Chapter 118: A Secret Between Husband And Wife

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: A Secret Between Husband And Wife

He knew Marcus as an ordinary member of the academy’s staff.

Nothing about the man had suggested that he possessed the potential to awaken such a physique.

The Sacred Martial Body might not rank among the world’s most extraordinary constitutions, but it was still a highly desirable special physique.

For an ordinary person, awakening one could completely transform the course of their life.

Caleb had never expected Marcus to be the one who received such an opportunity.

He did not even consider the possibility that Marcus had consumed Constitution Holy Water.

As far as he knew, a staff member like Marcus had no realistic way of obtaining such a priceless treasure.

The most reasonable explanation, in his mind, was that Marcus had been extraordinarily fortunate and awakened his physique naturally.

Even so, Caleb decided to verify the situation rather than accept the claim at face value. He personally arranged a cultivation test.

The results appeared shortly afterward.

Body Tempering Realm, 2nd-Level.

Marcus had officially entered the path of martial arts.

However, his cultivation was still too low for Caleb to confirm the characteristics of his supposed Sacred Martial Body.

Such special physiques often displayed their defining traits more clearly after their owners reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The test was not entirely disappointing, though.

Marcus’s upcoming martial talent assessment placed him in the upper range of Grade B.

That was an impressive result. Even among martial artists, a talent ranking in the upper B range was rare, placing someone well above the ordinary crowd.

Caleb looked at Marcus with newfound appreciation.

Given his position as an academy employee and his newly demonstrated potential, Marcus qualified to apply for an apartment in one of the academy’s residential buildings.

The rent would be one thousand crowns per month.

For Marcus, the cost was hardly a concern. His existing salary was already close to ten thousand crowns, and becoming a martial artist would bring further opportunities for increased income.

With the accommodation approved, there was no reason to delay.

That very afternoon, Marcus and his pregnant wife,Clara, moved into their new home at Arcadia Academy.

For Marcus, it was the beginning of an entirely new Chapter in his life.

He had gained the strength he had always dreamed of, secured better living arrangements for his growing family, and received an opportunity he would never have been able to obtain on his own.

And he knew exactly whom he had to thank for it all.

After settling into his new apartment at Arcadia Academy, Marcus Reed was eager to celebrate the occasion.

More importantly, he wanted to thank Xavier for helping him become a martial artist and arranging a comfortable home for him and his pregnant wife, Clara.

To show his appreciation, Marcus planned an extravagant dinner and invited Xavier and Mira to join them.

Unfortunately, Xavier declined without the slightest hesitation.

He had far more important plans for the evening, and entertaining his childhood friend was the last thing on his mind.

After all, he and Mira had silently reached an understanding over lunch.

They had spent the afternoon anticipating the evening, and neither intended to let anything interfere with their plans.

As soon as Xavier returned to the villa, he ordered an enormous spread of food, spending more than twenty thousand crowns on the meal alone.

He even included two bottles of wine to make the occasion more special.

By seven that evening, the dining table was covered with delicacies.

Two red candles flickered softly beside the dishes, casting a warm glow across the room.

Mira arrived home right on time. The moment she stepped inside and saw the arrangement, a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

"Honey!" she said.

She tried to sound casual, but the happiness in her voice betrayed her.

She knew perfectly well what Xavier had in mind. Rather than feeling embarrassed or reluctant, she found herself looking forward to the evening with growing anticipation.

Xavier greeted her with a smile.

"You’re back," he said.

"Come and see what I’ve prepared for us."

Mira washed her hands before joining him at the table. The couple began their dinner, chatting about ordinary matters while enjoying the food Xavier had ordered.

After a while, Xavier brought up the academy’s two little troublemakers.

"Has Lydia woken up yet?" he asked.

"You only fed her this morning," Mira replied.

"I doubt she’ll wake up before tomorrow."

"What about Snow?"

"Still asleep."

Xavier shook his head in amusement.

"Those two are practically pigs," he said. "All they do is eat and sleep."

Mira laughed softly. "You can’t really blame them."

Their conversation soon shifted to Helena, Mira’s mother, who had recently joined the Extraordinary Division.

"How has your mother been settling in?" Xavier asked.

"Quite well, actually," Mira said.

"Minister Samuel Bush arranged for her to work in the internal affairs department. Her duties aren’t particularly demanding. She usually has a little work to handle in the morning, but she’s free for most of the day. She spends the rest of her time cultivating at the Division’s residential quarters."

"That sounds ideal," Xavier said.

"Still, tell her to avoid going out unnecessarily for the time being. Things are becoming rather dangerous, and I’d rather she stayed somewhere secure."

Mira nodded. "I’ll let her know."

Xavier took a sip of wine before turning his attention back to his wife.

"There’s something else I should tell you," he said.

"Your husband is a cultivation genius."

Mira gave him a skeptical look.

"Oh? And what makes you say that?" she asked.

"The Phoenix Cultivation Technique I gave you this afternoon," he said.

"You’ve already read through it, haven’t you? I’ve mastered it myself, so I’ll teach you how to practice it tonight."

Mira’s cheeks warmed at once.

"You’ve already mastered it? I don’t believe you!" she protested.

She paused, meeting his eyes, then added more quietly, "But... fine."

Their conversation gradually faded as the candles continued to burn.

The playful atmosphere between them gave way to something more intimate, and Xavier drew Mira closer, stealing a kiss before she could come up with another teasing remark.

Mira responded just as eagerly.

Before long, neither of them had any interest in returning to their dinner conversation.

They eventually went to shower together, leaving the untouched wine and the remaining dishes behind.

Afterward, they retired to the bedroom, where Mira wrapped her arms around Xavier’s shoulders and looked at him with undisguised affection.

There was no need for either of them to say much.

Xavier certainly had no intention of resisting his wife’s advances.

The two spent the next several hours practicing the Dragon and Phoenix Union Technique, allowing their energies to circulate and harmonize as they explored the benefits of the dual cultivation method.

By the time they finally settled down, more than two and a half hours had passed.

Mira rested against Xavier’s chest, barely willing to move. Her limbs felt weak, and she had little energy left to do anything except enjoy the warmth of his embrace.

After catching her breath, she raised her head and looked at him.

"Honey, can you finally tell me one of your secrets now?" she asked.

Xavier glanced down at her. "Which secret?"

"Don’t pretend you don’t know!" Mira protested.

"What’s your relationship with Mr. X? How did you meet him? And what exactly is chaotic energy?"

She had tried to investigate these questions before, but every attempt had led nowhere.

Xavier was far too good at keeping his affairs hidden, and she had yet to find a convincing explanation for his extraordinary resources.

That afternoon, her curiosity had only grown stronger.

Victoria Quill had visited Arcadia Academy and revealed that the treasures Xavier had given Mira earlier that day had come from Mr. X.

The information had left Mira wondering what kind of connection could make such a distinguished alchemist so generous toward her husband.

The mystery was becoming impossible for her to ignore.

Unfortunately, Xavier had no intention of giving her a straightforward answer.

"Why don’t you figure it out yourself?" he said.

Mira immediately frowned.

"Figure it out how? Just tell me!"

Xavier smiled mischievously.

"If you still haven’t worked it out by the time you reach the Spirit Platform Realm, I’ll tell you everything," he said.

He knew he could reveal the truth now without causing any serious problems.

However, he had been looking forward to the moment Mira finally discovered his secret on her own.

The thought of watching her piece everything together and realize who he really was gave him a peculiar sense of satisfaction.

Mira had no idea what he was thinking. Instead, she raised her chin proudly.

"Hmph! I’ve already reached the 8th-Level of the Foundation Establishment Realm," she said.

"Just wait. I’ll break through to the Spirit Platform Realm in less than a month!"

Xavier chuckled and brushed a hand through her hair.

"I trust you will, you’re amazing," he said.

"Of course I am! I’m a heaven chosen genius."

Mira was clearly pleased with herself.

Xavier’s smile took on a teasing edge.

"Is that so?" he said.

"Well, I happen to enjoy taming arrogant geniuses. Let’s see how long you can keep boasting before you surrender and let me help you cultivate again."

Before Mira could respond, he pulled her close once more.

"Ah! Xavier!" she exclaimed.

Her startled exclamation soon gave way to laughter and affectionate protests as the two returned to their cultivation.

* * *

The recovery of a martial artist was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

By the following morning, Xavier was already up and about, looking refreshed and full of energy as he prepared breakfast.

He and Mira enjoyed a quiet meal together before she left for class.

Once she was gone, Xavier headed back toward the secluded hills north of Arcadia Academy.

He had no intention of wasting the time available to him.

His growing strength was useful, but he understood that the coming conflict with the Lindsay family would demand far more than his current abilities.

The effort he put in now would determine how easily he could deal with his enemies later.

Today, however, he would not be training the Heaven Piercing Sixfold Finger.

The technique was a 9th-Grade martial art, and its profound principles made further advancement exceptionally difficult.

Xavier had already experienced this firsthand when he used a Great Enlightenment Pill to improve his understanding of it.

Even with the tremendous boost in comprehension, progressing from Proficiency to Lesser Completion would require a considerable investment of time.

He estimated that he would need approximately a full week of dedicated training to achieve the next breakthrough, even with the help of an enlightenment elixir.

The problem was that he currently had no Great Enlightenment Pill available.

Rather than spend too much time worrying about a technique he could improve later, Xavier decided to focus on the Star Tempering Body Technique.

With the assistance of a Creation Pill and a Lesser Enlightenment Pill, mastering this 7th-Grade martial art should be much more manageable.

His cultivation had already reached the 8th-Level of the Spirit Platform Realm.

If he continued making steady progress, advancing into the Star Sea Realm was no longer a distant prospect.

That breakthrough would significantly improve his chances of dealing with the Lindsay family and its allies.

Xavier’s expression hardened as he considered the trouble the family had caused.

Just wait. It won’t be long before the Lindsay family receives a surprise it will never forget.

With that thought in mind, he settled down and began his training.

He remained completely focused on cultivating, unaware that an unusual visitor had arrived at the entrance of Arcadia Academy.