch!

"This...this is the aura of a Foundation Establishment senior!" Ye Ningshuang's heart was filled with shock and disbelief. She instantly understood. This seemingly young Zhang Bufan was actually a Foundation Establishment cultivator! She herself appeared to be in her forties, but was actually over sixty, and had only barely reached the fifth level of Qi Refining after years of arduous cultivation. Zhang Bufan, on the other hand, was only in his thirties, yet he had already stepped into the Foundation Establishment realm. Such talent was simply astonishing!

Ye Ningshuang dared not be negligent in the slightest. She quickly composed herself and bowed respectfully to Zhang Bufan, her tone filled with obvious reverence: "Senior Zhang, you are too kind. Please have a seat!" She deliberately used the title "Senior," no longer daring to treat him as her former mortal ex-husband. As for her young lady's decision to remarry him, she dared not ask a single question. The status of a Foundation Establishment senior was more than enough to match, and even far exceeded, her young lady's status, and the family would likely have no further objections.

Seeing Aunt Shuang's solemnity, Ye Qingxue couldn't help but smile and pulled Zhang Bufan to sit down on the sofa in the center of the living room: "Aunt Shuang, there's no need to be so reserved. Bufan is not an outsider."

"Yes, Miss." Ye Ningshuang replied, then turned and walked quickly toward the tea room next to her. "I'll go make you two a cup of tea. Please wait a moment." Her steps were slightly hurried, clearly she hadn't fully recovered from the shock of Zhang Bufan's identity as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The living room is luxuriously furnished yet elegant, featuring a modern Chinese style. A large mahogany sofa is covered with soft leather cushions, opposite which is a huge floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the courtyard swimming pool, its surface shimmering in the moonlight. Several antique porcelain pieces and calligraphy works are displayed on either side of the living room, clearly of considerable value.

Zhang Bufan glanced at her casually, then stood up and said to Ye Qingxue, "Qingxue, sit down for a while. I'll go to the kitchen and make you something to eat. It'll be ready soon." He knew Ye Qingxue was already starving and wanted to cook her a home-cooked meal to make up for what he had done to her in the past.

"Okay!" A hint of anticipation flashed in Ye Qingxue's eyes, and she nodded vigorously. "I knew you loved me the most." She had always preferred Zhang Bufan's home-cooked meals since they got married. Those homely flavors were the warmest memories in her heart.

Zhang Bufan smiled and turned to walk towards the kitchen. The villa's kitchen was extremely spacious, featuring an open-plan design and equipped with all kinds of modern kitchen appliances, including a refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher, all from top international brands. The cabinets were custom-made solid wood, and the countertops were made of imported quartz stone, clean, tidy, and spotless.

He opened the refrigerator, which was neatly filled with various fresh ingredients: vegetables, meats, and fruits—all carefully selected. Zhang Bufan didn't fuss over the selection; he simply took a few common ingredients—a piece of fresh pork belly, a bunch of greens, a few eggs, and some seaweed—to prepare a few simple home-style dishes.

However, the main course couldn't be made with these ordinary ingredients. With a thought, Zhang Bufan retrieved a seven- or eight-pound silver fish from the secret space within his ring. This silver fish was pure white, with delicate scales and a faint spiritual aura. Larger silver fish were troublesome to handle; a seven- or eight-pound one was perfect for steaming, preserving its delicious flavor and inherent spiritual energy to the greatest extent.

Then, he took out some spiritual spring water from the secret realm space. This spiritual spring water came from a stream in the Xuanqing Secret Realm. The water was clear and sweet, containing pure spiritual energy. It could greatly enhance the taste of ingredients when used for cooking or making soup, and it could also nourish the body.

Once everything was ready, Zhang Bufan began skillfully preparing the ingredients. He first placed the silverfish in the sink and rinsed them thoroughly under the tap. Then, he picked up a cleaver and expertly gutted them, removing the internal organs and gills, before gently scraping off the scales with the back of the knife. The entire process was fluid and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.

In half an hour, four home-style dishes—two meat and two vegetable—along with a seaweed and egg drop soup, were all ready. Zhang Bufan carried the dishes to the dining table one by one, then took two exquisite porcelain bowls and two pairs of chopsticks, calling out to the living room, "Qingxue, come and eat!"

Ye Qingxue was already starving from the aroma wafting from the kitchen. Hearing Zhang Bufan's voice, she quickly walked over. As soon as she entered the dining room, she was drawn to the dishes on the table, especially the steamed silver fish. Its rich and fresh aroma made her swallow hard.

"Wow, it smells so good!" Ye Qingxue walked to the dining table and sat down. She picked up her chopsticks and eagerly took a piece of silver fish meat. The silver fish meat melted in her mouth, without any fishy smell. Instead, it was full of rich sweetness and had a faint fragrance of spiritual energy. The texture was delicate and smooth, as if it turned into a warm current as soon as it entered her mouth and slid down her throat into her stomach.

Ye Qingxue was instantly stunned, her eyes wide open, her face filled with disbelief: "This...this is too delicious! Bufan, what kind of fish is this? How can it smell so good?" From childhood to adulthood, she had eaten countless delicacies and tasted many dishes made from the spiritual ingredients treasured by her family, but she had never eaten such delicious food.

Zhang Bufan smiled, picked up a piece of green vegetable for himself, and said, "This is a silver fish I brought from the cultivation secret realm. It's a spiritual creature, not only delicious but also containing pure spiritual energy, which is very beneficial for cultivation. Eat up, there are other dishes too, all of which you used to like."

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingxue's eyes flashed with surprise. Without asking any further questions, she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat heartily. She first tasted the stir-fried vegetables with meat; the meat was tender and smooth, the vegetables fresh and delicate, carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance—far superior to ordinary vegetables and meat. Next, she tried the scrambled eggs with tomatoes and the shredded potatoes with green peppers; each dish was incredibly delicious, brimming with unique flavor.

Finally, she picked up the seaweed and egg drop soup and took a sip. The soup, made with spiritual spring water, had a sweet and mellow taste. The fresh aroma of the seaweed and the tenderness of the eggs blended perfectly, and it also carried a gentle spiritual energy. After drinking it, a warm current instantly spread from her stomach to her whole body, making her feel comfortable all over.

Ye Qingxue was starving and didn't care about elegant eating manners anymore, wolfing down her food like a whirlwind. Zhang Bufan sat beside her, smiling as he watched her eat, but deliberately slowed down, occasionally putting a piece of fish on her plate or serving her a bowl of soup.

Ye Ningshuang witnessed this heartwarming scene. She watched her young mistress devour her food without a care for appearances, then glanced at the dishes on the table, each radiating a faint spiritual energy, especially the silver fish. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She could sense the pure spiritual energy contained within the dishes, particularly the fish, which possessed the most concentrated spiritual energy and was undoubtedly an extremely precious spiritual creature. Discreetly, she didn't disturb them and quietly retreated to the side.

Within ten minutes, Ye Qingxue had devoured every last drop of the food on the table, even the seaweed and egg drop soup. She put down her chopsticks, gently patted her now-full belly, and let out a satisfied burp. Only then did she realize how messy her eating had been; a blush instantly spread across her face, and she looked at Zhang Bufan somewhat embarrassedly.

"It's all your fault!" Ye Qingxue glared at Zhang Bufan playfully, her voice tinged with shyness. "You didn't even warn me, leaving me to eat so messily. But... the food you made was absolutely delicious, especially that silver fish and that soup—it was better than any other dish made with spiritual ingredients I've ever had!"

Zhang Bufan put down his chopsticks, picked up a tissue and gently wiped her mouth, smiling as he said, "Silly girl, we're an old married couple, why worry about appearances? As long as you like it, that's fine. This silver fish and the spring water in the soup are both spiritual treasures from the secret realm, containing very pure spiritual energy, which will benefit your cultivation. Hurry back to your room and refine it."

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingxue felt a warm current flowing through her abdomen. This warm current flowed slowly along her meridians, eventually converging into her dantian, causing it to swell slightly and her spiritual energy to become more active. Startled, she quickly stood up and nodded to Zhang Bufan, "Alright, then I'll go back to my room to cultivate. Aunt Shuang, could you please arrange a guest room for Bufan?"

"Yes, Miss." Ye Ningshuang quickly stepped forward and replied.

Ye Qingxue turned to look at Zhang Bufan, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Bufan, thank you." She knew that these spiritual items containing pure spiritual energy must be extremely valuable. Even within the family, only core disciples could occasionally enjoy them, and the energy they contained was less than one percent of the energy in this meal. Zhang Bufan's generosity in giving them to her was enough to show his sincerity.

Zhang Bufan smiled at her and waved his hand: "Go and cultivate."

Ye Qingxue nodded and turned to walk quickly towards the bedroom on the second floor. Her steps were slightly hurried, clearly indicating that she was eager to refine the spiritual energy within her body. Ye Ningshuang led Zhang Bufan to a guest room on the west side of the first floor and respectfully said, "Senior Zhang, this guest room has been cleaned. Please rest for a while. If you need anything, please let me know."

"Thank you, Aunt Shuang." Zhang Bufan nodded and walked into the guest room. The guest room was also exquisitely and comfortably furnished, with a large double bed, a separate bathroom, and a small terrace in a tranquil environment.

Zhang Bufan didn't rest immediately. Instead, he went to the terrace and began circulating the "Mysterious Purity Dao Inquiry Technique," slowly absorbing the spiritual energy in the air. Although the spiritual energy in the mortal world was relatively thin, it was better than nothing to him. He could sense that the spiritual energy within Ye Qingxue's body was circulating rapidly, clearly indicating that she had begun refining the energy brought by the silver fish and the spiritual spring water. Given the purity of the silver fish and the spiritual spring water, it was enough to allow her cultivation to break through.

Time slipped away quietly in the stillness, and the night passed quickly. The next morning, the first rays of sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains into the guest room, illuminating a corner. Zhang Bufan slowly finished his practice, opened his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them. Although his cultivation level hadn't increased after a night of practice, his realm had become more stable.

Just then, a strong fluctuation of spiritual energy came from the second floor. This fluctuation was much stronger than Ye Qingxue's previous eleventh level of Qi Refining, which meant that she had broken through! Zhang Bufan was overjoyed and flashed to the second-floor corridor.

Ye Qingxue's bedroom door slowly opened, and she stepped out. Her complexion was rosy, her eyes bright, and the spiritual energy around her was stable and powerful, indicating that she had broken through to the twelfth level of Qi Refining! She was one step closer to the Foundation Establishment stage!

"Extraordinary! I've broken through!" Ye Qingxue's face lit up with a radiant smile upon seeing Zhang Bufan. She rushed to him, her voice brimming with excitement, "I've reached the twelfth level of Qi Refining! And I feel the spiritual energy in my dantian is much purer than before!"

Seeing her joyful expression, Zhang Bufan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He gently stroked her hair and said, "I knew you could do it. Focus on consolidating your cultivation level. With your talent and enough spiritual items to aid you, you'll break through to the Foundation Establishment stage in no time."

Ye Qingxue nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with anticipation. She knew that once she broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, her position in the family would be more secure, and even her great-grandfather wouldn't easily force her to do things she didn't like. And all of this was thanks to Zhang Bufan. She looked up at Zhang Bufan's handsome face, her heart filled with sweetness and happiness.

"Oh, right, Bufan," Ye Qingxue said, as if suddenly remembering something, taking Zhang Bufan's hand, "Let's remarry today! After we remarry, I'll take you home to meet my great-grandfather and father. With your Foundation Establishment cultivator status, they definitely won't object to us being together anymore!"

Zhang Bufan smiled and nodded: "Okay, whatever you say. But before that, let's go get some breakfast first, and then go to the Civil Affairs Bureau."

"Yes!" Ye Qingxue nodded emphatically, took Zhang Bufan's hand, and walked towards the restaurant on the first floor. Sunlight bathed them, casting long shadows, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere. After many twists and turns, their relationship had finally reconciled, and a brand new life was about to officially begin.