"Roxy, lately you’ve seemed like a totally different person. Did something happen to you?" Evan Chu couldn’t help but ask, concern written all over his face.
Roxanne Lin laughed softly, "Heh, I’m still me, you know. It’s just my bloodline acting up—I can’t help saying things I don’t mean sometimes, so please don’t take it to heart."
Black lines crawled across Evan’s forehead. "Seriously? Is that even possible? Your bloodline hasn’t even fully awakened—if your Divine Phoenix Bloodline does, won’t you be even more arrogant? How are we supposed to get along then?"
Roxanne Lin sighed, "Honestly, I don’t know either. Sometimes it feels like I’m not myself, especially during the day—as if something else is controlling me. I even checked if I’d been possessed by some powerful soul, but there’s no sign of that."
It must be my bloodline, so don’t blame me, Evan. Maybe someday we’ll find a way to fix it. Right now, every word I say feels like I’m fighting myself inside—it hurts so much." Roxanne said bitterly.
Evan saw sweat bead on her forehead—a strange sight that shocked him. Was her Phoenix Clan bloodline really nobler than his Primordial Dragon Bloodline? He couldn’t believe it.
Evan made up his mind—he had to find out why Roxanne had changed. He said gently, "Roxy, these years have been hard on you. Maybe these next few days will be our last bit of peace before ascension. Who knows what’s coming in the God Realm."
Roxanne Lin snorted, "Evan, I know what you want—my body, right? Even though I’m your woman and we’ve done it plenty of times, I just hate being touched now. My Divine Phoenix Bloodline makes me too noble to be defiled, not even by my husband."
Evan was dumbfounded. This woman’s words made no sense—she knows he’s her husband but won’t let him touch her? It wasn’t even a special time. He felt utterly frustrated.
The more Roxanne refused, the more stubborn Evan became. "Since you’re my woman, serving your husband is only natural. You dare refuse me? Getting a little too bold, aren’t you?"
"Evan, don’t force me to do something I don’t want. If you push me, who knows what might happen? Don’t test my limits." Roxanne’s face twisted in anger.
There’s definitely something wrong—and it’s serious. But I still have no clue what the real problem is," Evan thought helplessly.
Evan summoned Chaos Immortal Force and set up a sound-blocking barrier in the room—just in case Roxanne started screaming or cursing, he needed to keep it all contained.
Seeing Evan set up the barrier, Roxanne snapped, "Evan, what are you doing? Are you really planning to force yourself on me? I’m warning you—if you dare, I’ll never forgive you!"
"Oh yeah? I’d like to see how you plan to make me pay. I’ve got plenty of women, so losing one isn’t a big deal. Don’t think you’re all that just because of your Divine Phoenix Bloodline—in my eyes, that’s nothing special. If you behave, maybe I’ll let your cold attitude slide. Otherwise, get ready for my punishment!"
Saying all this made Evan’s heart ache. He wasn’t doing this out of desire—he just had no choice. Maybe by being intimate, he could finally figure out what was wrong inside Roxanne’s body. Only through dual cultivation could his spiritual sense fully enter her and search for answers.
"Then go ahead and try!" Roxanne shouted, her body suddenly bursting into red phoenix flames.
Those flames didn’t threaten Evan, but if they started fighting, Roxanne could easily destroy the room—or even the Frostbane Imperial Palace. As a late-stage Immortal Emperor, any attack from her packed terrifying power.
Evan grabbed Roxanne, shattered his barrier, and in a flash shot out of the room and into the sky. Roxanne barely had time to react before they were airborne, struggling desperately against Evan’s iron grip.
After a few rapid teleports, Evan carried them thousands of miles away to a beautiful mountain. He scanned the area with his spiritual sense—no one was nearby—so he stopped on the mountaintop.
"Let me go, or I swear I’ll really lose it!" Roxanne shouted angrily.
"Roxy, how could I let you go? It’s been ages since we were alone, and this place is perfect. Don’t forget, our first time was on Flowing Cloud Mountain’s summit—wasn’t that romantic?" Evan grinned wickedly.
"You shameless jerk! I won’t let you get your way today!" Roxanne snapped, flames roaring hotter and the air crackling with heat.
Evan wasn’t afraid of her flames—unless she unleashed Divine Fire, they couldn’t threaten him. He was busy stripping away the last restraints on Roxanne’s body.
The more Roxanne struggled, the more domineering Evan became. After a few breaths, her clothes were shredded and burned to ash by her own flames. "Now let’s see what you do!" he challenged.
Afterwards, Roxanne pulled fresh clothes from her storage ring and dressed, then said with a bitter smile, "After my third nirvana, I keep regaining a virginal body. Only as a true virgin can my Divine Phoenix Bloodline fully awaken. But if you ever need me, I’ll always give myself to you—I just can’t help it."
"Is something bothering you? Or is there something controlling you?" Evan asked, concern in his voice.
"I honestly don’t know, Evan. Sometimes the words that come out aren’t what I want to say at all—it’s like something else is controlling me, but I can’t figure out why." Roxanne said helplessly.
Roxanne was finally herself again. Evan gently pulled her into his arms and comforted her, "Don’t torture yourself over this. Maybe one day we’ll find the answer."
Roxanne leaned quietly against Evan’s shoulder, soaking in the rare warmth. They stood together on the mountaintop, letting the mountain wind blow around them.
After a while, Roxanne suddenly shoved Evan away, her face twisted with fury. "Evan, you’ve let me down again! You stole my virginity one more time—you’re a devil! You destroyed my chance to become the strongest! I hate you, I’ll hate you forever!"
The sudden change caught Evan off guard. Roxanne had flipped personalities again. He quickly sent his spiritual sense into the mark he’d left in her sea of consciousness to check on the red worm.
This time, the red worm had its eyes open and instantly sensed Evan’s divine probe. A terrifying pressure slammed into his spiritual sense, nearly shattering it. Evan hurriedly withdrew, not daring to investigate further.
Fuming, Roxanne stormed back to Frostbane Imperial Palace and locked herself in her room. Evan didn’t chase after her; instead, he went to find the Black Qilin, knowing the ancient beast might recognize the red worm.
After Evan explained Roxanne’s situation, the Black Qilin’s face filled with shock. Finally, he said, "Young Master, that red worm is an extremely rare Divine-Blood Parasite. I’ve heard my old master mention it before…"