So after coming back from his parents' place, Han Chen had this idea. It was more like a realization that hit him. He could set up a bigger gathering array. A higher-order one for star chi convergence. Use that essence refinement and radiance convergence cultivation technique for the women to train with.
And here's the thing that really got him thinking—with the high-grade array he could create now, considering his higher cultivation base and all... it was totally viable for both Yue Lan and Hye Won at their current level too.
Since he had plenty of resources—I mean, he could literally create dozens more arrays if he wanted—he made another one for himself. Though honestly? He could barely accommodate it properly. But here's what's interesting, and maybe a little... well, secretive of him. He kept the inner world thing hidden from even his wives.
Think about it from his perspective. He just didn't want to disappear from this world without explanations, especially considering the time ratio was getting lower now in tower. Plus, it was like... backup, right? Backup has to be secret. Relying on it entirely? That's never a good strategy.
But honestly? The most compelling reason was way simpler than all that technical stuff—he just didn't want to leave this world early. The relatives, the familial connections each of them had... those things still anchored them, you know? If he used that inner world too often, well... what if next day he found he couldn't stay here anymore because ascension came too soon? His wives were also just getting started with their power cultivation.
So instead, he took the slow route. Cultivated within the radiance convergence array, letting the trinity refinement technique work alongside his previous essence and radiance refining methods.
***
Time moved. Months passed.
The company's PR team ~ well, they'd formed this relationship with Xue Qing's concert series. Same province and everything. And now the company was funding it as part of some health tech sponsorship campaign. The whole idea was to increase public acceptance and trust in enhancement by, um... linking them with culture and popular stars and idols.
Besides, the company had branched out into other research areas recently. Dr. Sophia had gotten her hands on Dr. Xia's new notes, so that opened up... well, a lot of possibilities.
That's how they ended up sponsoring Xue Qing's national tour. Her comeback concert, "Phoenix Blooming," was going to be this massive media event ~ broadcast live, with over forty million views expected. Then the VVIP guest list got published online.
Han Chen. Yue Lan. Hye Won.
It was actually Yue Lan who'd done it. Initially, only her name was recommended for the guest list, but she'd added both of them too.
"Are you really going?" Hye Won asked, waving the invitation envelope around like it was some kind of weapon. "Front row, VVIP lounge, private post-show meet-and-greet?"
...
Concert Night
The concert night was... well, it was a kaleidoscope of color and noise.
Central SkyDome. The whole event was woven together with these dreamlike transitions and holographic effects that... well, they made normal eyes hurt if you stared too long. Xue Qing stood beneath these massive phoenix wings—made of light, obviously—her voice echoing across the packed stadium.
From their secluded skybox, the three cultivators sat watching. Han Chen was in a bit of an odd mood, actually. Seeing her up there, adored by all those fans, playing them around with her charisma... it almost made him want to make her slip using his spirit will. But Hye Won held him down before he could do anything stupid.
To the cameras and the public, they were simply "NovaGen's representatives."
To Xue Qing?
...
She only saw them later, at the VVIP interaction thing.
Backstage, after all the thunderous applause and curtain calls had died down, Xue Qing walked into the private reception lounge with security flanking her sides. After resting for a bit, she went out to meet the scheduled guests.
She was stunning—absolutely radiant with that post-performance high that performers get—but her eyes... they paused the moment she saw him in the visitor room.
Han Chen. More handsome than ever. No, scratch that—easily the best-looking person there. And beside him stood two women. Two extremely beautiful women. Not just beautiful, but unnaturally so.
Radiant, in a way that didn't seem quite... normal.
Each one alone could have commanded attention in any room. Together? They seemed like myths made flesh. The trio stood out among the crowd even when they were trying to blend in. Hell, even other VIP invitees kept going over to greet them.
There was even a mini commotion for taking their pictures before the event even begin in the press line. Even her associates informed her of this important partner in promotion.
Her smile faltered for just a heartbeat before she recovered her composure. She remembered the odd reason he'd given herself back then ~ she was too far above him in status and family won't allow such innocent relationships. Bullshit.
She remembered how he'd grown indifferent overnight. But considering their current looks and background, well... that wasn't really a problem anymore. was it? Except life has its own plans, doesn't it? She was engaged to someone else now, and he seemed... well, he seemed to be doing quite well with both of those women.
"Well," she said, walking forward with practiced confidence, "you clean up nicely."
Han Chen offered one of those polite smiles. "Miss. Qing Xue, congratulations on the concert. You've come a long way."
Yue Lan nodded with professional courtesy. "NovaGen is proud to be one of the event's sponsors."
Hye Won, ever direct, tilted her head and gave Xue Qing this half-smile that was... well, it was something. "Hmm, you don't address your class rep first? Jokes aside though, your voice was very melodious up there."
Working in the competitive entertainment industry had taught her how to speak with dignity while maintaining that casual tone. This wasn't unusual for her, really.
"Hye Won... you had a major glow-up," she said, and there was genuine surprise in her voice. "I'm actually envious. Last time I asked, you didn't tell me the secret." She paused, turning to the other woman with a bit more formality. "By the way, Ms. Yue Lan, your company is all over the news recently. Some people are saying it's the beginning of a new era and all that."
"Hmm, that's a bit overblown," Han Chen commented with no humbleness whatsoever;
Xue Qing's eyes narrowed slightly as she turned back to him. "I barely recognized you at that previous class meetup, and you left quite early too. You were a little too stiff back then. Now you feel... I don't know, comforting in presence? No longer like that block of ice you used to be."
"I'm sure that's for the best," he said smoothly. "Certain life decisions have been made, and they... well, they changed me. But enough about me. Tell us about..." And just like that, he steered the conversation toward the concert, her songs, her life. Of course a little emotional manipulation too.
There was something subtle happening ~ she could feel her curiosity growing about their company's products, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
"I heard your new treatments have gone viral," she found herself saying. "Even the rich are crying online that they can't buy access. No training, no martial roots—just injections and you feel better?"
"It's not that simple," Yue Lan replied coolly. "They're tailored. Some bodies aren't ready for the process."
"Have you taken them yourselves?" Xue Qing's gaze shifted between the three of them, slightly joking but also... probing. "I can feel... you three are different. In aura and grace, just by standing here. Is this also a side effect?" She was really wondering if there was some kind of beautifying aspect to it all.
Yue Lan didn't answer directly. Instead, Hye Won simply took out this tiny device, pressed it lightly—and the compression force values that showed up were, well... inhuman.
It was cultivation in mask.
Then she tossed it to Xue Qing and asked her to try. The reading didn't even reach half of average human strength.
As per her schedule, Xue Qing went ahead to meet the other guests after that, and the concert ended very successfully. But something about that encounter... it stuck with her
The Request
Two days later, Yue Lan's assistant handed her a sealed request. Official letterhead, formal language, the works.
From: Secretary of Xue Qing
Subject: Private Trial Session – NovaGen Enhancement Series
Request: Highest citizen-grade enhancement available, optional refinement tier
"She wants access," the assistant said simply. "No media, discreet clinic. The required medical details and timings for testing and getting access are already received."
Well, that was... predictable, actually.
The trial proceeded quietly. Xue Qing underwent the highest available enhancement under strict privacy protocols. The effects were, um... they were profound, to put it mildly. Within weeks, her stamina improved dramatically. Voice control sharpened to this crystalline precision. Even her skin tone shifted ~ became more radiant, more alive somehow.
Her movements gained this confidence, even in unnaturally complex dance steps that would've challenged her before. She was a little worried about regaining her natural curves since the body went from too thin to what she called "normal." So she adjusted her diet, and soon enough, that fan-desired shape was back about two month later.
Her fans noticed first. The ratings reflected it immediately.
"She's glowing."
"She looks 10 years younger."
"Xue Qing is immortal!"
Online buzz exploded like... well, like nothing they'd seen before. Within a month, she publicly thanked NovaGen for "restoring vitality" to her performance life. She was genuinely happy with the transformation, and honestly? It showed in everything she did.
A viral campaign followed naturally. Every appearance she made became, unknowingly, an advertisement for the enhancement. Overnight, NovaGen wasn't just biotech anymore ~ it was sensational.
Of course, her endorsement came with its own controversies. People saying her grace was "bought" and all that. But honestly? Most people didn't really care about the critics.
And naturally, with sensations came the usual suspects accusing the company of anti-national behavior and silencing opposition. Mostly from PR firms working for those who'd actually tried to inflict harm on the company previously.
Two Years of Changes
Two years passed. Many things happened, as they tend to do.
Xue Qing's career break and marriage made headlines. Tang Xuemei visited them with an invitation to her wedding ~ that was a pleasant surprise. Li Mei got injured while engaging in combat with grand master-level opponents, now unable to return to active service unless properly healed. His grandfather died. Aneurysm was the culprit. He could have saved, he chose not to.
Economic wars were ongoing between various corporate interests. His father's company had diversified and grown massively during this period. Han Family is under new patriarch now. Due to some of the troubles Han Chen secretly induced, their family had major wash up of their illegal adventures. The ties back to them are secretly restored.
In their private life, well... they'd begun to run out of famous places to visit in the nearby countries for dates. Some unpleasant social interactions occurred with men who were, shall we say, overly interested in his wives' assets. Those men were never heard from again.
In Han Chen's personal account, it was mostly normal all the way through. Except for one major change ~ his sister Han Ruo Xi was born. It was an emotional moment, actually. In his past life, he hadn't really had any siblings, and cousins in both previous lives weren't particularly affectionate. He'd given his blessing to her arrival.
After her first birthday, he found himself mostly entertaining her tantrums, leaving behind corporate responsibilities more often than he probably should have.
Apart from that, Yue Lan entered Foundation Building realm the same way Hye Won had. Due to their similar cultivation techniques and spirit root compatibility, they could support each other during advancement. It was... beautiful to watch, actually.
Yue Ming died. It was sensational news within the Yue group. His father was sad and angry, but considering his martial arts realm and typical lifespan, he still planned on attempting to have more children. For this very reason, Yue Lan remained uninvited back to the family. Once you left, there was no coming back ~ that was also, her own policy.
Qin Jianwei recovered and went back to how he once was, but the Qin group was never truly able to recover their former positions after everything that had happened.
Han Chen's cultivation took half a step into the first minor sub-realm. Gradual progress, but progress nonetheless.
Coming to global changes on the planet... well, the technology race had resulted in preliminary success with similar human enhancement projects. "Super human serum variants" from various parts of the world, developed after nearly 5 to 6 years of NovaGen's exclusivity. AI systems and advanced computing had taken steps beyond human understanding.
The amount of probing ~ both online and physical ~ that he encountered and silenced was numerous. So much so that attackers had even notified the cultivation authority's sectarian office.
...